The Art of Automatic Writing: Surrealism, Alchemy, and Active Imagination

A workshop to connect with our sacred symbols

Workshop Recording + Slides

How do we bridge the gap between conscious life and dreamscape? What is the value of translating the symbols we find in dreams, in the psyche, and the unconscious landscape? How can we make the unconscious, conscious?

Explore these questions with me in this workshop on the art and practice of automatic writing and active imagination. With the intention of connecting with the irrational, Neptunian side of ourselves, we cover:

I. Archetypes of Neptune & His Presence on the North Node

II. Defining Automatic Writing: Its Use in Spiritualism, Theosophy, and Mediumistic Expression

III. Esoteric Symbols in Art: Besant, af Klint, Kandinsky

IV. Surrealism & the Contents of the Unconscious: Breton, Carrington, Varo

V. Jung, the Active Imagination

VI. Alchemy & The Process of Individuation

VII. Active Imagination & Automatic Writing Exercise

You’ll find the video below, as well as the PDF of slides from the presentation.

I will be following up with the guided meditation as a separate post, so that people can return to it in the future for continued work.

I’d love to hear from you with your observations, experiences, if you feel called to share in the comments below.

For the purpose of the active imagination / writing exercise, you will need:

• something to write and / or draw with - pen and paper is best, but of course feel free to type if that is more comfortable

• a comfortable, quiet, private space to meditate without interruption

Workshop Video and Slides