A Journey Through Layers of Consciousness

When Carl Jung developed his practice of active imagination and began creating his famous Red Book, he understood something profound about the human psyche – that our inner world speaks to us through images, symbols, and colors before it speaks through words. Jung believed that engaging with these visual elements of our unconscious mind could bridge the gap between our conscious and unconscious selves, leading to greater wholeness and self-understanding.

Today, this wisdom finds new expression through the practice of The Visual Journaler, particularly through the three-layer approach I created and would like to share with you. This method not only honors Jung’s understanding that the psyche naturally moves from raw, unconscious material (our first layer) through archetypal and mythological expressions (our second layer) to conscious integration and insight (our third layer) but it creates an accessible process for working with this inner material. Like Jung’s own artistic practices, this approach creates a sacred space where inner wisdom can emerge visually, allowing us to access deeper layers of self-knowledge through the language of images, colors, and symbols.

One of the most fascinating aspects of visual journaling is how it can tap into personal and collective symbolism. You might instinctively draw spirals, only to later discover this ancient symbol of growth and evolution appears across numerous cultures and spiritual traditions. In moments of deep inner work, archetypal images may emerge spontaneously on your pages – the tree of life, the divine feminine, the warrior, the child – revealing how your personal journey connects to the vast tapestry of human experience and the collective unconscious that Jung so brilliantly illuminated. When we allow our intuition to guide our visual expression, we often find ourselves working with universal symbols and patterns that have spoken to humanity across time and culture, adding profound depth and connection to our personal practice.

The Visual Journaler is more than putting colors and images on paper—it’s a transformative process that allows us to dive deep into our inner landscape and emerge with profound insights. Today, I’m excited to share a powerful “Layering Pyramid” approach that integrates the inner journey of visual journaling with our three-layer art-building pyramid, creating rich, meaningful journal spreads that tell your unique story.

We Begin at the Bottom - Foundational Layer

The journey begins as we turn inward from the outer world of busyness. This is inward and allows your intuition and imagination to speak through color and basic imagery. It’s like setting up the emotional weather of your spread – the underlying energy that will inform everything that follows.

When I’m ready to work at my table, part of my ritual is sitting at my art table, organizing and touching what’s on the table (because I’ve always got work-in-progress projects). This act engages many senses: touch, seeing, and even smell.

Then, take a moment to close your eyes and breathe deeply. Notice what colors naturally arise in your mind’s eye. Are you drawn to deep blues today? Perhaps fiery reds are calling? These initial color impulses are your inner wisdom speaking through visual language.

In this first layer, we also use journal prompts, visual prompts, and active imagination to explore our inner world.

The beauty of this layer is its rawness and spontaneity. The materials I use most often in my work are acrylic paints, art mediums, journal writing, and sometimes collage in this layer. Art mediums allow us to create many layers on the page and ways to incorporate or adjust things that don’t happen as expected.

Don’t worry about making it “pretty” – this layer is about authentic expression, not perfection. You might find yourself:

– Sweeping broad strokes of color across the page (I like to scrape on paint with an old credit card)

Creating organic shapes and patterns
Allowing colors to blend and interact naturally
Adding texture through simple mark-making and scratching with the card

For example, when feeling a mix of uncertainty and hope, you might lay down swirls of deep indigo that gradually transition into soft morning yellows. This layer will sometimes show through in my work, peeking through at other times and getting completely covered at other times.

In this spread, I scraped I have collage in the foundation layer, I then scraped on the green and pink paints, and added some stenciling.

The Story Unfolds in Layer Two - The Middle Layer

With your emotional foundation in place, the second layer invites you to explore the stories, archetypes, and imagery emerging from your inner landscape. This is where we begin to give form to our feelings through collage imagery, stencils, stamps, and other mixed media elements.

Think of this layer as building the narrative of your spread. What images are calling to you? What archetypal figures or symbols feel relevant to your current experience? This layer is about gathering and arranging elements that resonate with your inner journey.

Within this second layer, trust your intuition about not just what to add but also what to remove or cover mindfully – sometimes, the process of obscuring or eliminating certain elements becomes as meaningful as what we choose to keep visible, much like how our psyche selectively reveals and conceals different aspects of our inner narrative.

Some ways to build this layer include:

Collecting magazine images that speak to your current state
Use card decks to inspire imagery
Using stencils to add archetypal symbols or patterns
Incorporating stamps that represent elements of your story
Adding texture with art mediums, tissue paper, washi tape, or fabric
Including words or phrases that emerge

For instance, if you’re going through a period of transformation, you might be drawn to images of butterflies, doorways, or bridges. You might incorporate the archetype of the Phoenix or use spiral patterns to represent growth and change. I’m often drawn to female figures, which are the focal points of much of my visual journaling. It’s not necessary to know why an image or images are calling to you. We’re not creating an art product. You are communicating with your unconscious.

I found this image in a magazine and knew I wanted to use it. Often, I’ll play with the image (or images if I’m finding several) to find the placement on the page that works.

The Integration of Insight - The Top Layer

The final layer is where magic happens – where our inner discoveries find their voice through symbolic expression. This layer captures the “aha moments” and deeper understandings that have emerged through the process.

Here, we return to our inner world and gaze at what we created. Essentially, we begin a dialogue with the image asking, “What do you want me to see? What are you trying to tell me?” I often return to guided journaling questions I created for reading and communicating with my spread.

Think of this layer as adding the illuminating details that bring your spread to life. These symbols might be:

Personal marks or sigils that represent your insights
Sacred geometry that captures universal truths
Words or phrases that express the energy or emotion
Small details that carry deep meaning for you

Remember, this process is deeply personal, and there’s no “right” way to create your spread. The key is to stay present with each layer, allowing it to emerge organically from your inner experience. Some days, your spread might be bold and dramatic, messy, or beautiful. On other days, it is quiet and subtle. Trust that whatever emerges needs to be expressed in that moment.

One of the most fascinating aspects of visual journaling is how it can tap into both personal and collective symbolism. You might instinctively draw spirals, only to discover later that this ancient symbol of growth and evolution appears across numerous cultures and spiritual traditions. In moments of deep inner work, archetypal images may emerge spontaneously on your pages – the tree of life, the divine feminine, the warrior, the child – revealing how your personal journey connects to the vast tapestry of human experience and the collective unconscious that Jung so brilliantly illuminated. When we allow our intuition to guide our visual expression, we often find ourselves working with universal symbols and patterns that have spoken to humanity across time and culture, adding profound depth and connection to our personal practice.

Through this three-layer approach, your visual journal becomes more than an art project – it becomes a sacred space for inner exploration and transformation, where each page tells the story of your journey toward deeper self-understanding and expression.

This spread came at a time where I felt myself at a crossroads. I wanted, and maybe needed, to be in two places. But these places were so vastly different, it took a lot of courage to allow myself to let go of the familiar and let growth take me where it wanted to go.

Ready to Begin Your Visual Journaling Journey?

Hi! I'm Terri Altschul

Visual Journaling is a soulful, transformational, and healing process. Through this unique combination of self-inquiry and art materials, I aim to support your journey of becoming and personal growth. I look forward to meeting you!

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