Lesson 1: The Archetypal Imagination

To introduce the second section, let’s dive deeper into the Depth Psychological view regarding the realm where these inner figures and landscapes reside—a space that holds profound significance in our imaginative and psychological lives. Again, you don’t have to adopt this philosophy to work with inner parts effectively, but minimally it will help explain some of the language that will come up in this section.

When working with inner parts and landscapes using a Depth Psychological lens, we are delving into Archetypal Imagination. This may sound unfamiliar or even strange, but it has deep roots in human culture. As recently as 200 years ago, people actively engaged with these ideas—it hasn’t been forgotten for long! And don’t worry if this seems otherworldly at first. We all unconsciously visit this space every night in dreams and during the day in our reveries. By doing the journeys, as we did in the first section, we are not relying only on passive encounters with this realm but also a method to actively engage with it.

Roots

Archetypal Psychology, as conceived by James Hillman, draws its modern inspiration from the work of Carl Jung. However, its foundations extend far deeper into history, built upon the wisdom of ancient philosophers, artists, theologians, shamans, writers, physicians, poets, and alchemists. Only in recent times has imagination been dismissed as “unreal,” “false,” or “regressive.” In truth, the Archetypal Imaginal Realm is not some abstract nothingness but a mythopoetically real place, a kind of liminal terrain.

Names for the Archetypal Imaginal Realm

Different traditions and thinkers describe this space in various ways but often share an underlying unity. While some scholars may object to grouping these terms together, I see them as windows onto the same “place,” each offering unique perspectives. Patrick Harpur, the English writer, aligns the Imaginal Realm with concepts like the Anima Mundi (the “World Soul” as described by the Neoplatonists) and the Collective Unconscious (Carl Jung’s vision of a shared inner dimension). Similarly, Henry Corbin, the prolific scholar of Islamic mysticism, spoke of the Mundus Imaginalis—a “subtle world, which exists in a field between matter and mind.” Also, many cultures worldwide name this liminal space in terms that suggest an otherworld.

Common Names for the Archetypal Imagination

• Anima Mundi – The World Soul

• Dream World

• Non-ordinary Reality

• The Otherworld

• Mundus Imaginalis – The World Imagination

• The Collective Unconscious

• The Spirit World

• The World of Archetypes

• The Realm of Gods and Daemons (note: daemons, not demons in the Christian sense)

The Voices of the Archetypal Imaginal Realm

This imaginal space is not only home to our inner figures, it is home to poetry, creativity, myth, symbols, gods and goddesses, fairies, monsters, art, music, metaphors, literature, and more. It speaks to us in dreams—whether waking or nocturnal—and through intuition, synchronicities, and inspirations. But its expression isn’t always gentle or delightful. The imaginal can also make itself known through the darker side of psychological experience: anxiety, pain, depression, addiction, anger, confusion, insomnia, or feelings of emptiness. By turning our attention to this space and cultivating a relationship with it, we can explore the rich terrain of archetypes and deepen our connection to the inner figures and landscapes that shape our lives. Through this work, we may grow in creativity, insight, and a deeper understanding of what it means to be fully human.

Image: Brielle Elise