Active Imagination
Updated: Oct 4
In Inner Work Robert A. Johnson wrote that there are two ways to reach the subconscious. One is through dreams and the other is through the imagination. Johnson was a student of Jungian psychology and adapted his methods. Jung was a genius but his writings can ramble on a bit and go on tangents. Johnson’s writing, on the other hand, are much clearer and to the point. He also has a great sense of humor.
On this page I will explain Jung's dream work and then delve more deeply into Johnson's. I tend to use Johnson's method more because it's aimed at solving a particular problem, while Jung's method focuses on the dream world
Active imagination is a mental practice developed by the Swiss psychologist Carl Jung between 1913 and 1916. It involves opening oneself to the unconscious and giving free rein to fantasy, while at the same time maintaining an active, attentive, conscious point of view. The process leads to a synthesis that contains both perspectives, but in a new and surprising way.
Different versions of this technique have been around for hundreds of years. Avicenna and the Sufis took it as a gateway to the realm of the divine. It’s a cousin to Blake’s Divine Imagination and the Aboriginal Dreamtime.
active imagination vs. day dreaming
Active imagination and day dreaming both use images from the unconscious but the issues that come up in day dreaming don’t get resolved. Day dreams just repeat themselves over and over again on the edges of our minds but there is no evolution because the ego never confronts the fantasy situation. Day dreaming doesn’t require any effort or concentration. Active imagination on the other hand is a skill that requires practice and dedication.
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