Dear
Friend,
You wrote:
I have really been enjoying The Starry Cave and
have your book on Palo and and Exu. I learned about you and your work
from the Occult of Personality podcast which I listen to on a regular
basis. My question for you is what is the best way you have found to
stimulate your creativity and imagination. I've been trying to do this
through meditation and dream work and have recently started singing petitions
and prayers during my meditations. I'm interested in calling up some
images from my psyche that can show me how I can live my life better or enhance
my life. I have four years sobriety with a 12-step program so I can't use
any substances. Any suggestions? Also I wanted to tell you that
from what I've learned from you I've started working with my ancestors and
parents who have passed over. I feel their power in my life and our
relationship is healing. It is very powerful magic and I thank you
The vis
imaginativa - the path of imagination – is the realm of pure ideas, a
vinculum in where we find ourselves connected with source. The movement and locomotion associated with
this field of being, between source and its stirring of the waters of the
divine mind in the realm of ideas, is the spark of creativity. The oneiric path
is clearly a powerful vinculum of imagination. In fact, everything that is was
first a dream in the divine mind... but a meaningful dream, one given by spirit
and angel, dreams of prophecy and illumination are very different from dreams
that helps us process the mundane life or give wings to our fantasies of carnal
desire and rage. When we work with imagination we will see results, we will
dream solutions and realities, and we will see the ideal taking shape in the
material order, wishes are coming through and most important this connection
will fill us with a soft fire that we recognize as excitement and hopefully
benevolence; a feeling of humble greatness and gratitude.
We can also see the creative imagination influencing
our psyche/soul in a different, more psychological level where imagination blends
with fantasy. Fantasy can be deceptive, as we see in the word phantasm, which
means a ghostly appearance that may or may not have an ideal existence. Day
dreams and forms of escapism using this vinculum might say to belong to the
realm of fantasy. So, even if it is a faculty brought on by the creative
imagination its sphere of work can be as much deceptive as illuminating.
When we touch the realm of fantasy, we are
working within a sphere of material and social constructs where wishful
thinking and self fulfilling prophecies appears in a drama of illusion and self
dilution. We are here in the field of psychology where we mistake our behaviour
for our thoughts. For instance, in the case with self fulfilling prophecies, we
decide upon something to be truthful and we will strive towards affirming this
truth we settled for as we disregard whatever in our landscape that questions
the predefined truth. In the same way,
if we pass judgments upon a person or a situation, the tendency is to act and
talk in ways that affirm our judgment as we narrow down our horizon. We find
here the power of will and determination, and certainly this gathering of
personal power can influence the world, but it is not necessarily a state
directly connected to the vis imaginativa.
When we are creatively connected with the realm of imagination we will in our
contemplation and expression is filled with meaning and understanding. Our
landscape widens up and we our creativity gets richer and richer as horizon
upon horizon reveal itself. When we work with the realm of fantasy the tendency
is to be filled with a sense of accomplishment that provides a form of
satisfaction with our achievements, and thus it gives access to work upon our
own soul and the opportunity of forging a bridge between fantasy and
imagination. It is never good to mix the planes and hence I find it useful for
our compass to differentiate when we work within the realm of fantasy and when
we are truly connected to imagination as the source of creativity.
In terms of what can stimulate our creativity
and imagination, there is a vast universe out there of poetry, art, music,
beauty of all forms that can be contemplated and appreciated for the
stimulation it causes. For me, the tavern can be as much as source for
inspiration, as the good conversation and solitary walks in the woods at night.
I think the key perhaps is to keep a sense of wonder and awe of being alive, to
truly realize that we are spiritual beings on a human journey. Be always
curious and never be afraid to choose paths unknown that intrigues. Be always
the hero and adventurer in your own life. This is a creative approach to life
and living.
When we look up to the stars and in this see
our home, when we look at our fellow men and women and see here fellow
journeymen as we see in trees and plants ancestors and elders as much as
companions both bad and good in all beasts we will have a sensation of being
connected. By being connected we will gradually realizing our placement in time
and space and a vision of purpose will spread out as we approach the world with
interest and attempt to make sense of everything. For instance, to write hymns
and poetry in honour of one’s ancestors is one way of generating a closer
connection with source by the use of imagination and creativity – and in this
work, purpose will gradually be revealed. Likewise, to spend time in
contemplation at places in nature that appeals to you is likely for forge a
natural dynamic between you, the angel and geni loci of the place and inspire
by the virtue of beauty how life can be experienced in greater fullness. Doing
this we will not be summoning images from our psyche, but from the realm of
ideas – and these immutable powers will inspire our psyche and soul. So, of all
stimuli that can stir our soul and imagination nature of all forms is clearly
to be favored, because here we find the mirror of the creator and in this we
find ourselves. It is ice or mountain, jungle or desert we find here the
possibility of intense intimacy with ourselves, and through this merging with
nature we will realize that this our beautiful world is as Thoreau wrote: “but
a canvas to our imagination”...
Many Blessings!
Nick