How to Talk with Your Unconscious Mind | Jungian Active Imagination | Introduction & Tutorial

Summary

This video script delves into the concept of active imagination, exploring its role as a bridge to the unconscious mind. It challenges cultural prejudices against imagination and posits it as a creative wellspring. The host, Jordan, outlines a four-step process for engaging with the unconscious, emphasizing the importance of listening and ethical dialogue to resolve internal conflicts, reduce anxiety and depression, and foster personal growth. Recommended reading by Robert Johnson is highlighted to deepen understanding of this transformative practice.

Takeaways

• 🧠 Our culture often stigmatizes imagination, but it's a fundamental part of our experience and perception, originating from the unconscious mind.
• 🔮 Imagination is the bridge to the collective unconscious, which mystics equate to the mind of God, suggesting a profound source of creativity and wisdom.
• 📞 Establishing a 'telephone wire' of communication with the unconscious can lead to personal growth, self-healing, and a deeper sense of self-expression.
• 📚 The video is divided into three segments covering the imaginal state, active imagination rules, and a four-step process for engaging with the unconscious.
• 🌱 Active imagination is a personal process that involves reconciling internal conflicts and dualities, which can lead to reduced anxiety and depression.
• 📖 Recommended reading for those starting with active imagination is Robert Johnson's 'Inner Work', which offers practical guidance for personal growth.
• 🤝 Active imagination involves a 'meeting of equals', where one does not dominate but engages with the unconscious in a respectful dialogue.
• 🚫 The process rejects a pre-determined 'script', allowing for a natural and authentic conversation to unfold with the unconscious.
• 👂 Listening is emphasized over speaking in active imagination, fostering curiosity and receptivity to the messages from the unconscious.
• 🔄 The four stages of active imagination are: invitation, inquiry/listening, introduction of values, and reality ritual, creating a cycle of dialogue and resolution.
• 🌟 Engaging with the unconscious through active imagination can lead to a greater sense of connection with a higher power or the collective unconscious, while maintaining individual identity.

Q & A

What is the main theme of the video script?

The main theme of the video script is the exploration of active imagination as a means to establish a dialogue with one's unconscious mind, with the goal of self-knowledge, self-healing, and self-expression.

Why does the script mention a prejudice against imagination in our culture?

The script mentions the prejudice against imagination to highlight that it is often dismissed or seen as unimportant, whereas it is actually a crucial aspect of our mental life that originates from the unconscious mind.

What is the role of the unconscious mind in our experience according to the script?

According to the script, the unconscious mind is the creative source of all that originates into our experience, perception, emotional patterns, and potentially even our thoughts.

What is the significance of establishing a conscious flow of communication with the unconscious?

Establishing a conscious flow of communication with the unconscious is significant because it allows for the reconciliation of internal conflicts and contradictions, leading to reduced anxiety and depression, and a greater sense of connection with one's deeper self or even a divine source.

What are the three golden rules for active imagination as outlined in the script?

The three golden rules for active imagination are: 1) It is a meeting of equals, not a domination of the unconscious. 2) There is no script; the process should be open and flexible. 3) Listen more than you speak, emphasizing curiosity and receptivity.

Can you provide an overview of the four stages of active imagination as mentioned in the script?

The four stages of active imagination are: 1) Invitation - emptying the ego mind and inviting the unconscious. 2) Inquiry and Listening - engaging in a dialogue with the unconscious. 3) Introduction of Values and Consensus - using human will to introduce values and ethics to reach a resolution. 4) Reality Ritual - concretizing the experience with a ritual to make it real.

What is the purpose of the 'reality ritual' in the active imagination process?

The purpose of the 'reality ritual' is to concretize and materialize the insights and resolutions gained from the active imagination process, making the internal changes tangible and real in one's life.

How does the script differentiate between dreams and active imagination?

The script differentiates by stating that in dreams, one is a witness to symbols and stories, whereas in active imagination, one consciously participates and engages in dialogue with the unconscious, allowing for a more direct interaction and reconciliation of opposites.

What is the recommended book for someone beginning with active imagination practice as mentioned in the script?

The recommended book for someone beginning with active imagination practice is 'Inner Work' by Robert A. Johnson, which uses dreams and active imagination for personal growth.

How does the script relate the process of active imagination to reducing anxiety and depression?

The script relates active imagination to reducing anxiety and depression by explaining that through this process, one can reconcile internal conflicts and dualities, leading to a more harmonious inner state and thus reducing symptoms of mental distress.

What is the importance of the 'meeting of equals' principle in active imagination?

The 'meeting of equals' principle is important because it acknowledges the value and wisdom within the unconscious, fostering a respectful and open dialogue that is necessary for effective communication and personal growth.

Outlines

00:00

🧠 Overcoming Prejudice Against Imagination

The speaker, Jordan, introduces the topic by addressing the cultural bias against imagination, suggesting it's often dismissed as unimportant. He argues that imagination is a creative force originating from the unconscious mind, which mystics equate to the mind of God. Jordan invites viewers to explore the concept of active imagination as a means to resolve internal conflicts and promote self-healing. The video is structured into three segments: an introduction to the imaginal state, three golden rules for active imagination, and a four-step process for dialogue with the unconscious. Jordan emphasizes the importance of this practice for personal growth and invites viewers to subscribe for more content on the topic.

05:00

🌱 The Potential for Growth Through Active Imagination

In this paragraph, Jordan uses the metaphor of a pinecone to illustrate human potential for growth. He discusses Carl Jung's perspective on the power of active imagination to reconcile internal conflicts more effectively than dreams alone. Jordan emphasizes the importance of treating the unconscious as an equal partner in dialogue, rather than a subordinate force. He outlines the 'three golden rules' of active imagination: meeting as equals, having no predetermined script, and focusing on listening more than speaking. He also recommends Robert Johnson's book 'Inner Work' as a valuable resource for those beginning their journey with active imagination.

10:01

📜 The Four Stages of Active Imagination

Jordan outlines the four stages of active imagination as a process that involves emptying the ego, inviting the unconscious, engaging in dialogue, and introducing values and ethics. He simplifies these stages into 'invitation,' 'inquiry and listening,' 'introduction of values and consensus,' and 'reality ritual.' Jordan explains that active imagination is not about scripting outcomes but about listening and responding to the unconscious with curiosity and receptivity. He also mentions alternative forms of active imagination beyond verbal communication, such as dance or painting, but focuses on the word-based approach for beginners.

15:02

🗣️ Engaging in Dialogue with the Unconscious

This paragraph delves into the specifics of engaging with the unconscious through active imagination. Jordan describes the process of inviting the unconscious to communicate, emphasizing the importance of being in a meditative state free from distractions. He discusses the experience of hearing distinct voices that represent different aspects of the self and the importance of responding authentically to these voices. Jordan also touches on the human will's role in introducing values and ethics during the dialogue, using examples of reconciling with an inner 'tyrant' and nurturing an inner child.

20:04

🔗 Creating a Ritual to Solidify Inner Dialogue

In the final paragraph, Jordan discusses the importance of rituals in solidifying the insights gained from active imagination. He suggests that rituals can help materialize the outcomes of the inner dialogue and provide a tangible representation of the reconciliation with different aspects of the self. Jordan provides examples of rituals that could be used to honor both the inner child and the inner 'tyrant,' emphasizing the personal nature of these practices. He concludes by encouraging viewers to engage in this practice as a means to achieve happiness, stability, and a sense of control over their lives.

Keywords

💡Imagination

Imagination is the ability to form mental images, ideas, and concepts that are not directly perceived through the senses. In the context of the video, imagination is portrayed as a vital and often misunderstood component of human experience. It is described as the source of creativity and the bridge to the unconscious mind. The script emphasizes that imagination is not just 'making things up,' but rather a deep well of potential and insight that can be tapped into for personal growth and healing.

💡Unconscious

The unconscious mind refers to the part of the mind that contains thoughts, memories, and processes that are not in the forefront of awareness. The video discusses the unconscious as a creative source and the foundation of our experiences and perceptions. It suggests that establishing a 'constant communication' with the unconscious can lead to self-knowledge and healing, likening it to a connection with a divine or god-like entity, which some mystics refer to as 'god' or 'the mind of god'.

💡Active Imagination

Active imagination is a therapeutic technique that involves engaging with the unconscious mind through dialogue or other creative means. The video outlines a process for active imagination, emphasizing that it is a 'meeting of equals' with the unconscious, not a one-sided attempt at control. It is presented as a method to reconcile internal conflicts and access deeper wisdom.

💡Shadow Work

Shadow work is a psychological practice aimed at integrating the darker, often suppressed aspects of one's personality into conscious awareness. The video, as part of the 'shadow work essentials' series, uses the concept of active imagination as a tool for shadow work, suggesting that it can help resolve internal conflicts and bring about self-healing.

💡Archetypes

Archetypes are universal symbols or motifs that appear in human culture and are often associated with the collective unconscious. The script mentions archetypes as part of the language of the unconscious, suggesting that they can be used to communicate with the unconscious mind during active imagination practices.

💡Golden Rules

The term 'golden rules' in the video refers to three principles that should guide the practice of active imagination: 'meeting of equals,' 'no script,' and 'listen more than you speak.' These rules are designed to foster a respectful and open dialogue with the unconscious, emphasizing the importance of receptivity and curiosity.

💡Inner Child

The inner child is a psychological concept representing the part of an individual that retains the qualities of a child, such as vulnerability, innocence, and spontaneity. The video uses the inner child as an example of an archetype that one might engage with through active imagination, suggesting that nurturing this aspect can lead to healing and personal growth.

💡Tyrant

In the context of the video, a 'tyrant' represents an inner archetype that seeks power and control, often in a harsh and domineering manner. The script discusses engaging with this archetype through active imagination to find a balance between the desire for power and ethical considerations.

💡Ritual

A ritual, as discussed in the video, is a symbolic act or series of actions performed to signify a commitment or to bring about a change in one's life. It is used as the final stage of the active imagination process to 'concretize' the insights gained and to integrate them into one's reality.

💡Personal Growth

Personal growth refers to the process of improving and developing oneself in various aspects of life, such as emotionally, mentally, and spiritually. The video posits active imagination as a means for personal growth by resolving internal conflicts and integrating different parts of the self.

💡Conscious Will

Conscious will is the ability to make decisions and take actions that are in line with one's values and goals. The script highlights the role of conscious will in the active imagination process, particularly in introducing values and ethics during the dialogue with the unconscious.

Highlights

Imagination is not a mere fabrication but stems from the unconscious, which is the creative source of our experiences and perceptions.

The unconscious can be viewed as a divine mind or god's mind, emphasizing the importance of establishing a conscious flow of communication with it.

Active imagination practice involves a dialogue with the unconscious to resolve internal conflicts and foster self-knowledge and healing.

The video is divided into three sections covering the imaginal state, active imagination rules, and a four-step process for engaging with the unconscious.

Imagination is a reflection of the collective unconscious and can be a bridge to personal and divine wisdom.

Active imagination can help reconcile opposing aspects of oneself, such as the fun-loving child and the responsible adult.

The practice of active imagination is not about scripting outcomes but about listening and engaging in a relational process with the unconscious.

Three golden rules for active imagination are introduced: meeting as equals, no script, and listening more than speaking.

The four stages of active imagination include invitation, inquiry and dialogue, introduction of values, and the reality ritual.

Recommended reading by Robert A. Johnson emphasizes the importance of using dreams and active imagination for personal growth.

Active imagination is a practical, ongoing experience that can lead to reconciliation of internal tensions and dualities.

The human will plays a crucial role in introducing values and ethics during the active imagination process, helping to find a balance.

Rituals are essential in active imagination to concretize and materialize the insights gained from the imaginal dialogues.

The video provides examples of how to engage with different archetypes within the unconscious, such as the tyrant and the inner child.

Active imagination can lead to a reduction in anxiety and depression and an enhanced sense of connection with the divine or the unconscious.

The video concludes with an encouragement to apply the principles and golden rules of active imagination for personal growth and self-healing.

Transcripts

[Music]

our culture has a tremendous prejudice

against imagination

think about it it's never a compliment

when someone tells you that you're

only imagining things or that you're

making things up but the truth

[Music]

is that you can never make something up

the contents of the mind the contents of

the imagination

we have to originate somewhere

[Music]

the unconscious is the creative source

of all that originates into our

experience into our perception

if you can create a conscious flow of

communication between the wider

unconscious which the mystics say is

god it's the mind of god

if you can create a connection of

constant communication like a telephone

wire between yourself and god

why would you not do that

[Music]

my name's jordan and it's my pleasure to

welcome you back to shadow work

essentials your well-meaning companion

on your inwards journey towards greater

self-knowledge

deeper self-healing and a wider sense of

self-expression

if you're ready to begin exploring

understanding and

eventually hopefully resolving that

swarm of internal conflicts and

contradictions

which underpin your everyday anxieties

depressions fixations and fantasies

then this is the video for you today

we're entering into dialogue with our

unconscious but if you're new here then

consider subscribing and hitting the

bell button for notifications of

bi-weekly uploads

and also following me over on thornton

theory on instagram

where i share a more intimate look into

my life my own personal shadow working

processes as well as daily stories

and mystical poetry learning how to talk

with your unconscious is an infinitely

complex

and ever unfolding personal process so

we're naturally limited in terms of how

far we can go in just one video

nonetheless i've done my best to split

this episode into three tidy segments

in section one will be outlining and

exploring the imaginal state

dream states and also i'll be giving you

an overview of what you could expect

from consistently following an active

imagination process

i'll also be giving you further pointers

towards reading that you can follow up

on

to supplement what we explore in this

video in section two

the three golden rules for active

imagination and in section three the

real meat

of this episode i'll be giving you a

four-step repeatable process to have a

rewarding dialogue with your unconscious

every single time or at least most of

the time depends how well you follow the

process

this is what you can expect from this

episode let's dive in

[Music]

our culture has a tremendous prejudice

against imagination

think about it it's never a compliment

when someone tells you that you're

only imagining things or that you're

making things up but the truth

is that you can never make something up

the contents of the mind the contents of

the imagination

they have to originate somewhere

psychologists and scholars have asserted

for a long time that the human

imagination

is the the function the result of the

individual and collective unconscious

sense and mystics on the other hand

across all the world's great religions

they've asserted something like

human imagination being a personal

reflection of the infinite mind of god

see how the similarities are here i find

myself switching between both

perspectives depending on the situation

but

go with whichever language feels most

comfortable to you

the crucial point is that the

unconscious is the creative source of

all that originates into our experience

into our perception

our bodies our emotional patterns and

some would even argue our thoughts

themselves

all stem from imagination so what is

imagination but the unconscious trying

to communicate with us

and communicating with us via symbols

and stories

and archetypes are timeless and affect

humans throughout the ages

and in that sense the unconscious the

realm of imagination the dream state

itself

is the core nexus of life

and that's why it's so important to get

started with an active imagination

practice

[Music]

inner work is a practical and ongoing

experience that teaches us

if we can embrace the conflicts if we

can face up with bravery all of those

tensions of dualities that we've been

talking about throughout this series

with courage with consistency in the

imaginal state

then we have the hope of reconciling

the image of the pine cone i love pine

cones

you surely know by this point

the pine cone is the symbol to me of the

growth that we can bring forward in life

there's so much potential on a single

pine cone this is a particularly big one

but it's still never going to be a tree

pine tree drops hundreds of pine cones

and maybe not even one of them grows

into the full potential

we're kind of like a pinecone in the

sense that we know throughout all the

conflicts and all the tensions all of

the smallness of just being a pinecone

we know we could be the pine tree we

have to know that there is a possibility

for growth

we have to feel deeply within ourselves

that there's a possibility for

reconciling the tensions of the

opposites

carl jung who is a fan of dream work

nonetheless said the act of imagination

is the more effective place to reconcile

these opposites because in dreams you're

the symbols and stories that happen to

you you're witnessing them

but you're not consciously participating

sure you could lucid dream but some

young gay and scholars would say never

attempt to lose a dream because it's

often

ego gratification and think about it if

you ever tried to lucid dream if you're

a guy i'm sure you're gonna be seeing a

lot more women if you're

a woman you're gonna be seeing a lot

more men maybe in various states of

undress

if you're straight and if that's your

ideal of course but

you'll get what i'm saying right so

lucid dreaming may not be the pathway

active imagination seems to be the way

to reconcile these opposites

when active imagination is done

correctly it pulls together the

different parts

yeah when active imagination is done

correctly it pulls together these

different parts of ourselves it resolves

practically speaking the this imaginary

conflict between the fun loving child

and the responsibility orientated adult

to live inside of us or perhaps the

fearless fighter and the persistent

peacemaker

it collapses dualities why would you

want to do this what's the point of

spending

hours of your life and going into really

difficult places

well i would say that if you can create

a conscious flow of communication

between the wider unconscious which the

mystics say is

god you know it's the mind of god if you

can create a connection of

you know constant communication like a

telephone wire between yourself and god

why would you not do that why would you

not want to break down the barriers

between ego

and self or between soul spirit

god all these terms all these phrases

why would you not want to collapse all

of that

practically speaking it reduces anxiety

and depression but more metaphysically

speaking

you get in touch with the language of

symbolism itself you get in touch with

timeless stories that express through us

they are us but they're not us and if we

do it correctly

we can experience all of this this whole

realm

that's normally not accessible to us

while still maintaining a distinct sense

of being an individual human being

sounds pretty good right

less depression less anxiety a greater

sense of connection

with god or with the unconscious if

you're secular go for unconscious if

you're

looking for spirit as i'm sure you

probably are go with god

and finally the sense of being a

distinct human

who has access to all of this but still

knows truly what i am in truth

that's the point of this and that

resolves

on the imaginal plane in the waking

dream state

through active imagination you want to

get started

let's get into the stages

quick interjection for recommended

reading there is one book

that i would suggest to anyone that is

beginning with this work this is the

best book out there i'm gonna say hands

down and it's

it's robert johnson's inner work using

dreams and active imagination for

personal growth in addition to the

reading list that's in the description

of every video

this is where i would start it is an

absolute goldmine spend your money and

invest in yourself and quickly

if you're enjoying this video please

drop me a like it matters a lot this

channel is really new and it helps the

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befriend me and treat me as a favorable

human being

necessary things but you can really help

me out with that anyway

three rules of active imagination let's

go golden rule number one

this is a meeting of equals you are not

going into the unconscious with a

hierarchical dominator mentality of the

unconscious being some

savage animal with undiluted pleasures

and pains at a lower level of

consciousness no that's not

true that's part of it sure the savagery

there's brutality but there's also the

greatest wisdom and the greatest

potential as we saw in previous episodes

of shadow work essentials

the golden shadow is all the brilliance

that we've yet to bring forward

active imagination can be used for gold

and shadow work

carl jung as a reminder suggested that

the shadow might be up to 90

golden so the unconscious it's not

savage and barbaric

not in the slightest it contains that

and it's so much more

from this basic principle of meeting as

an equal

you're in the place to go to principle

number two

no script golden rule number two there

is no script unlike

some kind of meditation or visualization

exercise you cannot go in and

strong-arm what you want from the

unconscious it doesn't work that way

maybe it's best to imagine that you're

literally meeting someone

this will be something that i'll show in

part three but imagine that you're

having a conversation with someone who

is respected maybe you don't understand

so much you're going to sit down and you

don't have a script for that

conversation

you can't have a script for that

conversation they have their own agenda

they have their own desires wishes needs

and they're locked inside of you or

trapped inside of you and they're

waiting to be heard inner child work

works around this principle

fundamentally um

there's no script golden rule number

three

building upon principle one meeting of

equals building one principle two no

script

golden rule number three of active

imagination

you are trying to listen more than you

are trying to speak

curiosity and receptivity is the king

or queen of active imagination and

working on the imaginal plane

you don't put words into the mouths of

those that you meet you don't decide in

advance what's going to be said you

can't possibly have a

goal for the conversation you can maybe

know that you're going to meet with a

part of you that's a child or meet with

a part of you that's a tyrant or the

part of you that's

a business man or woman or a creative

or a savage beast you can know you're

meeting with that part

but you can't decide what the goal of

the conversation is you can't decide the

outcome because it's a relational

process

it'll make more sense in stage three but

there should be enough for now

golden three rules final recap

meeting of equals no script

listen more than you speak these three

rules

you'll get the most out of the four

stage process let's go into it

dr maria louise von franz and robert

johnson whose book i recommended earlier

have both

shown through extensive clinical

practice the active imagination falls

into four natural processes

empty the ego mind invite the

unconscious

dialogue and introduce values and ethics

and concretize with a ritual for the

sake of this video i've simplified this

into the four stages

of invitation

inquiry listening and dialogue

introduction of values and consensus

reality ritual a second sense of reality

because i've been going in the dream

states but

a ritual you know a ritual to make it

real

quick interjection in this video i'm

talking about

active imagination simply through voice

dialoguing it's through language it's

through inwards meditation or through

writing or through

speaking out loud however there are a

variety of ways to

speak with the unconscious that don't

involve words you could dance

you could paint carl jung used to do

mandalas

[Music]

there are many ways to do it but i found

that

beginners or even people that tend to be

more linguistic and more rational-minded

which is the majority of us let's face

it do benefit most from starting with

this word-based approach but if you are

naturally artistic if you

are a natural dancer maybe you want to

go straight into dancing robert johnson

has a story about his practice use of a

woman that came in

and her dream work sessions would

involve him sitting behind his desk

progressively carrying more and more she

danced out these furious archetypes

working through her

the possibility is there but for the

sake of this video

we're gonna stick with words step one

the invitation

the first step of active imagination is

to get yourself in a place where you are

emptied of everyday concerns it's a

meditative state

it's a mindful state similar to the

other states that are required for

different shadow working practices

you know what you need to do half an

hour 45 minutes undisturbed

no one's going to bother you no external

demands

and wait with the intention of inviting

the unconscious

don't be surprised if the unconscious

archetypes that you want to talk to

don't show up if we spend so long

we spend so long trying to like slam

doors and shut out the noise of that

which speaks to us through dreams

why would it want to arrive straight

away it's not so trusting

so give it time allow it space

and it will show up it may take a few

meditations until

a voice comes through but you'll know

when it's there because that's when

we're in stage two

that's when you start to listen start

you start to

you hear a phrase and you may

intuitively know that this is the voice

of the trickster

or this is the voice of the damaged

inner child this is the voice of the

playful inner child

a myriad of voices come through but

normally at least in my experience

you'll hear a distinct voice

a phrase normally quite short and at

that point you can go

into the conversation if you're writing

out your practice you can open your eyes

on meditation and you can write in a

style where it's all capitals for you

and lowercase if the unconscious

you could speak into a voice recorder

maybe in a slightly higher voice and a

slightly lower voice

it's very dramatic you can do whatever

you want it's your private practice

or you could simply sit with mouth shut

and visualize

and see what comes through and record it

afterwards it's really your preference

going back to the three golden rules of

active imagination don't try and strong

garment

i can't give you a script i can't tell

you what will happen

that is the beauty of it it's your

unconscious mind or your

you know your shred of the greater

unconscious mind

inquire listen and dialogue but then we

get step three

and this is where we need the human will

some scholars some mystics have said

that

the human will was one of the most

powerful forces in the

in all of creation in all of sentient

life because we have the power to

introduce values

and ethics on what otherwise would be

randomness and barbarity i mean there's

many ideas platonic ideals about beauty

and aesthetics but

for the sake of this video let's just

say that the human will is going to

introduce a value

i'll give an example to make this real

so for example

we're we're meeting with the tyrant

inside of us and the tyrant has a

variety of conversational points

essentially the tyrant wants more power

more control more influence and wants to

go about it in a

strong arm harsh kind of way you as the

ego ideal

can introduce the value of yes i

understand that you want

power and influence however we can't do

it by stepping on other people

you can introduce the moral concern and

reach a reconciliation point

where the tyrant agrees i can get what i

want if i listen to this ego

so tyrant gets satisfied you give it a

pat on the head a scratch on the back

through your conscious will through the

exercising of your power of choice

and you reconcile i'll give you a

different example it says an inner child

experience of a part of you that feels

very vulnerable and very wounded maybe

there was a

family member or an authority figure or

maybe a former lover that said something

wounding and

you've been showing up with the symptom

of like procrastination and anxiety and

depression you can't quite figure

out what it's been it's been around for

months you're not getting much done

you go into active imagination you hear

a small quiet voice and it's a

whimpering and a child

and the inner child comes up to you in

your visualization and wants a hug

you give the hug and all that child

wants is love

and safety and security and your

everyday demands of responsibility

earning money satisfying different

relationships showing up in the world in

an

adult way that's far too scary so you

shut down you get depressed you get

anxious this is one possible pathway

that many people suffer from

the introduction of values and ethics

stage three of the four stage process

that might look something like

an hour of play every single day

with holding judgment and saying you

know what i'm gonna do an hour of

painting

drawing walking barefoot in the forest

i'm gonna satisfy my inner child

with the agreement to that seven eight

nine year old part person maybe even

younger that if

i give you this we're then going to go

about our adult responsibilities for the

day

99 of the time you will reach a

resolution point and you'll be able to

move forward and you'll find that the

anxiety and the depression that

constricted your throat and your heart

will melt away piece by piece it may

take a few attempts a few conversations

to build trust

but it will happen so with these two

examples with the tyrant and the inner

child we get to stage four let's

continue the examples forward

and that's the ritual it's all very well

and good working on the imaginal plane

it's all very well and good having

journaled a bit or having spoken a bit

but it's not real you need something to

concretize it

from one of my own active imagination

practices again i've used these

archetypes the tyrant and the nhl

because i've done these

active imaginations i've met in the

palace in my mind as the tyrant

overlooks

a crowd of fearful fearful subjects

and makes his bold demands and i see my

own face on this tyrant and i

i needed to make a resolution so that i

didn't become that kind of well i didn't

allow that character to come through

in full force same within a child i

didn't want to become a whimpering

pathetic man but i still wanted to honor

the vulnerable parts of me

so i need a ritual i've already hinted

at it what might be the solution

for the inner child a ritual would be a

consistent practice

or it could be something like going out

and buying that watercolor set

that you wanted to paint with or i know

buying some lego

buying some play-doh buying some clay

whatever small ritual concretize and

materialize it

and then with the tyrant something maybe

a bit more uh

difficult to bring a ritual forward but

you could do something truly symbolic

like having a ring

that to you is a powerful king's ring

and you could wear it

and you could bring the king energy in

or if you want to

definitely suppress the violent parts of

you that would be a tyrant

um put it in the basement not to lock it

away but it's no longer in control

you could take a large stick that could

be the tyrant stick you could

symbolically

break it in half and bury it in the

earth you broke an entire inceptor

tyrant doesn't have control control over

your actions you have the conscious will

you see what i'm getting at there's many

specifics and many peculiarities you can

go through in these processes this is

merely a guide

i can't hit on every single point but

the the core four stage process of

emptying the ego mind inviting the

unconscious

listening and inquiring introducing the

values and doing a bit of trading

backwards and forwards and then making a

ritual

this is a process you can repeat time

and time again to get to the core

of those anxieties depressions and

neuroses

it's really possible and we can do it

with this practice robert johnson talks

about it more in his book that's why i

recommended it for the third time in

this video

i recommend it again

and there we have it a dialogue with our

unconscious a dialogue on the imaginal

plane we have attempted and started to

begin creating a relationship a

communication network with the

unconscious within us

above us around us through us with god

if you want to call it that

um crucial point you're not rewiring

your unconscious

you're not trying to dominate or be

dominated control will be controlled

you're creating an exchange of energy

you're creating an ongoing dialogue

through inner work

you will get more out of this

relationship as with any relationship

the more the energy that you put into it

i could spend several hours giving

various examples but this is your

journey

these are your choices and if you apply

these principles

three golden rules in the fourth stage

process and do some further reading

outside look at the reading list

you'll go far in this place and i can

guarantee that

it brings a sense of happiness and

stability and control that i didn't

think was possible

it really is worth it but in the

meantime

go check out the next episode of shadow

work essentials it's linked in the video

and like and subscribe if you haven't

already and

i'll see you over there

[Music]

you