Exploring the subconscious is very different from analyzing it. I’ll tell you more about this in a moment. But, first, I want to tell you why I pay attention to the subconscious.
There is something mysterious, a bit scary as well as exciting, about all this stuff going on below the surface… Just like what goes on under the surface of the Earth. The solid ground we walk on, the “bedrock” that is our metaphor of choice for what is most solid, rests on a layer of molten lava—something that is essentially liquid.
All this hot lava is brought to the surface, with devastating effects, when a volcano erupts. This is something we think of with a sense of dread. It is a perfect example of the awesome power of natural forces, of their ability to destroy everything we build. In comparison, even our proudest cities seem like a thin veneer ready to crack under pressure.
What goes on under the surface is powerful stuff. It makes sense to find a way to harness this power. Being in touch with your subconscious is to be connected to emotional and spiritual forces that go far beyond the power of your conscious mind.
Now, I want to explain to you how exploring your subconscious is different from analyzing it. Let me use a metaphor to make this point: the way a geologist and an artist deal with nature.
The geologist will dig and slice the earth, and will pay attention to the kinds of rocks that structure the area, and to the past pressures that gave them their current shapes. The artist, on the other hand, will engage in a different dialogue with nature, one from which a work of art will be created.
When I talk about exploring the subconscious, I am talking about engaging in a creative dialogue with the awesome power of your subconscious.
What is it like to do this? I have an example on this website: a video showing somebody exploring a dream of hers in a creative way (see link lower on this page).
In a typical session, we don’t necessarily refer explicitly to the subconscious (the word is not mentioned in the video, either). What happens is that, while we talk about very concrete issues, I help you get in touch with some of what goes on below the surface. Not in a heavy-handed way. The focus of our session is not to proceed to a “geological” analysis of the layers of your subconscious. Our goal is closer to that of the artist: to capture what this situation is about in a direct and powerful way, to “get” it, to be able to see things differently.
You “get” it when you experience it at a gut level. It’s not just an abstract idea. It is embodied experience. In other words, this is not about finding a way to escape reality. far from it. You experience it fully. Your whole mind, and your whole body, are engaged in dealing with it. This is how you can unleash your creative power to engage more effectively with the challenges you’re facing.