︎︎︎BACK
ANIMA
The ︎ Anima/Animus relates to our inner or soul life. Not soul as understood in metaphysical terms as something which lives on beyond our physical existence but rather soul as in the inner force that animates us.
The Anima is the inner feminine side of a man and the Animus is the inner masculine side of a woman. They are parts of the unconscious, so they cannot be interacted directly. One way of becoming aware of the Anima/Animus is through projections: we project these inner qualities onto real women and men and then act as if these people were like our projections. Other ways of interacting with the Anima/Animus are through dreams and active imagination. Through this, we can have an active relationship with the Anima/Animus and some of their contents can be integrated into our conscious life, making us less prone to their unconscious influence.