About Imaginosophy
About Imaginosophy
“Imaginosophy” is the study of the Creative Imagination
“Imaginosophy” is the study of the creative imagination. The word is derived from a play on words: “Imagine-osophy.” Our imagination is naturally resourceful and creative. “Osophy” is the field of study, a belief or doctrine. We combined 78 Tarot and 33 Imaginosophy cards to “imagine” the journey of the Awakening Human. Within this play we “Imagine-Sophia” and it is this deity who acts as the primary guide for the work and practice of Imaginosophy. Imagining Sophia, is about remembering the wisdom inherent within our souls.
Imaginosophy engages external images, archetypes and myth-telling to help us understand the influences and powers at play in our lives. We are not working with hallucinations here, but with the pictures that are naturally produced by the unconscious. These images all come from the dreams and visions that naturally emerge when we engage the wisdom entwined in myths and legends. Certain colors and images may evoke feelings and emotions that can act as portals or doorways to the soul, and ultimately the truth of Being.
Images can be more powerful than language and becoming aware of the impressions that guide our lives can be profound. Images can help us re-vision ourselves. Myths and legends have threads of wisdom that weave like gold through the tales. Stories survive through the centuries because of the inherent wisdom contained within them. We also acknowledge the importance of retelling the stories for each age, so the wisdom stays alive and relevant. The Imaginosophy stories we retell generally have Celtic origins, but when looked at from a broader perspective, we realize they appear in global mythologies.
“Logic will get you from A to B. Imagination will take you everywhere.”
– Albert Einstein
Streams of Knowledge
Imaginosophy arises out of several ancient streams of knowledge that flow from the past through the present moment and reliably on into the future. The Source evolves out of the mysticism of Tibet and then spreads through the centuries, evolving as appropriate for the needs of each generation. Shakyamuni is considered the founder of Buddhism.
Manifesting in ancient India as Gautama Siddhartha around 500BC, he is shown with an upward facing right hand, indicating that all must be sacrificed so that all beings can obtain liberation. The Bodhissatva Guanyin, is the incarnation of wisdom and compassion. Holding a jade vase and wearing a crown, she is accompanied by a life-affirming dragon. She has dedicated her existence to staying with all those who suffer until all are liberated. The Bodhissatva Manjusri is another wisdom deity, who is neither male or female, but is often accompanied by a green lion. Palden Lhamo is a wrathful or fierce protector deity. She carries a stick with which she desposes of evil spirits. The last deity can be misunderstood, because like Scatach and the Morrigan of the Celtic tradition, Palden Lhamo is not frightened of walking amongst shades and shadows. Part of the work of Imaginosophy involves liberating ourselves from the suffering, pain and traumas that have often been relegated to the shadows. All images are ultimately illusions, but the psyche often registers them as real. Sophia is the main guiding light in this deck and her wisdom takes her wherever she is needed.
Statue of Gautama Buddha,
preaching his first sermon at Sarnath.
Re-Imagining Sophia
In Imaginosophy, Sophia is depicted in XXI Universe, flying like a butterfly into the Cosmos. Here she acts as the impulse of liberation. She is both human and divine. Ancient Sophia is riddled with complexity and ultimately defies definition. Sophia is non-binary, not adhering to either a male or female gender, although she is often depicted with a feminine form. Sophia may appear as a lover, mother, sister, wife, hermit or sage, but ultimately she is a divine presence. Sophia is the wisdom that leads to wholeness. She can be thought of as the invisible force behind the Grail Quest, the impulse that leads the hero or heroine toward discovering what has been shattered, broken and lost. She knows that in order to remember our true Self, we must walk through the Shadows, face our wounds and heal them. Sophia whispers to us about a return to True Nature. She is the dove of peace, often coming to us in our time of greatest need.
In the spirit of creative play, let’s revisit Sophia, who appears both as the impulse behind the material fall, and the wisdom to heal, liberate and restore the Divine Spark. Her earliest personification is Ishtar. In Egypt she is Maat. In Hellenistic resources she is listed as Demeter, Persephone, Hecate and Isis.
The emanation of Divine Light known as Sophia, or the first of God’s works, appears in Greek mythology simply as Wisdom. She becomes personified as Athena, Goddess of Wisdom. In the Roman era, wisdom was considered a cardinal virtue, and was generally depicted as a woman. Plato named the love of wisdom “Philosophia.” The Hebrew scriptures speak of Sophia as a female personification of wisdom. The Celsus Library at Ephesus (modern day Turkey) had four statues to represent the Four Virtues: Sophia (Wisdom), Arete (Bravery), Episteme (Knowledge) and Ennoia (Thought).
In the Celtic world, and in Imaginology, she appears as Danu, Aine and the triple goddess called The Morrigan (or Morrigu from Irish mythology), specifically Badb, her aspect of wisdom. Playing with these ancient pre-Christian deities, can assist us in getting in touch with the more ancient and empowered aspects of wisdom. These deities are willing to unflinchingly face the more frightening aspects of life. Yet Sophia is a shapeshifter, not bound by gender, or the turning of the ages.
Sophia, the personification of Wisdom.
A Synthesis of Images
Clearly Sophia has many forms and many faces, including that of the Living Light. In Gnosticism, Sophia is the image of the feminine soul. She is also referred to as the Wisdom of Jesus Christ, and sometimes as the spouse of the Lord. Sophia is also referred to as the immaculate mirror of God’s activity. In Christian theology, Sophia disappears, becoming the Holy Ghost. She merges with the Christ impulse, simply becoming the Living Light. Sophia calls the initiate to the Grail, and then helps us understand that we are the Grail. We are Wisdom.
The synthesis of all of our thoughts, images, feelings and experiences create a self-image that we tend to project onto other people and the world. This is what we think of as reality, and our belief systems tend to be intermingled with image and story. Working with Imaginosophy, we begin to distinguish what is false from what is true. We may discover that reality is changeable, and begin to explore the spiritual Diamond Body, or Eternal Self.
Colors As Portals To True Nature
The Spirit cards or color cards, add another soulful dimension, not generally explored in Tarot. At a certain point on the journey, the world of image and vision can give way to a direct experience of personal essence, which will ultimately metabolize image and lead the soul to an experience of completeness. Ultimately image does not define who we are, but first it is important to explore the creation of images. After all, we begin our lives out of the creativity of the mother. As we mature, images of the parents are internalized, and this is often how we begin to develop a sense of external Divinity. Our ego clings to definition, images, and stories. Ultimately, we need to let go and simply breathe with the Cosmos. That’s when we discover the real freedom.
When our enlightenment drive turns on, we may get a taste of Being, which is beyond all images of the mind. The experience of external color can support the understanding of the soulful dimensions of inner color, which can lead to the experience of essential states of consciousness. The images, especially the false images of who we took ourselves to be, tend to fall away as we begin to taste the truth of Being. Ultimately, we can all become free of suffering and pain, and instead live in eternal loving wisdom. Like the Dove who merges with the Light, we all have the chance to become liberated and re-harmonize with our original spiritual impulse.