Archetypes: "Anima"

The archetypes are the creation which so far in most understandable ways describe hidden and enigmatic processes of our psyche. We could think of them as the tools to inner integration and individuality.

An Anima (in Latin; soul) according to Jung, is the profound unconscious part in a man's psyche; a key feature for his relationship with every woman. A man's relation to his Anima strongly influences how he interacts with in his life. He unconsciously projects the Anima-like attributes and expectations onto women. Internally the Anima is an autonomous psychic component which sets the tone for a man’s inner dialogue determining the tone of his inner voice. In simplified terms the way a man treats women is a reflection of his relationship with himself. The Anima also generates an energetic channel for a man's creativity which shapes the way he perceives reality (inwards) in his mind, as well as how he expresses his emotions and thoughts (outwards) when he is interacting with other people.

„My sweet Lady Jane When I see you again Your servant am I And will humbly remain Just heed this plea, my love On bended knees my love I pledge myself to Lady Jane" - The Rolling Stones

A positively integrated Anima creates a core of self loving capacites and makes the Ego strongly rooted in reality. It allows a healthy connection between a man's soul and the outside world based on sensitivity and empathy. However if a man's Anima is disintegrated, then he is unable to build such a connection inside. Therefore he will need to find a woman who will mirror his projections and become his inspiration. In a down to earth context this may be an inspiration to normality and self growth. If he fails to find and nurture such a relationship, he is more likely to become depressed or suffer from addiction because he may not be able to cope with the devouring feelings of uncertainty, insecurity and unworthiness.

Dreams: "Two cats and a baby"

(Vienna - woman, age 27)

Dream:

"I had three dreams in a row..."

Part 1

“I saw a black cat that wanted to jump out of a window and I stopped it. The cat's fur was full of thistle and some other bits like it had fallen into a bush or something. I had this cat in my hands before this happened and the fur was clean. I was surprised to see the thistle after the incident on the window. After that the cat was grateful that I catched him and he was rubbing himself on me and purring. I felt sorry for him and I was thinking that my mum could take care of the thistle which I wasn'table to get rid off. I find this dream strange because I don't really like cats.”

Part 2

“In the second dream there was another cat. This one's colour was orange and white stripes. I felt very attached to this cat, it loved me like the previous one. I still hesitated as I don't like cats but somehow I made my peace with this one and I petted him, stroking his head.”

Part 3

“In the third dream I was talking to my friend and she asked me to put socks on her daughter. She's a small girl, six months old. I only found one adult sock and I put it on her foot.”

"Learn your theories as well as you can, but put them aside when you touch the miracle of the living soul" - Carl Jung

Dream interpretation:

Part 1

A cat symbolises a suppressed instinct or emotion pushing its way out to liberation. When the cat is trying to jump out of the window the dreamer prevents this from happening what manifested in the dream reveals the process of the psychic defence mechanism. This unconscious manifestation is employed in order to defend the dreamer from feelings or thoughts that would awaken her anxiety or hurt the self-esteem if they became conscious. The dreamer notices that the animal's fur is covered with thistle which was not there before the cat attempted to escape. The thistle defines an emotion annoyingly attached to her and materialises itself when she confronts reality; outside of the window in the dream. However cat is affectionate after is pulled back inside, this part reveals how the ego mechanisms lead to suppression of natural instincts. After all cats are known from always landing on their feet. The dreamer wants to give the "saved" cat to her mum in order to get rid of the thistle; the suppressed emotion in need of protection. This suggests a complex related to the dreamer's mother. Cats represent the feminine aspects of the psyche and in the dreamer's context may relate to the dreamer's femininity being restrained in order to protect herself from being exposed in reality. A black cat in the given context may be manifesting itself as a primal feminine drive. The dream points to its subliminal inclinations related to the dreamer's relationship with her mother.

Part 2

This part of the dream reveals that something within the dreamer's psyche is longing for being taken care of. At the same time it is an inclination of self acceptance.

Part 3

The baby girl symbolises a new mindset arising within the dreamer's psyche. Her feet are referring to independence and individuality. The mother of the baby represents the dreamers Superego which implies the need for social adjustment. She asks to put socks on the baby's bare feet. The need to be socially accepted creates a conflict to the appearance of the new mindset. This may cause an awkward feeling that the dreamer may be experiencing in reality which materialises itself in the dream when she puts an adult sock on the baby's feet.

Dreams: "Swimming pool"

(Guido - man, age 23)

Dream:

"I am at a place where there are a few swimming pools next to each other. A man comes over and pours some liquid into the water. When I ask him what it is, he says it is a medication. This puts me off from swimming in there. I reply to him that I don't need the medication because everything is ok with my throat.

"If you notice an unconscious fantasy coming up within you, you would be wise not to interpret it at once. Do not say that you know what it is and force it into consciousness. Just let it live with you, leaving it in the half-dark, carry it with you and watch where it is going or what it is driving at." - Marie-Louise von Franz

In the next part of the dream, I am on holiday with my dad and mum. We are at a swimming pool and someone tells me that I can jump into the pool from a very high height. I am standing at the top and it looks like it is at least a hundred metres down from there. I am extremely scared, but I am assured that this is completely safe even despite the fact, that I can't swim (I am told that the water will push me up). I jump down and I am falling for a really long time. When I am getting closer to the water I am scared that I am going to hit the edge of the swimming pool. But I dive inside the pool safely and I continue to go down very deep to the level where it is almost completely dark. I am then swimming up. It's hard and I am slightly scared, but I keep calm and I can even breath a little. Once my head was above the water surface I feel relieved.

Dream interpretation:

The first part of the dream indicates signs of the external interference with the dreamer's unconscious. The fluid that is added to the water in the dream may symbolise antidepressant that the dreamer recently started taking a few weeks before that dream. His throat is a tool of self-expression, and when in a dream he finds there is no need his throat is alright, it illustrates some kind of subconscious rebellion as a result of which he rejects the medicine. It is a natural reaction of the body to these types of medication, and often occurs in the early stages of taking them. The idea of ​​vacation indicates that the repressed or suppressed emotions of the dreamer are being decompressed. The originally rejected drug starts working and opens up a new perception in the dreamer's mind. The great height from which he should jump symbolises the ego's detachment from reality. It may also relate to his enhanced self-esteem; possibly the effect of antidepressants. The dreamer is assured that the jump into the water is completely safe and this refers to the dreamer's therapeutic process in which he acquires theoretical knowledge. However, such knowledge (i.e. therapeutic advice, new resolutions) must first of all be synthesised on an unconscious level in order to have a real impact on well-being. Otherwise, deeply rooted schemas which may no longer serve him or even be the source of his problems will still lead to the known behaviour, despite the new knowledge of the mind and his willingness to change . Medications alone cannot cure mental illnesses, so in this dream he symbolically falls "to the ground". In fact, even deeper; below the surface of the water to dig into the real causes of its difficulties. The fear of jumping reveals the challenges posed by his therapy, and the jump itself is an expression of the willingness to follow and deepen his therapeutic process. The depth of the pool reflects part of his unconsciousness, and the dreamer's context can also mean depression. When he discovers that he is able to breathe underwater, he accepts his emotions and synthesises suppressed energy as part of his own psyche, which can have a therapeutic effect on the way he perceives reality.