In this active imagination exercise,
We're going to explore the influence of the mother archetype in our lives.
Our understanding of parenting,
And the nuances of our relationships with our parents,
Are often coloured by this archetype.
Individuation and becoming who we really are involves recognising our parents as individuals,
As well as representatives of deeper archetypal patterns.
This process requires us to acknowledge the gifts and care they have given to us,
Whilst also confronting and reconciling with their limitations,
And ceasing to hold them to an impossible ideal.
By cultivating a relationship with the mother archetype,
We can transcend personal histories and connect with a more universal understanding of nurture and care,
Allowing us to see ourselves and our parents more clearly,
As well as embody the mother archetype in a healthy form,
Both towards ourselves and others.
So just beginning in the usual way,
You can do this exercise seated,
Lying,
Or standing up.
Close your eyes,
And just taking a couple of deep breaths,
Just allowing your body and mind to relax naturally.
And for now,
Just bringing your attention to the physical sensation of the breath.
And if at any point during the exercise you get distracted,
Just bring your attention back to whatever it is you were doing.
And now,
Imagine yourself in a place where you feel the mother archetype resides,
A natural outdoor environment might work well for this.
You can even use a real place that you know.
Take a moment just to look around,
And notice if there are any immediate symbols or notable features.
And in this place,
An image begins to form.
This image is of the mother archetype,
As it appears to you.
It will be influenced by your own personal experiences and feelings.
However,
If a real living person should appear,
Just ask it to change form into something more symbolic.
Watch as this image starts to become clearer.
It might appear as a being,
A human form,
Or maybe even some kind of symbolic object.
All of this gives you information about your relationship to the mother archetype,
Currently.
So take a moment to examine this image in more detail.
What is its demeanour and general expression?
How does it respond in your presence?
And take note of how you feel towards it.
You're now going to engage in a two-way interaction with this symbol,
And you're going to begin by asking a series of questions.
Simply state each question to the symbol,
And see how it responds.
It might respond with words,
But also through its behaviour,
Or any other kind of communication.
Ask the symbol,
How do you perceive my relationship to the archetypal mother?
How might my own personal experiences to motherhood have coloured my relationship to the archetypal mother?
How do you embody qualities of the mother in ways in which I've overlooked?
And what can I do to cultivate a deeper relationship with you?
Now having asked these questions,
And noted their responses,
You're now going to engage in a free-form dialogue or interaction with this symbol.
You can use this time however you need to,
Whether to ask any additional questions,
Whether to express your own needs,
Fears,
Concerns,
Or whether to simply spend some time in this symbol's presence,
Explore together,
Meditate together,
Or just connect to the archetypal mother in whatever way you need to.
So take the next minute or two to engage in this free-form interaction with the symbol.
So as this interaction draws to a close,
The archetypal mother hands you a gift.
Receive this gift now.
It could take the form of a symbolic object,
Or an action,
Or words of wisdom.
Thank the symbol now for its wisdom and guidance.
Now before you leave,
Observe if the symbol has changed much since your earlier encounter.
Has its demeanor,
Appearance,
Or behavior changed?
So say goodbye to the symbol now,
And just allow the scene to fade.
And remember you can always come back to this place,
Re-engage with this symbol,
And continue to cultivate and deepen a relationship with it over time.
But for now,
Just bring your attention back to the space around you.
Take a deep breath,
And open your eyes again in your own time.
