Pathworking -What’s underneath the tip of the iceberg
As a holistic therapist, I always look at myself and my amazing clients as a whole — body, mind, and spirit. I love exploring different tools and techniques that help support and nourish all three parts. I studied psychology at university, and I've always been super fascinated by the human mind and its potential. I’m curious how you see it, but to me, the mind is kind of like an iceberg and what we’re aware of is just the tiny part sticking out of the water. Meanwhile, there’s this huge subconscious part underneath, quietly shaping our thoughts, actions, and experiences without us even realizing it. That is, unless we start paying attention to the patterns we follow, the thoughts we keep thinking, and the little phrases we throw out without even noticing.
Over the past couple of years, pathworking has become one of my favorite ways to explore my inner world. I’ve even started creating my own guided pathworking meditations, blending in some ideas from Jung and mixing them with other types of meditation I enjoy. Honestly, my goal has always been pretty simple: to share what I’ve made with anyone who’s as into self-discovery as I am.
So, I am sure you have heard about Carl Jung, he was a Swiss psychologist who came up with something called Active Imagination. It’s basically a way to have a kind of dialogue between your conscious mind (the part you’re aware of) and the deeper unconscious layers, including this idea he called the collective unconscious, which is like a shared pool of symbols, stories, and wisdom we all tap into, whether we know it or not. What’s really cool about Active Imagination is how it helps connect the dots between what we think we know and all the stuff that’s going on beneath the surface. Jung even referred to it as a kind of alchemy. Not the turning metal into gold kind, but more like an inner transformation. For him, the “gold” was all about becoming more whole, integrating all the different parts of ourselves into one aligned, authentic self.
This idea of inner alchemy is actually at the core of what Jung explored in The Red Book, which is one of his most personal and powerful works. Pathworking taps into that same energy, it’s all about diving into the unconscious, working with archetypes, and moving through the process of individuation (basically, becoming the best possible version of ourselves). It’s creative, it’s symbolic, and it brings together mind, body, emotions, and spirit in a really holistic way.
This sparks so much joy in my heart! One of the things I love most about pathworking is how it helps bring clarity. It can shine a light on those sneaky thought patterns or limiting beliefs we might not even know we’re carrying. Sometimes it even offers fresh perspectives or solutions to stuff we’ve been stuck on.
It’s also a beautiful way to connect more deeply with ourselves. These journeys often bring up powerful symbols and emotions, giving us the chance to release blockages we’ve been holding onto in a safe, imaginative space. That emotional release can be super healing and can help clear out those blockages that might be getting in the way of our personal growth. Working through those things in the journey can help us feel more emotionally balanced and even more resilient in everyday life.
One of the immediate and tangible benefits of pathworking is the physical relaxation. The guided, meditative nature of these journeys encourages activation of the parasympathetic nervous system, promoting a "rest and digest" state where healing, restoration, and stress relief naturally occur. Plus, many people find that journeying through these symbolic realms helps them feel more connected to their sense of purpose, meaning, and even the sacred.
Through guided visualization, we can chill out and tap into deeper awareness. By travelling through these imagined landscapes, we can slip past our busy, logical minds and connect with our intuition, emotional patterns and subconscious insights, the kind of things we usually miss in regular daily life. BY walking these inner paths, we strengthen our connection to our true selves, build inner resilience, and move closer to feeling that wholeness from within.
So how does these pathworking journeys look like in practice?
Feel free to go over to YouTube and give them a try, I’ve already uploaded a few for the new moons and full moons! A pathworking journey is kind of like stepping into a dream you get to shape with your imagination. You start by setting a little intention, like planting a wish, then slip into a meditative state and follow a visual path. Along the way, we might climb misty mountains, tiptoe down pebble paths, wander through enchanted forests, or meet wise guides who whisper messages meant just for us. Sometimes we face little inner dragons (the kind that guard our fears), and usually we have some takeaways in forms of magical tokens, stones, glowing water, feathers, keys, and each one is a symbol from the subconscious, those were made and messaged just for us, to us. No two journeys are ever the same, even if you do the same guided pathworking twice, they’re as unique as a snowflake or our fingerprint. I find that they are always relevant, just like how each massage session is different based on what we need. In this case though we meet our own needs from our own subconscious, which is fascinating. Afterward, it’s lovely to scribble thoughts down or chat about what came through, letting it all sink in and weave into everyday life, by taking inspired actions.
Personally, I adore returning to that curious, playful state when I create and do these journeys, it’s like being a child again, exploring a world made of stardust and symbols. So pathworking for me is a gentle kind of magic that connects our conscious minds with the hidden depths beneath, helping us find a bit of calm in the chaos. It’s a sweet little compass that points us inward, toward wholeness, using the brilliance of our own minds. With intention and wonder, we set out on these inner adventures as we go around the Sun with a bit more grace and sparkle.
YouTube channel - https://www.youtube.com/@BeesHolistics
