The Dream by Marc Chagall
ALCHEMICAL DREAMWORK - WHAT IS IT?
By David Quigley
Here's a lovely illustration of the difference between Jungian analysis and Alchemy work.
On a Jungian site I was following I read with interest a question for the Jungian analyst: "If I dream of a bear in the woods, how would a Jungian interpret this?"
Not knowing anything about the client or even if the dream was real, I answered:
"I don't know. Talk to the bear in the woods."
The immediate response from a Jungian therapist: "So we throw away all analytical tools?"
An excellent question. And the answer of course is NO. I didn't train extensively in comparative religion, Jungian work, dream analysis, and shamanism to throw away the knowledge every Alchemist must have about the vast world of archetypal psychology.
But as an Alchemist I would not dare introduce any of my analytical skill, or the clients theories, into the process until the client has used "active imagination" i.e. Hypnosis to enter the dream forest and become the bear. Move and snort and smell as a bear. Then bring us a message.
Here might be a typical response as the clients body wobbles in mama bear style:
" I'm big. I'm strong. I can take of you client! Who needs this annoying soon to be ex husband telling me what to do. I am perfectly okay dumping him because I'm a mother bear! And I need to dump him. He's no good for me or the kids."
Suddenly the client needs to emerge and hit the bathroom as their chronic constipation releases. Their body is transformed.
Then we can wax analytical! I can point out the old adage:
"Bears do what in the woods?"
Or point out the legendary courage and strength of the protective mother bear she has become. Maybe bond the client permanently to this agent of profound inner strength through the gift of a talisman to be worn on the body.
Then the analytical mind of the Alchemist can help the client explore complicated interactions in which the mother bears strength is needed in the clients body, and perhaps even noticing when we enter a "China shop" how to keep the bear under control.
That's Alchemy. As Jung himself discovered it. Active imagination. Living contact with the divine beings of the collective subconscious mind. And the full analytic tool chest of hypnotic and Jungian tools. Directed not only toward understanding and knowledge but to the transformation of body and mind through direct initiatory experience of the ARCHETYPES.
Alchemical Hypnosis. Or Jungian analysis? Jungian therapists. continually preach the dangers of becoming possessed by archetypal forces. Don't go there. Let's just talk. About what this bear might mean.
Which kind of Dreamwork would you like today?
Here's a lovely illustration of the difference between Jungian analysis and Alchemy work.
On a Jungian site I was following I read with interest a question for the Jungian analyst: "If I dream of a bear in the woods, how would a Jungian interpret this?"
Not knowing anything about the client or even if the dream was real, I answered:
"I don't know. Talk to the bear in the woods."
The immediate response from a Jungian therapist: "So we throw away all analytical tools?"
An excellent question. And the answer of course is NO. I didn't train extensively in comparative religion, Jungian work, dream analysis, and shamanism to throw away the knowledge every Alchemist must have about the vast world of archetypal psychology.
But as an Alchemist I would not dare introduce any of my analytical skill, or the clients theories, into the process until the client has used "active imagination" i.e. Hypnosis to enter the dream forest and become the bear. Move and snort and smell as a bear. Then bring us a message.
Here might be a typical response as the clients body wobbles in mama bear style:
" I'm big. I'm strong. I can take of you client! Who needs this annoying soon to be ex husband telling me what to do. I am perfectly okay dumping him because I'm a mother bear! And I need to dump him. He's no good for me or the kids."
Suddenly the client needs to emerge and hit the bathroom as their chronic constipation releases. Their body is transformed.
Then we can wax analytical! I can point out the old adage:
"Bears do what in the woods?"
Or point out the legendary courage and strength of the protective mother bear she has become. Maybe bond the client permanently to this agent of profound inner strength through the gift of a talisman to be worn on the body.
Then the analytical mind of the Alchemist can help the client explore complicated interactions in which the mother bears strength is needed in the clients body, and perhaps even noticing when we enter a "China shop" how to keep the bear under control.
That's Alchemy. As Jung himself discovered it. Active imagination. Living contact with the divine beings of the collective subconscious mind. And the full analytic tool chest of hypnotic and Jungian tools. Directed not only toward understanding and knowledge but to the transformation of body and mind through direct initiatory experience of the ARCHETYPES.
Alchemical Hypnosis. Or Jungian analysis? Jungian therapists. continually preach the dangers of becoming possessed by archetypal forces. Don't go there. Let's just talk. About what this bear might mean.
Which kind of Dreamwork would you like today?
