It is the month of love and Valentine’s Day – when lovers celebrate their togetherness with romantic gestures – an appropriate time to focus on the relationship between the inner masculine and feminine. The union of masculine and feminine within each human could be referred to as the alchemical marriage
Carl Jung named the masculine part within a woman the Animus with the Anima being the inner feminine part of a man. These concepts have nothing to do with biological sex or sexual orientation, but represent opposing forces within all people. Together they contribute to a sense of wholeness in an individual (and in society), but only when in a harmonious dance, each contributing their unique qualities, as opposed to a brutal wrestle for dominance.
It is sadly the latter that has manifested in society and in individuals for many thousands of years. This situation desperately needs to be remedied.
Marion Woodman (1990) identified masculine and feminine as “two energies within each individual, both striving toward an inner harmony” (p. 9). To grow our full potential we need to allow these energies to interact and transform our consciousness. Jung wrote about the “mysterium coniunctionis” as encapsulated in the image of the hermaphrodite or bisexual being, which symbolizes the ability to hold the tension of the opposites - a necessity for psychic balance. This divine union, or hieragamos, is symbolized in alchemy by the King and Queen. In eastern philosophy the symbolism of Yin and Yang represents the interlocking play between these polar opposites. The various gods/goddesses can be seen as archetypal patterns manifesting particular aspects of these divine principles. Even the left and right sides of the brain may be understood in terms of masculine and feminine characterization. .
Masculine energy comprises a forward-moving penetrating thrust into the unknown, while the feminine whispers “Listen”, “Keep still”, denoting receptivity as well as keeping us connected to the sacred silence of the Universe.
Image: Erica Wexler Copyright © 2020 Surrealism Art
A post I wrote for @jungsoutherafrica
#jungsouthernafrica #jung #carljung #jungpsychology #jungianpsychology #depthpsychology #analyticalpsychology #unconscious #consciousness #innergrowth #archetypes #archetypal patterns #alchemicalmarriage #hieragamos #mysteriumconiunctionis #unionmasculinefeminine #masculine #feminine alchemy #yinyang # kingqueen, #brothersister #sonmoon #marionwoodman #silence #love #valentine #valentinesday #relationship #innerrelationship #anima #animus #capetown #capetownsouthafrica #capetownlocal #capetownlife #capetownliving
Carl Jung named the masculine part within a woman the Animus with the Anima being the inner feminine part of a man. These concepts have nothing to do with biological sex or sexual orientation, but represent opposing forces within all people. Together they contribute to a sense of wholeness in an individual (and in society), but only when in a harmonious dance, each contributing their unique qualities, as opposed to a brutal wrestle for dominance.
It is sadly the latter that has manifested in society and in individuals for many thousands of years. This situation desperately needs to be remedied.
Marion Woodman (1990) identified masculine and feminine as “two energies within each individual, both striving toward an inner harmony” (p. 9). To grow our full potential we need to allow these energies to interact and transform our consciousness. Jung wrote about the “mysterium coniunctionis” as encapsulated in the image of the hermaphrodite or bisexual being, which symbolizes the ability to hold the tension of the opposites - a necessity for psychic balance. This divine union, or hieragamos, is symbolized in alchemy by the King and Queen. In eastern philosophy the symbolism of Yin and Yang represents the interlocking play between these polar opposites. The various gods/goddesses can be seen as archetypal patterns manifesting particular aspects of these divine principles. Even the left and right sides of the brain may be understood in terms of masculine and feminine characterization. .
Masculine energy comprises a forward-moving penetrating thrust into the unknown, while the feminine whispers “Listen”, “Keep still”, denoting receptivity as well as keeping us connected to the sacred silence of the Universe.
Image: Erica Wexler Copyright © 2020 Surrealism Art
A post I wrote for @jungsoutherafrica
#jungsouthernafrica #jung #carljung #jungpsychology #jungianpsychology #depthpsychology #analyticalpsychology #unconscious #consciousness #innergrowth #archetypes #archetypal patterns #alchemicalmarriage #hieragamos #mysteriumconiunctionis #unionmasculinefeminine #masculine #feminine alchemy #yinyang # kingqueen, #brothersister #sonmoon #marionwoodman #silence #love #valentine #valentinesday #relationship #innerrelationship #anima #animus #capetown #capetownsouthafrica #capetownlocal #capetownlife #capetownliving
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