Anima
[AN-ə-mə]
Part of speech: noun
Origin: Latin, early 20th century
1.
The part of the psyche that is directed inward, in touch with the subconscious.
2.
(Historical philosophy) the soul, especially the irrational part of the soul as distinguished from the rational mind.
Examples of Anima in a sentence
"Steve started to get in touch with his anima."
"My meditation practice focuses on the anima."
About Anima
This term was coined by famed psychoanalyst Carl Jung but stemmed from the feminine of the Latin “animus,” which means "the rational soul; life; the mental powers, intelligence."
Did you Know?
Just like Carl Jung labeled the “anima” as a feminine image within the male psyche, he called male image in a female’s psyche the “animus.” He claimed these represent a person’s “true self” rather than the persona we present to others. The combined anima and animus is known as “syzygy,” which represents unification and wholeness. Jung also suggested that the discouragement of men exploring their feminine aspects and vice versa ultimately undermines psychological development.
