Imagination Exercise: Creating Your Inner Space - Notes

These are the notes I wrote for the Mysterious Studies Imagination Exercise: Creating Your Inner Space. Feel free to use these notes as a help if you want to do this exercise on your own (without me guiding), or want to record your own version. If you want to access the audio file with the guided exercise, you can find it here.

Introduction

In this imagination exercise we will create a inner space using your imagination.

If you haven’t done the other imagination exercise yet, it might be interesting to try that first as it can help you come into the exercise with a deeper awareness of how your imagination works. But it also works to do this exercise first. They serve different functions.

So, the inner space that we will be creating in this exercise will be a space that will function like an inner home where you can come to seek guidance from the inner/inbetween realms or come to practice using your inner senses. A space like this proved to be very valuable for me in my journey of starting to look inwards, as it made such an unfamiliar and at times scary journey feel safer and more familiar. It provided me with a place to land, instead of completely jumping into the unknown.

This exercise is loosely inspired by a similar exercise from Laurie Cabot’s Book of Shadows, which is a very useful resource for different meditation and visualization exercises. I have gone through all of them myself and been fascinated by the deeper and different layers that have opened up as a result. But if you don’t identify with the term Witch or approaches described as witchcraft this may not be the resource for you. The way I see it, these approaches are something that everyone has a natural birthright and ability for, and we don’t necessarily need to define them as any kind of witchcraft or magical practice. So I have personally taken some steps back from calling it witchcraft of magic, but you can describe it in that way if it makes it more fun for you to test it out. If not, then just consider this a continuation of a mediation exercise and you can think of it in more neutral terms.

So, let’s start. For this exercise, we’ll do the same centering and grounding as in the other imagination exercise.

Imagination Exercise: Creating Your Inner Space

Sit or lie down in a comfortable position and focus on your breath for a few moments. Notice how you are feeling and just allow yourself to feel that way, allow any thoughts that come up to come and go. Or remain if they want to.

Clearing, Centering and Grounding

Now, let’s do a simple energy clearing. Focus your awareness on your breath and imagine any excess energy leaving you with each breath out. And with each breath in, take back your own energy that you need to feel centered and whole and present.

Then, feel how the earth is carrying you. You are connected to it. Rooted and anchored into the earth. You can share energy with the earth through this root, either to get a energy boost or release any remaining excess energy that the earth can transmute. This root helps you stay grounded in the physical, outer realm, while you travel further and deeper into the inner realm.

You are here, right now, centered into yourself, rooted into the earth.

Protective Shield

Now, we create a protective shield around you, as you are embarking upon this new journey of looking inwards. This shield keeps you safe and secure and ensures that only energies that are for your highest and deepest good may enter this inner space. Nothing that comes through can harm you, and you can exit the space at any time, simply by opening your eyes and moving your body, connecting back to the outer realm. We are creating this shield and reminding you about the option to detach mostly to ensure your mind feels safe as it may be doing something that can be very new and unfamiliar to it. The unfamiliar and unknown can feel scary to the mind and it can take some time to get used to this. So, rest assured, that you are now protected by this gentle shield, and can leave the meditation at any time if you feel a need to do so.

Shifting Inwards

And now, we can shift our gaze inwards, into the inner or inbetween realm. That which has no physical or material shape, but is real in its own right. In the imagination. We will now create a safe space for you here, an inner home, a place to land and a way to start your journey of looking inwards. With your eyes closed, imagine a portal or a doorway that leads inside of you, deep into your own, special inner space. You are your own portal into your imagination. And by creating this portal inside of you, we are reminding you about your own power. What you are creating is Your own inner space, created using Your own imagination. I am merely your guide to help get you started. But you are the one with the power to imagine and connect to your own inner world.

The Setting

First, imagine a setting, an environment, that calls to you. It could be a forest meadow or a beach by an ocean or a lake. Or a mountaintop where you can see far around you. That’s all we need to do in this first step: just imagine the scenery, of a space that you would most want to visit and come back to. What kind of a space would feel most comforting to you?

The Water

Then, imagine a body of water in this space. What would you most prefer to experience? A lake? An ocean? A river? A waterfall? Or a gentle little stream? Whatever the shape it takes, this water is important, as it brings your inner space life-giving waters, that you can come and drink from or swim in or just observe, as a way of relaxing in your inner space. So, imagine some water in your inner space.

The Shelter

Then, imagine some kind of a space where you can rest. It could be a cozy cabin. A little sheltered space between trees. It could even be a hollow tree that you have mad into a little home. Or just a stone to sit on or a blanket on the ground. Whatever shape it takes, it provides you with a place to land for when you need to come to this space to rest and just be. So, imagine a place to rest, in your inner space.

The Portal

Now, imagine a portal or a doorway in your inner space. This is the place through which you can invite companions and guides to come and communicate with you. To share messages from the inner realms, or just to hang out and enjoy each others company. The portal or doorway can be anything from an old stone arch to a wooden door. It can be connected to the scenery, like a mysterious door going into a tree, or it can be separate, like a portal of light floating in the air. Imagine a portal or a doorway. How does it appear, in your inner space?

The Companion

Next, imagine a companion coming through that doorway or portal that you just created. It can be an animal, a humanoid or something else entirely. A totally imaginary being. This companion represents the supportive energy that wants to accompany you on your journey of looking inwards and connecting with the inner. It can take different shapes at different times, if you come to visit this space other times. What shape does it take today?

As your inner companion comes, present yourself to them in a way that feels right. Thank them for being here, and ask them a bit about themselves. What is their name? In what way does the inner companion want to help you? Is there something that you can do to help them in return? Take a moment to connect with your companion, in whatever way that feels most natural for you. And then, you can either say farewell to the companion and let them travel back through the doorway or portal, or they can remain in your inner space, if that’s what feels right. Maybe their companion can make themselves comfortable and make a space for themselves in your space. Or they can travel back to where they came, and come visit you when you seek their companionship.

Your Own Additions

Take a moment to be in your inner space. Feel how it feels to be here. And add anything else that you feel called to add to the space.

Travelling Back to the Outer

When you’re ready, travel back through the portal/doorway that leads to the outer world. But remember you can visit you inner space any time you need, to seek guidance and look inwards. To connect with yourself and you inner world.

As you travel back out to the outer world, you can release any excess energies from the inner, or you can bring them with you. Whichever feels right for you. As you enter the physical, outer world again, stretch your body, connect to the physical world, stretching your fingers and toes and limbs, maybe making grimaces to stretch your face again. And then, open your eyes.

Resources:

Laurie Cabot’s Book of Shadows