Intro to Archetypes

The word archetype can refer to the typical or perfect example of something or to the original prototype of something from which all later examples of that thing were copied or modeled. It can also refer to a primordial image, symbol, motif, character, or pattern that appears over and over in literature, art, and mythology.

Swiss psychoanalyst Carl Jung is largely considered to be the person who conceptualized and defined archetypes as patterns that unite humanity across time and culture, patterns that begin in the unconscious and then express more externally in behaviors, beliefs, and choices. About archetypes, Jung said, “The primordial image, or archetype, is a figure—be it a daemon, a human being, or a process—that constantly recurs in the course of history and appears wherever creative fantasy is freely expressed. Essentially, therefore, it is a mythological figure…In each of these images there is a little piece of human psychology and human fate, a remnant of the joys and sorrows that have been repeated countless times in our ancestral history…”

The 4 main Jungian archetypes are:

• The Persona: the “masks” we wear in a social context
• The Shadow: the aspects of our personality and behavior that we repress or deny–whether consciously or unconsciously
• The Anima or The Animus: femininity in a male’s psyche or masculinity in a female’s psyche, respectively
• The Self: the core of who you are

Those archetypes can be further broken down into the following archetypal figures:

• Ruler
• Creator/artist
• Sage
• Innocent
• Explorer
• Rebel
• Hero
• Wizard
• Jester
• Everyman
• Lover
• Caregiver

There are archetypes that show up in the mythologies and fables of every culture, including those of ancient Greece and Rome. The archetypes in astrology are largely based on characters and symbols from Greek and Roman mythology, but have roots in the archetypes that underlie all mythologies. 

Some feminine archetypal figures from astrology who are a significant part of my work include:

• Pallas: who I refer to as your inner Wise Warrior
• Juno: who I refer to as your inner Queen or Sacred Wife
• Ceres: who I refer to as your inner Lady of Seasons
• Vesta: who I refer to as your inner Sacred Servant

Archetypes (and gaining an understanding of how they’re functioning within yourself or other people) can be incredibly helpful tools for emotional healing and personal progression, as well as for improved communication and connection. The wisdom held within archetypes lives in the collective unconscious of humanity as well as in your personal subconscious. The body is a wonderful bridge for bringing that wisdom into your conscious awareness for your intentional use, which is why I love incorporating somatics into my work with archetypes.

There is wisdom held in the body that transcends words, but still connects with archetypal energies. In fact, archetypes in their most raw, unfiltered form exist beyond labeling and language, though we use words and labels to help us make sense of and communicate about archetypes with each other.

Through light and shadow,

Kayelee