Abstract

This dissertation investigates the theory that imagination creates reality and the possibility that women's imaginations, in particular, are changing human experiences of the self, the world and the divine. The investigation is based upon an understanding of the soul as the image making process and "ensouling" as an imaginal way of being embodied in the world. I begin by tracing this non-substantialist view of the soul in the West from Pre-Socratic philosophy, through medieval mysticism and Renaissance hermeticism, to contemporary Jungian and archetypal psychology. As supports for an imaginal non-dual way of constituting the self, the world and the divine, I discuss such diverse thinkers as Meister Eckhart, the medieval Beguines, Martin Heidegger, and James Hillman. ;I then explore feminism's contribution to the transformation of human consciousness in the light of these understandings of soul and ensouling. Various aspects of feminist thought and praxis are discussed as supports for a theory of "imaginal feminisms." I use this phrase to indicate the congruence between ensouling as a non-dual way of seeing and feminist theories which question perceptions of difference between self and other, male and female, spirit and matter. Specific feminists, such as Luce Irigaray, Audre Lorde, Mary Daly, Alice Walker and Suzanne Lacy, are discussed in order to indicate imaginal feminist ways of seeing. ;I conclude with a discussion of imaginal feminisms as a soul making praxis which could offer ways to re-vision or re-ensoul the world. Three soul making practices are identified: dissolution, emptying and recreation. First, images imprinted upon consciousness which are considered limiting or unhealthy by the soul maker are dissolved. Second the soul maker opens to the possibility of an empty, unconditioned state of consciousness. Third, images arising out of the emptying phase are attended to and worked with. This soul making praxis is based on theories and techniques from archetypal psychology, Tibetan and Zen Buddhist meditative practices, and exercises I developed. I propose that images arising from such soul making practices can contribute to humanity's transformation of itself and the world. Imaginal feminisms may be able to ensoul the world anew, creating a reality of greater justice and compassion