Alchemical Active Imagination

Jung conceived of alchemy as a practice of what he called active imagination, a meditative practice of transformation in which inner complexes and archetypal constellations are personified or experienced as images and then confronted and related to by the conscious ego. Writing, painting, dance, music and other mediums in addition to unconscious projections onto matter, can all be used to bring the unconscious to conscious expression. Having gone over the theory and history of alchemy in the presentation, in this workshop we will learn how to practice active imagination. Practical recipes taken from alchemy will be introduced and we will provide ample time to apply these recipes to our own experience, not just talking about alchemy but effectively becoming alchemists ourselves. We will also access the way in which Jung saw the value and importance of doing this type of work, politically and culturally, as well as individually.