Uploaded November 2022 | Updated September 2026, 2 days ago
How can we be inspired by the attractive other to stretch our own motivations? In this talk based on his book 'Archetypes in Religion and Beyond', Robert M Ellis puts forward a revised view of the anima/ animus archetype from Jungian thought, to avoid gender essentialism whilst still recognizing the power of the sexual other. He suggests that the anima/ animus should be seen as the attractive other regardless of the sexual profile of the symbols of it we respond to, and also as an adaptation to over-specialization. By avoiding projection of the anima/ animus onto people and symbols 'out there', we can take responsibility for it and integrate it, being inspired by the power of the other without trying to possess it.
This talk was given at a Zoom meeting of the Middle Way Network on 6th Nov 2022, and is followed by a selection of questions from the audience and a suggested practice focus to put the ideas into operation in our own lives. Some discussion has been edited out.
0:00 Introduction and recap
10:40 The Jungian origins of anima/ animus and their adaptation
21:06 The anima/ animus as compensating for over-specialization
27: 58 Some symbols of the anima and animus, including pictures
40:54 Projection of the anima/animus
45: 00 Integration of the anima/ animus
53:10 Question on the animus and development of its integration
57:25 Question about identification that isn't compensatory
59: 30 Question on distinguishing qualities from associated actions
01:00:44 Practice Focus
01:06:53 Final questions and comments
How can we be inspired by the attractive other to stretch our own motivations? In this talk based on his book 'Archetypes in Religion and Beyond', Robert M Ellis puts forward a revised view of the anima/ animus archetype from Jungian thought, to avoid gender essentialism whilst still recognizing the power of the sexual other. He suggests that the anima/ animus should be seen as the attractive other regardless of the sexual profile of the symbols of it we respond to, and also as an adaptation to over-specialization. By avoiding projection of the anima/ animus onto people and symbols 'out there', we can take responsibility for it and integrate it, being inspired by the power of the other without trying to possess it.
This talk was given at a Zoom meeting of the Middle Way Network on 6th Nov 2022, and is followed by a selection of questions from the audience and a suggested practice focus to put the ideas into operation in our own lives. Some discussion has been edited out.
0:00 Introduction and recap
10:40 The Jungian origins of anima/ animus and their adaptation
21:06 The anima/ animus as compensating for over-specialization
27: 58 Some symbols of the anima and animus, including pictures
40:54 Projection of the anima/animus
45: 00 Integration of the anima/ animus
53:10 Question on the animus and development of its integration
57:25 Question about identification that isn't compensatory
59: 30 Question on distinguishing qualities from associated actions
01:00:44 Practice Focus
01:06:53 Final questions and comments
