This birth represents the seperation of the masculine and feminine aspects of the psyche. This birth creates an unequal trinity of two masculine beings and one feminine being. A fourth aspect or second feminine being is needed in order to create a balanced self (Jung).
This fourth aspect or second feminine being emerges as the cow giant, Auohumla. Auohumla takes on another role as well. She symbolizes the great mother archetype (Andrews). She is the symbol of this archetype because she is nurturing and brings forth life. She also provides sustinence for the psyche. The great mother archetype creates balance in another way also. The nurturing nature of the great mother archetype creates a balance with the dark nature of the shadow. Therefore this balance makes the two archetypes equal (Jung).
Auohumla eats the ice of Ginnungagap and reveals a man hidden deep inside the ice. The man's name is Buri the Strong (Adam-Leeming). Buri is the symbol of the innerself (Kirk). The innerself is the part of the psyche that remains hidden from the rest of the world. The ice that Buri is hidden in represents the persona (Kirk). The persona is the part of the psyche that the "outside world" is allowed to see. The persona protects the innerself from the outside world just as the ice protects Buri.
Buri the strong has a son named Bor. Bor is married to Bestla. Bor and Bestla have three sons Odin, Villi, and Ve. Bor and Bestla represent the combination of the innerself and the persona. When the innerself and the persona combine the ego is formed. The ego or self identity is formed from two things, what people think about you and what you think about yourself. Odin, Villi, and Ve represent the ego.
With this final birth the mandala is complete. In the mandala we find: the shadow archetype, the four balanced aspects of the psyche, the great mother archetype, the persona, the innerself, and finally the ego. All of these apsects are in balance and are essential for the development of the self. |
