The Sage is a seeker of truth, and this archetype operates from a fundamental principle that ‘the truth will set you free’. It is associated with attributes of self-reflection and understanding that enlightens our path to individuation. It implies asking questions to self in order to reach to the answers one seeks in life.
As we go about our day to day lives, doing mundane chores, it is difficult to think of ourselves as heroes. However, the archetype of hero lies within each of us, showing itself in many ways, that we might not easily recognize. There must have been several points in your life where you felt that you persisted even when it was hard to do so, times when you felt like giving up and moments when you felt very alone – each of those instances were a reflection of this hero.
The lover archetype represents our ideas of genuine companionship and of seeking this connection. It symbolizes our want of having someone to do things with, share moments with and someone who would truly understand us. This connection can be found in a diverse palette of relationships such as romance, friendship, team mates and colleagues.
We have all observed a seventy year old behaving like a child, throwing tantrums or hiding from their caretakers; we have experienced the occasional urge to engage in impulsive shopping and our tendency to sulk and to expect others to console us; these are all the expressions of the child archetype in us. Through this article, we wish to encourage you to reflect upon the ways in which the child in you finds its expression.
Each one of us, at some point in our lives, have struggled to discover our own uniqueness, questioned social obligations, taken risks, set out to explore the unknown and felt the urge to try something new. It is the explorer archetype present in us, that enables us to do this. Also known as the seeker, wanderer and pilgrim, the explorer is a character that seeks to escape the boundaries of their average life by traveling the world or discovering its many mysteries.
The shadow is that aspect of our personality or psyche that is hidden from our own selves. It lies in our unconscious mind, safely beyond our awareness. The shadow contains our weaknesses, undesired traits, repressed ideas and desires which we find difficult to accept as part of us. It is like our dark side – therefore the name, Shadow. It is often unexpressed and rejected but surely it is always there, just as other archetypes are.
The persona refers to the social mask you wear in public. It is the part of your conscious self that you present to the outside world; it is the image you wish to present to others. The persona includes your social roles, and it can be seen as a kind of ‘psychological clothing’ that you wear. However, identifying too strongly with a specific persona can limit your growth in many ways.
This year, we have been feeling a bit mystical and so we are going to be talking about “Discovering Archetypes”! We thought it would be fun if we could take you a bit deeper into the recesses of the human psyche and explore its mystery. We hope that this sneak-peek into the remote, unexplored parts of your mind will help you discover how these sides present themselves in the world around us and most importantly, within ourselves.
We specialize in combining psychotherapy with deep wellness practices like mindfulness and meditation and creating a customized mental health plan for individuals and organisations.
We specialize in combining psychotherapy with deep wellness practices like mindfulness and meditation and creating a customized mental health plan for individuals and organisations.
A young woman from another country moved with her family to live for one year in a town near the monastery. When, in the course of the year she discovered the monastery, she would periodically visit to have discussions with the Abbess. The Abbess introduced her to meditation, which became very meaningful for the young woman.
When the family’s year-long stay was drawing to an end, the young woman asked the Abbess, “In my country there is no Buddhism and no one has even heard about meditation. How can I continue to learn and deepen the practice you have started me on?”
The Abbess said, “When you return home ask far and wide for who, among the wise people, is recognized as having the greatest ability to listen. Ask that person to instruct you in the art of listening. What you learn about listening from such a person will teach you how to further your meditation practice.
― Gil Fronsdal, A Monastery Within: Tales from the Buddhist Path
