Working with Archetypes Part 3
An Active Imagination Approach
Today I’d like to give you an alternative method that can be used alongside the guided imagery (offered in Part 2) or instead of it, as you prefer.
If you haven’t yet read Part 1 of this series, please start there.
Using Externalization and Writing to Access the Subconscious
This is an eyes open method, mostly. You are going to have a conversation with an archetype in written form. It sounds simple, and it is, yet it can be profoundly revealing. You may find yourself writing things that have never occurred to you before as you tap into the subconscious.
Here’s the step-by-step instructions:
1. Set aside at least 30 minutes when you won’t be disturbed. Find a pen and paper. Turn off your phone.
2. Spend at least a minute, preferably longer, grounding and centering yourself. Use whatever methods you already have or simply take three, long, slow, conscious breaths all the way into your belly and out again.
3. At the top of your paper write a word that describes the archetype you want to talk with. Check in with how you feel towards this archetype. You want to be in a place of open, curiosity towards them. If that doesn't feel true then pick another archetype you feel open, curious and compassionate towards.
4. Bring into your imagination any image or symbol that represents this archetype for you. Remember it doesn’t have to be visual, you could hear the word “The Sage” or feel a bodily sensation that you associate with a particular archetype. This is a very helpful method for working with sensations and emotions that you don’t yet have words for.
5. Allow all of your awareness to rest on the image, sound, sensation, feeling that represents the archetype. You are not trying to manipulate the image or make it do something, you are simply observing it with all your senses. Be curious about it. Find that childlike wonder state.
6. At some point, if this hasn’t already naturally happened, separate yourself from the image/sound/feeling/sensation. Conceptualize it as a entity separate to you, something you can be in conversation with. You might simply imagine it/she/he/they sitting in front of you in whatever way feels easy or you could use a physical representation such as a picture or any object (don’t use a photo of a person you know, alive or dead).
7. Open the conversation by writing down your greeting to the archetype and state your intention, e.g. “Hello The Sage, I’d like to understand more about you. Would you like to talk?”
8. Then write their answer.
9. It’s that simple! Acknowledge the inner voices that tell you, “this can’t be real”, “you’re making it all up”, “blah, blah, blah” and just suspend judgement until you’ve reached the end of the conversation. Then evaluate if it was helpful to you or not.
10. If the archetype is open to talking then continue with some of the questions below, if they say, “no” to that first request then you could ask what they need in order to be open to talking with you. You might be surprised!
11. With each round of the conversation write down your question and their answer. The discipline of writing helps us stay focused on the conversation and not spin out into imaginal rabbit holes! Here’s some possible questions to get things rolling but really it’s up to you what you want to ask and of course you can ask follow-up questions to whatever answers they give you.
Who are you?
What would you like me to call you?
How long have you known me?
What do you do inside me? Or what’s your role in my inner world?
How old are you? Or how old do you think I am?
What do you hope for?
What are you afraid of?
What situations bring you out?
What situations make you hide?
What gifts do you carry?
Where did you come from?
What would happen if you took over permanently?
What do you need?
What would you like more of in our life?
What would you like less of in our life?
What other inner parts or archetypes would it be helpful for me to talk to?
12. When you feel that you have gained an understanding of this archetype then wrap up the conversation by thanking them for their time and their answers. Ask if it would be okay for you to come talk to them again. Sometimes it can be helpful to ask them to show you a sign, image, symbol, feeling etc. that they can use to get your attention if they want to have another conversation.
13. Write down any other thoughts, awarenesses, sensations, feelings, memories that seem relevant to the conversation then put down the paper. Go move your body around, eat something, drink some water or warm beverage and forget about it.
14. Then come back to your notes the following day and see what you want to take away from the experience. We will talk more about this in the next email.
You can do this as many times as you like with any one archetype or with a range of them. There’s an endless amount to learn about ourselves!
In the next email, two days from now, I’ll talk about how to integrate what you are learning from the subconscious into your life.