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In the aftermath of my experience I was very surprised to discover that some people try to actively cultivate such experiences. "Whoa! That's crazy!" I thought to myself.

All spiritual traditions emphasize the need to have a guide during such a process. Within a therapeutic context, the therapist serves as guide. Within a spiritual tradition, a guru, elder, or spiritual teacher typically serves as guide. For me, my guide (and therapist) was my animus.

See also: [*] The Major Archetypes: Mentor[*] Archetypes and the Individuation Process