myths symbols sandplay

Animus

In her book, Animus and Anima, Emma Jung views the anima and animus as two archetypal figures of great importance who belong both to the individual and the collective unconscious. The animus is the masculine principle in a woman's unconscious and may be represented by powerful figures such as heroes, athletes, or jet pilots. Images from the unconscious animus may also appear "either as a plurality of men, as a group of fathers, a council, a court, or some other gathering of wise men".

The positive aspects of the animus are represented as the intellect or accomplishments. The animus may appear as a real masculine figure, distinguished by mental capacities or masculine qualities. The spiritual aspect of the animus according to Emma Jung, is the Father-God image.

 

Other positive aspects include the animus as a benevolent, superior guide or as an understanding friend. When held in consciousness, the animus can help to gain knowledge and balance, according to Emma Jung.

 

The negative aspects include an inner image or energy that is judgmental, a cruel taskmaster, a seducer, and an exploiter. Linda Leonard, in The Wounded Woman, discusses the consequences of dysfunctional relationships with fathers that result in an inner damaging masculine, an animus that caries man negative qualities.

 

Jung, Emma, Animus and Anima, Spring Publications, Dallas 1957

 

Anima

To define and to understand the anima archetype, I went straight to the source. CG Jung, in Memories, Dreams, Reflections, states that the anima is an "inner feminine figure (that) plays a typical, or archetypal role in the unconscious of a man" with both negative and positive aspects. The negative anima aspect is "full of deep cunning". The positive role the anima plays is described by Jung as "she who communicates the images of the unconscious to the conscious mind".

 

Emma Jung viewed the anima as elemental beings such as fairies, nymphs or swan maidens, with qualities "too nebulous and incorporeal to live permanently…in waking consciousness". Emma Jung writes that the anima "represents the feminine personality components of the man and at the same time the image which he has of feminine nature in general, in other words, the archetype of the feminine."

 

In sandplay scenes, anima symbols may take many forms. Items not necessarily in human female form may symbolize the archetypal feminine anima energy. Anima figures in the tray may represent an integration of the feminine and a bringing to consciousness the qualities associated with relationship and nature.

 

(see Bibliography Category for sources)

 

Jung's Theory of Personality (Briefly)

In an effort to understand human nature, theorists have developed and will continue to develop theories of personality. In Beneath The Mask, Christopher Monte writes about personality theory as self-reflection and the necessity of understanding the understander. "When viewed through the personalities who created its main tradition, the history of personality theory exposes human nature reflecting on itself."

 

Following is a brief look up Carl Jung's theory of personality as it pertains to the theme of this blog post: archetypes. Simply stated, Jung's psychodynamic theory views the central human motive as the reconciliation of the opposites. His most basic concepts are: the existence of a transpersonal or collective unconscious consisting of universal images, the construct of archetypes, and the union of opposites. [Jung's theory of personality also includes concepts regarding the personal unconscious, typology (introvert/extrovert), libido, and individuation.]

 

Archetypes according to Monte, result from "the cumulative effect of perpetually repeated experiences. The repetitive subjective emotional reaction to the event is impressed on human unconscious mental processes, and it is this internal state, this predisposition to react in a similar way to repetitions of the physical event, that is transmitted to future generations. Thus, the collective unconscious's archetypes are residue of ancestral emotional life."

 

This idea regarding archetypes is echoed by Estelle Weinrib in her book on sandplay. She states, "Archetypes are innate psychic dynamisms" and are influenced by the individual's subjective response to experiences.

 

Jung devoted much of his life to discovering and defining archetypal images in mythology, dreams, fantasies, and paintings. There is no limit to the number of archetypes; the most common being the Mother archetype, the Trickster, the Hero, the Shadow, and the Anima and Animus. Jung's experience of and conversations with an internal feminine voice, an inner archetypal figure, resulted in his concept of the anima. He called the corresponding masculine archetypal figure in the unconscious of a woman, the animus. Related to Jung's concept of the union of the opposites, was his belief that men and women must recognize their inherit opposites or run the risk of incompleteness. Archetypes usually involve great emotion and, according to Jung, may sometimes take control of the personality and modify behavior.

 

In Sacred Symbols, Claire Gibson offers this definition of Carl Jung's archetypes. Inherent in the individual human psyche is an ancient collective memory, in which humankind's universal experience is symbolized by means of the archetypes, or primordial symbols. She states, "because these archetypal symbols are familiar to us all - on an unconscious as well as conscious level - we respond to them both intuitively and rationally".

 

Karen Signell's book on dreamwork elaborates on Jung's construct with "archetypes can never be logically or rigorously described or actually seen. You can only glimpse their images in dreams or active imagination, or feel the force of their energy." I would add that you can see them in sandplay through the miniatures clients select and even in archetypal designs created in the sand itself. Signell goes on to comment on the Jungian view of archetypes as images and says further that intense emotions accompany them. She wonders if the emotional component has been undervalued because "emotions are hard to put into words" and because of the intense charge and great energy archetypes bring. This energy may be responsible in part for the feelings of numinosity associated with sandplay work.

 

In sandplay, as in dreams, archetypes appear as provided personifications of human potential and are often larger than life. In a sandplay scene, traditional archetypal figures may be replaced and may not be the familiar gods and goddesses of myth and legend. Archetypes may take the form of a mother bear, a naturalist, or fire. Also, archetypes of other cultures may appear in sandplay scenes.

 

Jeanette Pryun Reed writes in her book on sandplay, "As symbols represent more than a sign, so archetypes are more than patterns. They are autonomous." She defines archetypes as having their own energy and as acting within individuals, different in type, intensity, and degree. Archetypes are often seen in the tray and may be represented in many different ways.

 

(see Bibliography Category for sources)