The sun card is a vibrant symbol of positivity,
Representing joy,
Success and clarity.
It signifies a state of illumination and invigoration,
Stepping into the light after darkness,
Celebrating newfound freedom and achievement.
However,
It also warns us of the potential dangers this can bring,
Such as grandiosity and hubris.
In this active imagination exercise,
We will explore these themes of the sun,
Engaging in a dialogue with this symbol and deepening our relationship with it.
So before we begin this exercise,
Have in mind an area of your life where you seek illumination,
Growth or new opportunities.
And once you've got that,
Just making sure you're comfortable,
Closing your eyes,
Just taking a couple of deep breaths,
Just to relax the body and the mind.
As the breath returns now to a natural rhythm,
Just keep your attention on the breath for now,
Wherever you feel it most strongly.
Most likely,
The mind will wander from time to time,
Dragging your attention away from the breath.
But by setting our intention to remain with the breath,
This allows us to illuminate these various undercurrents of mind,
Which we weren't previously aware of.
So each time this happens,
You make it conscious and just allow that inclinational thought to run its course and then bring the attention back to the exercise.
And now,
Imagine yourself in a serene,
Open landscape at dawn.
And in this space,
You find yourself standing outside of a magnificent stone circle.
Take some time to soak in the space around you.
And in particular,
Take notes of the stone circle itself.
Notice the size and shape of the stones,
The quantity,
Their formation,
Perhaps their texture,
Or any other features or markings.
And now bring to mind that area of your life you decided on at the start of this exercise.
You notice in your hands,
An object is forming.
This object represents that area of life in its current state.
Examine it more closely,
Noting its size,
Shape,
Weight,
Material.
Examine it in detail.
And notice its intricate features.
And now,
Position yourself within the stone circle and place your object in the center.
Be aware of how you feel in this space.
Just peeking above the horizon,
The sun begins to rise.
As it starts to get a little lighter,
Watch as its light starts to interact with the stones.
And your object.
Now,
As the sun continues to rise,
You're going to engage in a two-way dialogue with it.
Remembering that this symbol represents a part of you,
Including unconscious parts of you.
And so,
I'm going to state a series of questions.
Ask these questions to the sun.
Simply see how it responds.
Perhaps it speaks to you in words.
Perhaps its response is reflected visually or in changes to the space around you.
Ask the sun,
What new energies are you bringing into my life?
What shadows need illuminating for me to move forward?
Where might I need to be cautious to maintain humility as I step into this new light?
What new opportunities are waiting for me just beyond the horizon?
As the sun continues to rise,
Its light increasingly illuminates your object in the center of the circle.
Now,
Just imagine the sun's light intensifying and focusing on this object and beginning to transform it before your eyes.
Watch as this object transforms into an entirely new symbolic object in the light of the sun.
With the sun now entirely above the horizon,
Observe this new object that sits in front of you.
Again,
Observe its size,
Shape,
Material,
Has it significantly changed in size?
Again,
You may wish to touch it,
Notice,
Pick it up,
Feel its weight,
Or leave it where it is.
There's no right or wrong answers to how this object should appear.
And don't worry if it doesn't make complete sense to you at this time.
Trust that simply by doing this exercise,
Progress has been made in deepening your relationship with the unconscious mind.
So thanking the sun now for their wisdom and guidance.
And just allowing the scene to fade.
And remember,
It can be useful to journal this experience after the exercise and continue to reflect on it over the coming days and weeks.
So just bringing your attention back now to the space around you.
Noticing whatever you happen to notice.
Perhaps sounds or sensations.
Taking a deep breath.
And in your own time,
Opening your eyes again.
