Ally Work
[ Ally work ]■
"The love that exists between the ally and its partner is like no other love and seems to include all other types of love."
—Jeffrey Raff, PhD.
Every One of Us Has An Ally
In the The Practice of Ally Work, Jeffrey Raff writes, “There is no place more real than the imagination.”
In a key passage he shares:
There are many reasons to make the quest into the imagination; yet the one I found the most compelling was to find my divine partner, twin of my soul, whom I have called ‘the ally.’ An ally is a divine being, a face of God that is unique to each human being. Every one of us has an ally with whom we could live, but of course most people are not aware of this fact, largely because they have been cut off from the imagination.
We Have Been Cut Off From The Imagination
Raff states that in the West our culture abandoned the imagination for the sake of scientific materialism. And our religious leaders abandoned the imagination for the sake of “dogma and doctrine.”
Where has this left us? In a wasteland, “lost in the illusion of our aloneness,” as our world, “hovers on the brink of disaster.”
We Are Being Called
Raff says that in our time Sophia — the Divine Feminine — is calling to us. And waiting for our response.
He writes, “She still comes to us in our dreams with the same message: Awaken to yourself and discover who you really are.”
Entering The Imaginal
Where do we meet her?
“We do so by entering once more (as in ‘pagan’ days, long ago) the illicit landscape of the imaginal.”
He compares the imaginal world to a well — we might even say, the fountain of life.
“The well of the imaginal has not gone dry, however. Rather, it is that few bother to draw water from it. If we did, we would discover that, with a little effort, we could drink deeply from that water, and refresh our soul in a remarkable way.”
Khidr filling his cup at the Fountain of Life
(16th c. Ottoman illustration.)
Learning The Practice of Ally Work
Raff writes, “Part of the consequence of the current spiritual poverty is that there are few capable teachers in a position to introduce others to the imaginal realm. This lack of teachers discourages people who otherwise might seek to find their way to the imaginal world, and confuses those who do try.”
In The Practice of Ally Work, he offers a set of practices for an individual to meet and develop a relationship with their ally, based both in his direct experience and his study of alchemical and contemplative traditions.
“In this book, I offer a series of practices by which an individual can create and develop an on-going relationship with his or her ally. I have a unique ability to present this material as I have been in relationship with an ally for forty years. During this time, I have had many experiences of the imaginal realm that have taught me a great deal about how to work with an ally.
I have also presented hundreds of workshops and classes on the ally and related to working with an ally. Over the years I have used these practices many times both in my own ally work and in teaching others. It has been my experience that individuals who continue to work these practices on their own are successful in developing a healthy and enriching relationship with their allies.”
Continuing A Lineage
Dr. Raff has now retired from public teaching. Barnaby Willett, Founder of Contemplative Labs, was invited by a Board Member of Oregon Friends of Jung to attend Raff’s talk and workshop — one of his final public teachings — in 2019.
He felt an immediate connection to the practice and began a deeper study of ally work and the Jungian and Sufi Islamic works that Raff referenced, particularly the writings of Henry Corbin and Ibn ‘Arabi.
Willett’s twenty-five year contemplative background was founded in the Buddhist traditions, with an emphasis on Zen and nondual practice.
Professionally, he was a core member of the team that developed, taught, and researched the first accredited mindfulness classes in U.S. public high schools.
Developing Ally Work Through The Garrison Institute
In 2020, Willett was awarded an inaugural Fellowship with the Garrison Institute with a focus on developing the practice of ally work:
The purpose of the Fellowship is to provide an opportunity for emerging leaders to deepen their understanding and teaching of the reality of interconnection through a combination of contemplative practices, scientific study, and generative action. We firmly believe that personal and planetary well-being depends on us finding new ways of being together that stem from a respect for and understanding of the reality of our interdependence.
Community-Based Ally Work
By 2022, Willett had developed community-based groups online at AllyWork.org to support people in learning and developing the practice of ally work. Willett met with Raff several times during this period and received his encouragement and guidance in growing that work.
Later that year Willett presented at the Garrison Institute — with other practitioners from the AllyWork.org community — on the topics of the imaginal world and ally work.
Developments Through AllyWork.org
By 2025, Willett had hosted over 150 group classes on ally work and numerous one-on-one meetings. He met with the cognitive psychologist John Vervaeke several times to discuss their mutual interest and practice of ally work. Willett was invited to speak on his experience “Developing the Practice of Ally Work” at Jung Cleveland.
Willett is now UK-based and continues to offer events through AllyWork.org and is developing in-person offerings in Oxford, London, and by-invitation.
An Invitation to Practice
Are you interested in learning more about the pratice of ally work? Visit AllyWork.org to see our introductory classes, set up a meeting with Barnaby Willett, and connect with the Ally Work community.
Books by Jeffrey Raff
