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Aspects of the Feminine
A selection of Jung's writings on the anima/animus concept.
Paperback
First published January 1, 1982
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About the author
C.G. Jung
1,883 books11.6k followersCarl Gustav Jung (/jʊŋ/; German: [ˈkarl ˈɡʊstaf jʊŋ]), often referred to as C. G. Jung, was a Swiss psychiatrist and psychotherapist who founded analytical psychology. Jung proposed and developed the concepts of extraversion and introversion; archetypes, and the collective unconscious. His work has been influential in psychiatry and in the study of religion, philosophy, archeology, anthropology, literature, and related fields. He was a prolific writer, many of whose works were not published until after his death.
The central concept of analytical psychology is individuation—the psychological process of integrating the opposites, including the conscious with the unconscious, while still maintaining their relative autonomy. Jung considered individuation to be the central process of human development.
Jung created some of the best known psychological concepts, including the archetype, the collective unconscious, the complex, and synchronicity. The Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI), a popular psychometric instrument, has been developed from Jung's theory of psychological types.
Though he was a practising clinician and considered himself to be a scientist, much of his life's work was spent exploring tangential areas such as Eastern and Western philosophy, alchemy, astrology, and sociology, as well as literature and the arts. Jung's interest in philosophy and the occult led many to view him as a mystic, although his ambition was to be seen as a man of science. His influence on popular psychology, the "psychologization of religion", spirituality and the New Age movement has been immense.
The central concept of analytical psychology is individuation—the psychological process of integrating the opposites, including the conscious with the unconscious, while still maintaining their relative autonomy. Jung considered individuation to be the central process of human development.
Jung created some of the best known psychological concepts, including the archetype, the collective unconscious, the complex, and synchronicity. The Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI), a popular psychometric instrument, has been developed from Jung's theory of psychological types.
Though he was a practising clinician and considered himself to be a scientist, much of his life's work was spent exploring tangential areas such as Eastern and Western philosophy, alchemy, astrology, and sociology, as well as literature and the arts. Jung's interest in philosophy and the occult led many to view him as a mystic, although his ambition was to be seen as a man of science. His influence on popular psychology, the "psychologization of religion", spirituality and the New Age movement has been immense.
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Displaying 1 - 29 of 29 reviews
December 29, 2009
Amazing, outrageous, scandalous, hair-raising!! Well, no disrespect meant to the great C.G. Jung. But this book shows how much he was a man of his time (Victorian) and how weary we should be of the term 'feminine', because if we take this book seriously, we should all go back to Kinder, Kuche, Kirche... which makes me seriously re-think how we came up with our ideas on feminine and masculine!
Anyway, it gave me some great shocking quotes for my paper on women and patriarchy :-)
Anyway, it gave me some great shocking quotes for my paper on women and patriarchy :-)
November 2, 2012
Jung was very advanced in his thinking and work in psychology.
This book gets into some areas that are dated and lend themselves to some great conversations/study around the metamorphosis of the meaning of "feminine." It's a very new world we live in.
The book dives into the deep end with "The Worship of Women and the Worship of the Soul." I absolutely LOVE how Jung brings Dante's 'Divine Comedy' into the mix. A brilliant way to illuminate how Dante's culminating point of psychic development happens in the prayer of St. Bernard.
Jung's ability to blend Dante's works from 1265-1321 with his (Jung) own works color a great picture of the points he is making. Jung lived from 1875-1961 and here we are in 2012 looking at what "feminine" means today. Very interesting.
"Marriage as a Psychological Relationship."
"Psychological Aspects of the Mother Archetype."
It is really insightful to have a vintage look at things. This particular book is nice translation of a part of Jung's work and is a really readable size for folks just getting into Jung and/or a vintage perspectives on "femininity."
This book gets into some areas that are dated and lend themselves to some great conversations/study around the metamorphosis of the meaning of "feminine." It's a very new world we live in.
The book dives into the deep end with "The Worship of Women and the Worship of the Soul." I absolutely LOVE how Jung brings Dante's 'Divine Comedy' into the mix. A brilliant way to illuminate how Dante's culminating point of psychic development happens in the prayer of St. Bernard.
Jung's ability to blend Dante's works from 1265-1321 with his (Jung) own works color a great picture of the points he is making. Jung lived from 1875-1961 and here we are in 2012 looking at what "feminine" means today. Very interesting.
"Marriage as a Psychological Relationship."
"Psychological Aspects of the Mother Archetype."
It is really insightful to have a vintage look at things. This particular book is nice translation of a part of Jung's work and is a really readable size for folks just getting into Jung and/or a vintage perspectives on "femininity."
October 20, 2020
It's pretty easy to walk into this book blind, thinking that you're going to read about Jung's views on feminine psychology. But that's not what you're getting. You're going to start with the historical worship of woman through man's eyes before diving into anima territory, with a couple stops in mother complexes for both sexes. He sometimes discusses a woman's animus, especially near the end, but that's set up as more of a contrast in the anima conversation rather than being it's own separate topic.
I found it to be a fascinating read.
I found it to be a fascinating read.
January 16, 2022
One topic I have spent the last many months obsessing over is the divine feminine and her dark destructive side, as well as how the systematic repression of her at the hands of modern Christianity has led directly to the unprecedented spiritual crisis which the Western world currently faces.
The divine feminine and her neglected dark side were certainly something the Swiss psychologist C. G. Jung spent much time brooding over. Especially the fact that as a devout Lutheran who wanted to become a preacher before he became a psychologist, he struggled with reconciling his faith on one hand and the realisation that it had no realistic chance of resolving the spiritual crisis of the modern West... in some aspects even being part of the problem. A good example can be found in ”Answer To Job”, focusing on Lilith's excision from the official account of Genesis leading to the vengeful dark feminine returning as the Whore of Babylon in the Book of Revelation. Who literally emerges from under the surface, riding a seven-headed dragon out of the sea. (Did Eve or Mary ever get to do anything that cool? I think not!) The repression of the dark divine feminine, and how to undo the damage done by this, would later become a major concern of modern Western occultists from Aleister Crowley over Kenneth Grant to Lynn Picknett.
The catalyst for my fixation with this challenge has been a series of dreams I had across the autumn and winter of 2021, all of which revolved around interactions with women who either had dark or morbid interests, abrasive personalities or jobs that require an acknowledgement of humanity's negative and destructive sides. For example military officers, indie publishers specialising in horror, or actresses typecast as villains. (the latter category including quite a few celebrities most notably Helen Mirren and Tilda Swinton...)
Anyway, my first many dream interactions with these women were quite acrimonious but I am now able to carry constructive and even productive conversations with these dark feminine presences in my dreams. That journey of developing a constructive relationship with the divine feminine in general and her neglected dark side in particular lead me to read ”Aspects of the Feminine”, a collection of essays written by C. G. Jung. The contents were not quite what I expected, to be honest, and I don't understand all of the essays found within. Furthermore: A good chunk of what I did understand, I found to be of questionable value.
Two of the essays make for interesting reading, for different reasons than Jung himself intended: The first being ”Anima and Animus”, not to be confused with Emma Jung's book ”Animus and Anima” which I found somewhat more interesting; the second being ”Psychological Aspects of the Mother Archetype”. In these 2 texts, C. G. Jung carefully spells out how he arrived at his anima/animus ideas and his theory about the archetypes, pointing out that he believed those archetypes as they manifest in dreams to be evolutionary adaptations showing humans potential pre-set behaviour patterns and life paths to adopt when new challenges in life present themselves. A good deal of his theories, in other words, are attempts at giving an evolutionary biological explanation for why dreams and religious visions are useful for humanity to begin with. I find these theories to be among Jung's weak points, as a result of my experience that Jung's therapeutic methods deliver the intended results for me but his explanations for why they work I often find unsatisfying.
”Aspects of the Feminine” is full of good examples I would use to represent this paradox: So many of the gender issues he writes about here, I have a difficult time recognising from the society I live in hence striking me as more particular to 1920's/1930's-era Switzerland than universal to the human condition; he also frequently refers to anthropological theories which today are obscure and might not have held up very well to the newest research in those fields. No wonder Jung's student James Hillman concluded in his book ”The Myth of Analysis” that Jung and Freud alike had more literary than scientific value...
Literary value is something that the texts found in ”Aspects of the Feminine” definitely have, that is for certain. The first essay ”The Worship of the Woman and the Worship of Soul” contains an interesting analysis of gender roles in Dante Aligheri's ”Divine Comedy” and other literary classics. As a result that essay has gotten me more interested in reading the works of fiction referred to.
The dream analysis parts are probably my favourite things to be found in ”Aspects of the Feminine”. One thing you can count on when reading C. G. Jung is that his patients usually had very entertaining dreams, and those described here are no exception! ”Aspects of the Feminine” is full of case stories where Jung's patients describe in vivid detail their dream encounters with totem animals, goddesses and abominable eldritch space demons straight out of a H. P. Lovecraft story. For that alone I would recommend ”Aspects of the Feminine” to fantasy and horror authors looking for ideas, as well as fans of classic literature looking for interesting analysis of their favourite books, or just people interested in the history of psychology as an academic discipline specifically how C. G. Jung developed many of his key ideas.
I, however, did not find exactly what I was looking for in here. As someone who paints in my spare time, I might in the future just re-read the dream analysis bits next time I need inspiration for new paintings.
The divine feminine and her neglected dark side were certainly something the Swiss psychologist C. G. Jung spent much time brooding over. Especially the fact that as a devout Lutheran who wanted to become a preacher before he became a psychologist, he struggled with reconciling his faith on one hand and the realisation that it had no realistic chance of resolving the spiritual crisis of the modern West... in some aspects even being part of the problem. A good example can be found in ”Answer To Job”, focusing on Lilith's excision from the official account of Genesis leading to the vengeful dark feminine returning as the Whore of Babylon in the Book of Revelation. Who literally emerges from under the surface, riding a seven-headed dragon out of the sea. (Did Eve or Mary ever get to do anything that cool? I think not!) The repression of the dark divine feminine, and how to undo the damage done by this, would later become a major concern of modern Western occultists from Aleister Crowley over Kenneth Grant to Lynn Picknett.
The catalyst for my fixation with this challenge has been a series of dreams I had across the autumn and winter of 2021, all of which revolved around interactions with women who either had dark or morbid interests, abrasive personalities or jobs that require an acknowledgement of humanity's negative and destructive sides. For example military officers, indie publishers specialising in horror, or actresses typecast as villains. (the latter category including quite a few celebrities most notably Helen Mirren and Tilda Swinton...)
Anyway, my first many dream interactions with these women were quite acrimonious but I am now able to carry constructive and even productive conversations with these dark feminine presences in my dreams. That journey of developing a constructive relationship with the divine feminine in general and her neglected dark side in particular lead me to read ”Aspects of the Feminine”, a collection of essays written by C. G. Jung. The contents were not quite what I expected, to be honest, and I don't understand all of the essays found within. Furthermore: A good chunk of what I did understand, I found to be of questionable value.
Two of the essays make for interesting reading, for different reasons than Jung himself intended: The first being ”Anima and Animus”, not to be confused with Emma Jung's book ”Animus and Anima” which I found somewhat more interesting; the second being ”Psychological Aspects of the Mother Archetype”. In these 2 texts, C. G. Jung carefully spells out how he arrived at his anima/animus ideas and his theory about the archetypes, pointing out that he believed those archetypes as they manifest in dreams to be evolutionary adaptations showing humans potential pre-set behaviour patterns and life paths to adopt when new challenges in life present themselves. A good deal of his theories, in other words, are attempts at giving an evolutionary biological explanation for why dreams and religious visions are useful for humanity to begin with. I find these theories to be among Jung's weak points, as a result of my experience that Jung's therapeutic methods deliver the intended results for me but his explanations for why they work I often find unsatisfying.
”Aspects of the Feminine” is full of good examples I would use to represent this paradox: So many of the gender issues he writes about here, I have a difficult time recognising from the society I live in hence striking me as more particular to 1920's/1930's-era Switzerland than universal to the human condition; he also frequently refers to anthropological theories which today are obscure and might not have held up very well to the newest research in those fields. No wonder Jung's student James Hillman concluded in his book ”The Myth of Analysis” that Jung and Freud alike had more literary than scientific value...
Literary value is something that the texts found in ”Aspects of the Feminine” definitely have, that is for certain. The first essay ”The Worship of the Woman and the Worship of Soul” contains an interesting analysis of gender roles in Dante Aligheri's ”Divine Comedy” and other literary classics. As a result that essay has gotten me more interested in reading the works of fiction referred to.
The dream analysis parts are probably my favourite things to be found in ”Aspects of the Feminine”. One thing you can count on when reading C. G. Jung is that his patients usually had very entertaining dreams, and those described here are no exception! ”Aspects of the Feminine” is full of case stories where Jung's patients describe in vivid detail their dream encounters with totem animals, goddesses and abominable eldritch space demons straight out of a H. P. Lovecraft story. For that alone I would recommend ”Aspects of the Feminine” to fantasy and horror authors looking for ideas, as well as fans of classic literature looking for interesting analysis of their favourite books, or just people interested in the history of psychology as an academic discipline specifically how C. G. Jung developed many of his key ideas.
I, however, did not find exactly what I was looking for in here. As someone who paints in my spare time, I might in the future just re-read the dream analysis bits next time I need inspiration for new paintings.
December 8, 2008
If you enjoy reading psychology, then you will probably enjoy this book. Personally, I found it cumbersome to read and outdated. Some of the information was interesting, but I found myself thinking regularly how man's opinion of woman has changed through the years.
December 14, 2020
Öncelikle kitabın adını okuyan biri kitabın kadınlarla veya genel olarak feminenlikle ilgili olduğunu düşünebilir. Aslında feminen psikolojiden de bahsetmesine rağmen kitap daha çok erkeklerdeki bilinçaltı feminen imajından (anima) bahsediyor.
Kitabı tamamen anladığımı söyleyemem ama Jung'un da dediği gibi burada bahsedilen şeyleri salt mantıkla irdelemek çok akıllıca bir şey değil çünkü burada bahsedilen şeyler bilinçaltı ve sadece tecrübe ile bilince etkisi olan şeyler. Bu yüzden bu kitabı eleştirirken kişisel tecrübelere göre eleştirmek daha mantıklı olur bence. Tabi bazı şeylerin saçma gelmesinin henüz bahsedilen şeyin tecrübe edilmemiş olmasından da kaynaklanabileceği unutulmamalı. Benim durumumda tecrübemde paralellik gördüğüm birkaç şey oldu ama çoğu şeyi yaşadıysam bile farkına varmadım. Ancak kendi hayatımda bulduğum bazı şeyler gerçekten de baya isabetli.
Ancak kitapta en çok katıldığım şey ne kadar rasyonel varlıklar olsak da bilinçli olarak algılayamadığımız bir yanımız var ve bu yanımızı mantıkla idare edemeyiz. Bu bilinçaltını anlamanın bir yolu ortaya çıktığı tecrübeleri dikkatlice gözlemlemek ve farkına varmak. Ancak bu her zaman kolay değil çünkü çoğu zaman bunların farkında olmamamız demek zaten rahatsız olduğumuz bir şey olması demek. Bu tecrübelerin bir türü başkasındaki bir hareketin sizi çok rahatsız etmesi. Eğer birinin bir davranışı sizi çok fazla rahatsız ettiyse büyük ihtimal asıl rahatsız olduğunuz şey onun kendinizide olmasıdır ama siz bunun farkına varmamışsınızdır. Ancak farkına vardıktan sonra ne yapacağımız kısmı benim için hala büyük bir soru işareti.
Kitapta düz mantıksız bulduğum tekk şey eşcinsellikten bir çeşit rahatsızlık gibi bahsedilmesiydi. Eşcinsel olmanın sebeplerinde psikolojik şeyler olabilir belki ama bu onları rahatsızlık yapmaz bence. Ancak Jung'un zaten kitapta kimsenin tam olarak normal olmadığını savunması belki eşcinsellikten rahatsızlık olarak bahsederken de herhangi bir insanın normalden farkı kadar bir rahatsızlıktan bahsetmiş olması ihtimaller içinde sanırım.
Kitabı tamamen anladığımı söyleyemem ama Jung'un da dediği gibi burada bahsedilen şeyleri salt mantıkla irdelemek çok akıllıca bir şey değil çünkü burada bahsedilen şeyler bilinçaltı ve sadece tecrübe ile bilince etkisi olan şeyler. Bu yüzden bu kitabı eleştirirken kişisel tecrübelere göre eleştirmek daha mantıklı olur bence. Tabi bazı şeylerin saçma gelmesinin henüz bahsedilen şeyin tecrübe edilmemiş olmasından da kaynaklanabileceği unutulmamalı. Benim durumumda tecrübemde paralellik gördüğüm birkaç şey oldu ama çoğu şeyi yaşadıysam bile farkına varmadım. Ancak kendi hayatımda bulduğum bazı şeyler gerçekten de baya isabetli.
Ancak kitapta en çok katıldığım şey ne kadar rasyonel varlıklar olsak da bilinçli olarak algılayamadığımız bir yanımız var ve bu yanımızı mantıkla idare edemeyiz. Bu bilinçaltını anlamanın bir yolu ortaya çıktığı tecrübeleri dikkatlice gözlemlemek ve farkına varmak. Ancak bu her zaman kolay değil çünkü çoğu zaman bunların farkında olmamamız demek zaten rahatsız olduğumuz bir şey olması demek. Bu tecrübelerin bir türü başkasındaki bir hareketin sizi çok rahatsız etmesi. Eğer birinin bir davranışı sizi çok fazla rahatsız ettiyse büyük ihtimal asıl rahatsız olduğunuz şey onun kendinizide olmasıdır ama siz bunun farkına varmamışsınızdır. Ancak farkına vardıktan sonra ne yapacağımız kısmı benim için hala büyük bir soru işareti.
Kitapta düz mantıksız bulduğum tekk şey eşcinsellikten bir çeşit rahatsızlık gibi bahsedilmesiydi. Eşcinsel olmanın sebeplerinde psikolojik şeyler olabilir belki ama bu onları rahatsızlık yapmaz bence. Ancak Jung'un zaten kitapta kimsenin tam olarak normal olmadığını savunması belki eşcinsellikten rahatsızlık olarak bahsederken de herhangi bir insanın normalden farkı kadar bir rahatsızlıktan bahsetmiş olması ihtimaller içinde sanırım.
December 24, 2024
Jung is tough. He writes often of psychic cleaning which is what reading him feels like. Got a few more rugs shook out this time around.
At times Jung’s generalizations are so general as to be not quite true. I wish he were alive and writing now. I’d like to know where he would have gotten. He feels dated at times, but then not dated.
More than several valuable insights are going with me into 2025.
At times Jung’s generalizations are so general as to be not quite true. I wish he were alive and writing now. I’d like to know where he would have gotten. He feels dated at times, but then not dated.
More than several valuable insights are going with me into 2025.
August 15, 2024
Håller inte måttet i jämförelse med ”Psykologiska typer”. Mycket här är bara random nonsens utan den charmiga tonen som han hade tidigare. Dock innehåller ”Anima and Animus” beskrivningen av vad en arketyp faktiskt är vilket var hjälpsamt och den intressantaste delen i samlingen. Resten nonsens.
2/5
2/5
May 23, 2023
bir yıldız bile fazla.
June 3, 2025
- “Ai që njeh veten, njeh Zotin”
- “Çdo përparim sado i vogël në drejtim të kuptimit të vetëdijshëm i shton aq shumë botës.”
- “Asnjë njeri nuk mund të shpëtohet nga një mëkat që nuk e ka bërë.”
- “Asgjë nuk fitohet nëse një ideal i vlefshëm thjesht shkatrrohet dhe nuk zëvendësohet me diçka më të mirë.”
- “Çdo përpjekje mendore, si edhe vetë procesi i vetëdijshëm, është një lloj tendosje e atillë për njeriun e zakonshëm, saqë ai gjithnjë preferon të thjeshtin, edhe kur ky nuk përkon me të vërtetën.”
- “Nuk ka zgjim të vetëdijes pa dhimbje.”
- “Çdo përparim sado i vogël në drejtim të kuptimit të vetëdijshëm i shton aq shumë botës.”
- “Asnjë njeri nuk mund të shpëtohet nga një mëkat që nuk e ka bërë.”
- “Asgjë nuk fitohet nëse një ideal i vlefshëm thjesht shkatrrohet dhe nuk zëvendësohet me diçka më të mirë.”
- “Çdo përpjekje mendore, si edhe vetë procesi i vetëdijshëm, është një lloj tendosje e atillë për njeriun e zakonshëm, saqë ai gjithnjë preferon të thjeshtin, edhe kur ky nuk përkon me të vërtetën.”
- “Nuk ka zgjim të vetëdijes pa dhimbje.”
March 21, 2017
Admittedly, I was walking into this one not knowing much about Mr. Jung, but the title was intriguing. I've found most philosophical texts to be dynamic and conceptual with their discourse - part of the "phun" in philosophy is finding your own interpretations, I think. Unfortunately, the editor of this version had a decidedly heteronormative viewpoint and went further to disparage homosexuals with gross stereotypes than was necessary, and it was also mysogynistic; like, impressively so at times. If I want unhealthy doses of either of these things then I'll just turn on the news, thanks.
June 18, 2014
Jung is so clear and thorough in his writing; making this book a pleasurable educational experience. Particularly helpful was the clarification of the three major mother complexes; symptoms of a distressed animus/anima; and the necessity of shadow integration.
March 3, 2014
There are some beautiful pieces in this book, but it really annoyed me that most of it was on the topic of the feminine aspect in men.
June 12, 2024
"Aspects of the Feminine" by Carl Gustav Jung is a collection of essays that delve into the complex and multifaceted nature of femininity from a psychological perspective. Though written almost a century ago, Jung's insights remain remarkably relevant, addressing modern issues and psychological complications women face today. The book comprises various essays that explore different dimensions of femininity, including the psychological archetypes of the anima and animus, the concept of the Great Mother, and the intricate dynamics of the mother complex. Jung's work is deeply rooted in his analytical psychology, providing a rich, symbolic interpretation of the feminine psyche.
Jung’s ability to anticipate and describe the psychological landscape of modern women is one of the most striking aspects of this book. Despite being written in the early 20th century, Jung’s essays address themes that resonate with contemporary readers, such as the struggle for identity, the balance of masculine and feminine energies within oneself, and the impact of maternal relationships on personal development.
Jung's exploration of the mother complex is particularly insightful. He describes how the mother archetype can manifest in both nurturing and devouring forms, profoundly influencing a woman's psychological development. This understanding helps modern women navigate their relationships with their mothers and their own roles as mothers.
The discussion of anima and animus—representations of the feminine in men and the masculine in women—highlights the importance of integrating these aspects to achieve psychological wholeness. This concept is especially pertinent today, as society increasingly acknowledges the fluidity of gender and the importance of embracing diverse aspects of identity. By illuminating these issues, Jung offers a path toward greater self-awareness and personal growth.
Jung’s work often seems prophetic, as he anticipated many of the psychological challenges and cultural shifts that characterize the modern world. His recognition of the importance of the feminine principle in achieving psychological balance and his critique of the overemphasis on rationality and materialism in Western culture are particularly relevant today.
Personal Reflection: Reading "Aspects of the Feminine" feels like a journey into the depths of the human psyche. Jung’s profound understanding of the feminine principle offers valuable insights for women seeking to understand themselves and their place in the world. His writing encourages a deeper exploration of one's inner life and fosters a greater appreciation for the richness and complexity of the feminine experience.
"Aspects of the Feminine" by C.G. Jung really is a timeless work that continues to offer profound insights into the feminine psyche. This book is a valuable resource for anyone interested in the dynamics of the feminine and its impact on personal and collective consciousness. Highly recommended for readers seeking to explore the depths of their own psyche and the intricate interplay of the feminine and masculine within.
Jung’s ability to anticipate and describe the psychological landscape of modern women is one of the most striking aspects of this book. Despite being written in the early 20th century, Jung’s essays address themes that resonate with contemporary readers, such as the struggle for identity, the balance of masculine and feminine energies within oneself, and the impact of maternal relationships on personal development.
Jung's exploration of the mother complex is particularly insightful. He describes how the mother archetype can manifest in both nurturing and devouring forms, profoundly influencing a woman's psychological development. This understanding helps modern women navigate their relationships with their mothers and their own roles as mothers.
The discussion of anima and animus—representations of the feminine in men and the masculine in women—highlights the importance of integrating these aspects to achieve psychological wholeness. This concept is especially pertinent today, as society increasingly acknowledges the fluidity of gender and the importance of embracing diverse aspects of identity. By illuminating these issues, Jung offers a path toward greater self-awareness and personal growth.
Jung’s work often seems prophetic, as he anticipated many of the psychological challenges and cultural shifts that characterize the modern world. His recognition of the importance of the feminine principle in achieving psychological balance and his critique of the overemphasis on rationality and materialism in Western culture are particularly relevant today.
Personal Reflection: Reading "Aspects of the Feminine" feels like a journey into the depths of the human psyche. Jung’s profound understanding of the feminine principle offers valuable insights for women seeking to understand themselves and their place in the world. His writing encourages a deeper exploration of one's inner life and fosters a greater appreciation for the richness and complexity of the feminine experience.
"Aspects of the Feminine" by C.G. Jung really is a timeless work that continues to offer profound insights into the feminine psyche. This book is a valuable resource for anyone interested in the dynamics of the feminine and its impact on personal and collective consciousness. Highly recommended for readers seeking to explore the depths of their own psyche and the intricate interplay of the feminine and masculine within.
October 11, 2025
Jung's Aspects of the Feminine has a very similar start to that of the Aspects of The Masculine. Across both texts, his initial chapters discuss the "Love Problem of the Student," which begins his discussion of the male and female psyche from the perspective of young individuals; those who are yet to integrate their unconscious masculine and feminine elements.
In the case of the woman, Jung argues that the unconscious female side is inhabited by the animus - which is the male counterpart of the feminine psyche - like men, Jung argues that women should integrate their subconscious masculine traits into their conscious psyche.
To illustrate this principle, Jung covers fairytales (such as that of the Beauty and the Beast). His final claim is that through the integration of the masculine, women can reach a higher level of consciousness, where through their newfound strength and conviction - which are traits typically associated with the masculine - they can live life with a greater degree of love and tenderness, a love and tenderness that is supported by the strong foundations of a healthy psyche.
Unlike Aspects of the Masculine, I gave this book 5-stars. Despite providing commentary on the Feminine, I found Jung's analysis of the Feminine to be more useful than that of the Masculine, perhaps due to this texts greater depth in the analysis of female archetypal images.
In the case of the woman, Jung argues that the unconscious female side is inhabited by the animus - which is the male counterpart of the feminine psyche - like men, Jung argues that women should integrate their subconscious masculine traits into their conscious psyche.
To illustrate this principle, Jung covers fairytales (such as that of the Beauty and the Beast). His final claim is that through the integration of the masculine, women can reach a higher level of consciousness, where through their newfound strength and conviction - which are traits typically associated with the masculine - they can live life with a greater degree of love and tenderness, a love and tenderness that is supported by the strong foundations of a healthy psyche.
Unlike Aspects of the Masculine, I gave this book 5-stars. Despite providing commentary on the Feminine, I found Jung's analysis of the Feminine to be more useful than that of the Masculine, perhaps due to this texts greater depth in the analysis of female archetypal images.
January 30, 2024
How much i see, us, women. Through archetypes, historical figures, in this universe. While reading Jung’s perspectives and research, it made me see and question our feminine role in this world, as mother, daughter and girlfriend. To never forget how powerful we are, and always were, that we are the life force that will plant our seeds and bloom, for eternity.. even through shadows, we shed the light.
“It began, it seems to me, with the worship of woman, which strengthend the man’s soul very considerably as a psychological factor.
Since the worship of woman meant worship of the soul.”
“To a woman it is generally more important to know how a man feels about a thing than to know the thing itself. So it is naturally woman who is the most direct exponent of psychology and gives it its richest content.”
“It began, it seems to me, with the worship of woman, which strengthend the man’s soul very considerably as a psychological factor.
Since the worship of woman meant worship of the soul.”
“To a woman it is generally more important to know how a man feels about a thing than to know the thing itself. So it is naturally woman who is the most direct exponent of psychology and gives it its richest content.”
April 18, 2023
notes:
p190
chapter: The Shadow and the Syzygy
it is not the conscious subject but the unconscious which does the projecting. Hence one meets with projections, one does not make them. The effect of projection is to isolate the subject from his environment since instead of a real relation to it there is now only an illusory one. Projections change the world into the replica of one’s own unknown face.
p60
c: Marriage as a psychological relationship
Psychological insecurity, however, increases in proportion to social security, unconsciously at first, causing neuroses, then consciously, bringing with it separation, discord, divorces and other marital disorders.
p190
chapter: The Shadow and the Syzygy
it is not the conscious subject but the unconscious which does the projecting. Hence one meets with projections, one does not make them. The effect of projection is to isolate the subject from his environment since instead of a real relation to it there is now only an illusory one. Projections change the world into the replica of one’s own unknown face.
p60
c: Marriage as a psychological relationship
Psychological insecurity, however, increases in proportion to social security, unconsciously at first, causing neuroses, then consciously, bringing with it separation, discord, divorces and other marital disorders.
October 10, 2025
قرأت الكتاب المترجم إلى العربية من دار الحوار ..
بالطبع لم افهم كل كلمة بالكامل ولكن كان تنويرياً إلى حد كبير يفتح آفاق واسعة لمحاولة إدراكنا ذواتنا
" من الممكن تماماً أن يدرك الإنسان الشر النسبي لطبيعته لكنها تجربة نادرة ومحطمة بالنسبة له أن يحدق في وجه الشر المطلق."
"على الرغم من أن نساء هذا النمط (تعيش من أجل الآخرين) باستمرار إلا أنهن غير قادرات في الواقع على تقديم أي تضحيات حقيقية."
"فإن الذات هي صورة إلهية …إن من يعرف نفسه يعرف الله."
"في مواجهة قوة المؤقت ومتعته على الإنسان أن يقيم فرحه الأبدي وفي مواجهة شغف الحسي عليه أن يقيم نشوة الروحي."
بالطبع لم افهم كل كلمة بالكامل ولكن كان تنويرياً إلى حد كبير يفتح آفاق واسعة لمحاولة إدراكنا ذواتنا
" من الممكن تماماً أن يدرك الإنسان الشر النسبي لطبيعته لكنها تجربة نادرة ومحطمة بالنسبة له أن يحدق في وجه الشر المطلق."
"على الرغم من أن نساء هذا النمط (تعيش من أجل الآخرين) باستمرار إلا أنهن غير قادرات في الواقع على تقديم أي تضحيات حقيقية."
"فإن الذات هي صورة إلهية …إن من يعرف نفسه يعرف الله."
"في مواجهة قوة المؤقت ومتعته على الإنسان أن يقيم فرحه الأبدي وفي مواجهة شغف الحسي عليه أن يقيم نشوة الروحي."
September 6, 2022
I was excited to read this collection of Jung's works. However, upon finishing the book I felt far more empahsis was placed on women's role in masculine paychology than on the feminine psychology itself. This may be a reflection of Jung's time, but myquest continues. Where in the world is "King, Warior, Magician, Lover" for women?
September 12, 2021
Özelde Jung'dan olmak üzere daha çok psikoloji ve daha çok mitoloji bilgisine sahip olsaydım daha iyi anlardım dediğim bir kitap oldu. Özellikle mitoloji üzerinden yorumlamalar yaptığı rüya, sanı kısmında vs iyice koptum diyebilirim.
Yaptık ama üç beş çıkarım biz de...
Yaptık ama üç beş çıkarım biz de...
January 25, 2019
Takip etmekte zorluk çektim ama bu durum benden kaynaklanıyor galiba...
February 20, 2022
Its hard to swallow and I bit boring for me.
May 30, 2023
not one of jung’s most legible/cogent collections but provocative and enjoyable
April 3, 2025
aged like milk
August 1, 2025
Rough introduction to Jung but intriguing
September 17, 2025
Bout to take my anima on a date. she pretty cute. Kinda nervous.
June 11, 2022
Whatever you make Mr Jung’s perhaps necessarily obscure ideas about the mind, despite bending over backwards to praise the female sex in compensation, in elaborating his theory of women, he states plainly on every page that they are really just crazy and irritating creatures!
November 16, 2020
Aspectos do Feminino traz uma reunião de textos existentes nas obras completas de C.G.Jung que abordam ou se aproximam da questão do feminino. Então, se você já tem as obras completas, eu não recomendo adquirir esse volume (mesmo que edição esteja belíssima).
O livro conta com o prefácio de Walter Boechat que enfatiza o tempo histórico do autor e a influência que isso teve na sua noção de feminino e masculino, mas sublinho algumas informações que julgo equivocadas, como afirmar que as mudanças de papéis de gênero iniciaram-se em 1970, quando já existem vários estudos que colocam que a transformação e reflexão desses papéis já estavam sendo realizadas antes mesmo do movimento sufragista.
Li em uma ordem alternativa a que está disposta no livro e acho que preferi fazer desse jeito, porque pra uma pessoa que nunca leu Jung e for começar por esse livro (não sei, vai que) vai se deparar com um primeiro texto exigente, cheio de paralelos medievais e com os seguintes contendo as considerações de Jung sobre temáticas sociais como o casamento, o problema do amor para o estudante e sobre as mulheres na Europa. Ou seja, opiniões bastante polêmicas e um tanto ultrapassadas, mas que um leitor familiarizado com a obra junguiana já releva por ter em mente o argumento do tempo e espaço dos quais o autor escrevia.
Além disso, o livro traz o capítulo do livro "Os Arquétipos e o inconsciente coletivo" que aborda sobre o arquétipo e complexo materno e mais alguns textos retirados do livro "Eu e o Inconsciente" e "Aion- Estudos Sobre o Si-Mesmo". Estes últimos tratando sobre os conceitos de animus e anima. Já um texto que me surpreendeu foi o "Aspectos Psicológicos de Core", onde Jung vai explorar as imagens de Perséfone e Deméter, trazendo material de sonhos de algumas pacientes suas. Achei muito interessante o uso do material para ilustrar os conceitos e isso tornou bastante claro a perspectiva de encarar os sonhos em série e, consequentemente, o desenvolvimento das imagens oníricas relativas ao tema.
O livro conta com o prefácio de Walter Boechat que enfatiza o tempo histórico do autor e a influência que isso teve na sua noção de feminino e masculino, mas sublinho algumas informações que julgo equivocadas, como afirmar que as mudanças de papéis de gênero iniciaram-se em 1970, quando já existem vários estudos que colocam que a transformação e reflexão desses papéis já estavam sendo realizadas antes mesmo do movimento sufragista.
Li em uma ordem alternativa a que está disposta no livro e acho que preferi fazer desse jeito, porque pra uma pessoa que nunca leu Jung e for começar por esse livro (não sei, vai que) vai se deparar com um primeiro texto exigente, cheio de paralelos medievais e com os seguintes contendo as considerações de Jung sobre temáticas sociais como o casamento, o problema do amor para o estudante e sobre as mulheres na Europa. Ou seja, opiniões bastante polêmicas e um tanto ultrapassadas, mas que um leitor familiarizado com a obra junguiana já releva por ter em mente o argumento do tempo e espaço dos quais o autor escrevia.
Além disso, o livro traz o capítulo do livro "Os Arquétipos e o inconsciente coletivo" que aborda sobre o arquétipo e complexo materno e mais alguns textos retirados do livro "Eu e o Inconsciente" e "Aion- Estudos Sobre o Si-Mesmo". Estes últimos tratando sobre os conceitos de animus e anima. Já um texto que me surpreendeu foi o "Aspectos Psicológicos de Core", onde Jung vai explorar as imagens de Perséfone e Deméter, trazendo material de sonhos de algumas pacientes suas. Achei muito interessante o uso do material para ilustrar os conceitos e isso tornou bastante claro a perspectiva de encarar os sonhos em série e, consequentemente, o desenvolvimento das imagens oníricas relativas ao tema.
December 16, 2025
forgot. will revisit.
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