Active imagination

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Active imagination is a concept developed by Carl Jung between 1913 and 1916. It is a meditation technique wherein one's emotions are translated into images, narrative or personified as separate entities. It can serve as a bridge between the conscious self and the unconscious and includes working with dreams and the creative self via imagination or fantasy. Active Imagination is linked with alchemy in that both strive for oneness from a set of fragmented parts.

“It was during Advent of the year 1913 – December 12, to be exact – that I resolved upon the decisive step. I was sitting at my desk once more, thinking over my fears. Then I let myself drop. Suddenly it was as though the ground literally gave way beneath my feet, and I plunged into the dark depths.”

Thus did Carl Jung discover the technique which would become his principle contribution to the practice of psychotherapy. Active imagination is a method for visualizing subconscious issues by letting them act themselves out. Active imagination can be done by visualization (which is how Jung himself did it), which can be considered similar to shamanic journeying. Active imagination can also be done by automatic writing, or by artistic activities such as dance, music, painting, sculpting, ceramics, jewellery, etc. Doing Active imagination permits the thoughtforms of the subconscious to act out whatever messages they are trying to communicate to the conscious mind.

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[edit] Further reading

Johnson, Robert A. Inner Work (1986) Harper & Row
Jung, Carl. Jung on Active Imagination (1997) Princeton U. ISBN 0-691-01576-7
Jung, Carl. Memories, Dreams, Reflections (1961) Random House ISBN-10: 0877735549