Inner work
We react, repeat patterns, and say, “Its just how I am.”
But there’s another way—one where you partner with the unconscious instead of being run by it.
This is the path of inner work.
Robert A. Johnson gave us a map. Let’s walk it.
-Inner Work: What It Actually Means-
“Inner work” is not self-improvement.
It’s not affirmations or mindset hacks.
It’s the disciplined practice of engaging your unconscious mind—the part of you that speaks through dreams, symbols, projections, fantasies, and deep emotion.
When you avoid this inner terrain, it governs your life from the shadows.
When you engage it, you reclaim the lost parts of your being.
Inner work = integration.
Not perfection. Not control.
Wholeness.
-Why You MUST Do Inner Work-
We’re not taught how to process our inner lives.
So the unconscious runs us. It shows up as:
Triggers we don’t understand
Emotional cycles we repeat
Self-sabotage that feels fated
A vague, persistent sense of fragmentation
Inner work lets you break the loop.
Instead of being haunted by your Shadow, you begin a relationship with it.
That’s where power starts.
-Johnson’s Core Tools for Inner Work-
Robert A. Johnson gives us two core practices to engage the unconscious:
Dreamwork – deciphering the symbolic messages from your psyche at night
Active Imagination – dialoguing with inner figures and feelings in waking states
These tools help you speak the language of your soul—
A language that bypasses logic and cuts to the root of your experience.
Let’s break each one down.
-Dreamwork: The Inner Voice of Night-
Dreams aren’t random.
They’re stories your unconscious tells to reveal what your ego resists.
Johnson offers a 4-step method:
Record the dream fully, without editing or interpreting.
Feel into it—what was the emotional tone? Panic? Awe? Peace?
Associate freely—what do these symbols remind you of in your own life?
Discern the message—what’s this dream asking you to feel, notice, or integrate?
Every symbol is a mirror. Not a puzzle to solve—an energy to feel.
-Example: A Dream of Falling-
You dream of falling off a cliff. Common. Easy to dismiss.
But try this:
What in your waking life feels out of control?
Where are you being asked to surrender something you’ve been gripping?
What part of you needs to die… so something new can live?
Dreams reveal where our conscious story no longer serves the truth of the soul.
Your job is to listen.
-Active Imagination: A Ritual of Dialogue-
This is not “visualization.”
It’s a conscious relationship with the inner world.
How to practice:
Sit quietly. Bring to mind a powerful image, dream character, or emotion.
Allow it to speak. Let the story unfold—spontaneously.
Don’t control it. Dialogue. Ask questions. Listen deeply.
Journal what emerges without judgment.
You are entering the psychic field—meeting figures within your own soul.
The ego observes. The unconscious leads.
-Why It Works: Integration Over Suppression-
Most of us repress what we don’t like or understand about ourselves.
That doesn’t make it disappear—it just gets stronger underground.
Inner work doesn’t suppress anything.
It invites it to the table.
When rage becomes a messenger…
When shame becomes a wounded child…
When fear becomes a teacher…
You start becoming whole.
- Inner Work = Initiation-
Johnson’s path isn’t about fixing what’s broken.
It’s a modern rite of passage.
In a world where ritual is lost, inner work becomes the sacred task of:
Listening to your dreams
Dialoguing with your inner landscape
Integrating what you’ve denied or forgotten
Embodying your full range of being
This isn’t therapy.
It’s soul craftsmanship.
-If You’re Called to This Path… Start Here-
Write your dreams every morning. Don’t analyze—just observe.
Pick one symbol or moment and feel into it. What emotion does it carry?
Try a 5-minute active imagination session: close your eyes, meet a dream figure, let them speak.
Journal what unfolds.
This is daily devotion to the self behind the mask.
You won’t get instant results. But you’ll grow roots.
-You’re Not Broken—You’re Divided-
Inner work doesn’t fix you.
It reunites you.
It’s not about becoming a better person.
It’s about becoming a fuller person—capable of holding paradox, instinct, soul, and consciousness all at once.
This is how you stop running.
This is how you come home to yourself.
Thanks for Reading,
-Dustin
A powerful read, thank you. We need this messaging more than ever. ❤