Active imagination

Active imagination is to be understood as a way or method to heal, raise and transform
the personality. ~Carl Jung, ETH Lecture, Page 174.~  

Hereby I would like to introduce you this method as I often use in my own practice with clients. Active imagination was developed and brought to the therapy by C.G. Jung who considered it to be one of the "royal routes to the unconscious" and later elaborated by H. Leuner and others in their own therapeutical schools (e.g. Katathym Imaginative Psychotherapy). 

When we talk about imaginative processes, we mean our  phantasies, memories but also future aspirations that all can be involved in our inner images. Moreover, other than just visual sense may be activated. Sometimes, our imagination is so powerful that we can almost feel the sensation on our skin, hear the sounds or even simply have thoughts about a certain matter. This ability is common to all human, I would say we only differ in an extent of its intensity and preferred modality. And there is a way how
to benefit from it, using active imagination technique.

Our inner unconscious world reflects on the actual lived reality which can be manifested throught
the images in our minds. An attribute "active" refers to the fact, that the subject stays initiative in working with depicted scenes, looking for ways to modify them in a desired way    or in searching for messages from activated deeper layouts of psyche. This is what differs it from passive immersion of daily dreaming. 

Active imagination is to be understood as a way or method to heal, raise and transform the personality. ~Carl Jung, ETH Lecture, Page 174.~

Let me be more specific. I usually start and end the session with short relaxation. It is not mandatory but it seems to me that it helps to retain the experience more vivid. Client stays in a comfortable posture, usually sitting with closed eyes. Here I would like to emphasize on fact that sometimes it may occur that person experiences slightly alternated state of conscious, but stays alert for the whole time (it is not hypnosis!). Than we work with certain motives followed by inner sceneries and subsequently analyze the symbolism beyond the seen material. The choice of a motive goes beyond the scope of this article, as it depends on many factors like actual state of client´s being, a stage of therapeutical process etc.

For example,  we can give form to our negative emotions, fears and anger which can help to process them.
Or meet our healer, guides or helpers who may reveal some knowledge to us. Any personifications
from our unconscious part of psyche in this numinous world are possible. Sometimes, we just won´t see what we would wish because  we deal with an autonomous instance here. Rather, we see what we need
to reach the integrity that has to do with our individuation, becoming what we truly are. 

To sum up, active imagination is a  way how to mediate the contact with our selves, its unconscious contents, the way that unhides the unknown, speaks to deep sources and brings messages from them. This creative approach to the life´s peripeties leads  to broaden out of one´s own competencies
with a ressault in daily living. I do not want to glorify it and I believe, it asks for a dose of courage
and respect to "look inside", both for the client and the therapist as we never know what this fascinating journey will bring up on the surface.  Also, the therapist shall keep in mind the contraindications, this method is not suitable for persons with fragile and incoherent Self. Nevertheless, the belief in its potential is based on my own experience and I am often touched by the wisdom and strength that is hidden inside us and just wait to be found.