Bull, Ox

The bull symbolizes primal masculine force and strength. It is associated with the earth—a "spirit of the earth," according to von Franz (Archetypal Dimensions, p. 162); a violent, fertile force with subterranean qualities often linked to sexuality. At the same time, the bull is associated with the sun and fertility, embodying both dark and light aspects within its symbolism.  

In dreams, the bull may represent overwhelming, impulsive forces, often with a mythological undertone.  

It is an archetypal theme that the bull must be conquered—the Minoan culture, Mithraism, modern bullfighting, and so on. It represents a primitive primal power that must be challenged and overcome, often sacrificed, to avoid identification with it and to sublimate this force.  

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