What Are Archetypes?

​Archetypes are universal patterns of thought, behavior, and personality that shape how we see ourselves and the world. Found in mythology, literature, and psychology, they’re deeply embedded in the human experience—showing up in our dreams, relationships, and the way we tell our own stories.

​

Carl Jung, a Swiss psychologist, described archetypes as symbols and energies that exist within the collective unconscious—shared across cultures and time. They represent the different roles, desires, and challenges we navigate in life, influencing how we think, feel, and respond to the world around us.

​

Common Archetypes

🌙 The Warrior – Strength, courage, and resilience in the face of challenges
⭐ The Healer – Compassion, emotional wisdom, and the desire to nurture
🌙 The Seeker – Curiosity, personal growth, and the search for deeper meaning
⭐ The Wild Woman – Authenticity, intuition, and untamed self-expression
🌙 The Inner Child – Playfulness, vulnerability, and the need for safety
⭐ The Shadow – The hidden, suppressed, or misunderstood aspects of ourselves

​

Why Explore Archetypes?

​

Archetypes provide a deeper understanding of yourself by bringing unconscious patterns into awareness. When you start recognizing which archetypes are active in your life—whether in your relationships, habits, fears, or personal strengths—you begin to see things from a new perspective.

​

This work can be particularly helpful for:

​

🌙 Mental Health & Emotional Awareness as recognizing recurring emotional patterns (like perfectionism, avoidance, or people-pleasing) can help you shift how you respond to challenges. Understanding archetypes allows you to step back and observe patterns rather than being stuck in them.

⭐ Self-Discovery as when you explore archetypes, you’re not just learning about yourself—you’re seeing yourself through different lenses, which can open up new ways of thinking and being. It’s an approach that blends self-inquiry with creativity, allowing for insight without overanalyzing.

🌙 Relationships & Communication in Recognizing the roles you take on in relationships (such as the Caregiver, the Rebel, or the Peacemaker) can help you understand emotional triggers, set boundaries, and shift relational dynamics.

⭐ Integration & Inner Harmony as we all have different archetypal energies within us, some more dominant than others. Exploring these parts allows for greater self-acceptance and as integrating self into overall wholeness.

​

A Different Way to Understand Yourself: Right-Brain vs. Left-Brain Processing

​

Most of us approach personal growth from a left-brain perspective—logic, analysis, and verbal processing. But archetypes tap into right-brain processing, which is more intuitive, symbolic, and image-based. This means you’re not just talking about your patterns—you’re experiencing them in a new way.

​

Engaging with archetypes activates deeper parts of the brain that process metaphor, emotion, and creativity. This makes it a powerful tool for exploring your inner world beyond just thinking or talking about it.

​

✨ Instead of overanalyzing a feeling, you might connect with an archetype that embodies it.
✨ Instead of struggling to put emotions into words, working with symbols and images can bring clarity.
✨ Instead of feeling stuck in old narratives, you get to see yourself in a new way—one that isn’t just about problems, but about possibilities.

​

By using this more creative, whole-brain approach, you gain access to insights that might not come through traditional reflection alone. It allows you to see patterns in yourself from a new angle, giving you space for greater self-compassion and transformation.

​

Caroline Myss & Archetype Work

​

While Carl Jung introduced the concept of archetypes in psychology, Caroline Myss expanded on this work by exploring how archetypes shape our personal power, life path, and energy. In her book Sacred Contracts, Myss describes how each person has a unique set of archetypes that influence their choices, relationships, and spiritual growth.

According to Myss, working with archetypes can help us:

⭐ Identify the patterns that drive our behavior and decision-making
🌙 Understand our life purpose and personal challenges
⭐ Recognize where we give away our power and how to reclaim it
🌙 Heal unresolved wounds by seeing how different archetypes interact within us

​

Myss’s work is especially useful for those drawn to spiritual growth, intuitive healing, and the deeper meaning behind life experiences. By combining Jungian psychology with Myss’s approach, archetype exploration becomes a powerful tool for personal transformation.

​

Explore Your Personal Archetypes

​

Archetype work isn’t about fitting into a label—it’s about understanding the different energies within you and how they influence your journey. Through creative exercises, guided reflection, and self-inquiry, you can begin to see yourself with greater clarity, curiosity, and self-trust.

​

Would you like to explore your personal archetypes? Join a themed workshop or individual session here.