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Man and His Mother

The mother archetype is fundamental to our quest for wholeness because it is the primary energy that unites the opposites and joins what is divided. This feminine archetype is also the principle of nature which historically Christianity has done much to separate us from.

The manifestation of the mother archetype can be either dangerous or benevolent. In fact, the deeper we go toward the archetype the more aware we are of its paradoxical nature – containing the elements of both higher consciousness and subconsciousness. If we do not embrace this archetype we cut ourselves off from its energy of renewal and creativity in our life.

There are many sides to the mother archetype such as the Great Mother and the Nature Mother. In general, she is ruler of three spheres: in the underworld or subconscious realms she has the power of death and renewal; on earth she is the goddess of fertility, the nurturer and a strong creative force; in the higher realms she illuminates and is the power of wisdom (Sophia).

Eros is the basic principle of the mother, the energy of relationship with oneself and with others. In mythology the Great Mother is usually also the goddess of love – whether manifesting in destructive passion or in the journey toward wholeness.

When a man is not in touch with his inner female he is not open to the mother archetype and has difficulty expressing his love appropriately. As a result he may be a “momma’s boy” and project this onto his relationships. If he is attached to his mother his emotions will tend to be infantile and he will have a difficult time expressing his mature emotions in other relationships with women he loves. In the place of appropriate emotions he will likely have sexual and other fantasies about women, which are not based on the reality of the relationship. The archetype is present in the subconscious as Eros, so it will manifest one way or another.

Out of touch with his inner female he will be at the mercy of his unrecognized anima – his inner woman who wants to be acknowledged and expressed. He then becomes moody, does not listen to the voice of nature within, often does not respect external nature, is immature in his emotions, is not open and receptive, and cannot properly mature in his maleness.

It is difficult to imagine being able to get in touch with the wisdom and illumination aspect of this archetype without going through the connection to the subconscious, dark, natural aspects of it. She is our connection to our basic instincts and natural physical intelligence. This nature is the ground for our humanity as well as for spirit, soul and consciousness.

Wisdom is grounded in our intelligent instincts. Conscious wholeness emerges out of unconscious connections. The lower is the foundation, and often the pathway, for the highest. The instinctual provides the essential basis for the nurturing, loving nature, and eventual higher wisdom of the female, mother energies of soul and body.

Exercises: 1. What does the mother energy mean to you and how do you express it? 2. When you express your femaleness what levels do you most often connect with? a.) the instinctual and renewing forces b.) the nurturing and creative energies c.) the wisdom and illuminating expressions 3. What is your attitude toward the natural world? 4. What is your attitude toward your physical body with its instincts and inclinations?

This is one of 150 Soul Perspective articles. For more articles visit Soul Perspectives Index.

Andrew and Bonnie Schneider are now offering personal interactive email coaching for the 4 Level Soul Journey program. Connect weekly with Andrew and Bonnie on how to develop soul consciousness. Read more about this personal coaching from Andrew and Bonnie Schneider by clicking here.