Jung stated that active imagination is a fundamental component of the second phase of an analysis that can continue even outside the analytic setting. Jung began to practice active imagination in 1913, and the method was established among Jung’s students (sometimes with skepticism) in 1927. However, it became less frequently used in later years. Since active imagination represents a core method of Jung’s analytical psychology and might be practiced through different forms (e.g., poetry, dance, sandplay therapy), this paper aims to provide a clear and thorough presentation of active imagination. First, it introduces the core points of Jungian theory. Then, it describes active imagination, its features, and different forms of expression. Finally, it presents the historical roots of active imagination. In conclusion, this paper has the merit to favor the re-discovering (and use) of Jung’s method not only among Jungian analysts but – thanks to its clear and comprehensive presentation, including its different forms of expression – among other psychodynamic and art-based psychotherapies to favor the confrontation between the consciousness and the unconscious.
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