The Anima in You
Carl Jung had coined the terms ‘animus’ and ‘anima’ for the male and feminine principles respectively. The animus stood for the intellectual, rational self and the anima for the mystical intuitive self. For true balance, men and women must get in touch with and integrate the characteristics of the oppo site sex within their psyche. While women seem to have progressed in this task, men are still lagging. Here is a way to help men get in touch with their feminine self.
Explore Your Anima
In his book The Way of the Dream, Fraser Boa says: ‘‘It has been said that in our society the woman most in need of liberation is the woman within every man.’’ The inclusion of his female aspect effects a change in the male personality, producing a new, better, empowered self. The new self continues to grow—presumably in the direction of greater spirituality and service to others.
He also learns to distinguish the positive, profound parts of the anima (spirituality, love, beauty and so on) from the trivial (like promiscuity, vanity). The anima also helps man to understand women, and reciprocating, the woman is able to grasp the
nature of maleness via her animus.
Befriend Her
One of the easiest ways to get a glimpse of your true anima is to think of favorite female characters in stories, movies and TV shows. Go beyond the ones who simply turn you on sexually and make a list of qualities you admire in the character. These qualities generally reflect either the condition or the needs of your soul presently. To further strengthen these qualities in yourself, meditate on the character’s behavior and how you feel towards her.
An Exercise
• Relax.
• Close your eyes.
• Take three deep breaths.
• Raise your consciousness upwards, out of your body and go to your favorite place of perfect beauty and peace. Take a few moments to get comfortable with your surroundings.
• Now ask your Highest Self to join you.
• Ask your Highest Self to show you the female aspect of himself: your True Inner Female.
• What does she look like?
• What message does she have for you? Do you have one for her?
• What are her spiritual qualities?
• Now ask your Higher Self and your True Inner Female to help you look at your ‘personality level’ or Programmed Anima. Keep this anima at a safe distance so you can explore her without fear.
• What does she look like?
• What message does she have for you? Do you have one for her?
• What spiritual qualities does she embody, if any?
• Ask your female and male Highest Selves if there’s any advice they have concerning your Programmed Anima.
• Does she have a name?
• If she seems frightening, can they show you a less intimidating (maybe a ridiculous) side of her?
• Ask them questions you may have about her.
• When you are done, thank your Highest Selves, come back into the room, back into your body, and open your eyes.
• Write down what you feel is important about this exercise.
• Share anything about your True or Programmed Anima with a group.
—Dr Dayal Mirchandani and Sanmeet Kaur
The Anima in You
Carl Jung had coined the terms ‘animus’ and ‘anima’ for the male and feminine principles respectively. The animus stood for the intellectual, rational self and the anima for the mystical intuitive self. For true balance, men and women must get in touch with and integrate the characteristics of the oppo site sex within their psyche. While women seem to have progressed in this task, men are still lagging. Here is a way to help men get in touch with their feminine self.Explore Your Anima
In his book The Way of the Dream, Fraser Boa says: ‘‘It has been said that in our society the woman most in need of liberation is the woman within every man.’’ The inclusion of his female aspect effects a change in the male personality, producing a new, better, empowered self. The new self continues to grow—presumably in the direction of greater spirituality and service to others.
He also learns to distinguish the positive, profound parts of the anima (spirituality, love, beauty and so on) from the trivial (like promiscuity, vanity). The anima also helps man to understand women, and reciprocating, the woman is able to grasp the nature of maleness via her animus.
Befriend Her
One of the easiest ways to get a glimpse of your true anima is to think of favorite female characters in stories, movies and TV shows. Go beyond the ones who simply turn you on sexually and make a list of qualities you admire in the character. These qualities generally reflect either the condition or the needs of your soul presently. To further strengthen these qualities in yourself, meditate on the character’s behavior and how you feel towards her.
An Exercise
• Relax.
• Close your eyes.
• Take three deep breaths.
• Raise your consciousness upwards, out of your body and go to your favorite place of perfect beauty and peace. Take a few moments to get comfortable with your surroundings.
• Now ask your Highest Self to join you.
• Ask your Highest Self to show you the female aspect of himself: your True Inner Female.
• What does she look like?
• What message does she have for you? Do you have one for her?
• What are her spiritual qualities?
• Now ask your Higher Self and your True Inner Female to help you look at your ‘personality level’ or Programmed Anima. Keep this anima at a safe distance so you can explore her without fear.
• What does she look like?
• What message does she have for you? Do you have one for her?
• What spiritual qualities does she embody, if any?
• Ask your female and male Highest Selves if there’s any advice they have concerning your Programmed Anima.
• Does she have a name?
• If she seems frightening, can they show you a less intimidating (maybe a ridiculous) side of her?
• Ask them questions you may have about her.
• When you are done, thank your Highest Selves, come back into the room, back into your body, and open your eyes.
• Write down what you feel is important about this exercise.
• Share anything about your True or Programmed Anima with a group.
—Dr Dayal Mirchandani and Sanmeet Kaur