Spirited Imagination

He described the valley as a dark and chilly place. The mountain walls on each side of him were high and steep. He felt utterly alone.

Somewhat reluctantly, he began listening for the sound that had frightened him. It came to him faintly at first, then amplified. It was so powerful that it reverberated off the mountain walls, making it difficult to determine which direction it was coming from.

The flurry of wings grew so powerful that it stirred the wind all around him, creating gale force gusts. He could see flashes of lightning of blinding intensity in every direction.

Finally, looking up, he observed the great, dark shadow of the bird approaching. He acknowledged being afraid and I could observe him moving his head and arms about in his chair.

I gave him verbal encouragement not to retreat from this creature, reminding him that, whatever its form, it was an image from his own Unconscious. I said it was some part of himself with which he needed to connect.

With sweaty palms and some twitching around his mouth, Craig held fast. He could see the giant creature descending rapidly toward him with talons spread. As it drew closer, he recognized it as a huge eagle, a creature he much admires. The steely talons plowed into the dirt just in front of him instead of into his face as he had feared and he became somewhat more relaxed.

After the landing, the scene became less dark. The bird was as big as the man was and, for a while, the two of them faced each other in silence. I requested that Craig thank the eagle for appearing and, after a few words of protest, he complied, saying the words out loud.

Then, I asked him to inquire about the eagle's name and he said, "This is all so far fetched." Nevertheless, he went on to ask and, to his surprise, the name came to him immediately. It was Sam.