THE USE OF MENTAL IMAGERY IN PSYCHOSYNTHESIS

Because psychosynthesis is fundamentally an open system and a point of view, rather than a dogma or doctrine, fixed rules about the use of mental imagery in its practice do not exist. By definition, psychosynthesis is a process that occurs around the unifying center or self of an individual; the methods of work that such an individual develops will necessarily evolve from his own temperament and quality of being. Hence, though the overall perspective and goals are similar among practitioners of psychosynthesis, the methods employed vary considerably; this paper will focus primarily on the writer's own style of work. Though mental imagery is an important tool in psychosynthesis, it is only one among a variety of methods employed in a therapeutic program, and will not be used in every case. In this sense, this method differs from onirotherapy and other approaches that use mental imagery as the crux of the therapy. The crucial element in psychosynthesis is the relationship between the co-workers involved—traditionally called the therapist-patient relationship but which might more appropriately be called the traveler-guide relationship. The term "traveler, " which is used by the Sufis to designate one who follows a spiritual path, confers more dignity upon the person than the term "patient, " which emphasizes the passive, pathological, and negative aspects of his role. Moreover, the former term suggests that the person is going on a voyage of discovery and that he is making active efforts himself in order to get there, albeit guided by someon