The Many Faces of the Feminine

Abstract

This article explores the basic nature of the feminine, beginning with a description of the feminine from many sources: ancient Chinese philosophy, Greek myth, Biblical sayings, contemporary psychology and dreams, and a Siberian fairy tale. The author also discusses a psychological analysis by Toni Wolff, a student and colleague of Jung, of four basic inborn types of feminine functioning, known as “mother,” “hetaira,” “amazon,” and “medial.” Then, an African story depicts a girl’s journey in the process of seeking her own feminine nature.