immanence
Carl Jung called immanence "the deep truth." This blog explores a Jungian view of immanence: the divine within.
Active imagination
Active imagination: “is a method [devised by Carl Jung] of introspection for observing the stream of interior images. One concentrates one’s attention on some impressive but unintelligible dream-image, or on a spontaneous visual impression, and observes the changes taking place in it. Meanwhile, of course, all criticism must be suspended and the happenings observed and noted with absolute objectivity. Obviously, too, the objection that the whole thing is “arbitrary” or “thought up” must be set aside, since it springs from the anxiety of an ego-consciousness which brooks no master besides itself in its own house. In other words, it is the inhibition exerted by the conscious mind on the unconscious…. Under these conditions, long and often very dramatic series of fantasies ensue. The advantage of this method is that it brings a mass of unconscious material to light. Drawing, painting, and modelling can be used to the same end. Once a visual series has become dramatic, it can easily pass over into the auditive or linguistic sphere and give rise to dialogues and the like.” (Carl Jung, CW 9i, para 319- 20)
According to Jung (1997) there are five predominant ways that one can give use active imagination:
The visual type of person allows the active imagination to arise through inner images. Jung (1997) states that for this type of person a images will appear in the mind’s eye. They then follow that image, and allow it to change and shift. This process allows the divine to present itself in one image or a series of images, much like the dreaming process.
The second type is the audio-visual type of person. These individuals usually hear words or perhaps fragments of various apparently meaningless sentences. Sometimes the auditory person hears their internal voice. This ‘voice’ comes across as an audible voice that can be heard as an internal dialogue. This internal voice is sometimes known as the muse.
The third predominant way of expressing our relationship to the divine via active imaginations is through the hands, by creating art. A fourth way is by experimenting through the movements of the body. A fifth way is through a process of automatic writing, although Jung claims that this method is rare.
Reference
Jung on Active Imagination - Dr. C. G. Jung, Joan Chodorow- 1997
Jung, C. G., The Archetypes and the Collective Unconscious – CW 9i (1934–1954) (1981 2nd ed. Collected Works Vol.9 Part 1)
About Jenna Lilla PhD
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