According to Jung's student and follower, Marie Louise Von Franz, the process of individuation begins with suffering. As the child's ego develops, it tries to adapt to the outside world. As a result, a crisis and mental pain arises, with which, according to Von Franz, the process of individuation begins as “conscious interaction with one’s inner center.” In this regard, one can draw mythological and fairy-tale parallels, in which any transformation is preceded by a period of torment, deprivation, and escape from the usual situation. In Jungian therapy, the individuation process is based on the influence of the main archetypes: Shadow, Anima, Animus and Self. Awareness of the Shadow Shadow as unconscious psychic contents manifests itself in dreams that are alien to the dreamer (unexpected actions, alien characters, antipodes), in spontaneous phrases and actions. These contents are of great value because... being assimilated, they give integrity to the psyche (mythological embodiment - the hero’s meeting with the dark characters of a fairy tale and his interaction with them). When confronted with the Shadow, people tend to project it onto others, including culturally, onto entire nations or social groups, and also experience certain ethical torment. However, in order for individuation to continue, it is important to work with your Shadow and constantly integrate new unconscious contents. As Von Fratz writes, the Shadow vector is often directed in the same direction as the Self vector. Therefore, conscious transformation does not involve running away from one’s ethical problems, not shifting them onto others through projection and blame, but meeting them. Of course, a realistic view of the Shadow assumes that its complete integration is impossible, just as it is impossible to catch up with one’s own shadow. Woman inside: Anima The next aspect of individuation is associated with the assimilation of the internal feminine principle in the male psyche (Anima) and the internal masculine principle in the feminine (Animus). Considering the gender aspects of individuation, Von Franz draws parallels between Anima and the male subconscious, the image of the femme fatale, erotic desires , dreams of maternal love and warmth. Her image can be insidious, negative and cruel. The “Evolution of Anima” according to Jung includes: The stages of Eve (instinctive and biological connections). Helen of Faust (romantic and aesthetic impulses). The Virgin Mary (Eros, reaching a level of spiritual unity). Sapientia, Shulamith (Highest wisdom, purity, holiness). Men often tend to project their Anima onto women, which is the cause of strange inexplicable love and other violent emotions. The positive meaning of Anima is that, appearing in dreams or with active imagination, it indicates the path of spiritual development, acts as a guide in the world of the unconscious. The man inside: Animus Similarly, the animus in women can be sadistic and cruel, or positive, emotionally warm. In many ways, the coloring of the Animus is determined by the woman’s relationship with her father, just as in men the image of the Anima depends on the relationship with the mother. Stages of development of the Animus according to Von Franz: Physical strength. The ability to plan and initiative. The word is the comprehension of abstract philosophical ideas. Meaning. As a true follower of several patriarchal Jung, Von Franz attributes to the Animus a compensatory character that complements the supposedly excessive softness of the female psyche. The task of both men and women at this stage of individuation is, first of all, the liberation of the “opposite sex” from their projections. It manifests itself in the fact that, for example, a woman ceases to attribute her own unconscious qualities to men in general and vice versa. Self: symbols of wholenessAfter successfully overcoming the previous stages of individuation, in the process of therapy, symbols of the Self, the deepest core of the psyche, begin to appear in dreams and in active imagination sessions. Von Franz gives examples of gurus, elders, sorceresses and other powerful mystical characters, as well as symbols such as quaternity, circle,.