June 13, 2026. A short introduction to the scarily powerful technique of active imagination.

Introduction

---

In meditation, the conventional advice is to clear one’s mind and think about nothing. Our minds are somewhat difficult to vacate, so practitioners tend to advocate more sophisticated strategies, adapted to the ek. But compared to the simple, “no mind” cartoon of meditation, active imagination is in diametric opposition. Active imagination focuses on thinking our thoughts in total fullness, allowing them to elaborate themselves without interference or censorship, teasing out details and zooming in. Used systematically, it seems to lower the threshold of entry to consciousness in ways that can help cultivate creativity, self-awareness, and the stillness needed for meditation. This post briefly discusses the origins of active imagination and describes some personal experiences with the technique.

Origins

---

Carl Jung