It is a fundamental human tendency to have inner images or to imagine things within our lives, especially in the processes of conflict resolution. There is immense power in the images that arise within us, those that are inherent in us, and those that are, in a sense, conveyed to us. These visible, felt, or heard images help us process our experiences and offer us opportunities for personal growth. By working with images, by visualizing these inner images, we help our psyche integrate unconscious aspects/images into our conscious awareness. A segment of our own psyche is gently brought to light through the process of becoming aware of this image and its symbolic representation through objects.
Symbolic work - working with inner images
The image that presents itself to us represents a momentary inner reality, and by making this externally visible through objects, we can engage with the resulting image, allow it to have an effect, and explore it. It has a reciprocal effect, allowing us to delve into our inner emotional life. If we assume that people act from inner images, it is all the more important that we take the time and space to allow our inner images to surface and perceive them. Inner images hold great potential for development and change. They carry great energy potential, both positive and negative. Negative images, triggered by disturbances and externally imposed impulses for change, often lead us to remain stuck in old patterns and habits, making us inflexible. In a positive sense, they offer us movement, change, orientation, and clarity, opening up creative processes and fostering motivation.
Gerald Hüter writes in his book "The Power of Inner Images," "We need these images to plan actions, accept challenges, and react to threats. The more complete and extensive the perceptual channels through which the brain receives information from the outside world, the 'truer' the resulting inner image of the outer world becomes. The more accurately the inner images are perceived and reach consciousness, the further ahead we can look for solutions to threats before they even reach the organism."
Symbolic work… …accelerates the building of trust and clarity of thought… enables new ways of looking at oneself and processing information… provides clarity during realignments… opens a process to new personal insights/perspectives and understanding… promotes and supports communication… connects the right and left hemispheres of the brain in cognitive processes… supports processes of change in our thought, feeling, and behavior patterns… allows new impulses/ideas to emerge… offers anchors and support… helps people “see” their own situation… enables a different form of processing, beyond the spoken word.