In a man’s psyche lives the archetype of femininity, the Anima. And in every woman, the archetype of masculinity, the Animus. Hearing this for the first time, it’s tempting to dismiss it as madness, delusion, even psychosis.
But if you study the work of Carl Jung and other scholars, look closely at the dramas of your own life, and collect a hundred dreams, it becomes impossible to deny the presence of some Other Force within you.
It actively demands your attention, making itself known one way or another. Yes, it takes a certain skill to recognize one face behind its many forms. But the Anima’s influence on a man’s life is enormous.
In short: the quality of a man’s relationship with his Anima determines the quality of his relationships with women in general.
You can see the Anima as the ambassador of all the women in your kingdom. Still, the role of ambassador feels a bit foreign.Better this image: you are day, Anima is night.
Though some see night as a pointless waste of working hours, the wise man knows the value of both exhale and inhale. Ignore one part, and you can forget about the man's health.
The key point is this: the inner and the outer relationships are linked.
The Anima widens my acceptance of femininity in all its forms, including those that once stirred embarrassment, irritation, or fear. And lo, I become kinder and more patient with the women in my life.
But the reverse is also true. In the physical world, I can start a conversation with a woman, ask a real question, feel her answer. That experience changes me, and I come back to meet the Anima slightly different than before.
Moreover, if your life hits a dead end, you bump into a closed door and trample in place, be ready—the Other will point the way to salvation:
for a man, his Anima;
for a woman, her Animus.
Remember: inhale draws strength from exhale, and exhale charges the inhale.
Sincerely yours,
-Alexander
As a business therapist, I help tech founders quickly solve dilemmas at the intersection of business and personality, and boost company value as a result.
Stuck? Your business grows when you do. I’m your business therapist to guide your shift. See testimonials here. Ready? Book your Catalyst session.