"How to Talk to Yourself" - The long awaited Active Imagination Course is now live and taking students!: knowyourself.makeitconscious.com/course/activeimagination Learn the Art of Science of Self-Knowledge - Explore this and the rest of the MiC Know Yourself Programme at knowyourself.makeitconscious.com (The MiC Philosophy Course is available for only $7).
Its unbelievable the comments are so negative. The world is split so hard. One with a perspective of beauty and understanding the other perspective of negativity and ego. Thank you so much for this video,please continue to do what you do. Much ❤️
Hey William, thanks for the comment. I agree it can seem like there is a hard split in the world much of the time. In truth we are all split to some degree internally. Although whether or not an individual chooses to take responsibility for their mind makes all the difference to how much they are capable of understanding and benefitting from inner work. The feedback on this video has been mostly positive. It was my first longform video, and certainly has room for improvement, but the Likes overwhelmingly outnumber the dislikes and most of the comments are positive. I’ve aimed to improve on it in my recent video about the Divination Arts and with Part 2 being released this week. That said, the comments section can be a sobering reminder of how deep the splits and contradictions go. Although I have no trouble believing it. On this video you will see some comments insisting that the article must have been entirely written by ChatGPT, while others within the very same thread complaining that it contains too much of my own additions. Clearly a single piece of content cannot be the sole cause of both. It’s true that a portion of people who watch videos about inner work topics are not really interested in inner work or responsibility. Some part of them is, of course, but it gets commandeered by the ego, which must pin its dissatisfaction on something external, having actively sought it out, and in doing so can’t help but expose its own irony. I also used to sometimes write belligerent and unconstructive comments on other people’s content, mostly when I was a lot younger. Often these folks simply haven’t lived enough, suffered enough or thought hard enough to realise the truth and necessity of responsibility. At other times, it is wilful ignorance, which can only be responded to accordingly by anyone with an ounce of respect for their own and others’ freedom. Thank you for the encouragement and rest assured I will continue making content. You might enjoy the more recent two part series on Divination: ruclips.net/p/PLeuFwuWK5O2NCUr11ZJRmaXuwTfvScrwf …as well as the guided exercises on this channel: ruclips.net/p/PLeuFwuWK5O2MMxqoPMkk9eEbVIrbwq-7B
@@makeitconsciousabsolutely agree with your understanding of the comments section in relation to inner work. Having taken on full responsibility for all I say and do and think, always question myself before blaming behaviour of others I'm interacting with, has afforded an insight into what is behind the words and actions of others. I often thought the behaviour of others was a reflection of my interaction with them, but when im being responsible I can see that's more often not the case at all. I'm still working on it, much work to do. Thankyou for the video. I'll explore more of your content in future.
Thank you for sharing your thoughts sir. Sounds like an excellent practice of responsibility. If everyone thought like this, habitually questioning their impressions of others and enquiring into how their own mind might have shaped them… imagine how different the world would be. Hats off to you sir! See you around.
This is amazing. I cant' believe I am not alone in this. After realizing how lost I have felt for years, I have come to practice meditation for some months now, and more recently dedicating more time to I Ching readings. Today it was the first time i spontaneously had an active imagination exercise, and I could tell how much work there is to be done in order to clean up my headspace. Honestly it's refreshing to know there is such a community dedicated to these practices, I am glad I'm not alone in this. As I've silently wished before in my journal entries... To all my fellow adventurers searching for yourselves in this world, I wish you the best of journeys!
Great work for beginning a meditation and active imagination practice. These are just two albeit very powerful techniques for inner work among many. The work is never truly 'done,' but there is a great difference between building a habit vs. not to your freedom and quality of life. Thanks for the comment and feel free to keep sharing your experiences. You might be interested to check out the playlist of guided exercises on this channel: ruclips.net/p/PLeuFwuWK5O2MMxqoPMkk9eEbVIrbwq-7B
Jung's work is remarkable and definitely one of the most important coming from the western world in his time. His work is significant today as an important tool to integrate our lost selves. His writing can be difficult to read and absorb at times, but programs like this can help us understand his concepts. Thank you for sharing this valuable video.
Hey, thank you for the comment and you're very welcome. I agree with you that Jung's work was remarkable. Not just his ingenuity but also the sheer volume of it. He made several key contributions that stand as valuable tools and continue to be built on today. The practice of active imagination is one which is still underutilised, even amongst Jungian analysts themselves, and not discussed often enough. Jung himself described it in a letter to a patient as "the indispensable second part of any analysis that is really meant to go to the roots." So it's fair to say he regarded it as important. I believe this technique, done properly, has a transformative capacity that could yield a huge amount of value in today's world, where a reconnection with the deeper parts of ourselves is so sorely needed. Your comment encourages me to make more content about Jung and his concepts. I am planning to release a practical programme in September that will discuss the 'how to' of active imagination in depth. I also incorporate the ideas of other thinkers in my work particularly some of the earlier German idealists.
This is my first exposure to the concept of active imagination and I now realise I do it already and love doing it, but felt like it was not ideal because of the meditation context. Though we shouldn’t need permission to think, I feel like this video has given me the permission to pursue my own practice! I found this especially interesting because I also practice tarot, so I love the idea that I can combine all 3
Hi there, wonderful to hear this video has given you some affirmation for what your mind has been inclined to do naturally. I also practice regular meditation and it plays an important role. However it is important to recognise there is nothing inherently wrong with imagination, thoughts or thinking. Quite the opposite - they play a vital role in spiritual development. That said, during active imagination the intention is not to think per se, but to open up a two-way dialogue between the conscious and unconscious minds, letting the unconscious present itself naturally. Whereas thinking alone is a more convergent, organising process. Welcome to the channel. I’d recommend checking out some of the guided exercises. You can practice exercises for the cards that appear in your birth chart or to delve deeper into cards from a particular reading. There are many tarot-based exercises available and we are on schedule to release ones for all of the major and minor arcana of the tarot by the middle of next year. Here is a link to the Active Imagination playlist: ruclips.net/p/PLeuFwuWK5O2MMxqoPMkk9eEbVIrbwq-7B
@@makeitconscious thank you. I’m glad this channel was recommended to me by RUclips, the algorithm obviously understands where I am at in my spiritual awakening. I already intend to check out your other resources. The birth card tarot sounds intriguing
Perhaps it was synchronicity, or manufactured synchronicity! Enjoy the rest of the content. You can learn more about the Tarot Birth Charts here: makeitconscious.com/step/tarot-birth-chart-reports/
@@makeitconscious it most certainly was synchronicity! I actually spent the last week consuming synchronicity content and now I’m experiencing the most mind blowing instances of synchronicity, this being case in point! 🙏
If you’re new to this kind of thing but feel any pull to look further, I’d say go for it! As a practitioner in a different but totally congruent path of knowledge, I can say “It works!” How it works for you and where you’ll go with it will be totally unique to you in your life. IMHO looking and working down a line of knowledge like this can be life changing … best of wishes!
I have personally found that taking a journey into your subconscious to be an incredibly challenging experience. This is because it causes you to face the guilt, trauma, and regrets, that you have been repressing.
I absolutely agree… confronting what is in our unconscious requires a huge amount of courage and effort. But it is always worthwhile. It’s through engaging with the unconscious that we come to transmute our challenges and difficult experiences into valuable gifts. Thank you for sharing your experience; it's through such honesty that we can all find encouragement on this journey.
Thank you very much and well done. It sounds like you have done an amazing job with your active imagination practice. It certainly is a very transformative technique. If you haven't yet, I recommend checking out the new series Beyond the Limen, a seven part introduction to active imagination. It goes a little deeper into the theory and practice of the technique, with each part starting with a 10-15 minute talk. Part 6 is due to be released this week: ruclips.net/p/PLeuFwuWK5O2OvmSpHOqOPlcOQJUnHcZZa Thanks again for your comment and excellent work dedicating yourself to engaging with the unconscious mind.
Well said... I think this is where faith comes in on the individuation journey. A knowing that what is on the other side of our struggle will make it all worthwhile, even though it often does not, or even can not, feel that way in the midst of it. Glad to hear you are interested in the divination arts. My next longform video will be about this topic and is currently in editing. Watch this space... and thank you for the comment ❤️.
Thank you for this channel! I have just started this practice and so happy that you have guided sessions. Your voice and the art work are fantastic. Keep doing this important work.
Wonderful! Thank you for your kind comment. Great that you are practicing active imagination and using the guided exercises. I've only been releasing those for just over a year, and am currently working towards completing the tarot and astrological series by the Spring. I also plan to publish more longform video articles like this one. Your support and encouragement are appreciated. Feel free to share your experiences in the comments sections if you would like an interpretation.
Good tone , good thought/speech ebb and flow. Will listen again. Didn't watch much just listened in the back ground as I prepared tea and prepared to rest. Im having difficulty with grief and vision of a life with living its difficult i don't actually know what i want i know more about what i dont want. If that makes sense some people just know exactly what they want its crazy to me there are so many choices.
Thank you for the kind comment. I'm sorry to hear of your grief. Knowing ourselves often comes about as a process of learning what we are not and what we don't want. Whilst some might appear to know exactly what they want, many are really avoiding their true selves through the multitude of choices available. The pursuit of self-knowledge is a never ending exploration. This phase you are in is temporary and has the potential to lead to greater awareness and freedom on the other side. Keep going. Active imagination could be a useful practice for you to uncover your true self's vision, as well as work through some of these current challenges. You could try starting with the exercise Journey into the Depths for insight into what's just under the surface of conscious awareness: ruclips.net/video/JoyoHqlUz58/видео.html All the best and feel free to comment and ask questions any time.
thank you. I was distressed because I was typing out the experience and dialogue when all I wanted to do was just be immersed in the experience. This was so helpful
You're very welcome! I'm glad to hear that the tips were helpful. While there is a place for recording the dialogue in real time, it's also true that our ancestors communicated with the unconscious long before the advent of writing tools. Sometimes, the most important thing is simply to have the conversation whilst remaining present with it. Reflection can always continue later, and if there's a crucial message, rest assured it will make itself known when needed. Nothing is lost. It sounds like you've made an excellent adjustment in letting go of an expectation about how to do active imagination. Finding a method that aligns with yourself is key to the individuation journey. Well done on navigating this aspect of the process.
You don’t really go into detail about “active imagination” enough , honestly it sounds like a 100 words essay stretched into a 500 page book. Especially with you saying “active imagination “ 1000 times. Great video , love the analogies but if this was more than just a 5 min topic stretched into 30 min for more than a purpose of just extended watch time , more of the video should be on what active imagination is specifically. And Not just the 1-3 min intro you gave it, which didn’t really touch on anything specific btw. May blessings come your way , we appreciate the content 🙏🏽
I appreciate your engagement with the video but, while I'm open to constructive feedback, I’m wondering whether your comment was given with wholly kind or constructive intentions. What do you think? It also contains a number of misunderstandings and inaccuracies. But that’s OK, we can put this all right… This video, adapted from the article ‘Active Imagination: Exploring the Unconscious Mind’ on makeitconscious.com, has a script of under 4000 words, not “100 words stretched into a 500 page book.” The term “active imagination” was mentioned 65 times, not 1000, which seems within the bounds of what is reasonable given the topic and format. Although some might prefer fewer mentions, this is a subjective matter rather than an objective one. I will take your view into consideration for future videos. The video was intended to provide an overview of active imagination, its benefits, and practical tips to accompany the guided exercises on this channel. Information around “what active imagination is” is interspersed throughout the video, not only during the ‘What is Active Imagination’ section, which ends at 3:13. As above, there are 65 mentions of the term "active imagination," most of which offer information relevant to "what active imagination is.” This video was not intended to provide an exhaustive, detailed guide to active imagination. Although, creating a deeper, detailed guide is something we are considering. There was no intention to “stretch the video for extended watch time.” Such an approach would not produce valuable content. It would not have been possible to adequately cover all of these topics - including the benefits, the comparison to meditation, guided vs. unguided practice and tips for how to maximise your practice - in a five minute video as you have suggested. I’m wondering if this particular point is more a reflection of your own expectations - perhaps some impatience and difficulties with maintaining your attention? It’s common and understandable in today’s world. If so, this experience presents a valuable opportunity for insight and inner work through the practice of active imagination, since that is something you are interested in. If, after seeing this video and comment, you feel you do not have an idea of what “active imagination is specifically,” then you are still welcome to ask questions and provide any constructive feedback. I will gladly respond in the interests of mutual benefit. I can also recommend exercises for you that may be suited to any particular challenges you are facing currently. Lastly, it would also be helpful for me to understand - who is the “we” you are referring to - are you speaking on behalf of yourself or others?
Seriously?! I read your first sentence and took it for sarcasm until I continued. Are you intoxicated? It was very well described all around with specific examples in each subtopic. Perhaps you should watch again. If you still don't understand the concept, you're maybe not meant to yet. Stop trying to "jump rank"...don't try for what can't be attained. That will completely hinder the process this technique is trying to progress.
I liked the video very much and your voice is very lovely to listen too. Thank you for effort of making this video. ❤ Making videos is tough probably why I'm not making them lol. Stay encouraged.
@poloparker8624 I’m glad you thought the concept was well described and that you found the video useful. Perhaps we’re all intoxicated to a degree 🙂. My reply to @zakthomas2473 was aiming to highlight how his own reactions to the video were at least in part a reflection of his presenting challenges. Taking responsibility for the mind and our reactions in this way is important for inner work. At the same time, I’ve taken his opinions into consideration even though I don’t entirely agree with them. It’s good that he has expressed an interest in active imagination and I have no doubt he could benefit greatly provided he cultivates this kind of intention and attitude. Let’s try to be encouraging so that when people are ready they have the best possible conditions to do so. Thanks for the encouragement and positive feedback on the video. Maybe see you around.
Glad you liked the video. Yes, considering how powerful the technique of active imagination is, it deserves to be discussed and practiced more widely. I plan to offer some self-study content on the technique, due for release later this year. In the meantime guided exercises are still being published regularly, along with extended versions on the sister podcast. Thanks for your comment and sharing your thoughts.
You're very welcome sir. Thank you for your comment and appreciation. There will be more content about active imagination in future that goes deeper into how to practice both guided and unguided. You might be interested to check out the playlist of guided exercises on this channel if you have not already: ruclips.net/p/PLeuFwuWK5O2MMxqoPMkk9eEbVIrbwq-7B
You're welcome! Glad you liked the video and thanks for the comment. You might enjoy the two part Divination series which is done in a similar style: ruclips.net/p/PLeuFwuWK5O2NCUr11ZJRmaXuwTfvScrwf
Thank you for sharing the timestamp for where these exercises are mentioned. Here are the links to these exercises for those who'd like to do them: The Shadow Room - ruclips.net/video/ZCpVVQyyqRs/видео.html Emotional Integration Meditation (13 minute version) - ruclips.net/video/-Po9iqlAG9k/видео.html Emotional Integration Meditation (20 min extended version) - ruclips.net/video/61SE-FBlxOY/видео.html
Thank you very much! Glad you found the video useful and the podcast too. I plan to continue with the MiC podcast again in the next few months to continue talking about all things self-knowledge and psychology. In the meantime I am releasing guided exercises to the sister podcast Inner Work Exercises. There will also be an active imagination self-study course released in September. Thanks for the comment and maybe see you around 🌟🔥
I love the artwork in this video. It’s symbolic and thought provoking. Almost like a visual meditation in and of itself 😊 thank you for sharing about active imagination. I had never heard about this type of meditation before. After trying to survive off solely eastern style mindfulness meditation and not getting very far in my spiritual journey, I’m excited to try this practice and see where it can take me. I started a practice of High Magick recently and this practice should align nicely with that ☺️
Thank you for the kind comment. Great to hear you are new to active imagination and looking to give it a try. There is certainly a place for eastern style meditation, and it can help support you to go deep in active imagination, cultivating your relationship with the unconscious mind. I find it is best used in conjunction with other dedicated inner work practices. Check out the playlist of guided active imagination exercises if you have not already seen it: ruclips.net/p/PLeuFwuWK5O2MMxqoPMkk9eEbVIrbwq-7B Some good exercises to start with are The Wall, Journey Into the Depths or any of the tarot or astrology based exercises. Feel free to share your experiences in the comments or ask questions any time. Strength to you on your journey!
You raise a good point about the need for introspection in the pursuit of self knowledge. Your experience of being able to access your imagination better when not speaking to others is a common one. This is great that you understand this about yourself. The ability to practice deep introspection is vital to the individuation journey, regardless of whether one has a preference for introversion or extraversion. Active imagination and meditation, both dedicated practices, are generally performed without speaking to other people during an exercise. This allows for a more immersive experience and clearer access to the unconscious mind. There are some exceptions such as where a coach or therapist and client agree to engage in a dialogue during the exercise, as opposed to merely give and receive instruction and review the experience afterwards. However this approach can certainly come at a trade off against full immersion in the experience. When regarding the broader set of actions required for individuation however, the ability to engage with the world is also vital. This includes being able to communicate with other people skilfully, in a way that moves us forward. Our encounters with the world are the cornerstone of how we come to know ourselves. I discuss some of this in more detail in the short eguide The Way of Individuation, which you might like to read. You can sign up and receive a free copy here: makeitconscious.com/sevenhabits/
Amazing job lad im 55 uneducated and you bring a sparc of hope. I didnt heed his bloody warning about following him. Got lost for a while until i seen his interview. CGJ
Thank you sir. I agree a bit of hope is welcomed, and I think that engaging with the deepest parts of ourselves is the ‘critical path’ for the development of western culture. Techniques like active imagination can play a significant role in this endeavour. If you’re new to active imagination, I recommend checking out the playlist on this channel and performing some of the guided exercises. Good ones to start with are: Journey into the Depths, The Wall and Dream Re-entry: ruclips.net/p/PLeuFwuWK5O2MMxqoPMkk9eEbVIrbwq-7B Many do idolise Jung and project various aspects and archetypes onto him. It’s understandable, and I think intense experiences of projection withdrawal are unavoidable and necessary rites of passage on the path of individuation. You’re welcome to get in touch or book a call via the website if you feel there’s more to unpack and would like to talk it through.
Good overview of the topic. There are many techniques developed over time that utilize one’s imagination, I clouding guided visualization, for the purpose of healing, gaining awareness of oneself, etc.
It’s not just you. This video does not include a detailed guide of how to practice active imagination. This video was intended to accompany the guided exercises on this channel and provide an introduction to the technique, an overview of its benefits, its relation to similar techniques and its role in developing the conscious mind. It does however offer some tips for getting the most out of your practice, whether practicing on your own or using the guided exercises on this channel. You might have seen some of these since it sounds like you watched the whole video - they include practicing skilful and kind communication with the unconscious mind, just as one would endeavour to do in daily life. As well as to cultivate wholesome intentions. This is because, as Jung said: “We know that the mask of the unconscious is not rigid - it reflects the face we turn toward it. Hostility lends it a threatening aspect, friendliness softens its features” That said, a more detailed guide on how to practice is something we are considering to produce if there’s interest. What do you think? What interests you about active imagination?
@@makeitconscious I want to know how to do it, so I can practice it. I've already been practicing meditation for many decades. I've done some work with a dream journal as well. I have some idea of how the conscious mind interacts with the subconscious, but I would like to strengthen that interaction. I would defn be interested in a video that talks about how to do it. Hope you do produce it.
Great to know you’re looking to take up an active imagination practice in earnest. Your experience with meditation will come in useful in connecting with the unconscious and facing what comes up in active imagination. I’d recommend starting with some of the guided exercises on this channel. The exercises Journey Into the Depths, Your Inner Compass and Dream Re-entry and Exploration are good ones to try first. But feel free to check out any from the playlist here: ruclips.net/p/PLeuFwuWK5O2MMxqoPMkk9eEbVIrbwq-7B&si=CWYq--7BFiIpv0Wo Thanks also for expressing an interest in some more explanatory ‘how-to’ content. As mentioned before, I have been considering to release some more detailed instructional content, including a course and guidance on how to practice unguided. It’s good to know that you and others would be interested in this. Look out for further videos on this as well as guided freeform exercises, which will feature less guidance and more space. There is so much to be said on how to practice active imagination and I won’t be able to do it the justice that it deserves here. But with those considerable caveats, if you’d like to give it a try on your own, you can use the following general sequence alongside the tips given in the video: 1 - Begin with a ‘seed’ in mind. It can be a presenting feeling or upset, a challenge you are struggling to overcome, a dream that felt unfinished, or any other kind of energy or archetype you recognise as needing to be worked with. 2 - Clear out the mind. Basic meditation is one of the best ways to do this. Take as long as you need. 3 - Invite the unconscious. Enter a scene, and be open to your seed appearing. Allow it to form as any kind of figure or symbol without attempting to edit or control it in any way. 4 - Engage in a dialogue. This is the main bulk of the exercise. Let the unconscious communicate. It may happen in words, but also actions or visuals. Then, you can return and communicate whatever you would like to it, maintaining an ethical approach. Do this until a natural close. 5 - Journal and reflect on the experience. It often helps to interpret it symbolically. 6 - Put your takeaways into action in daily life. It’s important to maintain non-judgement throughout and let the process unfold in whatever way it needs to, without attempting to edit or control it. Meet the unconscious as an equal and hear it out. Performing some of the guided exercise first might give you inspiration and an idea of the structure in practice that might be helpful for moving onto unguided. There is a place for both styles. I’d be interested to hear how you get on 🙂.
I really enjoyed this presentation. You have an excellent speaking voice. This is my first time hearing about this. Definitely going to be checking it out. Thank you.
Thank you very much! Great that you are discovering active imagination for the first time. Check out the playlist of guided exercises on this channel. Some good exercises to start with are Journey Into the Depths, The Wall and Your Inner Compass. As you become familiar with the technique you could progress to the Shadow exercises: ruclips.net/p/PLeuFwuWK5O2MMxqoPMkk9eEbVIrbwq-7B&si=uG-5HtgeYwGrAvcb It's also helpful to practice unguided active imagination. I plan to release more instructional content in the future around how to practice unguided. Enjoy the content and feel free to share your experiences 🙂.
Excellent pictures Depicting depicting active imagination. If you break it down symbolically and metaphorical it definitely gives you some insight into what the unconscious is trying to communicate . Note two: an ego-consciousness That is aware of this dynamic process Thank you so much
Thank you for your positive feedback! Good to hear that you've been gaining insight from practicing active imagination. The images are mostly created using Midjourney AI. I have been practicing with it recently and am currently working on another video article in a similar style. The aim is to supplement what is being said symbolically, as well as to help convey what the words can't easily capture.
That's great! Some people have very ready access to the unconscious. It sounds like you are among them! For some people, creating art can be used as part of the practice of active imagination, as a way to express the unconscious. Jung himself drew mandalas. Some dance, others sculpt. The practice of active imagination and doing inner work more generally will also feed back into the kind of art one makes and how they express themselves. In this way it can support the creation of art, although its primary intention and benefit is in helping to resolve inner conflict and gain self-knowledge. There are many ways to perform active imagination and I believe that everybody can benefit from it, especially with practice over time. You might be interested to check out some of the guided exercises on this channel. If you are especially creative, The Creator Archetype exercise might be an easy one to start with and get a feel for the method ruclips.net/video/5YzkCkIWE-g/видео.html. Once familiar, you could try some of the other exercises, particularly ones that echo people or situations you've found challenging.
I began doing divination somewhat spontaneously a few years ago, by a method of reading words in images. A kind of pareidolia. At the time it lead to alot of fantasy and some delusion. I had let go of the delusion and the divination, but I have recently allowed myself to engage in it again, with my rational mind more firmly grounded. Relating it to this practice of conversing with the unconscious and active imagination is reassuring. It can be healthy and useful and not just some madness that beset me.
Great that you are engaging with meaning again whilst remaining grounded in rational thought. Some of your points resonate with a recent MiC blog series called Why Divination is Real (perhaps you read it?). My next video article will be based on this series and discuss some of these exact points around divination, so look out for that. There can certainly be danger in divination where it is applied incorrectly, superstitiously or with unproductive intentions. However when approached with the aim of uncovering self-knowledge, all of experience is meaningful. As Jung purportedly said - “Synchronicity is an ever-present reality for those who have eyes to see.” Although I cannot seem to find an exact source to confirm he actually said it, it captures the point well. Everyday life is the primary way we get to know ourselves and is laden with meaning. There is even insight to be found in danger, fantasy and delusion, as it is overcome. It sounds like your experiences from a few years ago still held some profound value for you. Thanks for engaging and it’s great to hear you are taking a proactive and grounded approach towards your own self-discovery. Excellent stuff…
@@makeitconscious thanks for your response. I will def check out that blog series. What I experienced in medical terms would be described as a full psychotic departure from reality, a dissolving of boundaries of the subcobconcious and imagination onto reality. but I'm also convinced I was tapped into a deeper enchanted reality or source we all have access to. Despite its destructive aspects and delusion, like believing i was going to summon a dragon back into this realm, I never felt more alive. Ha, that said Fantasy properly understood with the ego in check is a valid means.
Your experience was real - at least as an experience. That can’t be denied. Although the meaning you draw from it is subjective. It’s healthy to be equally as sceptical of medical opinions as it is of the spurious conclusions often drawn from such experiences. Being labelled as psychotic is unlikely to help. I don’t think there was anything wrong with your mind. It sounds like the mind doing exactly what it is supposed to do when there is a mass of unconscious material trying to come to the surface and make contact with the conscious mind. And in experiencing this you glimpsed some vital insights into the nature of mind and reality. We might have to go to the brink of insanity and back again in order to know true sanity. In fact this is not a return to sanity, it’s becoming sane for the first ever time. Enjoy the blog post and I hope it contains some useful insights for you…
I'm curious about the prompts you used in Midjourney for generating these images(especially the ones at 0:45 and 1:15). Also about the art style. Wonderful video btw. All the best for the future content
Thank you! Glad you liked the video. I recently released another one in a similar style about the Divination Arts. Part 2 of that series is also in the works. I use a range of approaches for generating the prompts in Midjourney, usually incorporating some of the text itself or creating some other instruction to express a point. All images need to be relevant to their corresponding passage. Some are more precisely tailored, whilst others are geared more for aesthetics whilst remaining relevant. For some, the relationship is obscure and only the highly symbolically literate will make the link. It’s quite a painstaking process and as much as I enjoy it I have recently outsourced some of it for Divination Part 2. If you’d like to create similar images you could try reverse engineering it using the /describe or weighting functions in Midjourney. If you get in touch via the website I’d be glad to send you those ones as high res: makeitconscious.com/contact
Hey, the form sometimes take a moment to appear. See if it shows up after a couple of seconds at the bottom of the page here: makeitconscious.com/sevenhabits/ If that doesn't work please get in touch via the website. I'll send you a copy on email and look into the issue.... Thanks!
There is perhaps more in common between genuine eastern 'non-dualism' and western mysticism than meets the eye. But existence would be better described as dual rather than non-dual, and the journey towards wholeness rather than one-ness. Moving forwards means engaging with the whole of life and turning negation and challenge into greater realisation and freedom. Non-dualism and the idea of direct realisation, whilst having value, can be used as a bypass and a cover for what is really moving backwards into the womb. Active imagination on the other hand is used to move towards what exists and reconcile with it. A genuine pursuit of self-hood can lead to direct realisation but if this is something the ego wants to 'will' into experience then this itself highlights a conflict. I would not put non-dualism and idealism in the same category. When I think of idealism I think of the idealist philosophers, particularly the German thinkers of the 18th/19th centuries namely Fichte, Schelling and Hegel, who all offered invaluable insights into the nature and workings of mind. I have found the western tradition offers a more accurate and useful model of mind.
Thanks for the question... I think that the notion of a collective unconscious is a useful model for understanding certain truths about the nature of mind and existence. In particular the idea that there are psychic templates to our experience which are shared among all humans. These are what Jung called archetypes. Jung posited that the unconscious can be thought of in terms of both the personal and collective unconscious. So whilst not all unconscious material is collective, the collective unconscious is an aggregate of all experience, and hence our own experiences are also influencing the collective unconscious. The boundary between the personal and the collective may therefore not be as neatly defined as might be assumed from the theory alone. In my view, Jung was not trying to make a definite case as to the ultimate nature of reality. His work was focused on the process of individuation, which is not an end point but a journey. Human existence must be a journey, and Jung’s work gives us some very useful maps for navigating it in the direction of wholeness. I hope this clarifies the concept for you. If you have any specific questions about how the collective unconscious works, feel free to ask a follow up.
Thanks for your response. I was never sure whether Jung held the view that we were connected in some way (psychic) or that we were born with certain templates that are common, and so the similarities in dreams would use the templates. His observations of multiple people with disturbed dreams before the outbreak of the Great War suggested the former, but I was not convinced. With all things occult, I find it difficult to isolate and eliminate the psychological interpretation.@@makeitconscious
You raise a good question and I can relate to your drive to understand the precise workings of mind. As far as I know Jung never explicitly stated that we are connected psychically, although there are aspects of his work that would seem to imply it. He sought to ground his theories in empirical evidence while also acknowledging the mystery and depth of the human psyche beyond what can be empirically measured or observed. My own experience has led me to think the unconscious is something we are all accessing and contributing to at all times. However the precise workings of the mind will always be at least in part a mystery. There have been many occasions where I could not find the answers that I wanted. But there has never been a time when I could not, with the right intentions, find the answers that I needed. I’m sure Jung viewed life in a similar light. He knew he did not have all the answers, but he coined the process of individuation and encouraged individuals to follow their own lines of self-enquiry. I’d be interested to know where your own path of enquiry into psychic matters leads you 🙂.
My own path has led me to some interesting ideas, but I do not have the space to discuss them here. However, I see great value in making the unconscious conscious.@@makeitconscious
Tonight I was practicing mindfulness and felt like i became aware of an enitity who said I was picked for a reason. I felt something drop into the middle part of my brain or connect maybe. I would not have thought more of it but i decided to go to sleep I found this is what happened now I can explain it. My conscious and unconscious mind came into a dialogue. At first It was strange and very abstract. It was clear that they where at odds and structured differently or encoded for better word. I found ways of communicating with this other part of my mind. Can some one explain what may be going on as I was fully aware and able to apply logic. I found it strange but was confident im not going mad lol this video described in part what happened. What do I do now? can someone help please
Welcome to the channel… It sounds like you had a profound and intriguing experience while practicing mindfulness, leading to a spontaneous encounter with your unconscious. Experiences of communicating with another entity and sensing physical changes are not uncommon when practicing mindfulness or in deep states of meditation. Active imagination is intended to deliberately cultivate this dialogue between the conscious and unconscious minds. Your experience highlights a conflict between different aspects of yourself, which is a key focus of active imagination. Your conscious self was able to continue engaging with this other part of you with full awareness and logic. This can be a peculiar experience at first, since it often goes against what the conscious ego understands about itself and mind. It’s good that you were able to remain grounded as this will allow for a healthy integration of its insights into your daily life. As for next steps, you could consider revisiting this scene through active imagination, bringing to mind the aspect of your unconscious you encountered. Did it take a particular form? There may be exercises on this channel, such as the ones for Jungian archetypes, that align with the form you encountered. Experiences such as the one you had, where the conscious and unconscious seem at odds, are typical of encounters with the Shadow. In any case the ‘Conversation with the Shadow’ exercise can help clarify and integrate these shadow aspects. You can find this here: ruclips.net/video/yjwA4h-dg2k/видео.html&ab_channel=MakeItConscious. Continuing your mindfulness practice, with an emphasis on both bare attention and clear comprehension, will help create space for insights to arise. Thank you for sharing your experience. Feel free to continue sharing and asking questions as you explore further.
Fabulous pictures which would feed into the imagination. Where did they come from? Am a former Jungian analysand so very much familiar with concepts mentioned, but am eager to try active imagination as it was not unfortunately part of the analysis. I think because the Jungian therapist had also studied Freudian analysis which, quite honestly, I cannot relate to. Am also tinkering with astrology and how it connects to The Tarot. Exciting days ahead 🎉🎉🎉🎉
Thank you and glad you liked the video! I created the images using Midjourney AI. The aim is to supplement what is being said symbolically, as well as to help convey what the words can't easily capture. That said, the use of AI for making images seems to be upsetting to some, even within the context of a supposed interest in self-realisation. Interesting to know you underwent Jungian analysis and it’s great that you are now looking to try active imagination. I consider it a vital part of the individuation process and it’s indeed unfortunate that some analysts do not practice or teach it. It was transformational for Jung himself and a key part of his contribution to psychology. I received your order for a Tarot Birth Chart too and will deliver your report to you tomorrow on email. It will provide more info on how the tarot, astrology and numerology link together in your chart specifically. I recommend checking out the playlist of guided active imagination exercises. The tarot and astrological series is nearly complete: ruclips.net/p/PLeuFwuWK5O2MMxqoPMkk9eEbVIrbwq-7B You might also be interested in my recent video on the Divination Arts. Part 2 is also in the works: ruclips.net/video/mk90_1kJRB0/видео.html Thanks again and speak soon...
Thanks and glad you liked the video. I am somewhat familiar with J. Krishnamurti. I resonate with his message that truth cannot be wholly captured in a teaching or ideology, and his warnings against spiritual authority. Thanks for the recommendation.
Thanks for the video. I have read Jung's Red Book and found it very fascinating. Since then, I have tried to learn the technique of active imagination. I'm still not sure I know how to do it.
You’re very welcome… Thank you for the comment… Even though Jung conceived of active imagination as a practice, established the concept and wrote extensively about his experiences, he did not lay out a defined method for it as such. Others since, notably Robert Johnson and Marie-Louise Von Franz have expanded on his work to develop their techniques. There is no one single technique for practicing active imagination. However what defines the practice is an intentional engagement with unconscious material, for the purposes of deepening a relationship with that material and the unconscious more widely. You can use a range of ‘seeds’ for this purpose, around which to invite unconscious material to appear - such as feelings, patterns, desires, somatic symptoms and symbols like tarot cards. There is a series of guided exercises available on this channel which can help you get familiar with engaging with unconscious material. I recommend starting with exercises like The Wall or Your Inner Compass or, if you are feeling confident, The Shadow Room: ruclips.net/p/PLeuFwuWK5O2MMxqoPMkk9eEbVIrbwq-7B&si=yokqnibOnKLYzdk5 There has been some interest in more instructional content. I am working on a series that will offer detailed guidance on how to practice active imagination unguided. The aim will be to equip you to practice in your own time in a freeform way. Watch this space 😉.
Thank you for the encouragement! The channel's growth has accelerated over these last few months. We have more video articles like this one in the works alongside the schedule of guided exercises. Watch this space...
Hello. If you are looking for the playlist of guided exercises, you can find this here: ruclips.net/p/PLeuFwuWK5O2MMxqoPMkk9eEbVIrbwq-7B I recommend starting with The Wall, Journey into the Depths, or exercises that correspond to your astrological or Tarot Birth Chart. Feel free to ask any questions as you go.
So….there is an entire method of active meditation that was created by Edward Steinbrecher back in the 70s, based on Jung’s concept of active imagination, and it incorporates the tarot, astrology, and Kabbalah (which are all deeply interwoven already). It might be a good idea to read his book, ‘The Inner Guide Meditation,’ both because he already mapped out a whole technology for this practice that might provide some helpful structure and because it would be good practice for you to credit the earlier lineage of these ideas that came before. But to the first point in particular, archetypal energies are nothing to sneeze at. Particularly for people whose mental health might be frayed or in crisis, if they were to try just cruising into the psyche and confront archetypal energies without proper guardrails it could be dangerous. The Inner Guide method maps all of this out and it was developed over many years through a lot of testing. Perhaps you have already heard of it and just didn’t mention it in the video, but, it’s a major part of the tradition you’re working with here, so I thought it should be mentioned.
There are many variations of practices that could fall under what we now call ‘active imagination,’ running back thousands of years. Edwin Steinbrecher himself credits Jung with having rediscovered this ancient tool. I am certainly not the first to suggest meditating on the energies represented by tarot cards No doubt Steinbrecher’s work offers valuable contributions. I don’t personally consider it to be “the earlier lineage,” as I don’t think there is any one, fixed line of people and practices for engaging with the unconscious mind. I’m not sure Steinbrecher’s method is as definitive or rigorous as you suggest, but it certainly contains many unique and useful features. His approach for prescribing exercises based on an astrological chart is insightful. I hope I have not suggested that anyone sneeze at archetypes. I discuss the importance of understanding and intention in this video and the guided exercises on this channel. However it’s also important to encourage bravely facing the unconscious rather than perpetuating fear of it. Active imagination cannot ‘cause’ a problem, but it can shine a light on what is there. That said, if there is anything specific in this video or guided exercises on this channel which in your view are not proper, then feel free to raise them so they can be addressed.
You’re welcome and thank you for the kind comment. Sure, I can answer your question about autosuggestion and fear. By autosuggestion I think you are referring to the tendency of the ego to control and edit the experience, or to try and produce a pre-conceived result. Effectively this produces an imbalanced or one-way interaction where the ego is attempting to exert its will on the unconscious. This can also happen inadvertently, particularly where the experience becomes uncomfortable or seems non-sensical to the ego. Hence it’s important to maintain a two-way dialogue between the conscious and unconscious minds. Fear also relates to this, since fear and overcoming fear plays a key role in individuation. It is often the sign that points the way. If we become fearful during active imagination, we might react by trying to overcome the encounter with the will of the ego, or to escape it. Both of these are reactions that push fear away rather than reconcile with it. The way forward is found in the middle. It’s important to endure fear gently, not aggressively, but also to not back away at the first sign of it. As for some tips that can help with autosuggestion and fear, the first is to develop the understanding that what you are experiencing are aspects of ‘you.’ They exist to serve you as a whole being, even if it may not seem that way to the conscious ego. But by integrating this understanding into the ego, you can improve your relationship to what comes up, find meaning in the struggle and use it as opportunity for growth and freedom. The second tip would be to consciously set your intention from the outset to maintain a two-way dialogue between conscious and unconscious minds. This counts for a lot in reducing the tendency for autosuggestion, as well as for recoiling from fear. The third tip is in the practice itself, and that is to practice mindfulness. Specifically, to recognise what is happening in the moment, spot any inclinations to edit or control the experience and give bare attention to feelings of fear as they arise, clearing the path for insight to appear. This is a practice that you will improve at over time. Don’t expect to get it right first time or every time, but persevere and you will learn how best to find that middle way for you. If you try to take on too much at once and it becomes overwhelming, you can stop the exercise and adjust your approach. The mind will usually only present us with what we are capable of tolerating, but meeting it requires a degree of confidence in your ability to bear it, and faith that it is justified by what is on the other side. If you’d like to go deeper, my overarching advice for addressing both of the issues you raised is to bring the practice of all Seven Habits of Individuation into your active imagination sessions. You can read about these in a short eguide which is available on the website at: makeitconscious.com/sevenhabits/
Hello, very grateful for your quick and complete response, I tried for the first time and a man appeared, I noticed that at first one projects desirable images, like childhood toys, etc. It could be that it is a form of "FRAGMENTATION" of the personality and then JOIN IT? thank you so much!@@makeitconscious
Hi, good question Nathan. There is no fixed duration recommended for working with each of the arcana or the archetypes. As elements of the objective psyche, it is recommended to cultivate a relationship to each of them, emphasising ones that you have a known struggle with or aversion to. You will know when you have been successful in this as the archetypes will relate to you in a more friendly and wholesome way. However this too, like any relationship, is not fixed, so it is recommended to continue to engage with them as needed and as time goes on. It can be insightful to see how your relationships with them change and unfold over time, and how they respond to your efforts to cultivate them.
Active Imagination is a transformative practice developed by Swiss psychologist Carl Jung, that offers a path towards attaining wholeness of mind by accessing the unconscious. By engaging with the unconscious mind and fostering open communication with it, individuals can uncover and integrate aspects of themselves that may have remained hidden or repressed. Whilst I agree with you that there is more to be explained and discussed about active imagination beyond what was contained within this half hour long video, I would not agree that the “entire video is a waste of time” and that the concept of active imagination is “never explained.” I don’t personally think that regarding time as a resource that must not be “wasted” is the most accurate or useful way to think about time, particularly in the context of inner work. I think that every experience, even the frustrating ones, can be valuable in reflecting aspects of our own mind and pointing out where our work lies. What about you? What brings you to the subject of active imagination? If you are looking to learn more, you are welcome to ask constructive questions or check out the other videos on this channel.
Its been a while, sir. Do you have any recommendations on what should i do with my lazy self and low attention span? I didn't tell you I was a girl in my previous comment and you calling me sir was quite funny. I understand because of my profile pictures but I just find it really funny, Sir also thank you sir for helping me and others on this journey.
I don't journal the results...I take a picture of the spread with cards positioned from reading...they have their own file on a phone used only for self soul seeking...just a suggestion. I always dI'd handwrite results and name of spread next to the date...the phone timestamps photo capturing all other details in very little space with virtually none being physical.
Can you please clarify - are you looking for specific references to where Jung mentions the words "spiritual growth," or are you disputing the notion that Jung's work was concerned with spirituality?
Pure consciousness, the ultimate truth = 456 = 6, English, In Chaldean = 138 = 3. Active Imagination is a transformative practice = 457 = 7, English, In Chaldean = 138 = 3. Amen/Name/ç # Major/108
I wonder if you might have been expecting a detailed ‘how-to’ guide on the practice of unguided active imagination? If so, this was not the intended purpose of this particular video. This video was intended to accompany the guided exercises on this channel, providing an introduction to the technique, an overview of its benefits, its relation to similar techniques and its role in developing the conscious mind. It was adapted from an earlier article on makeitconscious.com. There are 65 mentions of the words “active imagination” including titles and headers, not 451. None of these 65 are arbitrary or without context, but each link to some piece of information relating to 'the practice’ of active imagination. You will notice that this channel features a large range of guided active imagination exercises, and it is my intention to continue publishing content, including instructional material on how to practice unguided and maximise the benefits. There is so much more than can be said in support of the practice generally, and it would not be possible to compile everything related to this topic into one 30 minute video. I do nonetheless describe some of the pre-requisites for active imagination and inner work more generally. I will reiterate that it’s generally best to drop all expectations - take responsibility for your mind and experience, and cultivate wholesome intentions. Unless you build on these foundations, then any ‘how-to’ guide explaining the mechanics of active imagination will be of little use. Certainly speaking to your unconscious in the way you have written to me today would not be beneficial. If there is some other way you feel the content was lacking, and would like to 'explain how' I might go about improving it, then I welcome you to reframe your critique in a way that is constructive. This would be beneficial for us both. I'm sure with this shift you stand to benefit well from the practice and the exercises on this channel.
Most of the images are not of "primarily young beautiful slender women." There are also men in the video, as you have noticed, amongst a wide range of other images. That said, beauty (and wisdom, power, etc) is also in the eye of the beholder.
💫🌎✨He that would perfect himself in any art whatsoever, let him betake himself to the reading of some sure and certain work upon his art many times over; for to read many books upon your art produceth confusion rather than learning
I love learning. But after 7 minutes of introductory talk, I got bored with this video. It seems to me more about keeping you watching than actually teaching you anything useful.
@@makeitconscious Maybe respect other peoples time though? As is this is a monotone monologue, with pretentious pregnant pauses and sibilant noises. You sound like a snake oil salesman using NLP manipulation techniques - the capstone at the end is of course the "course" that we can download.
@@BarringtonDailey Meditation and active imagination are not about achieving a result as fast as possible in order to "respect time." The idea is, in part, to let go of the need to produce a pre-determined result within a specified timeframe. This video was made according to the same ethos, to accompany the guided active imagination exercises on this channel which have all been offered freely. I do not use "NLP manipulation techniques." I discuss mind control techniques at length in the MiC podcast and how to spot and avoid them. MiC is precisely about how to gain self knowledge and freedom rather than outsourcing wisdom to other people. That too is what active imagination is about. I do have a course in the works although nothing released at this time. Perhaps you believe that everything should be offered freely, but then this would hardly be respecting other people's time. What do you think?
You raise a value concern about the quality and intentions of therapists. It is true that there are many who have entered the helping professions with unwholesome intentions, hoping to use their work as a way to avoid their own unresolved challenges. It’s important to be discerning and allow ourselves to see such behaviour clearly. Regarding the video, its primary focus is on the technique of active imagination, rather than advocating for therapy per se. Active imagination can be a self-guided practice as well, and we are releasing a playlist of guided practices on RUclips for this purpose. Whether doing the work with or without professional help, it is vital to build on a foundation of taking responsibility for the mind and cultivating wholesome intentions. This is the only way to ultimately turn our challenges and experiences into opportunities for growth. If we find ourselves in a pattern of attracting a certain kind of situation or character, this is always a valuable opportunity for insight.
active imagination only works on minds that is already active... simply put, the mind of natural thinker! lazy and hates to work that repetitive. Jung have that natural gift... one can know this by noticing how observant he is. His mind is already in active imagination which is optimal condition where subsconcious will interplay. But Jung isnt a typical thinker like everyone else... his natural gift isnt something natural. But a gift that able to passdown the message from metaphyiscal realm to this realm. He one of the notable footnotes thats change course of history because it is time to change. Having active resolution of emotional challenges can get people further than deal things like Jung. Coz in that realm? Emotions must not effect the empirical outcomes. One most have fragile emotions and have any personal family or community issues. Any person who are dealings with emotional balance? You will be more troubled than settled emotionally!
I agree with you that Jung’s deep capacity for thinking and intuition played a role in his profound understanding of the mind and the development of practices like active imagination. However I would not agree that active imagination is only for those who are ‘natural thinkers.’ In my experience, individuals from the full range psychological type preferences can benefit greatly from practicing active imagination. It's not a practice crafted exclusively for people of a certain personality disposition. Everyone has access to all cognitive functions - thinking, intuition, feeling and sensation - even though their level of development varies widely. Likewise all people have the ability to interface with the unconscious mind, especially with appropriate knowledge and guidance. Our ability to consciously engage with the unconscious mind is a large part of what it means to be human. I tend to think that the most important resource on the journey of individuation is the willingness to take responsibility for the mind and confront its contents. It is possible for someone to be highly intelligent and intuitive, and yet be mostly out of touch with what is beyond their conscious ego. More often than not, it is the unwillingness to engage with such contents that leads to personal problems and emotional disturbances, rather than a willingness. At the same time, it is important to treat inner work as a gradual process and approach it gently, not forcing the mind to deal with more than it has the capacity to handle in any one moment.
@@makeitconscious There are 2 types of active imaginations... the Jung type? Deals with only tangible, observable, provable embedded in logical adhesion that becomes immovable principles of what is actually true without any shred of doubt! But always question it encase he miss something that is make it more concrete. Emotions as it is... is a quick sand. Whatever constructed on it will crumble. Since emotions always shift without moments notice. Like having a favorite car... one day you want another one. And you thought nothing will separate you from that car. The more cratches and dents you put on it the lesser you like to drive it around. if buying brandnew car are often cost less than restoring what you love back to its original condition. So you can have active imagination on that.... but still you feel awful if you dont have the real extra money to pay your eccentricities. Not only that... you can lose that car from thievesn is quite propabale and thats another involuntary active imagination right there! But if you treat your car as a tool not a piece of sometjhing special other than going from point a, b to c without breaking down. Theres no need to have active imagination for that to be emotionally balanced! oh and the 2nd type... is the willy wonka type!
Thanks for this generous and insightful Video! Your approach is obviusly a very open, integrative and therefore modern/contemporary one. Integrating the very best of eastern and western approaches and wisdom practices. Beautiful. Also the collection of art work. Keep up the good work! Much love!
Thank you for the kind words Martin and glad you liked the video. I certainly believe in the need to integrate practices, since they all have value, and arriving at the truth for oneself. This is of particular importance in the modern age given more complex challenges, requiring greater self-knowledge and personal responsibility. But also presenting a greater opportunity.
The purpose of active imagination is to deepen your relationship with the unconscious. It is not for engaging in fantasy or evil. This involves two-way engagement with unconscious material, rather than passive daydreaming. Can you clarify what you mean by “for evil thoughts?" Are these thoughts you judge as wrong or bad in themselves? Or thoughts of doing harm to someone? Are they appearing autonomously or are you deliberately producing them? Thoughts in themselves, as with sexual desires, are not problematic. What matters is how you relate to them and what you intend to do with them. By taking responsibility for what appears and working with wholesome intentions, both of these experiences can be fuel for insight in active imagination. But the purpose of active imagination is not to produce or indulge in such thoughts - it is to deepen the connection with the unconscious leading to intellectual and emotional insight.
@makeitconscious Extacly so the fact that this is a waste of time should emphasize just how ridiculous this was. Spent time speaking on everything but the topice, just click bait which is a shame that even so called enlighteners are getting in on the scam
"How to Talk to Yourself" - The long awaited Active Imagination Course is now live and taking students!: knowyourself.makeitconscious.com/course/activeimagination
Learn the Art of Science of Self-Knowledge - Explore this and the rest of the MiC Know Yourself Programme at knowyourself.makeitconscious.com (The MiC Philosophy Course is available for only $7).
Its unbelievable the comments are so negative. The world is split so hard. One with a perspective of beauty and understanding the other perspective of negativity and ego. Thank you so much for this video,please continue to do what you do. Much ❤️
Hey William, thanks for the comment. I agree it can seem like there is a hard split in the world much of the time. In truth we are all split to some degree internally. Although whether or not an individual chooses to take responsibility for their mind makes all the difference to how much they are capable of understanding and benefitting from inner work.
The feedback on this video has been mostly positive. It was my first longform video, and certainly has room for improvement, but the Likes overwhelmingly outnumber the dislikes and most of the comments are positive. I’ve aimed to improve on it in my recent video about the Divination Arts and with Part 2 being released this week.
That said, the comments section can be a sobering reminder of how deep the splits and contradictions go. Although I have no trouble believing it. On this video you will see some comments insisting that the article must have been entirely written by ChatGPT, while others within the very same thread complaining that it contains too much of my own additions. Clearly a single piece of content cannot be the sole cause of both.
It’s true that a portion of people who watch videos about inner work topics are not really interested in inner work or responsibility. Some part of them is, of course, but it gets commandeered by the ego, which must pin its dissatisfaction on something external, having actively sought it out, and in doing so can’t help but expose its own irony.
I also used to sometimes write belligerent and unconstructive comments on other people’s content, mostly when I was a lot younger. Often these folks simply haven’t lived enough, suffered enough or thought hard enough to realise the truth and necessity of responsibility. At other times, it is wilful ignorance, which can only be responded to accordingly by anyone with an ounce of respect for their own and others’ freedom.
Thank you for the encouragement and rest assured I will continue making content.
You might enjoy the more recent two part series on Divination:
ruclips.net/p/PLeuFwuWK5O2NCUr11ZJRmaXuwTfvScrwf
…as well as the guided exercises on this channel:
ruclips.net/p/PLeuFwuWK5O2MMxqoPMkk9eEbVIrbwq-7B
@@makeitconsciousabsolutely agree with your understanding of the comments section in relation to inner work. Having taken on full responsibility for all I say and do and think, always question myself before blaming behaviour of others I'm interacting with, has afforded an insight into what is behind the words and actions of others. I often thought the behaviour of others was a reflection of my interaction with them, but when im being responsible I can see that's more often not the case at all. I'm still working on it, much work to do. Thankyou for the video. I'll explore more of your content in future.
Thank you for sharing your thoughts sir. Sounds like an excellent practice of responsibility. If everyone thought like this, habitually questioning their impressions of others and enquiring into how their own mind might have shaped them… imagine how different the world would be. Hats off to you sir! See you around.
Thank you for the hard work.
This is amazing.
I cant' believe I am not alone in this.
After realizing how lost I have felt for years, I have come to practice meditation for some months now, and more recently dedicating more time to I Ching readings.
Today it was the first time i spontaneously had an active imagination exercise, and I could tell how much work there is to be done in order to clean up my headspace.
Honestly it's refreshing to know there is such a community dedicated to these practices, I am glad I'm not alone in this. As I've silently wished before in my journal entries... To all my fellow adventurers searching for yourselves in this world, I wish you the best of journeys!
Great work for beginning a meditation and active imagination practice. These are just two albeit very powerful techniques for inner work among many. The work is never truly 'done,' but there is a great difference between building a habit vs. not to your freedom and quality of life. Thanks for the comment and feel free to keep sharing your experiences. You might be interested to check out the playlist of guided exercises on this channel: ruclips.net/p/PLeuFwuWK5O2MMxqoPMkk9eEbVIrbwq-7B
❤️🙏🏼❤️
I love how you choose to talk in video. With small pauses between 3-4 words, it feels like i receive information faster
Glad you liked the video!
Me too but your s soundssss
@@gorkaplada3275 Must be a quirk of the AI. Joking.
Jung's work is remarkable and definitely one of the most important coming from the western world in his time. His work is significant today as an important tool to integrate our lost selves. His writing can be difficult to read and absorb at times, but programs like this can help us understand his concepts. Thank you for sharing this valuable video.
Hey, thank you for the comment and you're very welcome. I agree with you that Jung's work was remarkable. Not just his ingenuity but also the sheer volume of it. He made several key contributions that stand as valuable tools and continue to be built on today.
The practice of active imagination is one which is still underutilised, even amongst Jungian analysts themselves, and not discussed often enough. Jung himself described it in a letter to a patient as "the indispensable second part of any analysis that is really meant to go to the roots." So it's fair to say he regarded it as important. I believe this technique, done properly, has a transformative capacity that could yield a huge amount of value in today's world, where a reconnection with the deeper parts of ourselves is so sorely needed.
Your comment encourages me to make more content about Jung and his concepts. I am planning to release a practical programme in September that will discuss the 'how to' of active imagination in depth. I also incorporate the ideas of other thinkers in my work particularly some of the earlier German idealists.
This is my first exposure to the concept of active imagination and I now realise I do it already and love doing it, but felt like it was not ideal because of the meditation context. Though we shouldn’t need permission to think, I feel like this video has given me the permission to pursue my own practice! I found this especially interesting because I also practice tarot, so I love the idea that I can combine all 3
Hi there, wonderful to hear this video has given you some affirmation for what your mind has been inclined to do naturally. I also practice regular meditation and it plays an important role. However it is important to recognise there is nothing inherently wrong with imagination, thoughts or thinking. Quite the opposite - they play a vital role in spiritual development. That said, during active imagination the intention is not to think per se, but to open up a two-way dialogue between the conscious and unconscious minds, letting the unconscious present itself naturally. Whereas thinking alone is a more convergent, organising process.
Welcome to the channel. I’d recommend checking out some of the guided exercises. You can practice exercises for the cards that appear in your birth chart or to delve deeper into cards from a particular reading. There are many tarot-based exercises available and we are on schedule to release ones for all of the major and minor arcana of the tarot by the middle of next year.
Here is a link to the Active Imagination playlist: ruclips.net/p/PLeuFwuWK5O2MMxqoPMkk9eEbVIrbwq-7B
@@makeitconscious thank you. I’m glad this channel was recommended to me by RUclips, the algorithm obviously understands where I am at in my spiritual awakening. I already intend to check out your other resources. The birth card tarot sounds intriguing
Perhaps it was synchronicity, or manufactured synchronicity! Enjoy the rest of the content. You can learn more about the Tarot Birth Charts here: makeitconscious.com/step/tarot-birth-chart-reports/
@@makeitconscious it most certainly was synchronicity! I actually spent the last week consuming synchronicity content and now I’m experiencing the most mind blowing instances of synchronicity, this being case in point! 🙏
@@KE-xj9vm Seems like a strong invitation to follow and see where it leads. Strength to you on your journey!
If you’re new to this kind of thing but feel any pull to look further, I’d say go for it!
As a practitioner in a different but totally congruent path of knowledge, I can say “It works!” How it works for you and where you’ll go with it will be totally unique to you in your life. IMHO looking and working down a line of knowledge like this can be life changing … best of wishes!
I have personally found that taking a journey into your subconscious to be an incredibly challenging experience. This is because it causes you to face the guilt, trauma, and regrets, that you have been repressing.
I absolutely agree… confronting what is in our unconscious requires a huge amount of courage and effort. But it is always worthwhile. It’s through engaging with the unconscious that we come to transmute our challenges and difficult experiences into valuable gifts. Thank you for sharing your experience; it's through such honesty that we can all find encouragement on this journey.
You have done an amazing job. I have done about 25 exercises. This has been very transformative
Thank you very much and well done. It sounds like you have done an amazing job with your active imagination practice. It certainly is a very transformative technique.
If you haven't yet, I recommend checking out the new series Beyond the Limen, a seven part introduction to active imagination. It goes a little deeper into the theory and practice of the technique, with each part starting with a 10-15 minute talk. Part 6 is due to be released this week:
ruclips.net/p/PLeuFwuWK5O2OvmSpHOqOPlcOQJUnHcZZa
Thanks again for your comment and excellent work dedicating yourself to engaging with the unconscious mind.
The Divination Arts❤ No one can really know the value of their own individuation Our imagination is real and necessary for finding the answers.
Well said... I think this is where faith comes in on the individuation journey. A knowing that what is on the other side of our struggle will make it all worthwhile, even though it often does not, or even can not, feel that way in the midst of it.
Glad to hear you are interested in the divination arts. My next longform video will be about this topic and is currently in editing. Watch this space... and thank you for the comment ❤️.
Thank you for this channel! I have just started this practice and so happy that you have guided sessions. Your voice and the art work are fantastic. Keep doing this important work.
Wonderful! Thank you for your kind comment. Great that you are practicing active imagination and using the guided exercises. I've only been releasing those for just over a year, and am currently working towards completing the tarot and astrological series by the Spring. I also plan to publish more longform video articles like this one.
Your support and encouragement are appreciated. Feel free to share your experiences in the comments sections if you would like an interpretation.
Good tone , good thought/speech ebb and flow. Will listen again. Didn't watch much just listened in the back ground as I prepared tea and prepared to rest. Im having difficulty with grief and vision of a life with living its difficult i don't actually know what i want i know more about what i dont want. If that makes sense some people just know exactly what they want its crazy to me there are so many choices.
Thank you for the kind comment. I'm sorry to hear of your grief. Knowing ourselves often comes about as a process of learning what we are not and what we don't want. Whilst some might appear to know exactly what they want, many are really avoiding their true selves through the multitude of choices available. The pursuit of self-knowledge is a never ending exploration. This phase you are in is temporary and has the potential to lead to greater awareness and freedom on the other side. Keep going.
Active imagination could be a useful practice for you to uncover your true self's vision, as well as work through some of these current challenges. You could try starting with the exercise Journey into the Depths for insight into what's just under the surface of conscious awareness:
ruclips.net/video/JoyoHqlUz58/видео.html
All the best and feel free to comment and ask questions any time.
Uncover a lifetime of self-insight with a Tarot Birth Chart.
Learn more at: makeitconscious.com/step/tarot-birth-chart-reports
i was very attracted to all the bg images in this video. fascinating artwork to say the least.
Its done by artificial inteligence
thank you. I was distressed because I was typing out the experience and dialogue when all I wanted to do was just be immersed in the experience. This was so helpful
You're very welcome! I'm glad to hear that the tips were helpful. While there is a place for recording the dialogue in real time, it's also true that our ancestors communicated with the unconscious long before the advent of writing tools. Sometimes, the most important thing is simply to have the conversation whilst remaining present with it. Reflection can always continue later, and if there's a crucial message, rest assured it will make itself known when needed. Nothing is lost.
It sounds like you've made an excellent adjustment in letting go of an expectation about how to do active imagination. Finding a method that aligns with yourself is key to the individuation journey. Well done on navigating this aspect of the process.
So Amazing!!!
Thank you! I think Kant would have said it's your own mind that's amazing ;)
You don’t really go into detail about “active imagination” enough , honestly it sounds like a 100 words essay stretched into a 500 page book. Especially with you saying “active imagination “ 1000 times. Great video , love the analogies but if this was more than just a 5 min topic stretched into 30 min for more than a purpose of just extended watch time , more of the video should be on what active imagination is specifically. And Not just the 1-3 min intro you gave it, which didn’t really touch on anything specific btw. May blessings come your way , we appreciate the content 🙏🏽
I appreciate your engagement with the video but, while I'm open to constructive feedback, I’m wondering whether your comment was given with wholly kind or constructive intentions. What do you think? It also contains a number of misunderstandings and inaccuracies. But that’s OK, we can put this all right…
This video, adapted from the article ‘Active Imagination: Exploring the Unconscious Mind’ on makeitconscious.com, has a script of under 4000 words, not “100 words stretched into a 500 page book.” The term “active imagination” was mentioned 65 times, not 1000, which seems within the bounds of what is reasonable given the topic and format. Although some might prefer fewer mentions, this is a subjective matter rather than an objective one. I will take your view into consideration for future videos.
The video was intended to provide an overview of active imagination, its benefits, and practical tips to accompany the guided exercises on this channel. Information around “what active imagination is” is interspersed throughout the video, not only during the ‘What is Active Imagination’ section, which ends at 3:13. As above, there are 65 mentions of the term "active imagination," most of which offer information relevant to "what active imagination is.” This video was not intended to provide an exhaustive, detailed guide to active imagination. Although, creating a deeper, detailed guide is something we are considering.
There was no intention to “stretch the video for extended watch time.” Such an approach would not produce valuable content. It would not have been possible to adequately cover all of these topics - including the benefits, the comparison to meditation, guided vs. unguided practice and tips for how to maximise your practice - in a five minute video as you have suggested.
I’m wondering if this particular point is more a reflection of your own expectations - perhaps some impatience and difficulties with maintaining your attention? It’s common and understandable in today’s world. If so, this experience presents a valuable opportunity for insight and inner work through the practice of active imagination, since that is something you are interested in.
If, after seeing this video and comment, you feel you do not have an idea of what “active imagination is specifically,” then you are still welcome to ask questions and provide any constructive feedback. I will gladly respond in the interests of mutual benefit. I can also recommend exercises for you that may be suited to any particular challenges you are facing currently.
Lastly, it would also be helpful for me to understand - who is the “we” you are referring to - are you speaking on behalf of yourself or others?
Seriously?! I read your first sentence and took it for sarcasm until I continued. Are you intoxicated? It was very well described all around with specific examples in each subtopic. Perhaps you should watch again. If you still don't understand the concept, you're maybe not meant to yet. Stop trying to "jump rank"...don't try for what can't be attained. That will completely hinder the process this technique is trying to progress.
I liked the video very much and your voice is very lovely to listen too. Thank you for effort of making this video. ❤
Making videos is tough probably why I'm not making them lol. Stay encouraged.
Best reply by a poster I’ve ever seen!
@poloparker8624 I’m glad you thought the concept was well described and that you found the video useful.
Perhaps we’re all intoxicated to a degree 🙂. My reply to @zakthomas2473 was aiming to highlight how his own reactions to the video were at least in part a reflection of his presenting challenges. Taking responsibility for the mind and our reactions in this way is important for inner work. At the same time, I’ve taken his opinions into consideration even though I don’t entirely agree with them.
It’s good that he has expressed an interest in active imagination and I have no doubt he could benefit greatly provided he cultivates this kind of intention and attitude. Let’s try to be encouraging so that when people are ready they have the best possible conditions to do so.
Thanks for the encouragement and positive feedback on the video. Maybe see you around.
Very interesting,and you're correct their isn't enough content on this subject.
Glad you liked the video. Yes, considering how powerful the technique of active imagination is, it deserves to be discussed and practiced more widely. I plan to offer some self-study content on the technique, due for release later this year. In the meantime guided exercises are still being published regularly, along with extended versions on the sister podcast. Thanks for your comment and sharing your thoughts.
I love this. You don't have to explain bro. If you know- you know.
Thank you for this presentation. I appreciate your efforts to explain this subject.
You're very welcome sir. Thank you for your comment and appreciation. There will be more content about active imagination in future that goes deeper into how to practice both guided and unguided.
You might be interested to check out the playlist of guided exercises on this channel if you have not already: ruclips.net/p/PLeuFwuWK5O2MMxqoPMkk9eEbVIrbwq-7B
Thank you.
I especially like the slideshow, a lot. 😊
You're welcome! Glad you liked the video and thanks for the comment.
You might enjoy the two part Divination series which is done in a similar style: ruclips.net/p/PLeuFwuWK5O2NCUr11ZJRmaXuwTfvScrwf
2:50 shadow room exercise & emotional integration meditation
Thank you for sharing the timestamp for where these exercises are mentioned.
Here are the links to these exercises for those who'd like to do them:
The Shadow Room - ruclips.net/video/ZCpVVQyyqRs/видео.html
Emotional Integration Meditation (13 minute version) - ruclips.net/video/-Po9iqlAG9k/видео.html
Emotional Integration Meditation (20 min extended version) - ruclips.net/video/61SE-FBlxOY/видео.html
Knock knock knockin' on Beings back door..... Thanks for this
This video is very useful. Encouraged me to check out your podcast, which contains information, a lot of it, that is also very useful 🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼
Thank you very much! Glad you found the video useful and the podcast too. I plan to continue with the MiC podcast again in the next few months to continue talking about all things self-knowledge and psychology. In the meantime I am releasing guided exercises to the sister podcast Inner Work Exercises. There will also be an active imagination self-study course released in September. Thanks for the comment and maybe see you around 🌟🔥
I love the artwork in this video. It’s symbolic and thought provoking. Almost like a visual meditation in and of itself 😊 thank you for sharing about active imagination. I had never heard about this type of meditation before. After trying to survive off solely eastern style mindfulness meditation and not getting very far in my spiritual journey, I’m excited to try this practice and see where it can take me. I started a practice of High Magick recently and this practice should align nicely with that ☺️
Thank you for the kind comment. Great to hear you are new to active imagination and looking to give it a try. There is certainly a place for eastern style meditation, and it can help support you to go deep in active imagination, cultivating your relationship with the unconscious mind. I find it is best used in conjunction with other dedicated inner work practices.
Check out the playlist of guided active imagination exercises if you have not already seen it: ruclips.net/p/PLeuFwuWK5O2MMxqoPMkk9eEbVIrbwq-7B
Some good exercises to start with are The Wall, Journey Into the Depths or any of the tarot or astrology based exercises.
Feel free to share your experiences in the comments or ask questions any time. Strength to you on your journey!
Thank you, deeply. 🌻
You're very welcome. Thank you🌟🔥
My imagination functions best when I don't have to speak to people.
You raise a good point about the need for introspection in the pursuit of self knowledge. Your experience of being able to access your imagination better when not speaking to others is a common one. This is great that you understand this about yourself. The ability to practice deep introspection is vital to the individuation journey, regardless of whether one has a preference for introversion or extraversion.
Active imagination and meditation, both dedicated practices, are generally performed without speaking to other people during an exercise. This allows for a more immersive experience and clearer access to the unconscious mind. There are some exceptions such as where a coach or therapist and client agree to engage in a dialogue during the exercise, as opposed to merely give and receive instruction and review the experience afterwards. However this approach can certainly come at a trade off against full immersion in the experience.
When regarding the broader set of actions required for individuation however, the ability to engage with the world is also vital. This includes being able to communicate with other people skilfully, in a way that moves us forward. Our encounters with the world are the cornerstone of how we come to know ourselves.
I discuss some of this in more detail in the short eguide The Way of Individuation, which you might like to read. You can sign up and receive a free copy here: makeitconscious.com/sevenhabits/
Amazing job lad im 55 uneducated and you bring a sparc of hope.
I didnt heed his bloody warning about following him. Got lost for a while until i seen his interview.
CGJ
Thank you sir. I agree a bit of hope is welcomed, and I think that engaging with the deepest parts of ourselves is the ‘critical path’ for the development of western culture. Techniques like active imagination can play a significant role in this endeavour.
If you’re new to active imagination, I recommend checking out the playlist on this channel and performing some of the guided exercises. Good ones to start with are: Journey into the Depths, The Wall and Dream Re-entry:
ruclips.net/p/PLeuFwuWK5O2MMxqoPMkk9eEbVIrbwq-7B
Many do idolise Jung and project various aspects and archetypes onto him. It’s understandable, and I think intense experiences of projection withdrawal are unavoidable and necessary rites of passage on the path of individuation.
You’re welcome to get in touch or book a call via the website if you feel there’s more to unpack and would like to talk it through.
Thank you for reminding me to practice and use all the keys I did with the Silva method! 🦉✨
You're welcome! I am not familiar with the Silva method, but I'm glad the video was useful for you.
Good overview of the topic. There are many techniques developed over time that utilize one’s imagination, I clouding guided visualization, for the purpose of healing, gaining awareness of oneself, etc.
this found me on time
Active imagination has a way of doing that ;)
Much love and wealth to all
Who is ready for this ⬇️
Is it just me or does this video never actually explain HOW this type exercise is supposed to be done?
It’s not just you. This video does not include a detailed guide of how to practice active imagination. This video was intended to accompany the guided exercises on this channel and provide an introduction to the technique, an overview of its benefits, its relation to similar techniques and its role in developing the conscious mind.
It does however offer some tips for getting the most out of your practice, whether practicing on your own or using the guided exercises on this channel. You might have seen some of these since it sounds like you watched the whole video - they include practicing skilful and kind communication with the unconscious mind, just as one would endeavour to do in daily life. As well as to cultivate wholesome intentions.
This is because, as Jung said:
“We know that the mask of the unconscious is not rigid - it reflects the face we turn toward it. Hostility lends it a threatening aspect, friendliness softens its features”
That said, a more detailed guide on how to practice is something we are considering to produce if there’s interest.
What do you think? What interests you about active imagination?
@@makeitconscious I want to know how to do it, so I can practice it. I've already been practicing meditation for many decades. I've done some work with a dream journal as well. I have some idea of how the conscious mind interacts with the subconscious, but I would like to strengthen that interaction.
I would defn be interested in a video that talks about how to do it. Hope you do produce it.
Great to know you’re looking to take up an active imagination practice in earnest. Your experience with meditation will come in useful in connecting with the unconscious and facing what comes up in active imagination.
I’d recommend starting with some of the guided exercises on this channel. The exercises Journey Into the Depths, Your Inner Compass and Dream Re-entry and Exploration are good ones to try first. But feel free to check out any from the playlist here:
ruclips.net/p/PLeuFwuWK5O2MMxqoPMkk9eEbVIrbwq-7B&si=CWYq--7BFiIpv0Wo
Thanks also for expressing an interest in some more explanatory ‘how-to’ content. As mentioned before, I have been considering to release some more detailed instructional content, including a course and guidance on how to practice unguided. It’s good to know that you and others would be interested in this.
Look out for further videos on this as well as guided freeform exercises, which will feature less guidance and more space.
There is so much to be said on how to practice active imagination and I won’t be able to do it the justice that it deserves here. But with those considerable caveats, if you’d like to give it a try on your own, you can use the following general sequence alongside the tips given in the video:
1 - Begin with a ‘seed’ in mind. It can be a presenting feeling or upset, a challenge you are struggling to overcome, a dream that felt unfinished, or any other kind of energy or archetype you recognise as needing to be worked with.
2 - Clear out the mind. Basic meditation is one of the best ways to do this. Take as long as you need.
3 - Invite the unconscious. Enter a scene, and be open to your seed appearing. Allow it to form as any kind of figure or symbol without attempting to edit or control it in any way.
4 - Engage in a dialogue. This is the main bulk of the exercise. Let the unconscious communicate. It may happen in words, but also actions or visuals. Then, you can return and communicate whatever you would like to it, maintaining an ethical approach. Do this until a natural close.
5 - Journal and reflect on the experience. It often helps to interpret it symbolically.
6 - Put your takeaways into action in daily life.
It’s important to maintain non-judgement throughout and let the process unfold in whatever way it needs to, without attempting to edit or control it. Meet the unconscious as an equal and hear it out.
Performing some of the guided exercise first might give you inspiration and an idea of the structure in practice that might be helpful for moving onto unguided. There is a place for both styles.
I’d be interested to hear how you get on 🙂.
I really enjoyed this presentation. You have an excellent speaking voice. This is my first time hearing about this. Definitely going to be checking it out. Thank you.
Thank you very much! Great that you are discovering active imagination for the first time. Check out the playlist of guided exercises on this channel. Some good exercises to start with are Journey Into the Depths, The Wall and Your Inner Compass. As you become familiar with the technique you could progress to the Shadow exercises: ruclips.net/p/PLeuFwuWK5O2MMxqoPMkk9eEbVIrbwq-7B&si=uG-5HtgeYwGrAvcb
It's also helpful to practice unguided active imagination. I plan to release more instructional content in the future around how to practice unguided.
Enjoy the content and feel free to share your experiences 🙂.
Congrats on your inspiring and useful work! Tahnk you!
Thank you very much! Glad you're finding it helpful :)
Fantastic
Thank you Taj, glad you think so.
Excellent pictures
Depicting depicting active imagination. If you break it down symbolically and metaphorical it definitely gives you some insight into what the unconscious is trying to communicate . Note two: an ego-consciousness
That is aware of this dynamic process
Thank you so much
Thank you for your positive feedback! Good to hear that you've been gaining insight from practicing active imagination.
The images are mostly created using Midjourney AI. I have been practicing with it recently and am currently working on another video article in a similar style. The aim is to supplement what is being said symbolically, as well as to help convey what the words can't easily capture.
ai garbage@@makeitconscious
@@DK-ew1of He said without irony.
😊I have amazing imagination I can really be so much in what I create😊❤🎉
That's great! Some people have very ready access to the unconscious. It sounds like you are among them!
For some people, creating art can be used as part of the practice of active imagination, as a way to express the unconscious. Jung himself drew mandalas. Some dance, others sculpt. The practice of active imagination and doing inner work more generally will also feed back into the kind of art one makes and how they express themselves. In this way it can support the creation of art, although its primary intention and benefit is in helping to resolve inner conflict and gain self-knowledge.
There are many ways to perform active imagination and I believe that everybody can benefit from it, especially with practice over time.
You might be interested to check out some of the guided exercises on this channel. If you are especially creative, The Creator Archetype exercise might be an easy one to start with and get a feel for the method ruclips.net/video/5YzkCkIWE-g/видео.html. Once familiar, you could try some of the other exercises, particularly ones that echo people or situations you've found challenging.
This is fantastica! Thank you for uploading this video ❤
Thank you and you're welcome! Glad you liked the video. You might be interested to check out the guided exercises on this channel.
I began doing divination somewhat spontaneously a few years ago, by a method of reading words in images. A kind of pareidolia. At the time it lead to alot of fantasy and some delusion. I had let go of the delusion and the divination, but I have recently allowed myself to engage in it again, with my rational mind more firmly grounded. Relating it to this practice of conversing with the unconscious and active imagination is reassuring. It can be healthy and useful and not just some madness that beset me.
Great that you are engaging with meaning again whilst remaining grounded in rational thought. Some of your points resonate with a recent MiC blog series called Why Divination is Real (perhaps you read it?). My next video article will be based on this series and discuss some of these exact points around divination, so look out for that.
There can certainly be danger in divination where it is applied incorrectly, superstitiously or with unproductive intentions. However when approached with the aim of uncovering self-knowledge, all of experience is meaningful. As Jung purportedly said - “Synchronicity is an ever-present reality for those who have eyes to see.” Although I cannot seem to find an exact source to confirm he actually said it, it captures the point well.
Everyday life is the primary way we get to know ourselves and is laden with meaning. There is even insight to be found in danger, fantasy and delusion, as it is overcome. It sounds like your experiences from a few years ago still held some profound value for you.
Thanks for engaging and it’s great to hear you are taking a proactive and grounded approach towards your own self-discovery. Excellent stuff…
@@makeitconscious thanks for your response. I will def check out that blog series. What I experienced in medical terms would be described as a full psychotic departure from reality, a dissolving of boundaries of the subcobconcious and imagination onto reality. but I'm also convinced I was tapped into a deeper enchanted reality or source we all have access to. Despite its destructive aspects and delusion, like believing i was going to summon a dragon back into this realm, I never felt more alive. Ha, that said Fantasy properly understood with the ego in check is a valid means.
Your experience was real - at least as an experience. That can’t be denied. Although the meaning you draw from it is subjective. It’s healthy to be equally as sceptical of medical opinions as it is of the spurious conclusions often drawn from such experiences. Being labelled as psychotic is unlikely to help.
I don’t think there was anything wrong with your mind. It sounds like the mind doing exactly what it is supposed to do when there is a mass of unconscious material trying to come to the surface and make contact with the conscious mind. And in experiencing this you glimpsed some vital insights into the nature of mind and reality. We might have to go to the brink of insanity and back again in order to know true sanity. In fact this is not a return to sanity, it’s becoming sane for the first ever time.
Enjoy the blog post and I hope it contains some useful insights for you…
I'm curious about the prompts you used in Midjourney for generating these images(especially the ones at 0:45 and 1:15). Also about the art style.
Wonderful video btw. All the best for the future content
Thank you! Glad you liked the video. I recently released another one in a similar style about the Divination Arts. Part 2 of that series is also in the works.
I use a range of approaches for generating the prompts in Midjourney, usually incorporating some of the text itself or creating some other instruction to express a point. All images need to be relevant to their corresponding passage. Some are more precisely tailored, whilst others are geared more for aesthetics whilst remaining relevant. For some, the relationship is obscure and only the highly symbolically literate will make the link. It’s quite a painstaking process and as much as I enjoy it I have recently outsourced some of it for Divination Part 2.
If you’d like to create similar images you could try reverse engineering it using the /describe or weighting functions in Midjourney. If you get in touch via the website I’d be glad to send you those ones as high res: makeitconscious.com/contact
Thank you for that my friend. It really helped. Keep doing the God work 💖😇😇🙌🙏💞✨🌎🧬💸👑⭐💫😘🌟
You are very welcome! Glad it helped. Check out the playlist of guided exercises on this channel.
How can i get the Seven Habits of Individuation Ebook? there was no form to put in my email on your website. I'd love to look into it
Hey, the form sometimes take a moment to appear. See if it shows up after a couple of seconds at the bottom of the page here: makeitconscious.com/sevenhabits/
If that doesn't work please get in touch via the website. I'll send you a copy on email and look into the issue....
Thanks!
I always wrote things off to overactive imagination but I now know it as imbalance of chakras
I love this
Thank you!
Thank-you
You're very welcome 👍
thank you for comparing meditation to active imagination.
Glad you found it helpful 🙂
What do you think about non dual meditations and nondualism/ıdealısm ın general?
There is perhaps more in common between genuine eastern 'non-dualism' and western mysticism than meets the eye. But existence would be better described as dual rather than non-dual, and the journey towards wholeness rather than one-ness. Moving forwards means engaging with the whole of life and turning negation and challenge into greater realisation and freedom. Non-dualism and the idea of direct realisation, whilst having value, can be used as a bypass and a cover for what is really moving backwards into the womb. Active imagination on the other hand is used to move towards what exists and reconcile with it. A genuine pursuit of self-hood can lead to direct realisation but if this is something the ego wants to 'will' into experience then this itself highlights a conflict.
I would not put non-dualism and idealism in the same category. When I think of idealism I think of the idealist philosophers, particularly the German thinkers of the 18th/19th centuries namely Fichte, Schelling and Hegel, who all offered invaluable insights into the nature and workings of mind. I have found the western tradition offers a more accurate and useful model of mind.
Question: Do you believe, as Jung did, that the unconscious is collective? If so, how does that work?
Thanks for the question... I think that the notion of a collective unconscious is a useful model for understanding certain truths about the nature of mind and existence. In particular the idea that there are psychic templates to our experience which are shared among all humans. These are what Jung called archetypes.
Jung posited that the unconscious can be thought of in terms of both the personal and collective unconscious. So whilst not all unconscious material is collective, the collective unconscious is an aggregate of all experience, and hence our own experiences are also influencing the collective unconscious. The boundary between the personal and the collective may therefore not be as neatly defined as might be assumed from the theory alone.
In my view, Jung was not trying to make a definite case as to the ultimate nature of reality. His work was focused on the process of individuation, which is not an end point but a journey. Human existence must be a journey, and Jung’s work gives us some very useful maps for navigating it in the direction of wholeness.
I hope this clarifies the concept for you. If you have any specific questions about how the collective unconscious works, feel free to ask a follow up.
Thanks for your response. I was never sure whether Jung held the view that we were connected in some way (psychic) or that we were born with certain templates that are common, and so the similarities in dreams would use the templates. His observations of multiple people with disturbed dreams before the outbreak of the Great War suggested the former, but I was not convinced. With all things occult, I find it difficult to isolate and eliminate the psychological interpretation.@@makeitconscious
You raise a good question and I can relate to your drive to understand the precise workings of mind. As far as I know Jung never explicitly stated that we are connected psychically, although there are aspects of his work that would seem to imply it. He sought to ground his theories in empirical evidence while also acknowledging the mystery and depth of the human psyche beyond what can be empirically measured or observed.
My own experience has led me to think the unconscious is something we are all accessing and contributing to at all times. However the precise workings of the mind will always be at least in part a mystery. There have been many occasions where I could not find the answers that I wanted. But there has never been a time when I could not, with the right intentions, find the answers that I needed.
I’m sure Jung viewed life in a similar light. He knew he did not have all the answers, but he coined the process of individuation and encouraged individuals to follow their own lines of self-enquiry.
I’d be interested to know where your own path of enquiry into psychic matters leads you 🙂.
My own path has led me to some interesting ideas, but I do not have the space to discuss them here. However, I see great value in making the unconscious conscious.@@makeitconscious
Tonight I was practicing mindfulness and felt like i became aware of an enitity who said I was picked for a reason. I felt something drop into the middle part of my brain or connect maybe. I would not have thought more of it but i decided to go to sleep I found this is what happened now I can explain it. My conscious and unconscious mind came into a dialogue. At first It was strange and very abstract. It was clear that they where at odds and structured differently or encoded for better word. I found ways of communicating with this other part of my mind. Can some one explain what may be going on as I was fully aware and able to apply logic. I found it strange but was confident im not going mad lol this video described in part what happened. What do I do now? can someone help please
Welcome to the channel… It sounds like you had a profound and intriguing experience while practicing mindfulness, leading to a spontaneous encounter with your unconscious. Experiences of communicating with another entity and sensing physical changes are not uncommon when practicing mindfulness or in deep states of meditation. Active imagination is intended to deliberately cultivate this dialogue between the conscious and unconscious minds.
Your experience highlights a conflict between different aspects of yourself, which is a key focus of active imagination. Your conscious self was able to continue engaging with this other part of you with full awareness and logic. This can be a peculiar experience at first, since it often goes against what the conscious ego understands about itself and mind. It’s good that you were able to remain grounded as this will allow for a healthy integration of its insights into your daily life.
As for next steps, you could consider revisiting this scene through active imagination, bringing to mind the aspect of your unconscious you encountered. Did it take a particular form? There may be exercises on this channel, such as the ones for Jungian archetypes, that align with the form you encountered.
Experiences such as the one you had, where the conscious and unconscious seem at odds, are typical of encounters with the Shadow. In any case the ‘Conversation with the Shadow’ exercise can help clarify and integrate these shadow aspects. You can find this here: ruclips.net/video/yjwA4h-dg2k/видео.html&ab_channel=MakeItConscious.
Continuing your mindfulness practice, with an emphasis on both bare attention and clear comprehension, will help create space for insights to arise.
Thank you for sharing your experience. Feel free to continue sharing and asking questions as you explore further.
It sounds like you experienced left and right brain hemisphere synchronization, well done friend!!
Check out Internal Family Systems, maybe.
Sure sure
Fabulous pictures which would feed into the imagination. Where did they come from? Am a former Jungian analysand so very much familiar with concepts mentioned, but am eager to try active imagination as it was not unfortunately part of the analysis. I think because the Jungian therapist had also studied Freudian analysis which, quite honestly, I cannot relate to. Am also tinkering with astrology and how it connects to The Tarot. Exciting days ahead 🎉🎉🎉🎉
Thank you and glad you liked the video! I created the images using Midjourney AI. The aim is to supplement what is being said symbolically, as well as to help convey what the words can't easily capture. That said, the use of AI for making images seems to be upsetting to some, even within the context of a supposed interest in self-realisation.
Interesting to know you underwent Jungian analysis and it’s great that you are now looking to try active imagination. I consider it a vital part of the individuation process and it’s indeed unfortunate that some analysts do not practice or teach it. It was transformational for Jung himself and a key part of his contribution to psychology.
I received your order for a Tarot Birth Chart too and will deliver your report to you tomorrow on email. It will provide more info on how the tarot, astrology and numerology link together in your chart specifically.
I recommend checking out the playlist of guided active imagination exercises. The tarot and astrological series is nearly complete:
ruclips.net/p/PLeuFwuWK5O2MMxqoPMkk9eEbVIrbwq-7B
You might also be interested in my recent video on the Divination Arts. Part 2 is also in the works:
ruclips.net/video/mk90_1kJRB0/видео.html
Thanks again and speak soon...
Did you create the visual art that is shown in your video?
Or can you credit the creators, you borrowed it from, please?
Yes, we created the art using Midjourney.
Reminds me of Salvatore Dahli.
Great video! Are you familiar with J. Krishnamurti? Would love to watch a video on him as well!
Thanks and glad you liked the video. I am somewhat familiar with J. Krishnamurti. I resonate with his message that truth cannot be wholly captured in a teaching or ideology, and his warnings against spiritual authority. Thanks for the recommendation.
Thanks for the video. I have read Jung's Red Book and found it very fascinating. Since then, I have tried to learn the technique of active imagination. I'm still not sure I know how to do it.
You’re very welcome… Thank you for the comment… Even though Jung conceived of active imagination as a practice, established the concept and wrote extensively about his experiences, he did not lay out a defined method for it as such. Others since, notably Robert Johnson and Marie-Louise Von Franz have expanded on his work to develop their techniques.
There is no one single technique for practicing active imagination. However what defines the practice is an intentional engagement with unconscious material, for the purposes of deepening a relationship with that material and the unconscious more widely. You can use a range of ‘seeds’ for this purpose, around which to invite unconscious material to appear - such as feelings, patterns, desires, somatic symptoms and symbols like tarot cards.
There is a series of guided exercises available on this channel which can help you get familiar with engaging with unconscious material. I recommend starting with exercises like The Wall or Your Inner Compass or, if you are feeling confident, The Shadow Room: ruclips.net/p/PLeuFwuWK5O2MMxqoPMkk9eEbVIrbwq-7B&si=yokqnibOnKLYzdk5
There has been some interest in more instructional content. I am working on a series that will offer detailed guidance on how to practice active imagination unguided. The aim will be to equip you to practice in your own time in a freeform way. Watch this space 😉.
Should have more subscribers
Thank you for the encouragement! The channel's growth has accelerated over these last few months. We have more video articles like this one in the works alongside the schedule of guided exercises. Watch this space...
Where is the practice
Hello. If you are looking for the playlist of guided exercises, you can find this here:
ruclips.net/p/PLeuFwuWK5O2MMxqoPMkk9eEbVIrbwq-7B
I recommend starting with The Wall, Journey into the Depths, or exercises that correspond to your astrological or Tarot Birth Chart.
Feel free to ask any questions as you go.
So….there is an entire method of active meditation that was created by Edward Steinbrecher back in the 70s, based on Jung’s concept of active imagination, and it incorporates the tarot, astrology, and Kabbalah (which are all deeply interwoven already). It might be a good idea to read his book, ‘The Inner Guide Meditation,’ both because he already mapped out a whole technology for this practice that might provide some helpful structure and because it would be good practice for you to credit the earlier lineage of these ideas that came before. But to the first point in particular, archetypal energies are nothing to sneeze at. Particularly for people whose mental health might be frayed or in crisis, if they were to try just cruising into the psyche and confront archetypal energies without proper guardrails it could be dangerous. The Inner Guide method maps all of this out and it was developed over many years through a lot of testing. Perhaps you have already heard of it and just didn’t mention it in the video, but, it’s a major part of the tradition you’re working with here, so I thought it should be mentioned.
There are many variations of practices that could fall under what we now call ‘active imagination,’ running back thousands of years. Edwin Steinbrecher himself credits Jung with having rediscovered this ancient tool. I am certainly not the first to suggest meditating on the energies represented by tarot cards
No doubt Steinbrecher’s work offers valuable contributions. I don’t personally consider it to be “the earlier lineage,” as I don’t think there is any one, fixed line of people and practices for engaging with the unconscious mind. I’m not sure Steinbrecher’s method is as definitive or rigorous as you suggest, but it certainly contains many unique and useful features. His approach for prescribing exercises based on an astrological chart is insightful.
I hope I have not suggested that anyone sneeze at archetypes. I discuss the importance of understanding and intention in this video and the guided exercises on this channel. However it’s also important to encourage bravely facing the unconscious rather than perpetuating fear of it. Active imagination cannot ‘cause’ a problem, but it can shine a light on what is there.
That said, if there is anything specific in this video or guided exercises on this channel which in your view are not proper, then feel free to raise them so they can be addressed.
Hello, thank you very much, beautiful advice, a question: how to avoid falling into one's own "AUTOSUGESTIOM AND FEAR"? THANK YOU SO MUCH!
You’re welcome and thank you for the kind comment. Sure, I can answer your question about autosuggestion and fear.
By autosuggestion I think you are referring to the tendency of the ego to control and edit the experience, or to try and produce a pre-conceived result. Effectively this produces an imbalanced or one-way interaction where the ego is attempting to exert its will on the unconscious. This can also happen inadvertently, particularly where the experience becomes uncomfortable or seems non-sensical to the ego. Hence it’s important to maintain a two-way dialogue between the conscious and unconscious minds.
Fear also relates to this, since fear and overcoming fear plays a key role in individuation. It is often the sign that points the way. If we become fearful during active imagination, we might react by trying to overcome the encounter with the will of the ego, or to escape it. Both of these are reactions that push fear away rather than reconcile with it. The way forward is found in the middle. It’s important to endure fear gently, not aggressively, but also to not back away at the first sign of it.
As for some tips that can help with autosuggestion and fear, the first is to develop the understanding that what you are experiencing are aspects of ‘you.’ They exist to serve you as a whole being, even if it may not seem that way to the conscious ego. But by integrating this understanding into the ego, you can improve your relationship to what comes up, find meaning in the struggle and use it as opportunity for growth and freedom.
The second tip would be to consciously set your intention from the outset to maintain a two-way dialogue between conscious and unconscious minds. This counts for a lot in reducing the tendency for autosuggestion, as well as for recoiling from fear.
The third tip is in the practice itself, and that is to practice mindfulness. Specifically, to recognise what is happening in the moment, spot any inclinations to edit or control the experience and give bare attention to feelings of fear as they arise, clearing the path for insight to appear.
This is a practice that you will improve at over time. Don’t expect to get it right first time or every time, but persevere and you will learn how best to find that middle way for you.
If you try to take on too much at once and it becomes overwhelming, you can stop the exercise and adjust your approach. The mind will usually only present us with what we are capable of tolerating, but meeting it requires a degree of confidence in your ability to bear it, and faith that it is justified by what is on the other side.
If you’d like to go deeper, my overarching advice for addressing both of the issues you raised is to bring the practice of all Seven Habits of Individuation into your active imagination sessions. You can read about these in a short eguide which is available on the website at: makeitconscious.com/sevenhabits/
Hello, very grateful for your quick and complete response, I tried for the first time and a man appeared, I noticed that at first one projects desirable images, like childhood toys, etc. It could be that it is a form of "FRAGMENTATION" of the personality and then JOIN IT? thank you so much!@@makeitconscious
How long is recommended to work with each of archetypes in the arcana?
Hi, good question Nathan. There is no fixed duration recommended for working with each of the arcana or the archetypes. As elements of the objective psyche, it is recommended to cultivate a relationship to each of them, emphasising ones that you have a known struggle with or aversion to.
You will know when you have been successful in this as the archetypes will relate to you in a more friendly and wholesome way. However this too, like any relationship, is not fixed, so it is recommended to continue to engage with them as needed and as time goes on.
It can be insightful to see how your relationships with them change and unfold over time, and how they respond to your efforts to cultivate them.
What is a "spiritual persona"?
Hi I am curious who made the imagery seen in the clip? Thank you
Hi there... they were 'made' by me, with the help of Midjourney AI 🙂.
I am safe imaginining possiblity
Thank you for reading the Wikipedia article to us
In that case the Wikipedia article must have plagarised my own writing.
I wish you here
Repearing the dame idea over and over and over and over!!!!!😅
You never explain what ‘active imagination’ is. Kind of makes this entire video a waste of time
Active Imagination is a transformative practice developed by Swiss psychologist Carl Jung, that offers a path towards attaining wholeness of mind by accessing the unconscious. By engaging with the unconscious mind and fostering open communication with it, individuals can uncover and integrate aspects of themselves that may have remained hidden or repressed.
Whilst I agree with you that there is more to be explained and discussed about active imagination beyond what was contained within this half hour long video, I would not agree that the “entire video is a waste of time” and that the concept of active imagination is “never explained.”
I don’t personally think that regarding time as a resource that must not be “wasted” is the most accurate or useful way to think about time, particularly in the context of inner work. I think that every experience, even the frustrating ones, can be valuable in reflecting aspects of our own mind and pointing out where our work lies.
What about you? What brings you to the subject of active imagination?
If you are looking to learn more, you are welcome to ask constructive questions or check out the other videos on this channel.
You're supposed to watch this video, while activly imagining doing somthing different. It was an half an hour excercise.
❤❤❤
Its been a while, sir. Do you have any recommendations on what should i do with my lazy self and low attention span?
I didn't tell you I was a girl in my previous comment and you calling me sir was quite funny. I understand because of my profile pictures but I just find it really funny, Sir also thank you sir for helping me and others on this journey.
I don't journal the results...I take a picture of the spread with cards positioned from reading...they have their own file on a phone used only for self soul seeking...just a suggestion. I always dI'd handwrite results and name of spread next to the date...the phone timestamps photo capturing all other details in very little space with virtually none being physical.
Sounds like Loki
Viceversa
He sounds familiar… is that Show Nemoto??
No, it is me, Max Chegwyn 🙂
Where does Jung mention spiritual growth?
Can you please clarify - are you looking for specific references to where Jung mentions the words "spiritual growth," or are you disputing the notion that Jung's work was concerned with spirituality?
Pure consciousness, the ultimate truth = 456 = 6, English, In Chaldean = 138 = 3.
Active Imagination is a transformative practice = 457 = 7, English, In Chaldean = 138 = 3.
Amen/Name/ç # Major/108
He said active imagination 451 times without ever explaining the practice!?! 🤪
I wonder if you might have been expecting a detailed ‘how-to’ guide on the practice of unguided active imagination? If so, this was not the intended purpose of this particular video.
This video was intended to accompany the guided exercises on this channel, providing an introduction to the technique, an overview of its benefits, its relation to similar techniques and its role in developing the conscious mind. It was adapted from an earlier article on makeitconscious.com. There are 65 mentions of the words “active imagination” including titles and headers, not 451. None of these 65 are arbitrary or without context, but each link to some piece of information relating to 'the practice’ of active imagination.
You will notice that this channel features a large range of guided active imagination exercises, and it is my intention to continue publishing content, including instructional material on how to practice unguided and maximise the benefits. There is so much more than can be said in support of the practice generally, and it would not be possible to compile everything related to this topic into one 30 minute video.
I do nonetheless describe some of the pre-requisites for active imagination and inner work more generally. I will reiterate that it’s generally best to drop all expectations - take responsibility for your mind and experience, and cultivate wholesome intentions.
Unless you build on these foundations, then any ‘how-to’ guide explaining the mechanics of active imagination will be of little use. Certainly speaking to your unconscious in the way you have written to me today would not be beneficial.
If there is some other way you feel the content was lacking, and would like to 'explain how' I might go about improving it, then I welcome you to reframe your critique in a way that is constructive. This would be beneficial for us both. I'm sure with this shift you stand to benefit well from the practice and the exercises on this channel.
Why does it sound like Loki? Lol it's very distracting 🤣🤣
As in Loki from Marvel? 😅 Or the Mythology podcast? Both are very British, like me :)
🌠🎰💜💜💗🎶🎆♾️🫧
Why are most of the visual images primarily of young beautiful slender women. The pictures of men are wise or powerful.
Most of the images are not of "primarily young beautiful slender women." There are also men in the video, as you have noticed, amongst a wide range of other images.
That said, beauty (and wisdom, power, etc) is also in the eye of the beholder.
💫🌎✨He that would perfect himself in any art
whatsoever, let him betake himself to the
reading of some sure and certain work
upon his art many times over; for to read
many books upon your art produceth
confusion rather than learning
I love learning. But after 7 minutes of introductory talk, I got bored with this video. It seems to me more about keeping you watching than actually teaching you anything useful.
What else would you like to know?
You need to talk faster and at a steady pace.
It's not a time trial.
@@makeitconscious Maybe respect other peoples time though? As is this is a monotone monologue, with pretentious pregnant pauses and sibilant noises. You sound like a snake oil salesman using NLP manipulation techniques - the capstone at the end is of course the "course" that we can download.
@@BarringtonDailey Meditation and active imagination are not about achieving a result as fast as possible in order to "respect time." The idea is, in part, to let go of the need to produce a pre-determined result within a specified timeframe. This video was made according to the same ethos, to accompany the guided active imagination exercises on this channel which have all been offered freely.
I do not use "NLP manipulation techniques." I discuss mind control techniques at length in the MiC podcast and how to spot and avoid them. MiC is precisely about how to gain self knowledge and freedom rather than outsourcing wisdom to other people. That too is what active imagination is about.
I do have a course in the works although nothing released at this time. Perhaps you believe that everything should be offered freely, but then this would hardly be respecting other people's time. What do you think?
Yeah and what if one gets a bad therapist or worse an abusive one. No thanks. Too many egomaniacs out there.
You raise a value concern about the quality and intentions of therapists. It is true that there are many who have entered the helping professions with unwholesome intentions, hoping to use their work as a way to avoid their own unresolved challenges. It’s important to be discerning and allow ourselves to see such behaviour clearly.
Regarding the video, its primary focus is on the technique of active imagination, rather than advocating for therapy per se. Active imagination can be a self-guided practice as well, and we are releasing a playlist of guided practices on RUclips for this purpose.
Whether doing the work with or without professional help, it is vital to build on a foundation of taking responsibility for the mind and cultivating wholesome intentions. This is the only way to ultimately turn our challenges and experiences into opportunities for growth. If we find ourselves in a pattern of attracting a certain kind of situation or character, this is always a valuable opportunity for insight.
Its sad that even for souch human activity, such as active imagination, you use AI generated images. Sad
Why is that sad?
Warning ⚠️
What is the warning? Did you have a concern? Feel free to elaborate if you would like to clarify or address it.
Too many repetitive words , and nothing of importance said till the 8:00 minute
Have you tried meditation then?
Numbers Govern the Universe = 319 = 4, English, In Chaldean = 102 = 3.
Knitting the two hemisphere's = 320 = 5, English, In Chaldean = 102 = 3. (Conscious & Subconscious)
Amen/Name/ç # Major/108
active imagination only works on minds that is already active... simply put, the mind of natural thinker! lazy and hates to work that repetitive. Jung have that natural gift... one can know this by noticing how observant he is. His mind is already in active imagination which is optimal condition where subsconcious will interplay.
But Jung isnt a typical thinker like everyone else... his natural gift isnt something natural. But a gift that able to passdown the message from metaphyiscal realm to this realm. He one of the notable footnotes thats change course of history because it is time to change.
Having active resolution of emotional challenges can get people further than deal things like Jung. Coz in that realm? Emotions must not effect the empirical outcomes. One most have fragile emotions and have any personal family or community issues. Any person who are dealings with emotional balance? You will be more troubled than settled emotionally!
I agree with you that Jung’s deep capacity for thinking and intuition played a role in his profound understanding of the mind and the development of practices like active imagination.
However I would not agree that active imagination is only for those who are ‘natural thinkers.’ In my experience, individuals from the full range psychological type preferences can benefit greatly from practicing active imagination. It's not a practice crafted exclusively for people of a certain personality disposition.
Everyone has access to all cognitive functions - thinking, intuition, feeling and sensation - even though their level of development varies widely. Likewise all people have the ability to interface with the unconscious mind, especially with appropriate knowledge and guidance. Our ability to consciously engage with the unconscious mind is a large part of what it means to be human.
I tend to think that the most important resource on the journey of individuation is the willingness to take responsibility for the mind and confront its contents. It is possible for someone to be highly intelligent and intuitive, and yet be mostly out of touch with what is beyond their conscious ego.
More often than not, it is the unwillingness to engage with such contents that leads to personal problems and emotional disturbances, rather than a willingness. At the same time, it is important to treat inner work as a gradual process and approach it gently, not forcing the mind to deal with more than it has the capacity to handle in any one moment.
@@makeitconscious There are 2 types of active imaginations... the Jung type? Deals with only tangible, observable, provable embedded in logical adhesion that becomes immovable principles of what is actually true without any shred of doubt! But always question it encase he miss something that is make it more concrete.
Emotions as it is... is a quick sand. Whatever constructed on it will crumble. Since emotions always shift without moments notice. Like having a favorite car... one day you want another one. And you thought nothing will separate you from that car. The more cratches and dents you put on it the lesser you like to drive it around. if buying brandnew car are often cost less than restoring what you love back to its original condition.
So you can have active imagination on that.... but still you feel awful if you dont have the real extra money to pay your eccentricities.
Not only that... you can lose that car from thievesn is quite propabale and thats another involuntary active imagination right there! But if you treat your car as a tool not a piece of sometjhing special other than going from point a, b to c without breaking down. Theres no need to have active imagination for that to be emotionally balanced!
oh and the 2nd type... is the willy wonka type!
@@makeitconscious If jung is easy? Freudian wont be lost in Jungian Psychology like a 3yr old kid in labyrinth
30min of self repeating intro and no meaningful useful stuff. It's like a promotion with no product following
Your comment, on the other hand, was entirely useful.
@Dereval are a laki asset Dereval bawer full as Dereval791 bawer full bersinal full
Very interesting! Thank you!
You're welcome! Glad you found it informative.
💯
Is it wrong to use active imagination for evil thouh
Thanks for this generous and insightful Video! Your approach is obviusly a very open, integrative and therefore modern/contemporary one. Integrating the very best of eastern and western approaches and wisdom practices. Beautiful. Also the collection of art work. Keep up the good work! Much love!
Thank you for the kind words Martin and glad you liked the video. I certainly believe in the need to integrate practices, since they all have value, and arriving at the truth for oneself. This is of particular importance in the modern age given more complex challenges, requiring greater self-knowledge and personal responsibility. But also presenting a greater opportunity.
Is it wrong to use active imagination for evil thoughts and daydreaming of sexual desires
The purpose of active imagination is to deepen your relationship with the unconscious. It is not for engaging in fantasy or evil. This involves two-way engagement with unconscious material, rather than passive daydreaming.
Can you clarify what you mean by “for evil thoughts?" Are these thoughts you judge as wrong or bad in themselves? Or thoughts of doing harm to someone? Are they appearing autonomously or are you deliberately producing them?
Thoughts in themselves, as with sexual desires, are not problematic. What matters is how you relate to them and what you intend to do with them. By taking responsibility for what appears and working with wholesome intentions, both of these experiences can be fuel for insight in active imagination. But the purpose of active imagination is not to produce or indulge in such thoughts - it is to deepen the connection with the unconscious leading to intellectual and emotional insight.
Sounds like mindfulness
What a waste of time
When you are sincerely seeking self-knowledge, nothing is a "waste of time." When you are not, everything is.
@makeitconscious Extacly so the fact that this is a waste of time should emphasize just how ridiculous this was. Spent time speaking on everything but the topice, just click bait which is a shame that even so called enlighteners are getting in on the scam