Mystical Unions: How Men Perceive the Lover and the Eternal Wife

What is a mystical union? Is it a union with the divine, with nature, or with one’s own self? Is it a spiritual experience? A psychological phenomenon? A cultural construct? And how do mystical unions play out differently for men? We often focus only on women’s mystical experiences. But, men also engage with the mystical and the numinous. The masculine adds a different flavour to these, intimate, transcendent encounters. Some men see the divine feminine as their lover. Others view the eternal, unchanging wife as the vessel for their devotion. Let’s explore how these archetypes show up in the minds and souls of spiritual men.

What is a Mystical Union?

The union with the divine is a transcendent experience. It goes beyond ordinary consciousness and heightens awareness. It could be a union with God, beyond earthly marriage. Or, it might be a communion with nature that dissolves the self.

It could also be a deep connection with another person. It’s often described as a feeling of oneness, completion, or transcendence. Carl Jung introduced the anima and animus. These are the female and male archetypes found in everyone. The divine feminine or divine masculine so to speak.

Religious and spiritual traditions often use marriage to symbolize mystical union. The language used echoes that of human love and intimacy, as the soul is said to “marry” God or the divine.

The Lover vs. The Eternal Wife

The Lover

For some men, the divine feminine is a passionate lover. It is the Goddess, the Virgin Mary, the sacred feminine. The divine feminine as lover has ancient roots.

Often associated with passion, desire, and the excitement of the unknown. We often see her as the femme fatale. She’s an alluring, dangerous muse who intoxicates the male seeker.

This lover-figure represents the wild, untamed aspects of the feminine. She is the ever-changing, mercurial goddess who cannot be tamed or possessed.

She is the catalyst for change. And she leads the man on a journey of self-discovery and spiritual awakening. The encounter with the lover can be both thrilling and freeing. But, it can also be hard and disruptive.

She shakes his core, making him face his shadow self and accept the unknown. This archetype appears in figures like Aphrodite and Lilith. Aphrodite is the Greek goddess of love and beauty. Lilith is Adam’s rebellious first wife in Jewish folklore.

These figures embody the seductive power of the feminine. They challenge the man to embrace the full range of human experience. The lover is not just a figure of passion, however. She is also a teacher, a guide, and a muse. She inspires the man to reach his potential and live a more meaningful life.

The Eternal Wife

The eternal wife symbolizes the steady, caring side of femininity. She is the devoted companion, the mother goddess, the source of comfort and security. She embodies the sacred marriage, a union of souls that transcends the physical realm.

The eternal wife offers a sense of belonging. It is a home of deep acceptance and love. She is the anchor in the storm, the steady presence that provides solace and support.

This archetype appears in figures like Hera and Mary. Hera is the queen of the gods in Greek mythology. Mary is the mother of Jesus in Christianity. These figures show the enduring power of feminine love and friendship. They provide stability in a chaotic, unpredictable world.

The eternal wife is not a static figure, however. She is a dynamic force. She evolves with her partner. And she offers endless love and inspiration. She embodies the feminine principle. She is the source of life and creativity. And she is the foundation of a meaningful existence.

Male Perceptions of the Divine Feminine

Men’s views and interactions with the divine feminine reveal much. It shows their growth. It depends on if they see her as a lover or an eternal wife.

For some men, meeting the divine feminine can spark great change and growth. The lover-figure can challenge them. It helps them confront their fears, accept uncertainty, and live more truly and passionately.

For others, the eternal wife may offer a sense of security and belonging, a safe haven in a turbulent world.

The mystical union with the divine feminine shows a man’s inner journey. It shows his quest for meaning. It also shows his effort to merge his mind’s masculine and feminine sides.

Psychological Factors

Psychological dynamics, like the Oedipal complex, complicate male views of these feminine figures. They include a search for the mother and the projection of anima/animus archetypes.

The Oedipal complex can shape a man’s desire for a partner. He wants someone who has his mother’s nurturing and the Lover’s passion.

Personal Experiences

Men’s views of the Lover and the Eternal Wife come from their experiences and relationships. A man’s past relationships can greatly shape his hopes for future ones. This is especially true of important women, like mothers, sisters, or ex-partners.

Positive experiences with nurturing women might reinforce the ideal of the Eternal Wife. In contrast, encounters with passionate, independent women might increase the Lover’s allure.

Negative experiences, like betrayal or abandonment, can shape perceptions. They can cause mistrust or a fear of intimacy. In the end, each man’s journey shapes his view of these archetypes and their effects on his life.

Mythological Figures

• Zeus and Hera: This Greek mythological couple shows the complexities of marriage. It highlights the struggle to balance passion with commitment. Zeus, famous for his many affairs, is the Lover. His jealous, vengeful wife, Hera, is the Eternal Wife. This shows the tension between desire and stability in long-term relationships.
• Hades and Persephone: This myth explores the themes of love, loss, and transformation. Hades, the god of the underworld, is a dark, mysterious man. Persephone, the goddess of spring, embodies life’s cycle of life and death. Their story shows love’s power. It accepts both light and shadow in a relationship.
• Psyche and Eros: This myth shows that trust and vulnerability are key in a relationship. It also highlights the need to embrace one’s darker self. Psyche’s journey shows the trials of self-discovery. It also shows love’s triumph over fear. Eros, the god of love, is the power of passion. It can heal and make us whole through deep connections.

Literary Characters

• Romeo and Juliet: This classic tale shows the highs and lows of idealized love. Romeo’s infatuation with Juliet shows the allure of the Lover. Their tragic fate warns of the dangers of unchecked passion and societal pressures. They can undermine true love.
• Jay Gatsby and Daisy Buchanan: This story shows how obsession and a false ideal of love can destroy. Gatsby sees Daisy as the perfect lover, someone he can’t truly have. Daisy can’t return his love, showing the limits of his romantic dreams.

Conclusion

The Lover and the Eternal Wife are two feminine archetypes. They have captivated the human imagination for centuries. These archetypes embody opposing but complementary aspects of feminine energy. They reflect the complex nature of love, relationships, and the human mind.

Men’s views of these archetypes come from cultural, psychological, and personal factors. This shapes their understanding of women, and their desires and expectations in relationships.