Active imagination is an system for acclimatizing oblivious substance (dreams,

fantasies, and so on) through some structure from claiming outpouring toward
oneself.

Those object of active imagination is should provide for a voice should sides of the
customized (particularly the anima, animus and the shadow) that are typically not
heard, thereby making an line about correspondence between cognizance and the
oblivious. Significantly The point when those conclusion products-drawing,
painting, writing, sculpture, dance, music, and so forth throughout this way,
observing and stock arrangement of all instrumentation may be are not interpreted,
something dives looking into between maker and making that contributes should
An change from claiming cognizance.

The first stage of active imagination is like envisaging with open eyes. It can take
dwelling instinctively or be artificially persuaded.

In the latter case you choose a dream, or some other fantasy-image, and
concentrate on it by simply catching hold of it and looking at it. You can
also use a bad mood as a starting-point, and then try to find out what sort of
fantasy-image it will produce, or what image expresses this mood. You then
fix this image in the mind by concentrating your attention. Usually it will
alter, as the mere fact of contemplating it animates it. The alterations must
be carefully noted down all the time, for they reflect the psychic processes in
the unconscious background, which appear in the form of images consisting
of conscious memory material. In this way conscious and unconscious are
united, just as a waterfall connects above and below.

The second stage, beyond simply observing the images, involves a conscious
participation in them, the honest evaluation of what they mean about oneself, and a
morally and intellectually binding commitment to act on the insights. This is a
transition from a merely perceptive or aesthetic attitude to one of judgment.

Although, to a certain extent, he looks on from outside, impartially, he is

also an acting and suffering figure in the drama of the psyche. This
recognition is absolutely necessary and marks an important advance. So
long as he simply looks at the pictures he is like the foolish Parsifal, who
forgot to ask the vital question because he was not aware of his own
participation in the action. [An allusion to the medieval Grail legend. The
question Parsifal failed to ask was, "Whom does the Grail serve?" ]. But if
you recognize your own involvement you yourself must enter into the
process with your personal reactions, just as if you were one of the fantasy
figures, or rather, as if the drama being enacted before your eyes were real.

The judging attitude implies a voluntary involvement in those fantasy-

processes which compensate the individual and-in particular-the collective
 situation of consciousness. The avowed purpose of this involvement is to
integrate the statements of the unconscious, to assimilate their compensatory
content, and thereby produce a whole meaning which alone makes life
worth living and, for not a few people, possible at all.

F O R M AL E S – C O N N E C T I N G T O T H E AN I M A

Connecting to the Anima for males is about understanding feminine energy

which manifests itself as passivity, sensitivity, and
emotionality. Suggestions include the following:

 Practice the art of listening with concern and compassion.

 Rediscovering your passionate side through romantic gestures.
 Taking care of, or nurturing something.
 Practicing thoughtfulness and consideration of the needs of others.
 Expressing the inner Anima creatively, e.g. music, art, sculpture,
poetry, dance.
 Practicing mindfulness, meditation and other ways to get in touch
with, and understand, inner emotions.
 Expanding your hobbies or interests to incorporate feminine energies
in your life.
 Practicing Self-Study in order to develop greater consideration of
your internal needs for love and fulfilment.

F O R F E M AL E S – C O N N E C T I N G T O T H E AN I M US

For females, connecting to the inner Animus is also about understanding

masculine energy which manifests itself as everything that is active,
dominant, and logical. Suggestions include:

 Practicing assertiveness.
 Adopting a role or position that puts you in authority/dominance.
 Learning to take charge of something in your life.
 Discovering and developing your leadership abilities.
 Reading non-fiction instead of purely fiction.
 Becoming more self-sufficient and self-reliant.
 Learning masculine skills, (e.g. fixing car problems, handy-man
abilities like using drills, fixing broken appliances, etc.)
 Gaining more emotional balance by practicing mindfulness,
meditation, and Self-Exploration, etc.
 Learning to become more rational by studying the approach to
problems, decisions and situations by rational people.