the basis of 'archetype' speaks of an #Archon ... #individualogyDotCom explains the #Archons that lead us today
The word “Archon (one of the several Chief Magistrates of Ancient Athens ... #Arch- -#arch #Archaean #Archaeo- #Archaic #Archangel #Archbishop -#archy #Autarky #Exarch #Anarch #Anarchy)” is built on ancient words that mean "to be the First" (|Begin, Lead, Ruler, Commander, |Chief, Captain, Governor).
WHAT ARE ARCHETYPES?
The origins of the word "archetype" can be traced back to the days of ancient Greece, with its definition referring to "original pattern". That definition accurately describes the application of archetypes, as we use it to identify the original patterns of personalities, beliefs, and motivations.
Renowned psychologist Carl Jung first developed the 12 Jungian archetypes as a framework for understanding fundamental human motivations and the operations of the human mind, or what we also know as the human psyche and collective unconscious. Within each archetype lies profound insights into our thoughts, our emotions, and our actions.
The 12 Jungian archetypes are known to conjure a combination of mental images and emotional attachments, with each archetype having its own unique set of personality traits, meanings, and values. It is no wonder that archetypes are used in such a wide variety of applications; literature, mythology, branding, spirituality, psychology, and of course, personality.
With that said, anything that evokes imagery and emotions could be an archetype. However, these imageries and emotions would hold different meanings depending on the individual encountering them in their collective unconscious. That explains why Carl Jung defined only 12 personality archetypes that have remained constant, which we now know as the Jungian archetypes.
WHAT IS THE COLLECTIVE UNCONSCIOUS?
According to Carl Jung, Jungian archetypes are images and concepts derived from the collective unconscious. Archetypes appear in dreams, literature, art, and religion and have universal meanings across civilizations.
As per Jung (1947), symbols from many cultures are often extremely similar since they arose from archetypes that are shared by the entire human race and are part of our subconscious mind.
Our primal history, according to Jung, becomes the foundation of the collective unconscious, leading and affecting current conduct. Jung claims to have identified a huge number of archetypes, but he focused on four in particular.
- The Persona
The persona (or mask) is the face we show to the outside world. It hides our true selves, and Jung calls it the "conformity" archetype. This is a person's public face or role that they present to others as someone other than who they truly are.
- The Anima/Animus
The anima/animus is another archetype. "Anima/animus" is the polar opposite of our biological sex, i.e., males' unconscious feminine side and females' masculine inclinations.
By virtue of millennia of cohabitation, each sex has adopted the attitudes and behaviors of the other. A woman's mind contains male components, while a man's psyche comprises feminine elements.
- The Shadow
The shadow comes next. This is the aspect of our character that is animalistic. It's where both our innovative and detrimental energy come from. It's possible that Jung's archetypes indicate characteristics that once had intrinsic worth, which would fit with the theory of evolution.
- The Self
Lastly, there is the self, which gives experience a sense of oneness. Every individual's ultimate goal, according to Jung, is to reach a sense of selfhood, and Jung is heading toward a more humanist perspective in this regard.
CARDINAL ORIENTATIONS
Before we look into the 12 Jungian archetypes of personality, it is vital that we first establish each of their cardinal orientations. The 12 archetypes are divided into 4 cardinal orientations. These orientations represent the archetype’s focus - the one single mission that the archetype wishes to fulfill. By understanding these 4 orientations, you'll gain a much better grasp of the hidden motivations and self-perceiving dynamics of each personality archetype.
- Ego
Leaving a mark or making an impact on the world
- Order
Providing some form of structure or order to the world
- Social
Striving to form intimate connections with others
- Freedom
Yearning to realize its own sense of paradise
HOW DO WE EXPERIENCE JUNGIAN ARCHETYPES?
We experience the Jungian archetypes as energies. As we have established, archetypes are expressed through intangible elements such as evoking emotions and conjuring imagery - elements that are intangible, but we somehow feel its presence in our collective unconscious. Sometimes we feel overwhelmed with certain energies, but feel unable to accurately describe them.
Whether it’s the Hero’s energies driving us to discipline our minds and go after what we want, or Sage’s energies urging us to ponder upon things at a more profound level, or perhaps the Jester’s energies influencing us to inject humor into serious situations. Don’t we all need to avoid the unintended negative consequences strategy? These are all examples of how we experience Jungian archetypes as energies.
It would be far too simplistic to say that each individual’s personality is merely made up of only one archetype. After all, human beings are far more complex than that when it comes to their collective unconscious. Typically, there can be several archetypes to form the core of our personalities and to develop ordinary solid virtues.
However, only one archetype tends to have the greatest amount of influence or dominance in our personality. It is through identifying our primary personality archetype that we are able to define exactly which archetypal energy is governing our thoughts, feelings, and personalities. By doing that, we open ourselves up to understanding the hidden constructs of psyche and personality.
Here is a detailed overview of the 12 archetypes and their most iconic personality traits and motivations in our collective unconscious:
THE 12 JUNGIAN ARCHETYPES
THE CAREGIVER
The Caregiver is a compassionate altruist whose selflessness comes unparalleled in a person’s human psyche. They're always willing to help the people around them, be it friends, strangers, or sometimes even foes. Their generosity inspires everyone around them and fills receivers with an immense amount of gratitude.
- Slogan: The simple act of caring is heroic
- Deepest Desire: To care and protect those around you
- Goal: To administer aid and help wherever possible
- Fear: Ingratitude, being taken for granted, and selfishness
- Strategy: Perform acts of kindness for others
- Weaknesses: Being exploited for selfish reasons
- Talents: Compassion, sympathy, empathy, generosity
- Other Names: The Altruist, The Helper, The Supporter, The Saint
THE CREATOR
The Creator archetype associates itself with being completely and entirely original. Their greatest pride lies in their ability to be creative when it comes to everyday life and achieving the goals that they've set for themselves. Creators are constantly paving ways for others to follow, anything to develop artistic control.
- Slogan: You are the creator of your own reality
- Deepest Desire: To innovate and create things of long-lasting value
- Goal: To achieve the outcome of one’s vision
- Fear: Achieving unsatisfactory results, executing poorly
- Strategy: Skill enhancement and perfection
- Weaknesses: Spending too much time on perfectionism
- Talents: Creativity, innovation, imagination
- Other Names: The Artist, The Inventor, The Innovator
THE EXPLORER
Think of the Explorer as an adventurer who wants to make his mark in the world and discover new lands. The Explorer archetype has high regard for his or her freedom. Sitting still for even just a short period of time can cause them to feel jittery, uneasy, and restless. They crave adventure and they feed on new experiences involving basic human motivations.
- Slogan: Life is an adventure
- Deepest Desire: Having the freedom to discover oneself through travel and adventure
- Goal: To live a life worth living
- Fear: Being trapped, not having freedom, inner emptiness
- Strategy: Escape reality and seek new experiences
- Weaknesses: Aimless wandering, not fitting in with others
- Talents: Independence, being true to oneself
- Other Names: The Seeker, The Wanderer
THE HERO
This Jungian archetype is known as the Hero. They thrive on bravado and seek every opportunity to display their formidable sense of courage in their human psyche. Individuals who identify with this archetype tend to feel the need to prove their worth by performing courageous acts with their fight talent. It's one of the defining attributes of a typical hero archetype, and what differentiates it from the 12 Jungian archetypes.
- Slogan: When there’s a will, there’s a way
- Deepest Desire: Proving one’s worth through acts of bravery and courage
- Goal: Mastering oneself in a way that can impact the world
- Fear: Being perceived as weak, vulnerable, or fearful
- Strategy: Become as strong and capable as possible
- Weaknesses: Arrogance and overestimating one’s abilities
- Talents: Courage, bravery, discipline
- Other Names: The Warrior, The Crusader
THE INNOCENT
The Innocent archetype is typically naive and easily impressed by anything and everything, making them brilliant audiences for performances. However, their naivety is not what defines them. The Innocent archetype is best defined by its sheer positivity and optimism.
- Slogan: Live life with full optimism
- Deepest Desire: To realize one’s sense of paradise
- Goal: To attain true happiness
- Fear: Breaking the rules and being punished
- Strategy: To do what’s morally and ethically right
- Weaknesses: Being perceived as boring or naive
- Talents: Unbreakable sense of optimism and having great faith
- Other Names: The Utopian, The Traditionalist
THE JESTER
The Jester is a jungian archetype that lives for the moment. Nothing pleases them more than experiencing emotions to the maximum. The Jester is the one with an infectious laugh and a bag full of jokes. “Fun” is the Jester's middle name, and it has an insatiable desire for as much of it as possible.
- Slogan: Life can be fun
- Deepest Desire: To live in the moment with full enjoyment
- Goal: Lightening up the world through humor and laughter
- Fear: Being bored or being perceived as boring
- Strategy: To inject humor and appreciate the little things in life
- Weaknesses: Thoughtlessness, lacking seriousness
- Talents: Infecting a room with laughter and being the center of attention
- Other Names: The Joker, The Trickster
THE LOVER
At first glance, the title “Lover” might come as a surprise to some. However, the Lover archetype is associated less with romance and sexuality and has more to do with commitment and faithfulness. The Lover archetype revolves vastly around emotions, feelings, and sensuality.
- Slogan: Love makes the world go round
- Deepest Desire: To love and be loved
- Goal: Being in a relationship with people and the things they love
- Fear: Rejection, being unwanted, loneliness
- Strategy: To become as emotionally and physically attractive as possible
- Weaknesses: Losing sense of oneself, trying too hard to please
- Talents: Being fully committed and expressing oneself with a deep passion
- Other Names: The Partner, The Sensualist
THE MAGICIAN
The Magician archetype can be described to be somewhat aloof when it comes to forming personal connections. Their deep connections with the universe make them difficult to understand. Magicians tend to have a strong belief in their dreams, their abilities, and themselves in general.
- Slogan: Some want it to happen, some wish it to happen, I make it happen
- Deepest Desire: To attain knowledge of the world
- Goal: Seeing dreams and visions to fruition
- Fear: Not foreseeing negative consequences
- Strategy: Have a vision and see it through
- Weaknesses: Becoming manipulative of others
- Talents: Discovering win-win situations and making deals
- Other Names: The Visionary, The Inventor
THE MEMBER
The Member is one of the most interesting Jungian archetypes in society. They're essentially the building blocks of this world and are the ones who restore faith in humanity using their vast knowledge of human behavior. One of the most distinct attributes about a Member is his or her ability to blend into any group thinkable.
- Slogan: Everyone is created equal
- Deepest Desire: To build lasting connections with others
- Goal: Belonging to a tight-knitted community
- Fear: Being left out or sticking out like a sore thumb
- Strategy: Remain grounded in values and principles
- Weaknesses: Forging superficial relationships, being taken advantage of
- Talents: Empathy, authenticity, realism
- Other Names: The Everyman, The Realist
THE OUTLAW
The Outlaw archetype is best described to be free-minded and free-spirited. Nothing stands in their way and nothing controls their desires with their crime talent. They're the true representation of what it really means to be the captain of your own ship, requiring a lot of psychological development.
- Slogan: Rules are meant to be broken
- Deepest Desire: To start a revolution or power-shifting movement
- Goal: Destroying the things that are not working in the world
- Fear: Being powerless or ineffective in one’s efforts
- Strategy: To pave new ways through disruption or destruction
- Weaknesses: Being negatively influenced and committing criminal activities
- Talents: Inspiring action through freedom and outrage
- Other Names: The Rebel, The Revolutionary
THE RULER
Leading is arguably the most distinctive trait of a ruler. While others tend to avoid playing the role of a leader, Rulers are absolutely comfortable with volunteering to take charge. It's important to note that it's not the desire to lead that defines the Ruler archetype, but the actual quality of leadership that they're able to provide.
- Slogan: A true leader is hated by most, and respected by all
- Deepest Desire: To have absolute power and control
- Goal: Developing prosperous communities and families
- Fear: Chaos or losing power to someone else
- Strategy: To lead others to victory, prosperity, and success
- Weaknesses: Being overly authoritarian, not delegating
- Talents: Natural ability to lead, exercising responsibility for one’s actions
- Other Names: The Leader, The King
THE SAGE
The Sage archetype is highly dedicated when it comes to seeking knowledge and wisdom. If the Sage were a vehicle, then information would be its fuel. Practically everything that they experience in life is a lesson for them, as they're able to identify the obscure meanings behind every event in their lives.
- Slogan: Who looks outside, dreams; who looks inside, awakes
- Deepest Desire: To discover the truth behind everything
- Goal: Understanding the world through careful analysis and wisdom
- Fear: Being misled or ignorant
- Strategy: Uncovering wisdom and knowledge through self-reflection
- Weaknesses: Never taking action and being overly obsessed with details
- Talents: Possessing great wisdom and intelligence, giving sound advice
- Other Names: The Scholar, The Philosopher
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