Paul,
In my belief system of concepts a female is always an anima aspect in a man's dream {as well as in a woman's dream but perhaps with a different application related to personality rather than archetypal}. The female image may not always be the primary focus of the dream but will always be relevant to it. I state this with the opinion that a female is representative of the emotions, and because we are human our emotions are the superior motivating factors in our lives. This superior aspect corresponds with the superior function of the feminine psyche over the masculine. The superior feminine function would correspond with the spiritual aspect which Jung saw as the ultimate goal in achieving wholeness in life. I see Jesus as a perfect example of this, being a male but living from the feminine psyche. His masculine tendencies were always secondary to his feminine {God was the opposite}. He displayed his emotions, as is human and not godly {pure objectivity without proper emotions would be masculine}.

There are many aspects of dreams I have learned from experience that will often apply and that are not officially accepted by Jungian academics. One is that the title of a dream is often central to what the dream is focusing/about. Whether it is unconscious or a conscious noting, your shadowy figure is the primary theme in your dream. I have found that he title naming is often very relevant to the central dream theme. I dare say few people realize this when posting a dream because it is as much an unconscious thing. Someone like yourself with knowledge of Jung may consciously name the dream to fit theme but that is not usual. Another instance where the unconscious is establishing itself as a source of knowledge with the intent to convey a message the dreamer needs to recognize and understand. The dream is all about convey messages about emotional energies, especially those that are out of balance and affect the obtaining wholeness {most dreams are focused on negative energies/emotions}.

As for giving control to your shadow parts. They already have control, the task is to recognize what the energies and discover why they have the power they do. That most often goes early life experiences and influences where the foundations of personality and development of attitudes are formed. I dare say some will say I put too much emphasis on this childhood concept as the ground for life long attitudes but with the new science that has demonstrated that the psyche of an infant is capable of vast learning I believe it is only common sense to take a such a view. beyond that my experience in working with dreams and using/pronouncing this concept has met with great success. "Yes, my childhood was not stable as it should have been", is a common response {not necessarily in those words} to an analysis naming childhood years as the foundation for emotional conflicts/issues as an adult. The shadow is another name for childhood outline of powerful emotional deficiencies. It resides in the shadows of the unconscious, unknown to the dreamer but not to conscious actions displayed in the person's life later in life. As are all unconscious energies, they are motivators for these actions.

You state the lack of emotional nourishment were likely related to a past long term relationship. There is no doubt this is true but there are likely deeper reasons for the need for this emotional nourishment. You also stated your childhood felt like a breeze. Could it be you allow it to pass you by not having thoroughly examine all of it? Individuation/self psychology requires a complete examination of the whole life up until the time of the dream. Only then can you access your life as a whole and determine what was 'left in the breeze' {if anything} and not looked at with deep inspection. The dream states climbing another staircase which could suggest at least two issues being addressed in the dream. An experience{s} that is older than the previous experience {the experience you noted in your response}.

I take an interest in your response of a 'Goddess-worship aspect'. You haven't named what current experiences there are that have relieved you from your problems of the past but if there is a 'goddess worship' involved then that worship may be related to the emotional nourishment, or lack of. Could this be apart of the problem, a worship of the 'goddess', not as a higher aspect of the psyche but as a substitute for what is lacking. A worship of the goddess could be female relationships, not always positive. But this is for you to ascertain in your current experiences.

Jerry

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I was thinking more about the early life experiences which you alluded to. Throughout my childhood, my modelling of my father and older brothers I think led to an idea of masculinity as emotional rigidity, unexpressiveness and insensitivity to some degree. Although I think this is common, I feel as though my innate tendancy is towards sensitivity. My path has lead me to oppose these rigid masculine ideals with fervour and the subsequent realisation of a range of emotions I hadn't noticed having since childhood has been very valuble for me. Some experiences I would describe as feeling like a thorough and powerful re-opening of the 'heart chakra'. I will heed your advice on thoroughly examining my early life.

Regarding Goddess worship. I think my tendancy towards somewhat pantheistic beliefs influences this, and I have made conscious efforts to incorporate forms of feminine divinity in spiritual practices, perhaps as a fulfillment of needs, but also to see what I may find out about myself there.

Thank for your time and thought Jerry, I very much appreciate communicating with someone of your expertise and generousity. Might I add that you have given me a greater incentive to try to remember my dreams, perhaps I'll start a diary

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Paiul,
A dream diary would be a good thing to have. Dreams have a message with each dream proving insights to the true self. If you wish to know why you are who you are then your dreams will help in that discovery. By analyzing and interpreting your dreams you will find clues to the emotional energies that motivate personality, attitudes and behavior. And they are fascinating when analyzed. Like a puzzle, when all the pieces are correctly put together a clear picture of the self is revealed. Most often that picture is different from the ego perceived image. Unlike the ego the dream has no bias toward truth. The rigid masculine ideas that motivated you had a foundation and although you may no longer allow those to guide you, understanding where they came from is invaluable in understanding the unconscious energies that still have power to influence your waking life.

As for the Goddess. I too believe in the power of the feminine. I do not have any one belief system when it comes to my spirituality but I do see the Goddess as the primary energy and living from the feminine as the path to true spirituality. God is too ego centered, vengeful, wrathful and with self esteem issues {why else would the first commandment deal with 'other gods' before him}. Jesus had none of these issues and lived from the feminine with a balanced psyche that allowed for objective introspection {the Gnostic Gospels reveals the true Jesus and when analyzed they are pure Buddhism}. There are too many seasonal alternatives to the patriarchal approach to endure the suffering it allows. Going inward is not just a slogan, it is a psychological path that can help heal. Dreams are nature's device in the healing process.

Jerry

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