Active imagination Dream Meanings

Carl Jung several times described a technique for using imagination which allowed the spontane­ous expression of the unconscious. Jung described active imagination as a putting aside of conscious criticism while we allow our irrational to play or fantasise. In relationship to a dream, this technique can be extraordinarily helpful and re­vealing.

A way to learn the technique is to take a dream in which a fairly defined person appears. It can be a child or adult. One then sits in a quiet situation alone, or with a sym­pathetic listener, and imagines or feels oneself back in the dream. One does not need to develop clear images unless these come easily. Just holding the idea of the dream is often sufficient. Then in a playful way develop a conversation with the dream person. Ask them what they are doing; why they appear in your dream; what do they represent of yourself? With a little practice the dream characters can come to life for you if you can let yourself play or free-wheel a little.

As we learn active imagination, it can give us other ways of entering into the life of our dreams. We can imagine ourself as the dream character, or even as the objects or animals, and allow ourself to experience and speak from their viewpoint. We can enter the dream and carry it forward from where it slopped, imagining what would satisfy us, thus becoming more active in dealing with our own inner and outer life.

See dream processing.