Various mythological aspects of the anima
The anima can take on different forms and also corresponds to the life phases of the hero and the aspects of the great mother-deity (for this see Female Wholeness - the Goddess, White / Red / Black):
The anima as virgin, princess and her kingdom
Thus she appears as a light or dark maiden (like Lilith). Teasing and playful, she touches the heart of the young man as a princess (as in Der Eisenhans or Aladdin and the magic lamp) or seduces him to forget all wisdom and caution. In the story, the maiden inspires the noble knight George to good deeds throughout his life and thus leads him to wholeness.
The virgin princess is the high goal of the hero, because with the wedding he also wins a whole kingdom. This stands for kingship, that is, self-efficacy in one's own life. As the inner woman, the anima connects the man with his feminine personality parts, that is, with his soul (his feelings) and with the spirit (devoted love). Thus he attains wholeness and eternal life (symbolized by gold; see The Holy Wedding).
Serpent tongue as the evil advisor of the king
In negative form, however, the Anima appears, for example, as "Serpent's Tongue". As a scheming advisor he blocks and paralyzes "King Consciousness" by lies and puts him out of action by intrigues. (S. The Third Eye and the King's Treasure.)
Angry femininity and the inner woman as dragon or raging bull
If femininity is not integrated, it can take possession of people in power as a full-blown negativity in the form of a dragon snake or a raging bull, making them greedy for money and cruel. Thus, interestingly, the dragon was the symbol of the Emperor of China. Also the raging sky bull already plays a role in the Gilgamesh epic, further in myths (like the Greek Minotaur) or also in fairy tales and stories like "The last unicorn" (see The bull as a female symbol and the bull cult).
Positive femininity and security in the womb of mother nature
But strong, wise femininity also has its place in the lore, albeit often in a hidden form. On the one hand, it is always the old, wise woman who shows the hero or heroine the way (as in George the dragon slayer or in the Snow Queen). And as a fairy godmother (in Cinderella) or Frau Holle, they reward the heroine's devotion.
On the other hand, strong femininity also appears as an oracle that speaks in riddles and is understood only by that hero who is sincere of heart. These figures speak a wisdom that is one with the great mother as the deity of destiny and mistress of life and death.
Against the latter the egoistic ruler fights in vain and fails. But the true hero as the searching wanderer finds not least in the grandiosity of nature a new security and living fullness, as it corresponds to the womb of the great mother-deity.