Active Imagination for Beginners

[Galatea]

I’m studying astrology and I’m very much into trance/ hypnosis with a mixed package of curiosity and fear. With a 12th-house sun, I feel such a pull to explore these territories… None of my closest people really understand my fascination with this. Every time I open this topic with them, I can feel they feel uncomfortable hearing or talking about this. It can feel very lonely…
I’ve had some experiences with hypnosis and shamanic journeys, and read books on these topics too because I wanted to learn the rules to know how to do it So much Mercury in my chart that could explain this part
I am deeply curious about the active imagination practice and would like to ask here two questions:
1. How does one start as a beginner like me?
2. Is this dangerous to practice alone or does one need to do it better with a specialized therapist in this?

Thanks a lot!

[Noel Eastwood]

Hi Galatea, you've picked a good time to post this question because I've just finished three articles for my newsletter on Jung and active imagination. I'll post them here tonight or tomorrow.

Quick answer is that active imagination is easy and safe. The techniques vary according to your peculiarities and looking at your chart I can say that you are particularly suited to it, as you already said

[Galatea]

Hi Galatea, you've picked a good time to post this question because I've just finished three articles for my newsletter on Jung and active imagination. I'll post them here tonight or tomorrow.

Quick answer is that active imagination is easy and safe. The techniques vary according to your peculiarities and looking at your chart I can say that you are particularly suited to it, as you already said

I'm so happy to hear this Thanks a lot!

[Noel Eastwood]

Galatea, it's done, enjoy and pls feel free to ask lots of questions I've put it as a 'sticky' on the Pluto's Cave forum.

If you haven't already may I suggest that you get a copy of my book, 'Psychological Astrology and the Twelve Houses'. It shows how to meditate with the archetypes in your astrology chart. This is particularly useful for someone with such a strong 12th house as you have. If you subscribe to my newsletter you can get it as both audiobook and ebook from my website at a 25% discount.

[Galatea]

Galatea, it's done, enjoy and pls feel free to ask lots of questions I've put it as a 'sticky' on the Pluto's Cave forum.

If you haven't already may I suggest that you get a copy of my book, 'Psychological Astrology and the Twelve Houses'. It shows how to meditate with the archetypes in your astrology chart. This is particularly useful for someone with such a strong 12th house as you have. If you subscribe to my newsletter you can get it as both audiobook and ebook from my website at a 25% discount.

Thank you so much for all! I’m so grateful for your generosity and kindness, words fail me…

I’m familiar with a part of your work: some of your books, following your podcasts and meditations, etc. I’m someone who likes to read to learn because I’m curious, but also because I have this fear “What if I’m faced with something in trance and I don’t know how to respond and what to do?” So, I want to be as prepared as possible… In most of my trances, there is much darkness which at first was a bit intimidating, but I got more used to it... I'm still not comfortable 100% with it, but I kept going...

I was and still am fascinated by your book about the dialogues with the archetypes from the chart. I promised myself I’ll try it one day – when I’ll be ready. But years passed by and I never felt quite ready… But I’ve been practicing on and off meditations, some shamanic journeys, etc. The thought of trying active imagination never left my mind.

I realize now that I must read again Psychological Astrology and the Twelve Houses to refresh my memory, it's been a while since my first reading.

Regarding this starting exercise from your first article - How to do it... I’d have a few questions:

1. Does it matter if the birth time is a bit approximate? In my case, it is. Through books and self-observations, I know for sure my ASC could not change sign because everything about the current ASC (the chart you have) matches my personality. So, the difference should be minutes…
2. Should I visualize myself standing in the middle of my chart and let images come to me?
3. Can archetypes appear as animals or plants or only in human form?
4. If some archetype appears and stays silent, should I ask something? If it says something, what if I don’t what to say?
5. What if I’m scared of these archetypes and suddenly open my eyes?
6. How do I know/ recognize which archetype appears? (or which corresponding planet)

[Noel Eastwood]

Excellent questions.

1. Does it matter if the birth time is a bit approximate? In my case, it is. Through books and self-observations, I know for sure my ASC could not change sign because everything about the current ASC (the chart you have) matches my personality. So, the difference should be minutes…
A. It won't matter, the Asc sign will appear the same no matter what degree it is in your chart.

2. Should I visualize myself standing in the middle of my chart and let images come to me?
A. There are 2 approaches. {1} Third person which is seeing yourself as though you are viewing from a distance. Or, {2} 1st person, in which you are there looking through your own eyes. The 2nd way, 1st person, is best. I started out by imagining that I was standing in the middle of the chart and as I looked around the circle I could see the planets and signs. It took a few tries too, so don't have big expectations to start with, go slowly and gently.

3. Can archetypes appear as animals or plants or only in human form?
A. Yes, the Sun often appears as a ball of fire or light, so I tell him to turn down his brightness. I also tell them to appear to me in a human form as this is easiest to talk to. This too can take time as your unconscious gets used to your particular needs.

4. If some archetype appears and stays silent, should I ask something? If it says something, what if I don’t what to say?
A. Yes, and this is common, often they won't say anything because your unconscious is not ready for them to talk to you. The quickest way to fix this is to give them permission to talk to you about anything, ask them lots of questions too. Also, ask them to take your hands in theirs and to send their light and love into you. Make it as tactile as possible and feel their energy and where they send it. Be curious and passive, let it flow and you will fill up with energy, it feels awesome.

5. What if I’m scared of these archetypes and suddenly open my eyes?
A. I started this process many years ago by imagining that I was in a big botanical garden. That meditation is one of my meditations on my website, the garden one. I would look up into the sky and see the sun shining. I then called to him to come down to me in a human form. It took a few tries but it worked, it still blows my mind that this stuff works. It takes time, many people I have worked with take a few sessions to get it. When I work with them in person it is easy because I can guide them through this. If you open your eyes you will come out of your light trance and it isn't scary at all, you just wake up. No one has had a bad experience doing this that I know of - zero. You might want to start by doing the Sun and Moon meditation that I talk about in my coddiwompling videos - this meditation is also on my website. That's how I got started and still use to get others started, even non astrology nerds enjoy it.

6. How do I know/ recognize which archetype appears? (or which corresponding planet)
A. You usually direct your attention at one or more planets or signs, they usually cooperate nicely. Otherwise, if unsure, just ask them, they have your best interests at heart and will never do anything to harm you. You are their empress whom they love deeply.

Please feel free to ask more questions.

[Galatea]

Thank you so much

I tried your Sun and Moon meditation and for me, it worked from the first trial. It's a wonderful meditation. The sun came to me in human form when I asked him to do so but did not answer my question. However, he made gestures, so basically, he answered through his hand gestures and it made sense, I mean I could translate what he meant. I guess and hope in time there will also be talking... I’m very visual, so visuals will work best for me.

I have two more questions that came to my mind now:

1. Do I have to stand in the middle of the chart and let the archetypes approach or should I approach the houses they are in?
2. Should I ask each archetype to present himself in human form or let them be as they appear? What if for example one of them appears half human-half animal? In one of my trances a long time ago, I happened to see something like this but did not approach it.

I will keep this close to my heart, I needed so much to hear this “You are their empress whom they love deeply.”

[Noel Eastwood]

That's great news, the Sun and Moon meditation is a basic that I still use from time to time too. The Sun and Moon don't talk much to me anyway. I like the energy hugs I get from them though, that's what works for me most as I'm not very visual. Just keep doing, keep asking questions and giving permission. The archetypes need your direction and guidance, they don't really operate on their own and that's why you are their Empress, their beloved leader (and I'm so glad you like that description).

This is your astrological community and they are your road map to where you are heading, it's magic in action. You can add other communities like tarot, Pokemon, historical figures, religious figures, anything that works for you. Then there is your inner child community which includes your inner teenagers, and adults. Any time you were hurt or rejected, the gestalt of the event is locked inside. We spend the rest of our lives trying to cope with the pain and humiliation of rejection, etc. This is where the inner child meditations come into the picture. Working at these various levels of consciousness is what I do and teach, and it works.

With your extreme level of sensitivity your inner world is your healing space - that's where you can heal yourself and your past. This is how real magic happens.

OK to your questions:
1. Do I have to stand in the middle of the chart and let the archetypes approach or should I approach the houses they are in?
A. There are no rules about this, you can do either. I just imagine my chart, then the planet I am wishing to work with, then I will find myself standing in front of them. Play about with what works for you. This techniques is robust and a way to have fun times with your inner communities.

2. Should I ask each archetype to present himself in human form or let them be as they appear? What if for example one of them appears half human-half animal? In one of my trances a long time ago, I happened to see something like this but did not approach it.
A. Most of us work best with human forms, but I still see my archetypes take on animal and elemental forms. My Chiron appeared as a caveman, when we left the cave he was sometimes half horse half man, these days he is a taoist sage in flowing blue robes. Remember, this is robust, in other words when you are in their world it is real. Don't be afraid to ask them why they appear as they do, or what they represent in your life. They love to help and will do their best to comply to your requests. We are all entitled to go into our inner worlds, yet hardly anyone does and that's very sad.

A book that helped me in the early stages is: Edwin Steinbrecher's 'The Inner Guide Meditation'.

[Galatea]

Thank you so much for sharing all this

I got Steinbrecher's book and started reading it. Now I have to discipline myself a bit (which I struggle with...) and go slowly and steadily with the practice. I'll be back here after a while to share about this journey

[Noel Eastwood]

Thank you so much for sharing all this

I got Steinbrecher's book and started reading it. Now I have to discipline myself a bit (which I struggle with...) and go slowly and steadily with the practice. I'll be back here after a while to share about this journey

That's a goods idea, go slowly and gently, it is a path that can't be rushed. I look forward to hearing more of your mystic's journey