Active Imagination for Beginners

[Noel Eastwood]

Your chart shows that there is some barriers for you to jump. I am particularly drawn to your Sun-Moon conjunction in Virgo in the 12th house. The 12th house is what I call the 'hidden house' because planets that reside there are often hard to engage with the rest of the archetypes in your chart. This is not a bad thing but means that they are sort of having a rest making their energy less conspicuous and leaving the bulk of work of running your psyche up to the other planets/archetypes.

What I mean is that your Sun and Moon conjunction shows your sensitivity and that you are very awareness of your feelings and of those around you. People with this pattern tend to pick up people's vibes too easily, sometimes having to avoid people to stay calm. They do best when they have a partner that carries the heavy load of engaging with people, of making phone calls and engaging with visitors. In many ways they become the 'gate-keeper' to protect their 12th house partner. Their life can be quite lonely yet that is what they crave, a special place to hide, like a cave, when things get out of control. And that is why I also see the 12th house as a cave, like Pluto's cave of the 8th house.

I have 2 caves - 8th and 12th houses. I can visit the various archetypes in those safe places. My 12th has a cyclops from Greek myths, living there. I can sit curled up in his huge arms to protect me. He reminds me that 'it's not safe outside' - and he is right. The outer world is a rugged place with many nasty people to avoid. Meditating with the Sun, Moon, Mercury and Virgo in your 12th house is a safe and pleasant way to spend a few minutes every day. It engages you with those three planets who aren't quite engaged with the other archetypes. In that way you can re-engage them and enjoy their energy during more often.

Anyway, I just wanted to share that with you as it explains why you are so sensitive, get stressed and can feel isolated and alone. Your home is the 12th house, mine is the 8th, we are both very sensitive and need lots of space and time out from the world. And that's what makes us the way we are.

I've done a coddiwompling video on my Youtube channel on the 'psychological/psychic houses - 4, 8 and 12. https://youtu.be/GUwPtH1pnac

[Galatea]

Thank you so much for sharing all this

Wow, I’ve missed to understand many things about the 12 house. After reading what you wrote and listening to the video, it sheds a different light. I’m saying this, particularly about the ASC line being the threshold between the unconscious and the conscious, urges and instincts being on hold there, and the need for having good ego strength. This explains very many things in my life that I never understood where they come from.

I really like the image of the cave. I have already met Mercury, he didn't talk much to me, but interestingly his first appearance had a caveman look

When you refer to meditating with the planets in the 12 house for a few minutes daily, do you mean this type of active imagination practices with the chart or a different one? Could I for example imagine going towards a cave with the awareness that's my 12 house and see who I'd meet there?

[Noel Eastwood]

Yes, you can use your usual active imagination process and enter into your cave that way. I like that you could go to an imaginary cave (or a real one from your memory or a painting, photo, etc.) and it can be the 12th house. My 12th house cave comes from the 1963 movie 'Jason and the Argonauts'. The beach scene I can see outside my cave is also from this movie, from when the heroes meet Talos the giant robot man. It just seemed fitting. I wrote more about this meditation in my 'Psychological Astrology and the Twelve Houses' book.

My 8th house cave... hmm, I don't really know where it came from but it is high up on a mountain ledge and opens onto a grassy flat area. Inside is a smokey fire and deep into the cave is Pluto's Portal where I can enter Pluto's inner world. That reminds me, I definitely need to visit it again, it's been years. Usually I just go straight to Pluto.

Caves are safe places for me. I once slept for a few nights in a small cave when bushwalking. I have never felt safer in sleep in any other place. Remember that the 12th house doesn't have to be a cave, it could be any place you imagine it to be. Let me know how your cave meditations go.

[Galatea]

I definitely have to re-read your book "Psychological Astrology and the Twelve Houses". It left a very strong impression on me. Being a visual person, I could visualize your journey around the chart, some of the details I still remember.

Remember that the 12th house doesn't have to be a cave, it could be any place you imagine it to be.

Thank you so much for reminding this and for everything. I’m deeply grateful for your help

I’ll be back with updates after a while.