Active Imagination

Active Imagination originated with Jung’s practice as a psychiatrist and psychoanalyst, as well as his own initial explorations of his psyche in the years between 1910 and the 1920s. It consists in building a bridge between our conscious ego (the ‘I’ who reads these lines right now) and our unconscious (all of the many reactions, feelings and thoughts that are triggered by these lines, whether we consciously notice them or not). 

Jung explained that ‘there are things in the psyche which I do not produce, but which produce themselves and have their own life‘ (in Memories, Dreams, Reflections, 1963/1995, p.207). This means that we do not merely make things up in our minds, but that some things, some images, some figures manifest in our psyche as if they came from outside of us. These are not simple illusions, delusions or fantasies, however. They are essentially archetypal figures, symbolic energies, unconscious potentialities which we somehow process as semi-familiar shapes, figures or voices because we cannot otherwise make sense of them. It is as if a whole world of psychological energies reside at the edge of our consciousness, a world which we can access through dreams or, more directly, through Active Imagination. 

The practice of Active Imagination therefore consists in softening or relaxing a little the tight control of our conscious mind in order to allow more spontaneous information to emerge from the unconscious. This information can take the shape of images, of feelings, of sensations, or even sounds. It may appear as characters speaking to you, as scenes that develop without you actively controlling them, or as a shifting physical reaction. It may seem familiar, or the strangest thing you’ve ever witnessed. The key here is that by simply allowing this unconscious content to emerge, by observing it without trying to control it or censor it as we generally do, we often find answers to some of our deep-seated emotional, psychological or psychosomatic problems. 

The unconscious operates at a much more elementary (Jung would say ‘archaic’) level than our ego consciousness, which is not to say that the unconscious is simplistic or unrefined. Rather, the unconscious cuts through the veil of social norms, the role expectations we put on ourselves or that are put on us, and instead focuses on the essence of life experiences. The unconscious cares mainly about what makes a person develop into the fully-fledged version of themselves. It notices when we attach ourselves to masks that are not ours, to roles and duties that do not feel right, and it records the uneasiness that builds up over time. It notices when we deal with a traumatic event by repressing or rationalizing the fear, and it knows what it is we hide from ourselves. 

Active Imagination helps us recover some of those forgotten cues from the unconscious, in order to consciously reposition ourselves on more truthful and solid ground. It can help us heal some psychological complexes, that is, those memories which have become so emotionally-loaded over time that they prevent us from reacting in a new or different way to a present situation, and instead constantly evoke the past and repeat history. It can help us face our Depths, our potential, in an uncompromising way. 

It is important to stress that Active Imagination is not an altered state of consciousness (for example, a trance state or a hypnotic state), nor does it involve any form of specific external intervention such as guided imagery meditation. During Active Imagination, you remain fully conscious of what is happening, but you simply allow your consciousness to take a step back and to witness what happens. Furthermore, what happens is entirely up to your unconscious, not anybody else’s. The hardest part of Active Imagination is to trust yourself enough to let go of the constant mind-chatter, the conscious anticipation, the fretting of our rational brain that wants logical answers here and now. To do so, we start with relaxing the body through simple breathing, eyes closed. Then, we consciously offer a token, such as an image from a dream, a recurring memory, or a noticeable physical sensation, and invite the unconscious to respond to this offering with whatever cues it can provide. From then on, the dialogue is established, and we just have to remain present to what happens, but refrain from intervening too quickly, too eagerly, because we are not looking for conscious answers: we are here to see what the unconscious has to say. 

One final aspect of Active Imagination is worth mentioning in this brief outline of the practice. The unconscious communicates in symbols. Symbols are its elementary language, a language vividly evocative and powerful, but not very easy to grasp for our literal and rational mind! As we start the dialogue with our unconscious, what it will offer may not at first seem very comprehensible because it will answer our questions by providing symbols. Indeed, it may seem completely crazy, completely senseless. That is when your conscious mind may kick in and will want to stop this nonsense. If you can, then, just hold off doing so. Let the unconscious lead the way. Let the nonsense play out. Let the senseless be what it appears to. Soon, very possibly, something meaningful will unfold. It is there if only we learn to patiently, quietly, welcome it with the appreciation the unconscious deserves. 

Robert A. Johnson, a well-known Jungian therapist and writer, shares the following wise and cautious words regarding the practice of Active Imagination, worth quoting in full (in  Inner Work, 1986, p.137): ‘Before starting Active Imagination be sure that there is someone available for you to go to or call in case you become overwhelmed by the imagination and can’t cut it off . For most people this is not a problem. In fact, for most people the difficulty is in getting the Active Imagination started. But some few people are subject to being so totally possessed by the flow of images, once they start a particularly powerful segment of Active Imagination, that they can’t pull out of it. Their minds get lost in the realm of fantasy and can’t find the way back to the here-and-now of the ordinary world. Therefore I advise people to start Active Imagination only after they have available to them either an analyst or a layperson who is familiar with the art and could talk them back down to earth if required.’

After a decade of practicing Active Imagination myself and guiding individuals into the exploration of their own unconscious, I concur that this is a very accurate assessment of Active Imagination!

Some people struggle to find the point of entry into their psyche, and they greatly benefit from being gently encouraged and guided in relaxing their ‘conscious muscle’ by someone who truly understands what the practice consists in. Others find almost too easily the pathway into their unconscious domain, and their eagerness to connect with the flow of images and possibilities presenting themselves makes them susceptible to getting lost or overwhelmed. They therefore need someone to watch over their inner exploration and act as an anchor in consciousness.

Most people I have worked with fall between these two extremes, and I have acquired a solid experience safely guiding individuals in the practice of this alchemical art of inner unfolding and transformation. It is not that we should be afraid of our unconscious or of Active Imagination as such, but any encounter with our Depths must be approached with caution and respect.