Hello and welcome to Make It Conscious and to this guided active imagination exercise.
In this exercise,
We're going to be using a technique that I simply call core practice.
So this is a very basic stripped down active imagination exercise that you can use on a daily basis.
And the idea is that you don't need to decide ahead of time here what it is you're going to be working with.
Instead,
You're going to listen and respond to your mind.
Because it usually has a way of telling us what needs to be worked on.
It communicates with us through emotion,
Largely.
Also images,
Things that pop into our mind,
Thoughts,
Even memories.
And of course dreams.
But for today,
I'm going to ask you just to become aware of a feeling.
How is it that you feel right now?
Is there something that is calling for your attention?
Or alternatively.
.
.
Are you aware that there was a feeling earlier today or recently that might not be particularly obvious right now?
But you know it's there.
So you're going to be using this as what's known as the seed for today's active imagination practice.
The first step is simply to decide on that seed,
On that feeling.
Before just taking a position.
You can let that go for now.
You're going to be becoming more aware of that as the exercise goes on.
But for now,
Just making sure you're comfortable.
You can do this exercise seated or lying down.
And just closing your eyes.
Going to start just by allowing the mind to settle.
And a good way to do this is just with some basic meditation.
So firstly,
Just becoming aware.
Of the sensation of the breath.
You don't have to force your focus here.
Just becoming aware of it.
Whether it's the sensation of the air moving through the nostrils.
Or the rise and fall of the chests.
Or abdomen.
And if at any point during this exercise.
The mind wanders.
Simply bring it back.
To whatever it is you're doing.
So next.
Going to bring the mind.
Into the imagination.
And imagine yourself in a place.
Where you can meet this feeling in symbolic form.
Now you can use the feeling itself as inspiration for this.
Or we can use a place that you know.
Somewhere you'll feel calm.
Indoors or outdoors.
Just allow it to form naturally.
And now in this place.
Simply invite.
Unconscious material to appear.
There really is very little to do here.
It's really a case of just setting your intention to invite the material.
And then just allowing it to happen.
And closely observe the first thing that appears.
If you feel yourself wanting to change the symbol that appears.
Note that.
But just bring it back to the first thing that appeared.
Examine it in more detail.
Notice its various features.
His demeanour.
Does it move?
Is it behaving in any particular way?
All of this.
Is in some way reflecting something in your own mind.
So next.
Take some time to engage.
With this image.
First asking.
What do you represent?
What is it you have to say?
What is it you want me to hear?
And now.
If there's anything you have to say to this material.
Go ahead and do that now.
You might have some concerns about the impact it's having on your mind and your life.
Or you might be genuinely curious.
Why it's appearing for you.
What it is it needs from you.
And what you can do to reconcile with it.
So take some time now.
To engage.
In a two-way interaction with this material.
Say what you need to say.
Respond to it as you would any human being.
And just allow it the freedom to behave however it needs to.
As long as it doesn't try to violate your own freedom.
Otherwise,
Just let it do what it needs to do.
And so.
.
.
As this interaction draws to a close.
No matter whether it feels complete.
Or if there's more work to be done.
That's fine.
You can keep working with this material or doing this exercise on a daily basis.
But for now,
Just give it closure.
Perhaps thank it for its time.
Let it know that you're leaving now.
And just allow the scene to fade.
If there are any key insights that emerged in this session,
Set your intention to carry those through into your daily life.
And it's a good idea to record your experience after the exercise.
It's just.
Bringing the mind back into the space around you now.
Noticing sounds or sensations.
And opening your eyes again.
In your own time.
