Dance/movement as active imagination: Origins, theory, practice

Active imagination is Jung's analytical method of psychotherapy. It involves opening to the unconscious and giving free rein to fantasy, while at the same time maintaining a conscious viewpoint. It is an approach that Jung developed out of his own need to discover the meaning of dreams, fantasy images or affective complexes that erupt in everyday life or in the therapeutic relationship. Active imagination can be done in any number of ways, according to the individual's taste and talent. As early as 1916, Jung wrote about some of his patients who used body movement to give form to the unconscious. But despite Jung's interest in movement as a form of active imagination, its role in Jungian thought and practice has remained largely undeveloped.; Mary Starks Whitehouse originated an approach to expressive movement that is sometimes called "authentic movement" or "movement in depth." It is based on the psychology of C. G. Jung; it involves a mover, a witness and their relationship. It is within the relationship that the mover may begin to internalize the reflective function of the witness, that is, to yield to the unconscious stream of bodily felt sensations and images, while at the same time bringing the experience into conscious awareness.; This dissertation explores the value of dance/movement to psychotherapy, particularly as a form of active imagination. It also offers a contribution toward a more differentiated understanding of the origins of movement in the psyche.; Following a narrative introduction that describes my own transition from dancer to dance teacher, dance therapist and Jungian analyst, I provide a theoretical grounding for dance/movement in Jung's analytical psychology, with particular attention to the affects as bridge between body and psyche. This develops into an historical and contemporary view of depth psychology through the contributions of Jung, Henderson, Darwin, Tomkins and Stewart. In the final section I show the use of dance/movement as active imagination in the practice of psychotherapy, describe the various levels of the psyche in conscious and unconscious aspects and try to differentiate the movement themes that emerge.