Archetype Cards

Every one of us is touched by the Addict archetype. The only question is how much of our lives is consumed by it. Besides the usual suspects--drugs, alcohol, food, and sex--one can be addicted to work, sports, television, exercise, computer games, spiritual practice, negative attitudes, and the kinds of thrills that bring on adrenaline rushes. In its positive aspect, this archetype helps you recognize when an outside substance, habit, relationship, or any expression of life has more authority over your will power than does your inner spirit. Confronting addiction and breaking the hold that a pattern or substance has on you can impart great strength to your psyche. Discovering the empowerment that comes with perseverance has a life-long impact, becoming a reference point for what you are able to accomplish. In the words of one former alcoholic, "I know now that if I can quit drinking, I can do anything."

Healer (Wounded Healer, Intuitive Healer, Caregiver, Nurse, Therapist, Analyst, Counselor)

The Healer archetype manifests as a passion to serve others in the form of repairing the body, mind, and spirit. It expresses itself through channels other than those classically associated with the healing of illnesses, and so you need to look beyond the obvious definition of what you "do." You can be strongly guided by this archetype in any occupation or role in life. Some people, by their very nature and personality, are able to inspire others to release their painful histories or make changes in their lives that redirect the course of their future. Essential characteristics include an inherent strength and the ability to assist people in transforming their pain into a healing process, as well as having the "wiring" required to channel the energy needed to generate physical or emotional changes.

Religion/Myth: Rabbi Hanina ben Dosa (Jewish healer considered to have been in the same class as Jesus); Ninkarrak (Babylonian/Sumerian goddess who nursed sick humans); Bear Medicine Woman (American Indian healing spirit); Mukuru (creator god of the Herero bushmen of Namibia, who sends life-giving rain, heals the sick, and cares for the elderly).

Caroline Myss

This is a small SAMPLE of the - NOVEMBER SALON: EXAMINING THE WITNESS ARCHETYPE

All archetypal patterns are fascinating. The more I observe their subtle expressions of power and how these patterns filter into even the most remote aspects of our nature and our habits, the more I am awestruck at the grip they have upon the inner and outer landscapes of our life. Archetypes have layer upon layer of expression. They do not just have a handful of characteristics that look the same in every person. And yet, somehow the unique power field that is exerted by each particular archetype is unmistakable.

My habit is to focus in on a couple of archetypes at a time, looking for them in action, in the field of life, so to speak. When I spot a person who has a certain archetype that I am intrigued with, or one that has recently caught my attention, my interest peaks and if I can find a way to engage with that person, I will. For example, I don’t meet many people who realize they have the Copy Cat archetype, though it is one of the most prevalent archetypes in the field. Copy Cat killers, as most people know, are popular subjects for movies because they really exist and they exist because this archetype is potent. A person with the Copy Cat archetype is compulsive about duplicating the behavior, fashion, creativity, or habits of others that have brought their primary object of focus attention. The infamous “octagon” mom achieved a temporary period of paparazzi media coverage for popping out a litter of babies. But she added to her notoriety because she (motivated by her Copy Cat archetype) was accused of having cosmetic surgery in order to look like Angelina Jolie. Manufacturers rely upon the Copy Cat archetype. They’ve built an industry from its spending habits and compulsive obsession with copying the habits of trendsetters – a goal the Copy Cat strives for but will never attain.

Fascinating archetype, the Copy Cat, and as I say, my habit is to lock into a handful of archetypes and study them in action for a given period of time. Another archetype that is exceptionally intriguing is the Witness archetype. Like the Copy Cat, the Witness as an archetypal pattern of power is hardly a cosmic influence any one ever thinks about. Also, like the Copy Cat, few people realize they have the Witness archetype. And yet, like the Copy Cat, this archetype is exceedingly potent, only not in the same way as the Copy Cat. Though all archetypes are ultimately power patterns that hold our potential for empowerment as well as our shadow, another way to describe the complex relationship of archetypes with the unconscious is that they contain fragments of our psyches on the journey to becoming integrated.

Becoming an “integrated” person is not a simple matter. (That sentence may be the ultimate masterpiece of understatement.) Becoming an integrated individual involves the rigorous effort of identifying the pieces of who you are and finding a way to merge them with the core of your being. Such a description reads like a bunch of meaningless words, “consciousness chatter” that sounds like it should ignite something profound in you, but what? Another way that I think of this journey – the way it means something to me – is that becoming an integrated person means becoming comfortable with truth. And each archetype is a container of a particular set of myths and patterns that shape us through experiences, all of which are choreographed to bring out the best (our light) and the worst (our shadow) of us so that we can merge the two into a whole working unit. This is known as becoming integrated.

For the record, the “shadow” self is not actually considered the “worst” of us; rather, it is considered that part of us which is unknown to us consciously. Thus, Jung referred to this aspect of archetypal influences as their shadow components. Most often, however, our negative behavior emerges from the shadow aspects within us, those parts of our inner being that we do not want to explore or that we project onto others as “their” negative behavior. For example, “I’m not controlling. You are.” Right. There is nothing simple or easy about becoming an integrated person. It requires constant work but work of a very specific kind. And knowledge of your specific archetypal patterns is one of your best tools, without a doubt.

As I’ve come to observe the Witness, I now think this archetype is one that most clearly embodies this journey toward what it means to integrate truth into one’s life. I suppose I recognized it all the more when comparing the Witness with the Copy Cat. (Because there is so much to say about the Copy Cat, I will do the January Salon on this archetype.)

Every human being struggles with the power of truth, whether it is speaking the truth, honoring the truth, facing the truth, hearing the truth, or bearing witness to the truth. Truth is a deal-breaker and a game-changer in every aspect of life, but most certainly when it comes to relationships with others and even with how you talk to yourself. The truth is, the relationship you have with yourself is your “core” relationship from which all other relationships derive their position of health. If you are not honest with yourself, for example, you cannot be honest with another person. It is simply not possible. If you lie to yourself about anything, you can only lie to others. The lies you tell yourself are the lies you tell others. Someone who speaks the truth to him or herself will speak the truth to others.

I was recently interviewed on the subject of health and healing and the interviewer was asking me the usual list of questions about why people heal and why they don’t. And finally I asked her, “Have you ever thought about the role of truth when it comes to healing? How can a dishonest person heal?”

She was completely baffled and admitted that she had never even thought about the truth factor as it relates to a cause of illness or as a blockage to healing. I told her that in the course of my career, I had met countless people who were married to people – and that means they sleep with the person, have sex with this person, have their meals with this person, pay their bills with this person – but have gone years without saying one truthful sentence to that individual. Not one. The thought of speaking truthfully about their feelings or about their dreams and ambitions or about anything was out of the question. Why? Because these people knew that one spoken sentence of solid truth held the power to change their life forever. Their preferred choice was to live in a psychic field of lies and secrets rather than risk speaking the truth just one time to their spouse or partner. That is simply unimaginable to me.

But the truth is, we live in a society run on lies, propaganda, and spin. We’ve grown so accustomed to lies that we now expect them. It’s more common to hear, “All politicians are liars,” than to hear a person state that the political life is an honorable one. We assume deceit in business, in corporate activities, certainly with good reason on Wall Street, and in the actions of Washington – it’s everywhere. The first word out of anyone’s mouth doing business is, “I need my lawyer.” Why? The assumption is that the person you are doing business with is dishonest – or likely to be, if given the chance. We have grown numb to the world of the “great lie” when we should be hysterical at how deceit and dishonor have disintegrated our lives. Meanwhile, we claim to be growing in consciousness. What exactly are we becoming conscious of? Recycling? It is this social profile – and quite frankly, this is but the tip of the iceberg, that calls me to ask, what are we collectively being called to “witness” in the world around us? Do we have the courage to truly WITNESS and see the truth of what is happening in our society and speak up truthfully? That is the real meaning of what we call “becoming conscious.”

Continued in the Nov. Salon...

To register for the Salon http://www.myss.com/CMED/learning/salon.asp

* The Stages of the Witness Archetype: The Gradual Route to Truth The Healing Witness
* The Truth Witness
* To Embody the Witness
* Personal InnerWork

Inner work is hard work, everyone. But it is so worth it. And learning to understand the archetypes and their rich and subtle fields of power is endlessly intriguing. I hope you enjoy this as much as I do.

Love,
Caroline

chi_solas wrote:Last 2 postings sent over to Reiki discussion

Because of our fascination with, and fear of, these unknown qualities within us, when an archetype appears in a dream it can have an especially powerful impact. If a positive or likeable aspect of Lion, Dragon, Mother, Father, Goddess, or God appears in a dream, we may wake up feeling fascinated with the dream - it feels mysterious and meaningful. The meaning behind this kind of dream is often more profound than the meanings behind dreams that have to do with our daily lives. An archetypal dream may have something to do with our life’s journey: our striving for individuation, the unification of our masculine and feminine potential, or our initiation into the sacred realm.

But when an archetype appears in a dream in its negative or most primitive guise, it can disrupt our sleep in terrifying nightmares. Then we want to run and hide. We want to forget the dream as soon as we can, for it feels dangerous and threatening to our well-being. We cannot prevent these contents of the collective unconscious from appearing in our dreams, nor can we domesticate them, but we can diminish their power to interfere with our waking lives by paying attention to what they tell us about ourselves. Accepting the fact that we contain the potential for vile and inhuman behavior can be a humbling experience that teaches us tolerance, compassion, and empathy; when we know that the archetypal evil lives within ourselves, we are far less apt to point an accusatory finger at someone else