Let a subpersonality appear as an image, then name it

Pick one trait or motive, close your eyes, let an image of it arise on its own, then talk with it and give it a name.

Perché funziona

Ferrucci opens this exercise by saying that recognizing our major subpersonalities is the start of being able to control and ultimately harmonize their energies, and that the exercise introduces the idea "in a more direct manner." The image is not chosen: you wait for it to emerge and treat it as "an entity with a life and intelligence of its own." Giving it a name gives you a handle to recognize it again.

Come farlo

1. Consider one of your prominent traits, attitudes, or motives.
2. With your eyes closed, become aware of this part of you.
3. Do not try to find an image. Let one emerge spontaneously, as if you were watching a screen, and let it change if it tends to.
4. Let the image talk and express itself. Find out about its needs, and talk with it.
5. Open your eyes and record in a notebook everything that happened. Then give the subpersonality a name that fits and will help you identify it later.

Prove scientifiche

Ferrucci's What We May Be (1982) presents this as its exercise "Recognizing Subpersonalities," in chapter 4, "A Multitude of Lives" (p. 48). It is a practitioner's exercise, and no study has tested it. (anecdotal)

Imagery can bring up strong or old feelings. If an image floods you, or you lose track of where you are, open your eyes and stop; if it will not settle, continue with a trained therapist. Vargiu presents his imagery work as guided by an experienced guide, so if you want a guided version, use a trained guide.

Fonti

• Ferrucci, P. (1982). What We May Be: Techniques for Psychological and Spiritual Growth through Psychosynthesis. J. P. Tarcher.

Errore comune

Forcing an image into shape or deciding in advance what it should look like. Ferrucci says not to look for one consciously; let it come on its own.