Up: [[Active Imagination]] Course: Active Imagination with Ken James for Jung Platform Created: 2024-12-28 Updated: 2025-12-06 #### Select Your ego has to give consent for the active imagination to happen. The way to do this is by [[Choosing a Seed Image]] prior to engaging in the process. You don’t set an intention for an Active Imagination, other than the vital one of being as open as possible to what is going to be given to you. #### Prepare Choose a quiet place where you feel safe and will not be disturbed. Set a soft timer, nothing jarring. Always put a time limit on an Active Imagination. See [[Active Imagination Warnings]]. Relax your body using whatever technique works for you: deep breathing, progressive muscle relaxation, mindfulness meditation…. Clear your mind as much as possible, letting go of everyday concerns and focusing on your current emotional state and inner sensations. #### Invite Bring the seed image into your inner awareness. Favour it. See [[For a Week Before Trying Active Imagination]]. Don’t force anything. Simply allow other images of any modality to come in around the seed. #### Engage Once an image is very vivid, engage with it. Interact with the image as if it were a real person or situation. Ask it questions, talk to it. If it is a location, explore the location. Allow it to unfold like a dream. Pay attention to - people - other sentient beings, such as a talking rock - locations (notice settings, time, light, sound, temperature) - Objects - motifs or patterns (narrative, imagery) - Emotional states and shifts - Somatic responses. An itch on the side of your face? Talk to it, ask it if it has something to say. #### Express The goal of expression is to prevent the image from sinking back into unconsciousness. Begin with writing. If you are a beginner, consider holding off writing until after you're done because putting an active imagination in words can make the experience more linear than it really is. If you write after, include what happened, how you felt, and any insights. Alternatively, you can dictate rather than talk, but do this only after the experience. Talking aloud during an active imagination doesn't work. As you get more comfortable, you can write during the Active Imagination with your eyes closed. After writing, it’s a great idea to do something else that's creative with the image or narrative. You could draw, paint, sculpt, dance, write in some other form such as poetry.... #### Interpret and Integrate The image itself carries the healing power so there’s no need to rush to interpretation. But there's a lot of value in reflection so that you can integrate the experiences you’ve had into your conscious understanding of yourself. Jung referred to this as the ethical imperative.