hi Jerry,

thanks for such a clear reply, it has given me a lot to think about, and there are many threads to follow

One that really strikes me is that in the absence of the physical father, an archetypal father appears in midlife.
The dream that started all this off for me (after I had left a job and headed off into the unknown - 2003); a dream that 'touched' me so profoundly it was the first dream I wrote down - upon reflection - it was the archetypal father, set in very ancient times, a leader (I was not following him, I had my own theories and my own followers, , , he came up to me, picked me up, enveloped me and put his forehead on my head and I felt an incredible warm rush go through my whole body::: yes lots of symbolism ,,,,) This dream really fired my way.

More recently there was a dream where I turned around and saw / felt / said 'my dear old man, my dear old man' - it was as though I had seen behind myself. And it was not my father, ,,

Just last night I had a man offering (he and his wife Sophia (!) to support my work overseas.

So the masculine, and in particular the archetypal masculine is trying to get my attention / break through.


Further - in relation to your reply - I can now understand the 'mother substitute' for a 'deficient' father (especially if her opinion of him as a father is low, and she undermines him both to the son and her husband).
I had many of these dots but unable to connect them.
It further (I think) further explains why I had always chosen women who had father issues (usually alcoholic fathers) = unconsciously I understood their pain, unconsciously I could pretend that I could ease their pain , , , you get the picture.

So I have gone from years of trying to unravel my mother issues to father issues , , ,, I think it is just as Alexander Lowen said , , ,it is unconscious anger at the father , ,, wow that is a tough one

many thanks,
Justin

Age & Gender & Location {Required}: 54, Darwin Australia

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