Unlocking creativity: How imaginal space transforms fear and opens new possibilities
Creating something new requires more than just time in your schedule or a physical workspace. While these “linear spaces” are important, true creativity demands a different kind of space—imaginal space.
What Is Imaginal Space?
Imaginal space is the realm where transformation and creativity truly take root. Let me share a personal example: Recently, I was invited to sing on stage for the first time, in front of an audience of 300. I was terrified. Years ago, during an improv workshop, I froze on stage in front of an audience, walked off, and carried the shame and embarrassment ever since. That experience convinced me I couldn’t “perform” on stage, and while I’ve given seminars and book talks, I’ve always seen singing as entirely different—a terrain I feared to navigate again.
How Imaginal Space Helped Me Overcome Stage Fright
To prepare for the performance, I turned to Doorway Sessions, a method I use to access imaginal space. During my session, I saw myself drawing a big circle. The message was simple yet profound: the circle represented infinite space—a place to hold everything I needed, let go of what didn’t serve me, and forgive past experiences.
At first, this might sound too simple to be transformative. After all, how could an image of a circle—a childlike, basic shape—help resolve deeply ingrained stage fright? But that’s the power of metaphoric images. They are simple because they arise from the heart, not the mind. The language of the heart is never complicated.
By stepping into this circle, I didn’t just visualize it; I became the circle. I felt what it was like to embody spaciousness, peace, and love. In that infinite, circular space, stage fright dissolved. I no longer felt constrained—I had space around me, and that changed everything.
Why Imaginal Space Works
Unlike rational thought, the imaginal realm is holistic and multi-sensory. It allows you to fully embody an image, not just think about it. This synesthetic experience—feeling, sensing, hearing, or even “being” the image—creates deep shifts that don’t require further analysis or revisiting. Once you step into the imaginal space, the transformation has already begun.
Try It for Yourself
You can tap into imaginal space right now. Here’s how:
- Ask for an Image: Quiet your mind and invite your imagination to provide an image. Be patient and accept whatever comes, no matter how simple or unexpected.
- Step Into the Image: Let’s say you see a tree rooting itself, a ship resting on calm waters, or a rope being tied. Imagine yourself becoming that tree, ship, or rope. Feel what it’s like to root into nurturing soil, rest on still waters, or secure something important. Let the multi-sensory experience guide you.
- Embrace the Wisdom: The feelings and sensations you experience within the image hold wisdom. Trust that they will guide you toward transformation.
Why Imaginal Space Matters
Transformation—whether in creativity or personal growth—requires imaginal space. Rational thought can only take us so far, as it often limits what we believe is possible. By accessing the imagination through the heart’s language of metaphor, we bypass the constraints of the thinking mind. This is where the deepest creative and transformative shifts happen—below the surface, in the fertile, dynamic realm of imaginal space.
And just in case you’re curious, here’s a video of the first song I ever performed on stage: Watch Here.
