Archetypal Symbols In Dreams

Archetypes are among the most powerful and mostto represent the masculine side of the female. Jung felt
significant of all items found in dreams, and they are ofthat women possessed a unconscious masculine
great interest to dream interpreters and to dreamimprint, and he called this imprint the animus.
researchers and scientists alike. At its simplest, anWomen become familiar with the nature of the animus
archetype is a prototype, or an original copy, of anythrough a constant questioning of ideas and opinions,
object or experience. An archetype can also refer toand of gender roles and identity. When coming to
the prefect example of an object — the objectterms with her masculine side, the woman learns to
by which all others are judged.criticize her opinions and hold them at a distance. This
This article will examine several important prototypesdoes not mean repressing those opinions; it simply
encountered in dream interpretation. The first of thesemeans investigating where they come from, and
archetypes is the animus.delving more deeply into their background.
The animus is a term used by psychologist Carl Jung