This Jungian Life Podcast [SUBSCRIBER BONUS] How Do the Negative Mother and Negative Animus Collude?
Oct 5, 2025
The hosts delve into the dynamics of a woman's psyche, exploring how the negative mother and negative animus can collude. They discuss dreams that illustrate these complex relationships and connect them to fairy tale motifs. Absent father figures represented in tales reflect harmful omissions in the psyche. The inactive animus is shown to hinder the ego's fight against destructive forces. The discussion highlights the medicinal qualities of dreams, emphasizing that negative figures might indicate deeper inner conflicts.
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Fairy Tale Motif Mirrors Inner Collusion
- Fairy tales show how a problematic female figure can enlist male agents to enforce harm in the psyche.
- Joseph Lee notes this motif captures collusion between a negative mother and supporting male figures.
Absence Of Animus Can Be Damaging
- Dreams often portray inner relations as scenes with absent or passive men whose omission causes harm.
- Deborah Stewart and Joseph Lee highlight how an inactive animus can be a harmful absence rather than overt hostility.
Question What Seems Negative
- Question assumptions: what looks negative in a dream may be a part the ego resists but actually needs.
- Lisa Marciano advises exploring whether the distracting male figure might bring needed qualities or medicine to the psyche.
