| The purpose of the study was to examine manifestations of the anima in men's experience in Guided Imagery and Music (GIM). The anima was defined according to the theory of Carl Jung as the archetype which personifies the feminine side that exists and develops in every man. GIM was defined as a form of music therapy, where the client images in a relaxed state, while dialoging with the therapist.;Participants for the study were six male volunteers. Each subject received 6-10 GIM sessions. Each session followed the same treatment protocol, a verbal discussion, a relaxation/induction, the music listening/imagery period and a post session integration, where the client discussed the imaging experience and its implications for the client's life.;Results of the study showed that: The anima gave each man experiences with himself where he could express emotions comfortably, gain more knowledge about himself, and broaden his conscious awareness about himself and his world. Second, the anima is manifested and expressed by men very easily and naturally in GIM. GIM utilizes altered states of consciousness, and provides easier access to the unconscious domain of the anima, and offers two sources for anima projection in addition to the man's relationship to the female therapist: the music and the image. Third, in terms of the GIM process, the anima can be defined as: (a) any quality that a man attributes to or projects onto: real women (individually or collectively), female characters (literary, or imaginary), symbols or objects, (b) which form a pattern or theme in the man's responses within GIM, and (c) leads to the expression and ownership of emotions, and ultimately individuation. The final finding was that by accessing and interpreting a man's anima helps the therapist to: understand the specific roles of the mother complex and related female archetypes in shaping the man's personality and life; understand the transference and counter-transference issues that may arise when men work with male versus female therapists, and especially with regard to their animus or anima struggles; and help the therapist guide the client in understanding his own internal struggles as he works to achieve individuation. |
