Guide (Guru, Sage, Crone, Wise Woman, Spiritual Master, Evangelist, Preacher)

The guide takes the role of the spiritual teacher. Even a common person who is often the giver of advice to friends has the teacher and guide archetype within them. The negative aspect of the guide is one who abuses the teacher-student relationship and indulges in the adoration given by the followers, or seeks financial gain.

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

The healer is one who has special skills in helping others heal physical, emotional, and mental problems. The person who holds this archetype feels inclined to help his or her fellow human. The healer exudes an environment of trustworthiness where people can expose painful areas of their lives and receive redirection toward health. The negative aspect of the healer is one who takes on the pain of others and makes it his or her own.

Wounded Healer

The wounded healer has been through trauma of a personal nature, and has triumphed over that harm. The wounded healer found that there was no one outside of himself or herself who could heal this wound, and so had to rise to the occasion and become his or her own doctor. As a result, the wounded healer has the ability to heal others who have had similar wounds. The negative aspect of the wounded healer is a superiority complex.

Hedonist (Bon Vivant, Chef, Gourmet, Gourmand, Sybarite—see also Mystic)

The hedonist might often be seen as one who indulges in the pleasures of life, but in a positive aspect, the hedonist is the part of us that can embrace the good things in life and not feel guilty about having them. The pitfall for the hedonist is that he or she believes that spiritual ecstasy is being found in indulgence in the physical pleasures of life. However, sooner or later the hedonist learns that there’s more to life than indulging in all the good things of life and ignoring the most important spiritual lessons that he or she has avoided.

Hero/Heroine (see also Knight, Warrior)

The hero is the most famous of all the archetypes, and also the most desirable for each person to embody. Everyone envisions himself or herself as the hero or heroine of his or her life story. The hero is often faced with nearly insurmountable odds, but must aspire above these obstacles in order to enter wisdom and adulthood. The hero goes on a journey of initiation and then returns to the tribe with the prize of self-realization. The shadow aspect of the hero is one who takes advantage of and disempowers others in order to get ahead.

Judge (Critic, Examiner, Mediator, Arbitrator)

The judge archetype is the balancer of justice and compassion. Even a common person who finds himself or herself mediating between arguing friends serves as the judge. The shadow side of the judge is a person who is critical of others, judges without compassion, and doesn’t distribute justice equally, favoring some over others.

King (Emperor, Ruler, Leader, Chief)

The king archetype represents both cruelty and benevolence in their extremes. The need to rule and control is common to this archetype, whether it is the kingdom, a business, or a family. The king is also associated with royal blood, a sense of entitlement to all good things. A shadow aspect of the king archetype is resistance to criticism and suggestions from others.

Knight (see also Warrior, Rescuer)

The knight is associated with chivalry, romance, and being a protector of women and those who are disempowered who look to him for protection. The knight is also associated with loyalty to a king, carrying out the king’s orders and getting business done. The shadow aspect of the knight is portrayed by the black knight riding the black horse with loyalties to a questionable and cruel ruler.

Liberator

The liberator could be a great political figure who frees countries and nations from oppression, or it can be a single person on a smaller scale liberating another from negative thought patterns or self destructive tendencies. Spiritual teachers could fall in the category of the liberator archetype. The liberator can free someone from injustices, or from misconceptions that cause personal suffering. The shadow side of the liberator is one who frees others from tyranny only to impose their own tyranny.

Lover

This archetype is, of course, associated with romance, but is not limited to romance. The lover could be someone who loves art, music, etc. it is more definitive of someone who has great passion for something or another. The shadow aspect of the lover would be someone who is obsessed with his or her passion for something or another, especially another person.

Course Continued…

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