Introducing Liminal Yoga

“As sunlight obscures the stars by day, so does wakefulness obscure the fact that we are still dreaming” -PJ Carroll

Most people believe imagination is a just a game of the mind. But what if this weren’t the case? What if imagination — like our eyes — was an organ of perception? What if — like our hands — it was a creative tool of reality manipulation?

We are all familiar with the waking consciousness and physical reality that greets us anew each morning. We are also familiar with our mind — its thoughts, its inner reality which is separate from the physical. But there is another realm which bridges the two. It is the realm of our dreams though it goes beyond the dreams of the night. Progressive scholarship in the 60s translating the writings of ancient Sufi mystics dubbed it the Mundus Imaginalis, the Imaginal Realm.

Those mystics spoke of the Imaginal Realm as a distinct place — one that overlaps, shares a border with the realms of the physical and mental. Liminal means “at the threshold”. It is these liminal boundary zones with which we — following in the footsteps of mystics and psychonauts of many cultures and ages — are interested.

Modern “progress” seeks to control the physical with ever more complex mental abstractions. From the perspective above, it hyper-focusses on the physical and mental realms while ignoring the imaginal. Imagination, most commonly is thought of as something we half-heartedly celebrate in children before educating it out of them for life.

In the Post-Truth Era we need access to information that bypasses all agendas. We need agency that undercuts economics. It is time to reclaim our lost esoteric heritage.

Even yoga and so-called “ancient” spiritual traditions are not immune to this. Eventually they become preoccupied with either “health & wellbeing” (physical realm) or with lofty and vague abstractions (mental realm) such as Infinity, God, Spirit, Oneness, Nirvana, Samadhi, Emptiness. Neither of these are bad — all are necessary — but once again, we can see that an entire arena of consciousness is ignored.

I believe this is no accident. The power that comes from the imaginal’s interface with our waking reality is one that cannot be regulated by the Powers That Be and if you study history you can see how political institutions, over time, remove the imaginal through dogma, taboo, and even brute force (e.g. witch trials). That is because imaginal work is a source of knowledge and power that does not depend on how much money you have or how big your army is. It undercuts the normal laws of physical reality. Thus, it is a source available to any individual to achieve more self-sovereignty and agency in all aspects of life.

I believe we are reaching a point in history where it will become less and less possible to live a free life, true to one’s self, one’s values and one’s passions and dreams, unless they learn to access and become adept at working in these liminal spaces. In the Post-Truth Era we need access to information that bypasses all agendas. We need agency that undercuts economics. It is time to reclaim our lost esoteric heritage.

Introducing…Liminal Yoga

Liminal Yoga is about getting back to the essence of spirituality free from dogmatic or institutional frameworks. It is a deep dive into the space between waking and sleep in the spirit of exploration and illumination. It is discovering the extraordinary magic that comes to us when we promote the imaginal back to its rightful place as a fundamental component of reality.

In Liminal Yoga we use yogic practices to access altered states of consciousness through which we can explore the imaginal realm. We call on techniques ranging from 10th century tantras to modern visualisations such as Jung’s Active Imagination. We consider streams of esoteric knowledge stemming from India, Europe and also modern psychology and parapsychology. We give no undue authority to a source because of its age or institutional approval. We embrace science, but as a diligent research assistant, not as an overlord.

What happens in a Liminal Yoga session?

There are no strict rules; much depends on the temperament, abilities and needs of those present. In general, expect a blend of physical yogic exercises, asana, breath-work, dynamic movement, kundalini activation; along with imaginal exercises such as visualisations, subtle energy dynamics, etheric body work, deep relaxation, journeying (guided or freeform). We also incorporate elements of (British/Celtic/modern) folklore and ritual, and use sound, incense and other sensory cues, sparingly, to assist in diving deeper.

Don’t expect a Power Yoga workout, but you’ll likely break a sweat ;) A strong and supple body facilitates deep inner work. Flexibility is not a core focus or requirement. Postural difficulty varies but alternatives are given where needed.

Bring a playful mind and willing imagination. Expect your mind to feel as worked-out as your body. Expect your dreams to get more lively. Expect increased “serendipity factor” in your life :)

Sessions are usually 2.5–3 hours long (with a break) and I run them online via Zoom, locally in Devon, and in retreats and festivals. Get on the email list to learn about sessions.