Archetypes of Transformation
I was first introduced to the concept of archetypes through the work of Jungian analyst Robert Moore who, along with poet Douglas Gillette, wrote the book that became a bible of the mythopoetic men’s movement in the 1990s: King, Warrior, Magician, Lover: Rediscovering the Archetypes of the Mature Masculine.
When I first read KWML (as it’s affectionately known in transformational circles), I was in my early 20s and just starting to try and figure myself out. I remember being intrigued by the ideas presented in the book but it lost me as it got into somewhat complex models of the male psyche. For every archetype, there are mature and immature expressions as well as passive and active expressions. Back then it was all a bit over my head, but it definitely planted a seed of interest.
What I needed was more lived experience to draw on in order to see how these archetypes were functioning (or dysfunctioning) in me as I pursued my first stage of life tasks: building a career, entering into marriage, and eventually coming to midlife crisis in my 30s. When I revisited the work at this point it really connected. It gave me a rich and detailed map of my inner world and helped me develop a model for what a healthy and balanced psyche might look and feel like.
The Archetypal Revival
There seems to be a resurgence of interest in the work of Carl Jung in the popular culture these days. Just search for “Jung” or “archetype” on YouTube and you’ll be presented with hundreds of videos that each have thousands of views. As with anything that gets taken up by pop culture, some of Jung’s ideas have been watered down or misconstrued. The concept of the archetype is no different. Much of what you’ll come across on the internet and social media is an oversimplified idea of what the archetypes are and how they function.
So what is an archetype?
Trying to give a simple definition of archetype is (like any non-tangible, invisible, psycho-spiritual concept) a tricky thing. In KWML Moore and Gillette offer as good a description as I’ve seen.
(Note: I’ve removed the masculine pronouns, which simply reflect KWML’s focus on the male psyche)
“...deep within every [person] are blueprints, what we can also call “hard wiring,” [...] Jungians refer to these [...] potentials as archetypes, or “primordial images.”
Jung and his successors have found that on the level of the deep unconscious the psyche of every person is grounded in what Jung called the “collective unconscious,” made up of instinctual patterns and energy configurations probably inherited genetically throughout the generations of our species. These archetypes provide the very foundations of our behaviors — our thinking, our feeling, and our characteristic human reactions. They are the image makers that artists and poets and religious prophets are so close to. Jung related them directly to the instincts in other animals.”
— Robert Moore, King, Warrior, Magician, Lover
Another way to think of the archetypes is that they are embodied in us humans as modes of being and expressed in culture as images, symbols and myths.
Too often I see a confusion between symbols or images and the archetypes they represent. For example, I’ve seen a lot of references to “The Gandalf Archetype”. The Lord of the Rings books and movies are rich with archetypal images and motifs (such as The Hero’s Journey), but no one character is in itself an archetype. Remember, the archetype is the instinctual pattern and energy configuration behind the behaviour, image, symbol or myth. Gandalf represents a human male who is highly developed psychologically and spiritually and thus able to access a full range of powers.
Using the framework of KWML as a model, we can easily identify times where Gandalf is in his Warrior mode, Magician mode, Lover mode or King mode in his righteous leadership of the fellowship (K), his battles with the forces of evil (W), his ability to conjure and communicate with nature (M), his playfulness and appreciation of beauty (L) at various points throughout the LotR series.
A mature, healthy and balanced individual will have access to a full range of potentials and be able to channel them appropriately according to the task or situation.
A mature, healthy and balanced individual will have access to a full range of potentials and be able to channel them appropriately according to the task or situation. If anything, Gandalf is an image of the archetype of wholeness, compassion, strength and wisdom that arises in other cultures as Shiva, Christ or Buddha, and is related to the Senex or Old Wise One archetype that Jung associated with the Self.
“If an individual has wrestled seriously enough and long enough with the anima (or animus) problem...the unconscious again changes its dominant character and appears in a new symbolic form...as a masculine initiator and guardian (an Indian guru), a wise old man, a spirit of nature, and so forth.”
— Marie-Louise Von Franz
The archetypes themselves are universal potentials, without shape or colour. It’s the individual experience, culture and era they emerge within that gives them different forms. I believe it was Jungian analyst Kenneth James who said, archetype is more of a verb than a noun, meaning, the archetypes aren’t things, they are forces that direct and influence the way we are, the stories we tell and the art we make.
Four Archetypes of Transformation
As you can tell, archetypes don’t lend themselves to a quick and easy definition, but once you grasp the concept you can begin to see how all of us have different potentials within that we’re able to access and channel to a greater or lesser degree. The mission of our journey toward healing and wholeness (if you choose to accept!) is to identify which potentials are lying dormant and untapped, which ones are working for us, and which ones are working against us.
In my own life and in my work with hundreds of others, I’ve found that there are four primary archetypes that need to be consciously worked with in order to find and maintain balance and integrity on the transformational journey. They are the Warrior, Healer, Visionary and Old Wise One.
We could call them Archetypes of Transformation.
In this article I want to offer a brief overview of each archetype and the qualities they help us embody, but keep in mind that no such list can come close to expressing the fullness of these vast and mysterious forces. I merely hope to give you a sense of each energy configuration and offer suggestions of how you can begin to access them in a healthy, creative way according to your unique situation and life path.
To give you some real life context, I’ve provided examples from my own journey to illustrate how the archetypes can support your personal healing and transformation. I’ve also asked my wife Debbie Stapleton to provide some astrological insights that might help you recognize which potentials will be easy for you to access and which ones might be more difficult, depending on your horoscope.
THE WARRIOR
We call on our Inner Warrior any time we need to mobilize and get things done. The Warrior is a useful ally in serving our higher purpose in life, enforcing healthy boundaries, standing up for a cause, and protecting the vulnerable.
We can cultivate a healthy Inner Warrior by being disciplined with our lifestyle, practicing martial arts, learning to express anger in a productive way and showing up to do our work in the world.
The Warrior is an archetype that is revered in our culture and often held up as THE archetype for young men to model themselves after, but unless the Warrior is balanced by other archetypal energies it can easily turn destructive as we can see in the violence perpetuated in families and nations. For the Warrior to be a creative and generative power, it needs to be in service to higher values such as truth, justice, harmony and equality.
Positive Qualities: strength, vitality, courage, assertiveness, confidence, motivation
Shadow Qualities: insecurity, easy to anger, seeks out conflict, rage issues, passive-aggressive, violent, obsession
Practices: standing postures, sun salutations, martial arts, vigorous exercise
Astrological Insight on The Warrior
Mars as a planetary archetype is the warrior. The zodiac signs Aries and Scorpio are ruled by Mars, so those born with these Sun signs tend to access Mars’ raw archetypal energies readily, and easily. Those born under the Venusian signs Libra and Taurus are in polarity with Aries and Scorpio, so they may have to work on connecting to Mars’ potent, martial qualities.
Personal Reflection on The Warrior
When I began a daily yoga practice I really had to bring my Inner Warrior online to combat the lethargy I often felt in the mornings. For the first year or so I practiced a very strong and intense style of yoga that definitely helped awaken my Inner Warrior, but soon led to burnout and physical injuries. My practice got me so fired up that I frequently experienced intense headaches, irritability and a short temper. Not exactly the qualities I wanted to cultivate through yoga! I learned through hardship that I need to channel that energy in a healthier way.
Another example of the Warrior in action:
Being more inclined toward introversion and conflict-aversion, I really have to bring my Inner Warrior online in order for me to do the public work I do. Part of me would much prefer to stay at home, keep my head down and quietly do my thing in order to avoid any conflict or criticism. But a big part of my purpose is to use my talent and skills to share what’s helped me with others, calling me to step up, show up, and take risks in order to do the work I feel I’m meant to do.
THE HEALER
Our Inner Healer connects us to the regenerative power of Nature. It’s the part of us that seeks justice, equality, reciprocity and fairness but we also need our Inner Healer to stay healthy and balanced as we pursue those worthy goals. Awakening the Inner Healer gives us the capacity to care for ourselves so that we can better care for others.
When our Inner Healer is out of balance we are prone to burnout, exhaustion and a tendency to think (unconsciously) that if we fix things “out there” it will fix things “in here.” To cultivate a healthy relationship to the Inner Healer we need to be vigilant about self care, aware of our boundaries and limitations, and conscious of our shadow projections. A healthy Inner Healer works toward balance of the opposites within and without, giving and receiving, action and relaxation, work and play etc.
Positive Aspects: empathy, compassion, caring, appreciation, playful
Shadow Aspects: addiction, burnout, prone to martyr complex, “the fixer” type
Practices: restorative yoga postures, pranayama, singing, nature walks
Astrological Insight on The Healer
Venus as a planetary archetype is the lover and healer. Venus rules Libra and Taurus, so those born with these Sun signs tend to access Venus’ soothing archetypal energies with ease. Those born under Mars’ signs Aries and Scorpio are in polarity to Libra and Taurus, so they may have to work consciously to access Venus’ harmonious qualities.
Personal Reflection on The Healer
In what I shared about the Inner Warrior you can probably already see how we need access to a range of archetypes in order to stay healthy. When I became obsessive in my yoga practice I needed to connect to my Inner Healer to restore balance.
As I started to pay more attention to self-nurturing and self-care I was better able to do the work I do, which is based on caring for and supporting others. It would be ironic if I ignored my own wellbeing while coaching others on theirs, but sadly it’s a common story. So many people in the caring professions don’t pay enough attention to their own self-care, which is one of the reasons why burnout and addiction among doctors, nurses, social workers and activists is so prevalent.
THE VISIONARY
Our Inner Visionary is our connection to the world of imagination and creativity. It’s our capacity to envision new possibilities and ways of being in the world. Without the Visionary, we become depressed, uninspired and despairing.
Awakening our Inner Visionary is an awakening to other ways of seeing with inner-vision and intuition. We become aware of more subtle perceptions and the reality of other dimensions of life.
For someone who has a natural Visionary capability the danger is that we can become enchanted by our visions to the point where we give up on life “out there” and retreat to the safety of books, movies, the dreamworld, or the ashram. The inward focus of the Visionary is balanced by the outward focus of the Warrior and vice-versa.
Positive Aspects: creativity, imagination, intuition, purpose, vision
Shadow Aspects: depression, pessimism, prejudice, cynicism, narrow-mindedness
Practices: meditation with visualization, dreamwork, shamanic journeying, expressive arts, plant medicines & psychedelics
Astrological Insight on The Visionary
Mercury as a planetary archetype is the magician and the visionary. Mercury rules Gemini and Virgo, so those born with these Sun signs tend to access Mercury’s mutable, adaptive qualities directly. Those born under the Jupiterian signs Sagittarius and Pisces are in polarity to Gemini and Virgo, so they may have to deeply focus on accessing Mercury’s analytical qualities.
Personal Reflection on The Visionary
I’ve always had an active imagination and dreamlife, and often preferred those worlds to the one I grew up in. So for me the biggest challenge wasn’t awakening my Inner Visionary, but keeping it in check by staying grounded here in the earthly realm. Some of what I gained through awakening my Inner Healer was a healthy connection to my body, a love of the natural world and empathy for other people, which inspired my desire to be of service. But without the insights I’ve gained from my visionary experiences I wouldn’t have any hope that change was possible let alone a clear direction on how I could help.
I’ve had friends over the years who became enthralled by transcendental yoga practices and psychedelics and I’ve watched their relationships and bodies waste away because they preferred the Visionary life rather than the Earthly life. Since I know that temptation all too well, I make sure I’m disciplined with my grounding practices and stay connected to family, friends and my work in the world.
THE OLD WISE ONE
The Old Wise One is our inner guide, connected to a higher purpose and able to make decisions that best serve the health and wellbeing of the “kingdom” (family, team, community, nation etc.) The Old Wise One holds similar qualities as the King/Queen archetype, but the Old Wise One doesn’t lead by “rule” — they lead by example.
The Old Wise One reflects our capacity for clarity, objectivity, discernment and detachment. When we’re connected to the Old Wise One we’re able to see the big picture and make tough decisions without becoming attached to the outcome.
This is certainly asking a lot, which is why the Old Wise One doesn’t usually come online until later in life. For this reason it’s important to have wise mentors and teachers when we’re younger and focused on cultivating the other archetypal capacities needed in order to build the foundations of our adult life.
One of the biggest pitfalls of the spiritual path is thinking we’re wiser than we really are. There’s a real danger of becoming overly identified or “possessed” by an archetype that is particularly attractive to our ego. Humility, honest self-reflection, and the willingness to listen to feedback are our best defenses against this kind of inflation.
The shadow side of inflation is thinking that we don’t know anything, stop trusting our gut instincts and intuition, and project our potential onto an all-too-human teacher. This sets us up for all kinds of manipulation and abuse, so it’s good to have your Inner Warrior (boundaries), Healer (self-care) and Visionary (intuition) online before going out to find a guru or mentor.
Positive Aspects: authority, equanimity, stability, generosity, independence, leadership
Shadow Aspects: authoritarian, overbearing, overcritical, abusive
Practices: meditation, counselling, self-reflection, volunteering
Astrological Insight on The Old Wise One
Jupiter as a planetary archetype is the benevolent teacher, guru, and the wise one. Jupiter rules Sagittarius and Pisces, so those born with these Sun signs tend to access Jupiter’s wise and benevolent qualities consistently. Those born under the Mercurial signs Gemini and Virgo are in polarity to Sagittarius and Pisces, so they may have to work intentionally to access Jupiter’s expansive qualities.
Personal Reflection on The Old Wise One
Honestly, it’s only in the last few years that I’ve started to really gain a greater sense of personal authority and trust my Old Wise One. I’ve had to go through plenty of experiences where I gave up too much of myself to others out of a need to feel accepted and seen by someone I considered “special”, or where I trusted people before they really earned it, only to get hurt and feel betrayed. I’ve learned the hard way and truthfully, that may be the only way to real wisdom.
Missteps and letdowns (and the suffering they can bring) are unavoidable on the path of transformation. If we accept that hard truth, take responsibility for our choices and let go of resentments, we can — like an alchemist turning lead into goal — see the precious teaching in any painful event or encounter and use it for our growth.
Some Cautionary Advice
“It is the duty of one who goes his own way to inform society of what he finds on his voyage of discovery, be it cooling water for the thirsty or the sandy wastes of unfruitful error. The one helps, the other warns.”
— CG Jung
There are far too many False Gurus and Bad Shaman out there, and far too few true Wise Elders to fill the current need in our culture. The best advice I can give is to take your time with teachers, get to know them before giving up too much, and be prepared to be let down. It’s really only through experience (good and bad) that we learn.
“Following your own star means isolation, not knowing where to go, having to find out a completely new way for yourself instead of just going on the trodden path everybody else runs along. That’s why there's always been a tendency in humans to project the uniqueness and the greatness of their own inner self onto outer personalities and become the servants, the devoted servants, admirers, and imitators of outer personalities.
It is much easier to admire a great personality and become a pupil or follower of a guru or a religious prophet, or an admirer of a big, official personality – a President of the United States – or live your life for some military general whom you admire. That is much easier than following your own star.”
― Marie-Louise von Franz, The Way of the Dream
In the meantime, be diligent about cultivating your Warrior, Healer and Visionary aspects. By connecting more deeply to your body, mind and heart you’ll find that you have a whole “fellowship” of Inner Allies that are always there to guide you, get you through tough times, and pick you up when you get knocked down.
And remember: the path of individuation, or becoming yourself, is a journey with many twists and turns (wrong ones and right ones), peaks and valleys, quagmires and glorious vistas. All we can really do is be present, engaged, curious and compassionate while doing our best to find a way to live that is both meaningful and interesting.
“Like a seed growing into a tree, life unfolds stage by stage. Triumphant ascent, collapse, crises, failures, and new beginnings strew the way. It is the path trodden by the great majority of mankind, as a rule unreflectingly, unconsciously, unsuspectingly, following its labyrinthine windings from birth to death in hope and longing. It is hedged about with struggle and suffering, joy and sorrow, guilt and error, and nowhere is there security from catastrophe.
For as soon as a man tries to escape every risk and prefers to experience life only in his head, in the form of ideas and fantasies, as soon as he surrenders to opinions of ‘how it ought to be’ and, in order not to make a false step, imitates others whenever possible, he forfeits the chance of his own independent development. Only if he treads the path bravely and flings himself into life, fearing no struggle and no exertion and fighting shy of no experience, will he mature his personality more fully than the man who is ever trying to keep to the safe side of the road.”
— Jolande Jacobi, The Way of Individuation
