How to Know What Archetype You Embody
Recently, we explored the big idea in which I asked you what myth are you living. If you’re still ruminating on this, here’s another tool that might help you drill into it: archetypes.
The concept of archetype is something Carl Jung spent a tremendous amount of time exploring and is so rich! Caroline Myss has built on Jung’s work and expounded on how we can access and utilize archetypal energy to better understand ourselves and the world.
Recently, we explored the big idea in which I asked you what myth you are living. If you’re still ruminating on this, here’s another tool that might help you drill into it: archetypes.
The concept of archetype is something Carl Jung spent a tremendous amount of time exploring and is so rich! Caroline Myss has built on Jung’s work and expounded on how we can access and utilize archetypal energy to better understand ourselves and the world.
In fact, shortly after I finished reading her book, Sacred Contracts: Awakening Your Divine Potential, I wrote a blog about archetypes. If this is all new to you, that might be helpful. Access it here.
In this blog, I thought I’d offer a few ways you can tap into the archetypal energy that’s showing up most strongly in your life right now. The one(s) that are asking you to pay attention.
But first let’s define what an archetype is.
According to Webster’s dictionary, an archetype is, “ the original pattern or model of which all things of the same type are representations or copies : prototype.”
Examples of archetypes abound. One simple way to think about them is to imagine the major arcana cards in tarot. Many are archetypes. There is the: hermit, fool, magician, high priestess, empress, emperor, hierophant, lover(s), etc.
Archetypes are also every role you can think of including:
Mother/father
Child- orphaned child, magical child, wounded child…
Warrior
Rebel
Student
Teacher
Which one or ones are showing up in your life right now?
Which are supporting you? Are there any sabotaging you? Who is demanding attention?
See if you can feel into the energy in particular parts of your life. Perhaps you sense the archetype of emperor in your work sphere, or the feeling of judge in your world of relationships. Take a minute to get quiet and allow yourself to tap in. What wants to come to the fore?
Think about these archetypes as messengers as well as allies. They want to support you in feeling more successful and aligned. If you could hear them, what might they say?
How can you more fully embrace each of their energies?
If this feels overwhelming, allow yourself to breathe. Take an energetic step back and simply ask: How can I be most supported right now? What do I need to know?
All of this is designed to offer support. This is another tool to help you feel more aligned and clear. Use what works, leave everything else. There is no competition. We’re all in this together. As Ram Dass reminds us, “to walk each other home.”
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Image courtesy of Michel Albaev on Unsplash
Why Archetypes Matter & How to Use Them
Since I was a girl, I’ve been obsessed with myths and legends, the hero’s journey and the fight between good and evil.
When I got into college, I discovered Carl Jung and his work on both the collective unconscious and archetypes.
Don’t stop reading because this sounds too heady – I promise it isn’t.
Recently, I dove back into learning more about archetypes because I realized they play a huge roll in our lives. They influence us in seen and unseen ways and I wanted clarity about which ones were influencing me and how I could both recognize and harness them.
This inspired me to read Caroline Myss’ book, Sacred Contracts. In it, she shares that we all have 12 archetypes playing out in our lives. I think of them like guardians.
Since I was a girl, I’ve been obsessed with myths and legends, the hero’s journey and the fight between good and evil.
When I got into college, I discovered Carl Jung and his work on both the collective unconscious and archetypes.
Don’t stop reading because this sounds too heady – I promise it isn’t.
Recently, I dove back into learning more about archetypes because I realized they play a huge roll in our lives. They influence us in seen and unseen ways and I wanted clarity about which ones were influencing me and how I could both recognize and harness them.
This inspired me to read Caroline Myss’ book, Sacred Contracts. In it, she shares that we all have 12 archetypes playing out in our lives. I think of them like guardians.
One of the things she claims, is that we ALL share four. Meaning that out of the twelve we all have the exact same four, (the other eight could be any of a list of over a hundred.)
The four we all have are: the child, the victim, the prostitute and the saboteur.
Before I get carried away, let’s back up.
What exactly is an archetype?
An archetype can be thought of as a prototype, a model or the original on which others things are built or influenced.
Carl Jung popularized the concept of archetype in his book, The Structure of the Psyche. He describes archetypes as being universal models of people, ways of being/acting (personality). He believed that these archetypes inhabit our dreams and, what he called, the collective unconscious.
“Archetypes constitute the structure of the collective unconscious - they are psychic innate dispositions to experience and represent basic human behavior and situations. Thus mother-child relationship is governed by the mother archetype. Father-child - by the father archetype.” Carl-Jung.net
We all share this collective unconscious. Meaning that everyone, regardless of nationality, race, creed or ethnicity, tap into this universal energy and are influenced by the same archetypes.
Have you ever seen tarot cards?
Many of the symbols on them are archetypes. Think about: the king, queen, prince, princess, magician (sorcerer/wise woman), hermit, seeker (wanderer), lover, gambler, midas/miser, monk, mother, father, etc.
How do archetypes show up in your life?
What Jung, Tarot card readers and intuitive healers (like Caroline Myss) say, is that these guides influence our lives. They affect how we respond in situations and motivate us.
As Myss says, “Archetypes are your energy guides to your highest potential.”
This is why I wanted to understand them more.
Here’s a more detailed description of the four we all share:
1. Child
Of course we all share the child. Why? Because we’ve all been one. It’s part of the human experience. According to Myss, there are different ways the child can show up in us.
Wounded, abandoned, neglected, orphaned, dependent – How did what happened to you as a child still play a role in your life or scar you? Are you still needy or expecting to be taken care of?
Innocent / magical /nature / divine – This is the purity of the child. How they see that anything is possible and are open to the magic of the world. When you can tap into this, you tap into pure creativity.
Our journey to health and adulthood is to overcome dependence and wounded-ness and move to independence, openness and channeling that creativity.
Going beyond the wounded/abandoned child allows you to connect in a healthy way with your own innocence.
2. Victim
We all know what a victim is and have all felt like one in our lives. We feel like victims when we have no power or control.
As we emerge into adulthood, we can shed the victim by creating healthy boundaries and by asserting our own power.
We do this by standing up for ourselves, speaking our truth, living our passion, etc. How you see yourself and your relationship with the victim archetype, is, according to Myss, a dive into self esteem.
3. Prostitute
I love how Myss describes this. Don’t think about it how we normally define the word. Instead, explore it as where you compromise your values or sell out.
A really easy way to see this is to tune in to the American presidential primaries. What is a candidate willing to sacrifice (in terms of values or beliefs) for votes?
For the rest of us, the prostitute archetype comes into play when our basic survival is jeopardized. Makes sense, right?
The prostitute, according to Myss, is present to test our faith. For when we genuinely have faith, we are not for sale.
4. Saboteur
I cringed when I saw that I had this one. Ugh.
In the negative, it acts to disrupt plans, dreams, intentions. It is how we get in our own way. For me, it’s about sometimes flaking out and not finishing things.
How does it show up for you?
In the positive, the sabotuer can be the impetus, the drive to push us forward, to help us listen to our own intuition.
Ultimately, the saboteur helps us see how we experience change in our lives and our willingness to deal with it.
Myss’ book, Sacred Contracts, really opened my eyes to how these four work in my life. It also inspired me to dive in and determine what my other eight were and understand how they influence me.
I’m infinitely curious about life, how to live it and succeed. The more we bring into the light and move from the unconscious to the conscious, the more power we have to impact our lives positively and fulfill our deepest wishes and desires.
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And here are some great sources for you about archetypes: