Working with Archetypes

Posted on September 17, 2010 in Life Coaching, Sacred Space | 0 comments

What is an archetype?

Archetypes are instinctive behaviour patterns which influence how we think and act at a deep level. Freud called archetypes ‘primordial instincts’; he believed that they are held by the collective unconscious, universally accepted roles and patterns that, mysteriously as a species we instinctively understand and relate to.

Our most immediate access point to Archetypes is through our mythology. Many cultures have similar versions of the same stories. You can see this in the themes that play out in literature – children’s fairy tales and grown-up mythology such as Clarissa Pinkola Estés book Women Who Run with the Wolves: Myths and Stories of The Wild Woman Archetype.

Carolyn Myss writes about archetypes in her book Sacred Contracts. Some of the archetypes are Myss presents are Virgin, Princess, Mother and Goddess for feminine energy and Lover, Knight, King and Fool for the masculine energy.

How Archetypes Help Us

Working with Archetypes helps us understand ourselves. We can become more awareness of our motivations, gain insight into our beliefs and actions, break free from conditioned responses and roles and step into a more authentic way of being. Working with Archetypes gives us the opportunity to become more integrated and whole.