Archetypes

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ArchetypesGaining New Perspectives & Insight

Definitions:• Archetypes are fundamental identities that exist in the collective human psyche and

are accessible to everyone.• Archetypes are psychological structures reflected in symbols, images, and themes

common to all cultures and times.

Benefits:• Are incredible storehouses of knowledge that help us access wisdom• Creates new empowering alternatives (Step 5 of the 7 Master Steps) and resources• Expands abilities, perspectives, and options• Helps people identify and eliminate disempowering archetypal patterns that have

become limiting ruts• Increases self-awareness

Distinctions:• There are hundreds of archetypes and each have positive and negative aspect.• While one archetype is not better than another, one may be more empowering or

disempowering in a certain situation.

Why does this same issue keep coming up in my life?I feel like I don’t know what to do next.Why did I do that, again?What do I want to do with my career? What’s my life purpose?How can I make my relationship more passionate and loving?

At one time or another, we have all heard our clients (or ourselves) ask some variations of these questions.While there are many ways to coach when you get questions like these, one way to approach thechallenge or situation is by utilizing archetypes.

About Archetypes

As a coach, you can help your clients expand their identity and the resources within themselves byhelping them access different archetypes. Think of an archetype like computer software—the makeupof a computer contains a wide variety of programs to accomplish different tasks. In a Mac for example,there is Microsoft Word to create written documents, Exel to create spreadsheets and graphs, iTunesfor music storage, or Entourage for email communications. Just as a computer has access to differentprograms to best perform different jobs, we have access to different archetypes to best support us invarious situations in our lives.



Although the idea of archetypes has been around since Plato, Psychologist Carl Jung identified thevarious roles or characters we have within us and labeled them ‘archetypes’. He suggested that peoplego through life tapping into a variety of instinctive roles: parent, lover, warrior, caregiver, etc. Jungproposed that each of us is capable of playing any one of these roles, yet we tend to use certain rolesmore frequent than others (dominant archetypes).

At times we may find ourselves going through life with the same approach, only accessing some of ourarchetypal patterns, or stuck in the same patterns of focus, physiology, or beliefs (the Triad). We couldhugely benefit from the opportunity to approach life or a certain situation from a different perspective.What if we were able to access a variety of different archetypes to help us approach a situation in amore empowering way?

Often the characteristics of one archetype may fit a particular situation or challenge better than others.For example, being a ‘warrior’ in a challenging situation at work may be extremely beneficial,whereas being a ‘warrior’ in an intimate relationship may not work out as well. Or being a ‘parent’ toa spouse may yield a different result than being a ‘parent’ to our children. Identifying the archetypesthat we are using, and then identifying different archetypes we can access gives us a new realm ofpossibilities and perspectives. Consciously tapping into the resources of a certain archetype(s) fordifferent situations and times in our lives can create a more fulfilling, successful, meaningful life.

As coaches, we can help our clients learn how to use archetypes to expand their identity, approachlife and situations with different perspectives, and to open them up to resources they already havewithin themselves.

For example, let’s say you are coaching an entrepreneur that is having challenges with herbusiness. This woman is full of ideas, fast paced, confident, and is constantly juggling newprojects. She has come to you for coaching because her business is in crisis and she hasbegun to feel paralyzed by it. After understanding more about the situation, you realize shehas been focusing on feeling like a failure, and the loss of her identity as a successfulbusinesswoman. She is also scared of failing again. After helping her understand arche-types, you guide her through a process of associating to and identifying with the ‘Magician’and ‘Warrior’ inside her. The ‘Magician’ can change a situation by altering its own thoughtsor behaviors, and the ‘Warrior’ symbolizes discipline, courage, determination, and skill.Once she is associated and anchored to the strengths these archetypes bring, it allows her tolook at the situation through these archetypes to gain a new perspective and to tap into additionalresources already within herself.

Coaches Corner



While there are hundreds of archetypes, as well as numerous ways that archetypes can be presentedor grouped together, below we will outline some of most common archetypes—The Four QuadrantModel and the 12Archetype Categories. Since the study of archetypes is immense, additional resources willbe outlined at the end of this document for further elaboration.

The Four Quadrant Model(you probably have heard Tony Robbins reference this particular one!).While there is no universal agreement about the precise qualities embodied in these four archetypes,here are some of the qualities that are most often attributed to each.

Magician - ThinkingGetting perspective, generating optionsThinking critically, using analysis, logic, and intuitionJudging and making assumptionsGetting and organizing informationCreativity and imagination

Warrior - DoingTaking actionServing and protecting, setting boundariesUsing power, working with conflictStreet smartsTeam work

Lover - FeelingFeeling and connectingEmpathizing and lovingAccessing bodily awareness and emotional intelligencePlaying and being spontaneousMaking music, dancing, making art

Sovereign - BeingSetting direction and motivatingMaking choices from deep knowingGiving support and blessingDefining purpose and meaningSeeing the whole, knowing rank and order

History of 4 Quadrants: After Carl Jung popularized the study of archetypal psychology, Jungian analyst andscholar Robert Moore, with collaborator Douglas Gillette, identified and developed a four archetype model of themature male psyche. A summary of their work can be found in “King, Warrior, Magician, Lover.” (Moore andGillette 1990.) Their archetypal model was then expanded for practical use by both women and men by CliffBarry, Mary Ellen Blandford and their colleagues.



12 Archetype CategoriesBuilding upon Jung's work, Carol S. Pearson has created the below group of 12 archetypes.

The 12 Archetypes and each of their strengths and insights:1. Innocent = optimism, trust, hope, faith, simple virtue

developing the trust, confidence, and optimism to take the journey2. Orphan = realism, resilience, interdependence, empathy

recognizing that bad things happen and developing realism3. Warrior = discipline, courage, determination, skill

learning to compete, set goals, and when necessary, defend yourself4. Caregiver = community, nurturance, compassion, generosity

showing care, concern, compassion for others; helping5. Seeker = autonomy, ambition, identity, expanded possibilities

being willing to be different; having the courage to try new things6. Lover = passion, commitment, enthusiasm, sensual pleasure

loving others, being romantic, intimate, and making commitments7. Destroyer = metamorphosis, revolution, capacity to let go

letting go and starting over; taking action to end bad situations8. Creator = creativity, vision, skills, aesthetics, imagination

demonstrating imagination, innovation, cleverness9. Ruler = responsibility, soverignity, control, system savvy

taking charge, being responsible, living according to our values10. Magician = transformative, catalytic, or healing power

changing what happens by altering your own thoughts or behaviors11. Sage = wisdom, nonattachment, knowledge, skepticism

thinking clearly, critically, and formulating your own opinions12. Jester = humor, life lived in the moment, exuberant joy

enjoying your life and work; being here and now

Note: To learn more about these 12 archetypes, check out Carol S. Pearson’s book “Awakening the Hero Within”.

You are coaching a client that expresses challenges with being able to make a decision and stickwith it. They have mentioned inconsistency in working out, switching careers every few years, andnot committing to a long-term relationship. They have mentioned they are fed up with theirinability to keep the momentum going. How could you use the above archetypes to help them seetheir situation from another perspective, and what resources they could tap into to move forward?

For You To Think About...



Practical Application Exercises

Using 4 Quadrant ModelThink of something that you’ve really struggled with, want to change, or have been uncertainabout. First really associate to these four elements within you: the lover, warrior, sovereign,and magician. Which one has been dominating you most recently? Which has been the dominant partof you? (Go with your first gut answer!) Then go to each one of these archetypes and associate to thevalue that they can add. One at a time, and ask them what do they believe you need to do in this situ-ation. What’s the answer or resolution that each one of these archetypes can offer? (Go in any orderyou want.) Once you associate to the different perspectives of these archetypes, associate, anchor, andcondition in the strengths of these archetypes already within you.

Using 12 Archetypes CategoriesThink of something that you’ve really struggled with, want to change, or have been uncertainabout. What archetypes from the 12 Archetype categories could help you in this situation? Pick two tothree archetypes that could give you a new perspective or alternative input. Really associate to thosearchetypes and ask each of the archetypes you picked what they would say or do in the situation youare facing. Once you associate to the different perspectives of these archetypes, associate, anchor, andcondition in the strengths of these archetypes already within you.

Additional Resources

• You can find a listing of the 70 most popular archetypes on Carolyn Myss’ website, aswell as more information on archetypes:http://www.myss.com/library/contracts/three_archs.asp

• You can take an archetype assessment test ($15—Pearson-Marr Archetype IndicatorInstrument) to see which of the 12 archetypes are dominant in your life and to learnmore about each of them.http://www.capt.org/discover-your-archetypes/home.htm

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Archetypes