Since we have ascertained our intention previously, which is venturing to turn group mindfulness in the imaginative realm into a figure that could be employed for an interesting story, we recollect that the only two main elements to fulfill that goal are: patience and accepting one's self.
Since this essence eventually captures and bestows your deepest fears and memories, your consciousness in the imaginative realm would project itself on him/her as a potential threat. The reason behind that, I suppose, is how much of a ruling impact one could have on these characters. They somehow are tamed into subjects that are left alone to roam the abyss of your memory once they are finished with, and trust me, they will always haunt you. For that, one must know how to approach them, and the best way for me to do that has always been by intriguing their curiosity.
The way to do that is by questioning them, challenging them about what they could share, and making them get suited to your ubiquity.
I recall my first encounter with John The Sufferer:
" I entered the room, John immediately felt my presence and was repelled from it. As I foresaw, he bolted to leave.
"Leaving so soon Mr.John?" I asked with a smirk on my face. Mentioning his name would surely fascinate him enough.
Signs of surprise painted themselves on his face as he stared at me, subliminally asking me about how I knew his name.
I stared back at the ceiling and grinned. "Oh, it's not only your name I know, my friend. It's much more. Only if you would come and have a cup of coffee with me."
I knew he would leave, that was the plan in the first place. However, on the third encounter, it was he who came to me.
"How did you know my name?" Asked the man angrily.
"John, look into yourself and tell me, what have you got to share?" I replied coldly.
"What do you mean by that?" He asked in curiosity. Aha, I've got him right there. He has no escape now.
"I mean, who are you? What do you stand for? Look at yourself and meet me here when you have answers for me. Maybe then, I could give you answers myself, dear John." So he left, but this time slowly, in meditation, and the tales he had for me were enough for me to write a book."

That is somehow a brief outline of how one should approach characters in the imaginative realm. You must always know that it is not regularly the case where characters are of use. Sometimes, we don't really understand them, and that's just about fine. However, on many other occasions, they turn out to be very interesting, just like John.
In the next posts, I will try to discuss more deeply the way of interpreting and writing about your characters, but on a psychological level. Carl Jung will help us here.