I recently started listening to “Growing Big Dreams,” a wonderful book by Robert Moss. Did you ever read a book where you felt like you were being seen by the author? Moss’ writing really speaks loudly to my work with the imaginal realm in therapy. While Moss does dream work alongside his students (sounds extremely powerful and I hope to join him one day), the work I do with my clients in the Imaginal Realm, within the Internal Family Systems framework, seems very similar.
My clients’ ability to deepen into their inner world/landscape to understand their system of parts more clearly never ceases to amaze me. I am blessed to journey alongside visionaries of the Imaginal Realm and bring my highest/wisest Self to our sessions as I accompany them. The Imaginal Realm is described by Moss in his book as different from imagination or even imagery in that it is thought to be of another world/space/time continuum that is just as real as the one most of us would call “reality.” From a neuroscience, less energy-based perspective, our mind does not differentiate between this reality and the imaginal realm. Therefore the Imaginal Realm is just as powerful and real to the body-mind and just as transformative as if it was happening in real life. Maybe this is the same reason why microdosing psychedelics are also so incredible for people–minds are opened, new perspectives drawn and connections with higher realms are available.
During certain sessions, my clients and I will journey into the imaginal realm to gain a deeper understanding and/or healing. To tap resources greater than ourselves. For some clients we connect with higher power/God/spirit/Universe showing up as beams of light in all different colors. For others we connect with nature elements-water, wind, fire, earth, sun/moon, starlight etc. We create and commune in a “healing place” of the client’s creation. Beautiful realms like: forest landscapes, serene ponds, forceful waterfalls, clearings on mountain tops, caves deep in the earth, ocean floors, riding on sea turtles, wading in tide pools, joined by animal guides of all kinds big and small and the list goes on. And quite often what happens is that similar healing places and images arise over the course of a week, from various individuals that are not known to each other in reality, yet still appear to be amazingly connected energetically. As if we are all connected through a web of golden threads invisible to the naked eye and powerfully divine.
Prior to last week’s sessions, while I engaged Moss’ book (on Audible) on walks, in the car, while cooking dinner, I journeyed with him as he guided various meditations. In one specific meditation, Moss invites his readers to go to a healing place. As I listened in a wakeful dream state while driving my car on the way to work, I had a vague image of the mythical bird the Phoenix who burns up in ashes only to rise again anew. Next, I saw in my meditation a body of water and recognized myself engaged in a type of baptism. Both images symbolize rebirth both simply flashed in my mind for a brief moment that I somehow grabbed. And over the course of the work week, as I facilitated sessions with my clients, one after another, comes with similar imagery and a similar theme!
I can’t make this shit up! It happens all the time. We are all powerfully interconnected in the tapestry of life- consciously and unconsciously. This deep knowing allows me to rest into the belief that I am never alone in the therapist’s chair. I am always in connection with Source, and so are my clients. What does your healing place look like in your Imaginal Realm? Use your five senses and let the games begin.