In contemporary times, it appears that the anima and animus, closely associated with stereotyped masculine and feminine traits are often dismissed as obsolete, or offensive to many people. The original notion was indeed built upon the existing social norms of the last century, despite their archetypal roots. A fact that Jung himself was alerted to when he said, 

“I am fully aware that we are discussing pioneer work which by its very nature can only be provisional”.

Proceeding in the spirit of Jung, this talk offers an exploration of the anima and animus, in light of today’s understanding of gender and biological sex. These are the powerful archetypes of difference, and the key to understanding gender and biological sex, today.

Christina Thomas is a Jungian Analyst who trained with the CG Jung, Institute in Zurich. She has a private psychotherapy practice in Melbourne and is an experienced group facilitator, whose Jungian and spiritual orientation ensures her ability to work deeply with the unconscious language of dreams, fairy tales and myths. 

Christina currently runs a popular community dreamwork group in Richmond and facilitates their monthly meetings. She has worked in psychiatric hospital settings, where she designed and facilitated psychodrama groups for adolescents with behavioural problems.