-IBIS-1.5.0-
rx
imagery
double staircase
psychospiritual approaches

definition

image: Close your eyes. Breathe in and out three times. Imagine that you find yourself in a depressing grey darkness. You can feel that you are standing on a smooth, firm footing but you can feel and see nothing else. Feel yourself slide a foot along in front and to the side exploring the limited area that you can perceive. Discover that you are on a small landing with steps leading down into the unknown space below you. Take another three breaths in and out. Realize that despite the darkness you have the courage to explore and then do so, moving carefully, step by step down the stairs. Let the thought come to you, that at moments such as this, when you find yourself in darkness, you can't help but imagine disturbing things in the unknown environment about you. Notice that as you descend, the darkness lightens bit by bit until you can see at last, if only dimly. There are many interesting images around you. Some that you sense are important, some unimportant. Realize that nothing in sight can be in fact, as disturbing as what you have imagined. Once you have reached the bottom of the stairs, there is enough light to survey your general surroundings.
Notice that the stair upon which you have descended, has come down the steep face of a mountainside. Across the deep and narrow valley there is another stair ascending yet another mountain. That stair is different somehow but you cannot tell yet how. The valley is what interests you. It is a valley of visions. Visions large and small. Some that you have seen in your mind before, some that you have never known in any form. Examine one or two that are new to you and understand that all possible visions have been within possible sight all along. You have returned in your imaginings to the same ones often, from a sense of fear.
Feel yourself walk across the valley floor, gazing upon all that you have missed. Eventually, your foot falls upon the first step of the stair that goes up on the other side of the valley wall. The first thing that you notice is that this stair is wide and easy to ascend. As you climb step by step, notice also that it does not grow dark as you go higher and that many images of visions that you have seen for the first time, come along with you. From the top of the new stairs, look across to the top of the old. Allow the realization to unfold within you that the darkness that you had experienced was your own mood. All possible visions in the valley are there for you to see if your mood allows.
Feel deep within yourself a faint sense of amusement. Let it grow into the quietest of chuckles. Let that grow into an outright laugh. Let the laugh grow as large and as loud as it wants to and when you are done, breathe in and out again three times. Allow your eyes to open once again and congratulate yourself on having created for yourself a wonderful experience. (Chavez)

uses: depression especially associated with obsessional or repetitive thoughts


footnotes