(have you read Part One? click if you want to start at the beginning…)
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Almost mythical, man has given Her (his other side) many names, through the ages.
Anima is one name, particularly helpful.
Originating from Latin, anima relates to ideas like soul, spirit, breath, essence, vital force, the source of man’s courage, creativity, focus.
Renowned psychologist Carl Jung developed structures to explain the critical influence of this relationship, this driving force of man.
“Every man carries within him the eternal image of woman, not the image of this or that particular woman, but a definite feminine image.”
- The Anima represents the idealized “other half,” the “feminine side” of man that he must develop to find completeness.
- Ultimately feminine, Anima is a transcendent, almost divine, less-than-real or mythical character that a man seeks ultimately.
- Man will likely project the qualities of this impossibly fantastical creature onto a flesh and blood woman who may share some of the imagined qualities.
My interpretation of this…
- Anima is the shadow cast by Woman in the Light of God.
- Her shadow is like her original glory, taller than her, more mysterious and not so real.
- Man will always pursue this shadow, that he might know her, and God.
This is to be wonderful! IF man holds in his mind the original as separate from current reality.
He believes (sees with his heart) his woman as she is originally and treats her as that glorious creature, never allowing realization of any evidence to the contrary to penetrate his heart.
He adores her for she is all good and worthy and that is all.
Against their real and present condition, he must guard his and her hearts with the breastplate of belief and love and protect his and her minds with the helmet of hope, or expectation of restoration.
YHWH created man and woman in the image of YHWH.
Man is seeking his complete Being, the complete image of YHWH.
Reunification with God is man’s quest.
The Woman is his partner and his equal in bringing about that reunion.
To Solomon she was Sophia.
Cavafy said she is Ithaka.
The Greeks chose Athena.
The Romans praised Aurora.
Sumeria worshipped Inanna.
Quixote is devoted to Dulcinea.
Christ gives his life for Ecclesia.
Funny, they all end with “a.”
To me, she is Lovely.