Unveiling the Golden Shadow: Active Imagination, Art Therapy, and the Power of Symbolism

In this 4-hour workshop, we will explore the interplay between active imagination, art therapy, and the power of symbolism. Drawing from Jungian and post-Jungian art therapy traditions, participants will engage in art-making and writing focusing on symbolism and metaphor to access the unconscious and cultivate a dialogue with the images that emerge. Further integrating Janie Rhyne’s Gestalt-based approach to “dialogue between art and Self,” and James Hillman’s call to “stick with the image,” we will learn to trust the creative process as a path to insight and transformation. Through guided exercises, participants will discover how the “golden shadow” reveals personal mythopoetic identity—our unique, soul-centered place in the web of life. This experiential training invites clinicians to deepen their therapeutic practice by facilitating symbolic exploration, expanding perception, and uncovering the heart of the matter in both art and self.

Participants will be able to:

• Identify 2 essential components post-Jungian active imagination work engaged through integrative art therapy.
• Apply 2 properties of artistic language, symbolism, and metaphor using visual media and writing.
• State 1 or more ways to employ metaphor discovery to build clinical interventions relevant to client needs.