Archetypes:

“It is often believed that the term ‘archetype’ refers to definite mythological images or motifs. But these are nothing more than conscious representations: it would be absurd to suppose that such variable representations could be inherited.
The archetype lies in the tendency to represent such motifs to us, a representation which may vary considerably in detail, without losing its fundamental pattern.” C.G. Jung, (1964), Man and His Symbols (pp.67), Robert Laffont.

The encounter with the shadow :

For C.G. Jung, the shadow is a part of the psyche formed by the individual part that does not know itself, and whose very existence is often ignored. The shadow often manifests itself in the form of judgments, rejections, fears or projections, and is the basis of social and moral prejudices. Yet they are rich in potential if we learn to unite and pacify aspects of ourselves that seem contradictory. According to Jung “the shadow is something inferior, primitive, maladaptive and unfortunate, but not absolutely evil.” (Jung)

“Unfortunately, there is no doubt that man is, in general, less good than he imagines or wishes to be. Everyone has a shadow, and the more it is repressed from the conscious life of the individual, the darker and denser it is. In any case, it is one of our worst obstacles in that it thwarts our best intentions.” (Jung)

The meeting with the sexual archetype (Anima and animus):

This encounter consists for the man in meeting the unconscious feminine part of his psyche (anima) and for the woman her masculine part (animus).

The anima is feminine; it is only a formation of the male psyche and it is a figure that compensates the male conscious.

The animus is something like an assembly of fathers or other bearers of authority, who hold conciliations and make unassailable “reasonable” judgments ex cathedra.

“The perception of the archetype passes by mutations which will go by four stages: for the man, of the woman-animal until the incarnation of the wisdom; for the woman, of the vital and athletic man to the philosopher” (Winckler, L & Touret, M-F)