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Kerykeion

Anima Animus Spread #

Introduction #

Carl Jung described the Anima as the feminine aspect within the masculine psyche, and the Animus as the masculine aspect within the feminine psyche. Beyond gender, these terms describe the complementary energies that exist within every person: receptive and active, intuitive and rational, relational and autonomous.

When these inner opposites are balanced and integrated, we access our full potential. When one dominates or is repressed, we become lopsided, often projecting the undeveloped aspect onto others and wondering why we’re drawn to or triggered by certain people.

This spread explores both your inner masculine and inner feminine, seeking balance and integration of these archetypal forces.

The Layout #

Inner Feminine
1 Current State
2 Gift
Inner Masculine
3 Current State
4 Gift
5 Integration
6 Wholeness

Drawing order: Feminine State (1), Feminine Gift (2), Masculine State (3), Masculine Gift (4), Integration (5), Wholeness (6)

The Positions #

Position 1: Inner Feminine - Current State #

What it represents: The current condition of your inner feminine—your receptive, intuitive, relational, nurturing aspect.

This card answers: What is the current state of my inner feminine?

Reading this position:

  • This shows how this energy is functioning in you now
  • It may be strong, wounded, repressed, or developing
  • Look honestly at what the card reveals

Position 2: Inner Feminine - Gift #

What it represents: What your inner feminine offers you when healthy and integrated. Its potential contribution.

This card answers: What gift does my inner feminine bring?

Reading this position:

  • These gifts are available when this energy is cultivated
  • They may be currently inaccessible if the state (Card 1) is challenged
  • This shows what to work toward

Position 3: Inner Masculine - Current State #

What it represents: The current condition of your inner masculine—your active, rational, protective, achieving aspect.

This card answers: What is the current state of my inner masculine?

Reading this position:

  • How is this energy functioning now?
  • Is it overactive, repressed, wounded, or healthy?
  • Compare to Card 1 to see the current balance

Position 4: Inner Masculine - Gift #

What it represents: What your inner masculine offers you when healthy and integrated.

This card answers: What gift does my inner masculine bring?

Reading this position:

  • These are the healthy masculine contributions
  • Balance Card 2’s gifts to see the full picture
  • Both sets of gifts are needed for wholeness

Position 5: The Path of Integration #

What it represents: How to bring these two aspects into balanced relationship. The practice or approach that unifies.

This card answers: How can I integrate my inner masculine and feminine?

Reading this position:

  • Integration isn’t eliminating difference but honoring both
  • This shows the approach, practice, or attitude needed
  • The integration path is your immediate work

Position 6: Wholeness #

What it represents: What becomes possible when these energies are balanced and integrated. The wholeness you’re moving toward.

This card answers: What wholeness becomes available through this integration?

Reading this position:

  • This is the goal and motivation
  • Wholeness includes both energies in harmony
  • This card shows who you’re becoming

Understanding the Archetypes #

Qualities of the Inner Feminine #

  • Receptivity and intuition
  • Nurturing and care
  • Emotional wisdom
  • Creativity and flow
  • Connection and relationship
  • Surrender and acceptance
  • Being rather than doing

Qualities of the Inner Masculine #

  • Action and assertion
  • Protection and provision
  • Rational analysis
  • Goal orientation
  • Boundaries and structure
  • Doing and achieving
  • Focus and direction

Important Note #

These are archetypal patterns, not gender prescriptions. Every person contains both energies. The goal is balance appropriate to who you are, not conforming to external expectations.

Working With This Spread #

When to Use It #

  • Feeling imbalanced: Too much of one energy, not enough of the other
  • Relationship patterns: Projecting onto partners what lives within you
  • Personal development: Working on wholeness and integration
  • Creative blocks: When flow and structure need balancing
  • Before major projects: To engage both energies consciously

Sample Reading #

Cards Drawn:

  • Feminine State: Eight of Swords
  • Feminine Gift: The High Priestess
  • Masculine State: Knight of Wands
  • Masculine Gift: The Emperor
  • Integration: Temperance
  • Wholeness: The World

Reading:

Inner Feminine (Eight of Swords): Your inner feminine currently feels trapped, bound, unable to see clearly. The receptive, intuitive self is imprisoned—perhaps by beliefs, fears, or neglect. She can’t move freely.

Feminine Gift (High Priestess): When free, your inner feminine offers profound intuition, mystery, access to the unconscious, and deep knowing. She holds the secrets.

Inner Masculine (Knight of Wands): Your inner masculine is very active—perhaps overactive. There’s drive, passion, and movement, but possibly without direction or consideration for what the feminine knows.

Masculine Gift (Emperor): When balanced, your masculine offers structure, authority, the ability to manifest and rule. He can build empires.

Integration (Temperance): The path of integration requires patient balancing—pouring between vessels, finding the middle way. Neither freeing the feminine by killing the masculine nor taming the masculine by freeing the feminine, but the slow, alchemical blend of both.

Wholeness (The World): What awaits is complete integration—the dancer who holds all elements, the achievement of individuation. The World shows what’s possible when masculine and feminine work in perfect harmony.

Synthesis: Your feminine is trapped (Eight of Swords) while your masculine runs wild (Knight of Wands). Both have magnificent gifts (High Priestess and Emperor), but you need Temperance—patient, deliberate balancing—to access them. The reward is nothing less than wholeness (The World).

Integration Practices #

For cultivating feminine energy:

  • Receptive meditation (being, not doing)
  • Time in nature without agenda
  • Creative flow activities
  • Journaling emotions
  • Honoring intuition, even when irrational

For cultivating masculine energy:

  • Setting and achieving goals
  • Physical exercise and challenges
  • Learning structured disciplines
  • Making clear decisions
  • Protecting boundaries

For integration:

  • Activities that blend both (like martial arts, which require force and flow)
  • Consciously alternating between active and receptive periods
  • Noticing when you favor one and intentionally engaging the other
  • Inner dialogue between these aspects

Affirmation #

I honor both the masculine and feminine within me. I cultivate receptivity and action in balance. I receive the gifts both aspects offer. I walk the path of integration toward wholeness.

The sacred marriage—the union of opposites within—is one of the deepest goals of psychological development. This spread illuminates where you stand in that inner marriage and lights the path toward the union that makes you whole.

You contain multitudes. May they dance together.