We all know and recognize certain archetypes, no matter where you are from or what your background is. Everybody in the world knows what a pirate, a thief, or a joker is.
Understanding archetypes and learning how to use archetypes for self development, can be a great tool to understand our psyche and to grow on a deeper level.
Luckily, I found an amazingly fun way to do this, and I can’t wait to share it with you here! ๐คฉ
What Are Archetypes?
An archetype is a pattern of behavior within people that is universally recognized by everyone.
Regardless of someone’s place of birth, the culture they grew up in, their upbringing, or their education, every person alive is able to understand and recognize an archetype.
For example, everybody inherently knows what the behavior of a good mother is. If a person sees a mother hitting a child, they will never feel as if that is the right thing to do.
Everybody inherently recognizes when someone acts like a victim, an energy vampire or a saboteur. Often we instantly recognize this in others, but are blind to see it in ourselves.
These archetypes are universal patterns that reside in the collective unconscious. They are innate understandings that apply for all people that subconsciously drive our actions and behaviors.
Why You Want To Know Your Archetypes
There are certain archetypes that live in everyone, and there are certain archetypes that are specific to your story, and that donยดt play the same role in the lives of others.
Either way, we ALL have a combination of many archetypes that make up our psyche. No one is just one person all the time, everybody wears a different mask in a different situation.
By finding the combination of archetypes that rule your persona, and by understanding them, you can become more aware of your own personal patterns and challenges in life.
Archetypes have a positive (light) side and a negative (shadow) side to them. They are never only good or bad, so by becoming aware of them, we can use them for personal growth and to live a more empowered life.
You will also be able to recognize the archetypes in other people more easily, and have a better understanding of their struggles and motives. This way you can better decide how to deal with it from a place of personal empowerment.
Which Archetype System To Use?
I absolutely LOVE these Archetype Cards created by Caroline Myss. Using these cards to learn about archetypes and your own personality is a really fun way to go about it.
The cards come with a detailed guidebook in which Caroline explains that there are 4 archetypes that are inherent to every single person in the world.
On top of these 4 archetypes, we all have about 8 other archetypes that make up our person. So in total we all have 12 archetypes that we need to focus on working with on a personal level.
If you want to become aware of how you are sabotaging your own life, how to remove blocks and empower yourself, this is a great way to do that!
Really, go get this deck and go get to know yourself. If that isn’t self love, I don’t know what is! ๐ค
How To Use Archetypes For Self Development And Growth
To get acquainted with archetypes, let’s have a look at the 4 archetypes that everybody has (see below), and ask the suggested questions to understand how these play a role in your life.
If you want to find all 12 archetypes that make up your life, get the cards, sit with each one of them, and set aside the ones that feel inherent to your life. Be brutally honest..!
Once you selected 12 of them, you sit with each one for a while and dive deeper to fully understand how they are affecting your life (you can find the instructions in the guidebook that comes with the cards).
I did this, and it really helped me see some things about myself that I wasn’t aware of before! ๐ค
The deck contains 74 (!) archetypes and has some empty cards so you can create your own. Of course I’m not going to discuss the whole deck here, but let’s have a look at the 4 archetypes that everybody has, and 3 other ones that are common to most people.
Let’s also think of some questions that you can ask to understand how this archetype is impacting your life.
Some Questions To Ask Each Archetype
Have a look at the archetypes below, and ask yourself these questions about each one of them:
- What role has this archetype played in my life?
- How does this archetype play a role in my life today?
- Does this archetype empower or disempower me? How?
- How long has this archetype played a role in my life?
- What is this archetype trying to protect?
The 4 Archetypes That Everybody Has
These are the 4 archetypes that everybody has:
1. The Saboteur
The Saboteur archetype lives in all of us. We all sabotage ourselves in some way or another. This hard to admit for many of us, because we donยดt like to think this of ourselves, but once you actually are willing to see it, you are really ready to make the change you need and learn to fully empower yourself on a soul level.
These are the light and shadow attribute of the Saboteur as you see on the card:
Light attribute: “Highlights your fear of self-empowerment and the changes it would bring to your life.”
Shadow attribute: “Induces self-destructive behavior or the desire to undermine others.”
๐ Ask yourself the questions above, and also think about what fear has the most control over you, and what you do when that fear sets in.
Watch this video for more about this archetype.
2. The Prostitute
Also, the archetype of the Prostitute lives in all of us. This may also be something you instantly reject, but think about it. Have you ever given your time and energy away to people or an organization that you didn’t really believe in?
These are the light and shadow attribute of the Prostitue as you see on the card:
Light attribute: “Accentuates the challenge of surviving without negotiating the power of your spirit.”
Shadow attribute: “Places material considerations and security above self-empowerment.“
Because we all need to support ourselves in the physical world, it is no wonder that we all have a tendency to chase a sense of security (financial, possessions, acceptance from others), which can cost us a part of ourselves.
๐ Think about the questions above and ask yourself how you have sold out your mind or soul for a sense of material security in life.
3. The Victim
Another common archetype we all know very well is the Victim. We all know someone who played or plays the victim, and we all have done it ourselves.
These are the light and shadow attribute of the Victim as you see on the card:
Light attribute: “Prevents you from letting yourself be victimized, or victimizing others.”
Shadow attribute: “Playing the victim for positive feedback in the form of pity. Inability to maintain personal boundaries.“
๐ Ask yourself the questions above and think about how you blame others or external circumstances for the problems in your life.
Watch this video for more about this archetype.
4. The Inner Child
Everybody has an inner child that is hurt in some way. The deck actually contains several different versions of the inner child: wounded, divine, eternal, magic, nature, orphan. Everyone has one of these versions in them.
Each type of inner child has a light and a shadow attribute. For example, the wounded inner child attributes as you see on the card:
Light attribute: “Awakens compassion and desire to serve other wounded children. Opens the learning path of forgiveness.”
Shadow attribute: “Blames all dysfunctional relationships on childhood wounds. Resists moving on through forgiveness.”
If there is a habit of blaming dysfunctional relationships on your childhood, this is the inner child that belongs to you.
๐ If this is not your inner child archetype, ask the questions above about your ‘hurt inner child’.
Some Other Common Archetypes
The Rebel
Everybody has a rebel in them, to some extend (even thought this is not equally strong for everybody).
These are the light and shadow attribute of the Rebel as you see on the card:
Light attribute: “Challenges authority to effect social change. Rejects spiritual systems that do not serve inner needs.”
Shadow attribute: “Rejects legitimate authority out of anger. Rebels out of peer pressure or fashion.”
In a way we all need to rebel at some point(s) in our lives, for example when we become adolescents. How does the Rebel show up in your life? How does it serve you?
The Judge
The Judge is another archetype that everybody has some tendencies of, even when it does not belong to your 12 main archetypes, everybody judges other people constantly on a subconscious level.
These are the light and shadow attribute of the Judge as you see on the card:
Light attribute: “Balancing justice and compassion. Managing the fair distribution of power.”
Shadow attribute: “Offering only destructive criticism. Misusing business, legal, or criminal authority.”
How does your need for justice play a role in your life? Is your criticism of others constructive or destructive? Do you have a tendency to create a value system through judgement? How compassionate are you toward others?
The Vampire
The Vampire archetype is actually a common archetype in many relationships. It creates a power dynamic between two people where one takes and the other gives energy, both for their own survival.
These are the light and shadow attribute of the Vampire as you see on the card:
Light attribute: “Makes you aware that someone or something is draining your life force.”
Shadow attribute: “Depleting others for your psychic survival. Chronic complaining and co-dependency.”
Think about where you have held on to relationships that were not serving your own personal empowerment, or how you have used relationships to get some form of validation.
Final Thoughts
Although there is a lot more to these archetypes and how we can work with them, this is a good starting point to get to know more about them.
If you are ready to dive in further and find which 12 archetypes are ruling your life, get the deck and dive right in. You will not regret it!
I am curious to hear about your experience with these archetypes and how they are helping you. Let me know in the comments, if you are willing to share!
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