The individuation; Anima and Animus. Carl Jung (P. 5)

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“Without the true masculine spirit and true feminine love within, no inner life exists. To be free is to break the stone images and allow life and love to flow… ~Marion Woodman; taken from a beautiful poem by a brilliant poet, rhymester, and valuable friend of mine: Deborah Gregory.

I have resumed an (other) old series of my posts that I believe has become increasingly relevant in light of a recent webinar on X (formerly Twitter), where Iranian participants discussed the challenges faced by individuals of different genders and sexualities (LGBT+) in Iran. However, I refrained from discussing Dr. Jung’s theories on Anima and Animus, as I knew they were unfamiliar with this topic. During meetings, I don’t speak much due to my taciturn nature. Instead, I act as a microphone for my friend who lives in Iran and cannot clearly talk in the meetings.

In this particular webinar about gender, I noticed how important it is to know about the Jungian ideas about our species and the terms Anima and Animus in all of us, whether masculine or feminine.
Marion Woodman says:
“The word’ feminine,’ as I understand it, has very little to do with gender, nor is woman the custodian of femininity. Both men and women are searching for their pregnant virgin. She is the part of us who is outcast, the part who comes to consciousness through going into darkness, mining our leaden darkness, until we bring her silver out.”

Yes! Such terms are too early for a nation which is still under pressure from the masculine’s religious domain. I was surprised to hear discussions about such issues in a country still heavily influenced by traditional religious beliefs. That became possible because of the efforts of Shadi Amin, an LGBT+ activist at 6rang.org.💖🙏

Work by Petra Glimmdall 💖

To notice it is a big problem even in the West: I know many men here in Germany, where I live, who make jokes about the subject, and gay is a swear word for them! Of course, freedom, which is common in the West, can’t mean that the people have understood it profoundly. It can be difficult to grasp the concept fully, even though I have noticed numerous misconceptions in the Jungian groups on Facebook, and I see how many falsehoods have lost their way there!

In this scenario, it is crucial to maintain an open mindset and not be limited by fundamental rules and principles. I am not suggesting that one must always be “modern,” but rather that we should exercise our imagination. We should put aside our fears and dive into the world of fantasy.

After death, it is unimaginable that there would be feminine or masculine ghosts, for souls do not have a gender.

I’d like to share another explanation from Jung on this topic. As humans, we are filled with fears, anxieties, desires, and aspirations. Jung says in on this:

But there is something to be said about the fear of the other side that is peculiar to us Westerners. This fear is not entirely unjustified, not to mention the fact that it is real. We readily understand the child’s and the primitive’s fear of the vast, unknown world. We have the same fear in our childlike inner side, where we also touch a vast, unknown world…
The fear is now justified insofar as the rational worldview (Weltanschauung) with its much-believed (because doubtful) scientific and moral certainties is being shaken by the data from the other side.
There are truths that will only be true the day after tomorrow, those that were true yesterday, and those that will not be true at any time.

However, we can open many doors once we learn to embrace our inner selves and overcome the fear of the unknown. After reaching milestones one, two, three, and four, the next milestone could be number five – Last but not least!

anima and animus by polina sladkova

>”But I could imagine that someone would use such a technique out of a kind of holy curiosity, a boy perhaps who doesn’t want to put on wings because his feet are lame but because he longs for the sun. An adult, however, for whom too many illusions have been shattered, will probably only be forced to submit to this inner humiliation and abandonment and will once again endure the child’s fears. It is no small matter to stand between a day world of shattered ideals and unbelievable values and a night world of seemingly senseless fantasy. In fact, the uncanny aspect of this point of view is so significant that there is probably no one who would not reach for certainty, even if it were a “reach backwards” – for example, the mother who protected his (the son’s) childhood from night terrors. Those who are afraid need a dependency, like the weak, need support. That is why even the primitive spirit created the religious doctrine, embodied in magicians and priests, out of the most profound psychological necessity. “Extra ecclesiam nulla Salus” (“Outside the Church, there is no salvation”) – is still a valid truth today – for those who can drawback on it. For the few who cannot, there is only dependence on someone – a humbler and prouder dependency, weaker and more robust support than any, It seems to me. What shall one say of the Protestant? He has neither church nor priest; he only has God – but even God becomes doubtful.”<

Work by Petra Glimmdall 💖

>”The reader will probably ask himself in astonishment, but what does the anima produce that one needs such reassurances to deal with her? I would commend my reader for studying a comparative history of religions so that he feels the accounts dead to us with the emotional life felt by those who lived those religions. This will give him an idea of what lives on the other side. The old religions, with their sublime and ridiculous, benevolent and cruel symbols, did not arise out of thin air but out of this human soul as it lives in us now. All those things, their archetypes, live in us and can break out at any time with devastating force, namely in the form of mass suggestion, against which the individual is defenceless. Our terrible gods have only changed their name; they now rhyme with “ism”. Or does anyone have the voice to say that the World War or Bolshevism was an ingenious invention? Just as we live outwardly in a world where something similar can arise at any time, albeit only in the form of an idea, but no less dangerous and unreliable. Non-adjustment to this inner world is an omission just as fatal as ignorance and incompetence in the outer world. It is also only a tiny fraction of humanity, living chiefly on that densely populated peninsula of Asia projecting towards the Atlantic Ocean, who call themselves ‘the educated’, who, through a defective contact with nature, have conceived the idea that religion is a kind of peculiar mental disorder of inexplicable purpose. Seen from a safe distance, somewhat from Central Africa or Tibet, it appears as if this fraction had projected an unconscious “mental derangement” onto the still instinctively healthy peoples.”<

Work by Petra Glimmdall 💖

Thank you for your visit. 🙏💖🤗

The image on top: Michael Cheval

22 thoughts on “The individuation; Anima and Animus. Carl Jung (P. 5)”

  1. This is excellent Aladin, thank you for sharing! With my therapist’s hat on, with clients I try to keep it really simple if a person has not heard of Carl Jung and his archetypal Animus and Anima. Instead I say, we all have a masculine and feminine side, irrespective of our gender, and that sometimes we can be out of balance with one side or the other. This makes for a good starting point for conversation and exploration as we then go on to explore how their parents and grandparents presented their masculine and feminine sides. By keeping the explanation simple we reach a wider audience. I enjoyed the art and quotes you’ve shared alongside your own thoughts and reflections on this matter, keep up the good work! Love and light, Deborah.

    Liked by 1 person

  2. Thank you for another amazing educational post. I loved the evocative art, the quotes and the story about the webinar on Twitter. I couldnt agree with you more that masculinity and femininity are two sides of the same coin, the energies both as important to cultivate in one’s life and one’s own self as each other. Even though a lot of the time the masculine energy is given priority in our world and we neglect the feminine aspect. I can’t wait to learn more

    Liked by 1 person

  5. A thoughtful commentary on a common and difficult problem. We all fear change and being different. We all long to be accepted for what we are, without stereotypical attitudes of judgments. We all suffer to be true to ourselves. Jung had much wisdom that is still difficult for many to understand. Thankfully it is available to those with the courage and strength to grow beyond the herd. Holiday blessings to a brave soul. Jeanie

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    Liked by 1 person

    • That means I succeed! However, I think you knew it, although you didn’t believe it! You also know, my wise Brother, that Nature has two sides: black and white or up and down, cold and hot, etc. There also must be feminine and masculine to complete each other. I wish you all the best.🖖🙏🤙

      Like

  7. If only the concept of the Anima and Animus was taught as part of the basic school syllabus – there would be so much more understanding and acceptance in this world. Thank you for your post Aladin, the more these archetypes are spoken about the more people learn about themselves.

    Liked by 1 person

  8. elainemansfield's avatar elainemansfield

    Thank you, Aladin. I love Deborah’s way of making these truths practical and “ordinary” for her clients. I was fortunate to spend time with Marion Woodman who was always articulate about the feminine within the male and the masculine within the female and how we had to learn from each part and find a centered peace. This isn’t easy. I can’t imagine how hard it is in countries in the Middle East. I recently read more about the Iron Age (Babylon 1200 BC) and realized the same struggle of masculine trying to repress feminine hasn’t changed much–in the Middle East or in the United States. Blessed Solstice. mind.

    Liked by 1 person

  9. Well, that last meme is a lingering thought, as common enemies seem as common as sheep these days.

    However, as a black sheep and someone who has tried to remain merely myself over my lifetime, I reject the idea of a common enemy. That would be foolish.

    To say I have no enemies would be as foolish.

    There is much more to grasp in your writing in this post.
    I believe I understand more by instinct of what you have written, than of the words themselves.
    I’ll keep reading your posts and grasp what I can.

    I find your participation (active or passive) in the Iranian webinars to be a great thing. Thank you!

    Happy Holidays!
    xoxo🌟🎼🤗

    Liked by 1 person

    • “Instinct is like Nature herself – prodigiously conservative, and yet transcending her own historical conditions in her acts of creation.” Carl Jung.
      Here you are, my wise lady! That is what Jung says, and I think it is much more important than to take the words themselves. As I share this last meme on FB, many people have taken it word by word and didn’t understand his intention. They were offended to be portrayed as sheep!
      I wish you and yours a lovely time, my dear lady. 🤗🌈💖🙏🦋

      Liked by 1 person

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