Mind Work: C. G. Jung’s “Active Imagination”

C. G. Jung throughout his life conducted “experiments” on himself. That is, he actively explored processes that brought forward material from his unconscious. He was an active interpreter of dreams, both of his own and those of his patients. He used the material to extend his understanding of what he was dealing with.

Another experimental technique that he developed he called active imagination (AI), a form of free association. He recognized other practices such as automatic writing as valuable and was familiar with the field of spiritualism.

From his work, others have extracted and refined techniques around his active imagination process. Some such individuals and organizations have developed programs and courses for learning this. Three examples are given later

The Process

I’ll use the excellent description from Carl Jung Resourcest⁴. found in the resource list.

Active imagination consists of observing images that pass through the mind. These images can be induced or spontaneous.

Spontaneous in the sense that their development in the mind is followed without any deliberate intervention, as in the case of Freudian free associations.

Induced, in the sense that they can be stimulated to appear starting from a recent dream motif.

The subject starts from the dream image and follows its development without intervention.

To add some precision to the above definition, I would first repeat an observation made by another source that “active imagination” is a misnomer because it employs passive observation very rigorously so as not to pollute the message from the unconscious with conscious content.

The “active” aspect of the process is the intentional initiation of it. Various procedures are discussed below. Howeer, one would likely begin with the standard preparation for initiating mind work. If one has just come out of a dream and is in a hypnagogic state, simply focusing on an aspect of the dream and becoming passive I find will trigger the desired imaginative process.

Three Sources of Developed Courses and Theory

The Jungian Center for the Spiritual Sciences¹

Active imagination is a method of introspection devised by Jung for observing the stream of interior images that arise from the unconscious. Content of these imaginings may contain a wide array of visual element, symbols both personal and archetypal, feelings, and any other elements that the psyche may put forward.

Step 1. Preparation. Turn off all phones and eliminate other possible distractions. Sit in a quiet place and commit a block of time. I will later define a standard approach for preparing for any Mind Work.

Step 2. The Seed. While spontaneous imagination can be useful for study, Jung proposes an active seed that to allows the unconscious to use as the basis of what it wants to present. Such sources can be a dream, an irrational mood, an affect, or something of the kind. Remember that the focus for Jung is psychoanalytical. Identify a clear image and fix it in one’s attribution.

Step 3. The Session. Keeping outside thoughts and events from intruding, follow the transformations that the psyche takes the image through. One’s person is involved as the observer. It is important in preparation to be aware of one’s mood and state that one brings into the process.

The author of this article notes that not only images may be used but words or auditory input as well as ideas may come forward from the psyche (unconscious mind)..

The Jungian Vault

This source emphasizes the role of the ego in the exercise. It focuses and directs the unconscious without inserting content in any form. Hence the term “active”.

Step 1: Quiet the Ego. Use any common relaxation technique that works for you such as my Mind Work: Introduction and Preparation or the Vault’s. The goal is to attain a state of alert receptivity. where the ego is quiet.

Step 2: Find an Entry Point. Use anything as a seed for the process, examples above. Focus your attention on this starting point/seed and simply observe what happens.

Step 3: Engage Dialogically. The idea is to engage in a civil dialogue respecting what the psyche offers.

Step 4: Give It Form. It is important to capture what the psyche has offered in writing or some other form such as drawing or painting.

The author presents a concise and complete description of the process. Read this one if nothing else.

Scott Jeffrey

Scott³ gives Jungian Marie-Louise von Franz’s four steps which are basically similar to those above:

1. Ethical confrontation
2. Empty the “mad mind” of the ego
3. Let an unconscious fantasy image arise
4. Give it some form of expression

He also provides an alternative source in Jungian analyst Robert A Johnson who provides a slightly more structured process which he describes in his book Inner Work (1991). The steps are:

1. Make it concrete with a physical ritual
2. Invite a particular part within your unconscious
3. Actively dialogue with this part
4. Add the ethical element of values

Scott has a great deal more to say about this process in the article³ from which I have taken the above. It is recommended that the serious reader read it all.

A Cautionary Note

For many of us we can have an active imagination. AI specifically focuses the imagination. It is a separate kind of mind work where we just let our mind range freely using passive observation. Sometimes, however, it is necessary to actively intervene to stop a process that is out of control. Single thoughts are not a problem but when our mind starts to create a full-length movie, we may want to move it along.

There is also the issue of material that contains violence or the image of strongly negative character that we may want to view carefully. If you are using a psychoanalyst, you may want to direct this kind of imagery to their supervision. I work from the premise that this kind of material exists within our own psyche and needs to be dealt with.

Finally, the possibility that a spiritual entity will try and subvert your mind work I will leave as an open issue. For some, an initial prayer for protection from the Holy Spirit, one’s higher self, one’s guardian angel or whatever may be beneficial.

Comment

The Jungian Center extended AI to other inputs than imagery. When they mentioned that ideas may be used I realized that I may already be using this technique by the way insights and ideas flow freely during meditation.

The process is simple in form although not necessarily in application. All the sources that I reviewed differed only in minor suggestive variations.

Resources

1. Jung on Active Imagination: Features, Methods and Warnings
2. Active Imagination: Jung’s Most Powerful Technique. The Jungian Vault.
3. Active Imagination: A Practical Guide to Working with Archetypes.
4. What is Active Imagination. Carl Jung Resources.

Articles in This Series

Refer to the series index in Gnostic Wisdom.

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