In Joe’s world true imagination is causal, meaning creative. We can literally enter into the ontological structure of reality itself (ontological meaning the branch of metaphysics that studies the nature of existence or being), and we learn to do this first with storytelling and imaginative play, but that is just the beginning. The very top of Tibetan meditation practices develops this capacity. The child will maintain that great capacity for imagination if it’s encouraged. If it’s discouraged there’s no payoff. Fear of being rejected replaces true development of this extremely high and powerful capacity. This concept is one of the great pillars of Joe’s collected writings.

Michael Mendizza