| Archetypes |
Archetypes. What are they? What do they mean?
The word archetype (pronounced ARK-ee-type) has its roots in Latin
and Greek, but it was Carl Jung that brought the word into
wide usage today. It can mean an original model or prototype;
or an ideal example of a type.
In Jungian psychology, it refers to an instinctual pattern of
thought or symbolic imagery derived from the past collective
experience (Jung referred to this as "the collective
unconscious"), and present in the individual unconscious.
The Child
This is a very common dream symbol and an easily recognizable
archetype -- we were all children at one time and can remember the
freedom of being a child, the unconditional love we received from
our parents, the spontaneous laughter, how we innocently accepted
things as they were and let our imaginations run wild.
The Child archetype reminds us of how we were as children. When
children appear in your dreams, ask yourself: "Have I forgotten how
to laugh and enjoy life? Am I need of unconditional love (perhaps
from myself)? Have I forgotten how to dream? When was the last
time I played a game?"
Often The Child archetype is speaking for the "inner child" -- the
part of you that never grew up and is in need of love, comfort and
reassurance. Have you embraced or spoken to your inner child
recently? It can go a long way towards healing and wholeness.
You may recognize several variations of The Child archetype -- The
Divine Child, The Wounded Child, and The Abandoned Child, among
others.
The Divine Child archetype is often seen in myths. The most easily
recognizable Divine Child is the symbol of the Christ Child. In your
dreams, The Divine Child is your true spiritual self, capable of great
transformations and could symbolize your spiritual growth.
The Abandoned (Orphaned) Child archetype can easily be seen in
Dorothy in the Wizard of Oz or Oliver in Oliver Twist. If you lost a
caregiver in your early life, the Abandoned Child may show up in
your dreams.
The Wounded Child archetype is seen as fragile and shy and will
most likely appear if you've been abused or neglected as a child.
Even if you had a wonderful, loving childhood, the Wounded Child
can appear when you are experiencing something in real life that
reminds you of a time when friends laughed at you or Mom unfairly
chastised you as a child.
The Animus
In Jungian Psychology the Animus is the inner, masculine side of a
woman. To quote Jung: "Woman is compensated by a masculine
element and therefore her unconscious has, so to speak, a
masculine imprint. This results in a considerable psychological
difference between men and women, and accordingly I have called
the projection-making factor in women the animus, which means
mind or spirit." [The Syzygy: Anima and Animus, Collected Works, 9ii,
par. 28f.]
"The animus is the deposit, as it were, of all woman's ancestral
experiences of man - and not only that, he is also a creative and
procreative being, not in the sense of masculine creativity, but in
the sense that he brings forth something we might call . . . the
spermatic word." [Anima and Animus, Collected Works 7, par. 336.]
A woman becomes familiar with the nature of her animus by
constantly questioning her ideas and opinions. "The technique
of coming to terms with the animus is that the woman must learn to
criticize and hold her opinions at a distance; not in order to repress
them, but, by investigating their origins, to penetrate more deeply
into the background, where she will then discover the primordial
images. [Anima and Animus," Collected Works 7, par. 336.]
Jung described four stages of animus development in a woman. In
stage 1 he appears in dreams and fantasy as the embodiment of
physical power, an athlete, muscle man or thug. In stage 2, he gives
her initiative and the capacity for action. He is behind a woman's
desire for independence and a career of her own. In stage 3, the
animus is the "word," often seen in dreams as a clergyman or a
professor. In the final stage, the animus is the incarnation of spirit
and its meaning. At this level, the animus intercedes between a
woman's conscious mind and her unconscious. In mythology this
aspect of the animus appears as Hermes, messenger of the gods; in
dreams he is a helpful guide.
The Mandala
A mandala is a simple or complex geometric pattern or design --
usually circular. In Buddhism and Hinduism it represents the
Universe. Jung believed it was a symbol of Self. It can also
symbolize the "circle of life" or the concept of wholeness and
completeness. The patterns or symbols within the mandala can
be a clue as to what it means to the dreamer.
Mandalas can be simple -- a star, or snowflake -- or a complex
pattern of repeating geometrics forms. Mandalas are often seen in
art and can be used to concentrate on while meditating. You can
find many samples of mandalas here: The Mandala Project
Have you seen a mandala in your dreams? Perhaps a coin or
treasure you discovered? A piece of art hanging on the wall? A gift
someone gave you? The pattern on the floor or wallpaper?
Try creating a mandala of your own. Use any medium you like --
simple pen and paper, crayons, colored pencil, collage, acrylic,
water color, computer graphics. Let your mind wander for awhile
before beginning. Ask yourself -- What color am I? What shape?
How many parts do I have? How do they interconnect?
Please share it with us, if you make one. Feel free to email it to me
and I will add it to my Guest Authors and Artists page.
Look for more Archetypes coming soon!
See Working With Symbols and the Symbol Dictionary for more info.
The word archetype (pronounced ARK-ee-type) has its roots in Latin
and Greek, but it was Carl Jung that brought the word into
wide usage today. It can mean an original model or prototype;
or an ideal example of a type.
In Jungian psychology, it refers to an instinctual pattern of
thought or symbolic imagery derived from the past collective
experience (Jung referred to this as "the collective
unconscious"), and present in the individual unconscious.
The Child
This is a very common dream symbol and an easily recognizable
archetype -- we were all children at one time and can remember the
freedom of being a child, the unconditional love we received from
our parents, the spontaneous laughter, how we innocently accepted
things as they were and let our imaginations run wild.
The Child archetype reminds us of how we were as children. When
children appear in your dreams, ask yourself: "Have I forgotten how
to laugh and enjoy life? Am I need of unconditional love (perhaps
from myself)? Have I forgotten how to dream? When was the last
time I played a game?"
Often The Child archetype is speaking for the "inner child" -- the
part of you that never grew up and is in need of love, comfort and
reassurance. Have you embraced or spoken to your inner child
recently? It can go a long way towards healing and wholeness.
You may recognize several variations of The Child archetype -- The
Divine Child, The Wounded Child, and The Abandoned Child, among
others.
The Divine Child archetype is often seen in myths. The most easily
recognizable Divine Child is the symbol of the Christ Child. In your
dreams, The Divine Child is your true spiritual self, capable of great
transformations and could symbolize your spiritual growth.
The Abandoned (Orphaned) Child archetype can easily be seen in
Dorothy in the Wizard of Oz or Oliver in Oliver Twist. If you lost a
caregiver in your early life, the Abandoned Child may show up in
your dreams.
The Wounded Child archetype is seen as fragile and shy and will
most likely appear if you've been abused or neglected as a child.
Even if you had a wonderful, loving childhood, the Wounded Child
can appear when you are experiencing something in real life that
reminds you of a time when friends laughed at you or Mom unfairly
chastised you as a child.
The Animus
In Jungian Psychology the Animus is the inner, masculine side of a
woman. To quote Jung: "Woman is compensated by a masculine
element and therefore her unconscious has, so to speak, a
masculine imprint. This results in a considerable psychological
difference between men and women, and accordingly I have called
the projection-making factor in women the animus, which means
mind or spirit." [The Syzygy: Anima and Animus, Collected Works, 9ii,
par. 28f.]
"The animus is the deposit, as it were, of all woman's ancestral
experiences of man - and not only that, he is also a creative and
procreative being, not in the sense of masculine creativity, but in
the sense that he brings forth something we might call . . . the
spermatic word." [Anima and Animus, Collected Works 7, par. 336.]
A woman becomes familiar with the nature of her animus by
constantly questioning her ideas and opinions. "The technique
of coming to terms with the animus is that the woman must learn to
criticize and hold her opinions at a distance; not in order to repress
them, but, by investigating their origins, to penetrate more deeply
into the background, where she will then discover the primordial
images. [Anima and Animus," Collected Works 7, par. 336.]
Jung described four stages of animus development in a woman. In
stage 1 he appears in dreams and fantasy as the embodiment of
physical power, an athlete, muscle man or thug. In stage 2, he gives
her initiative and the capacity for action. He is behind a woman's
desire for independence and a career of her own. In stage 3, the
animus is the "word," often seen in dreams as a clergyman or a
professor. In the final stage, the animus is the incarnation of spirit
and its meaning. At this level, the animus intercedes between a
woman's conscious mind and her unconscious. In mythology this
aspect of the animus appears as Hermes, messenger of the gods; in
dreams he is a helpful guide.
The Mandala
A mandala is a simple or complex geometric pattern or design --
usually circular. In Buddhism and Hinduism it represents the
Universe. Jung believed it was a symbol of Self. It can also
symbolize the "circle of life" or the concept of wholeness and
completeness. The patterns or symbols within the mandala can
be a clue as to what it means to the dreamer.
Mandalas can be simple -- a star, or snowflake -- or a complex
pattern of repeating geometrics forms. Mandalas are often seen in
art and can be used to concentrate on while meditating. You can
find many samples of mandalas here: The Mandala Project
Have you seen a mandala in your dreams? Perhaps a coin or
treasure you discovered? A piece of art hanging on the wall? A gift
someone gave you? The pattern on the floor or wallpaper?
Try creating a mandala of your own. Use any medium you like --
simple pen and paper, crayons, colored pencil, collage, acrylic,
water color, computer graphics. Let your mind wander for awhile
before beginning. Ask yourself -- What color am I? What shape?
How many parts do I have? How do they interconnect?
Please share it with us, if you make one. Feel free to email it to me
and I will add it to my Guest Authors and Artists page.
Look for more Archetypes coming soon!
See Working With Symbols and the Symbol Dictionary for more info.
Disclaimer: I do not profess to
be an expert on dreams. I
have no degree in Psychology
or any other science. I
profess to be a dreamer -- in
every sense of the word,
because I dream and I have
learned to interpret my own
dreams. I make no promises
that I can interpret your
dreams. I merely hope to help
you learn to interpret your
own dreams. You are
welcome to learn from my
experiences.
be an expert on dreams. I
have no degree in Psychology
or any other science. I
profess to be a dreamer -- in
every sense of the word,
because I dream and I have
learned to interpret my own
dreams. I make no promises
that I can interpret your
dreams. I merely hope to help
you learn to interpret your
own dreams. You are
welcome to learn from my
experiences.
| Copyright 2004 Bobbie Ann Pimm |
| Happy Dreaming! |
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