Between reading
The Psychology of Transference by
Carl Jung and listening to leaked clips from
Tori Amos's forthcoming CD,
American Doll Posse, I have been surrounded by the idea of archetypes living within each of us lately.
It is said that, as we grow, we discover we hold dozens of archetypes within our beings, but there are twelve that remain in the "inner circle" for life. Through becoming aware of these core twelve, we can compartmentalize them, using them to our benefit by bringing them out in full force during situations where they are needed. This compartmentalization also helps us to keep them in check, knowing when and when not for them to be in a war with each other, or worse yet, against you.
There is a site that has a fairly comprehensive guide to these archetypes here:
http://myss.com/ThreeArchs.aspThrough my study of these, I have found my own "inner circle," the twelve faces of Jason if you will.
Here is my own personal "posse," in no particular order.
THE WOUNDED CHILDIn Entertainment:
Diana Scarwid in
Mommie Dearest,
Linda Blair in
The Exorcist,
Leonardo di Caprio in
This Boy's Life.
In Religion/Myth:
The Amazons, warrior women of Greek myth who, as children, had their right breast removed to facilitate the use of bow and arrow, their chief weapon.
Common Traits: Compassionate, Forgiving, Finger-Pointing, Resist Progress
THE CLOWNAka: Court Jester, The Fool
In Entertainment:
Barbra Streisand in
What's Up, Doc?,
Charlie Chaplin in
The CircusIn Religion/Myth:
Mullah Nasruddin, Sufi figure in Egypt, half saint and half fool, who acted like a ninny to teach wisdom.
Common Traits: With one comment, can make some laugh while others cry, Critical of hypocrisy. Masked, physically or emotionally. Allowed to cross the boundaries of social acceptance, representing what people would like to do or say themselves. Tendency towards cruel, personal mockery or betrayal, specifically the breaking of confidences gained through knowledge from the inner circle.
THE GUIDEAka: Guru, Sage, Spiritual Master, Evangelist, Preacher
In Entertainment:
Robert Duval in The Apostle
In Religion/Myth: Marpa, Buddhist master and guru
Common Traits: Insightful. Spiritual teacher. Sees the divine in every aspect of life. Self-disciplined.
THE WOUNDED HEALERAka: Caregiver, Nurse, Analyst
In Entertainment:
Ellen Burstyn in
Ressurection,
Barbra Streisand in
The Prince of TidesIn Religion/Myth:
Asklepios, Greek hero who later became a plague god, then the god of medicine and healing.
Common Traits: Once a Victim or Wounded Child archetype. Ability to heal, but often self-defeating in wanting to help only those who don't want to be helped.
THE LIBERATORIn Entertainment:
Tom Selleck in
In and Out,
Rosalind Russell in
Auntie Mame,
Sally Field in
Norma RaeIn Religion/Myth:
Jesus,
Muhammad and
Buddah. On the other hand, so was
Lucifer, a rebellious angel who refused to worship Adam or acknowledge the supremacy of God. In mythology,
Dionysus and
Eros, both bore other names meaning "the liberator."
Common Traits: Non-conformists. A desire to liberate the masses from tyranny or self-inflicted negative thought patterns and beliefs, spiritual sluggishness, destructive relationships and addictive behavior. Tendency to believe their way of life is "the right way."
THE ADDICTAka: Conspicuous Consumer, Glutton, Gambler, Workaholic
In Entertainment:
Leonardo di Caprio in
Basketball Diaries,
Dom de Luise in
FatsoIn Religion/Myth:
Tantalus, son of Zeus and king of Sipylos, invited to partake of "the food of the gods," but after abusing the honor was punished by being "tantalized" for all eternity by food and drink he could not reach.
Common Traits: Indulgent, Emotional, Extremely Intelligent
THE NETWORKERAka: Messenger, Journalist, Publicist
In Entertainment:
Stewart Peterson in
Pony Express Rider,
Jeff Goldblum in
Between the LinesIn Religion/Myth: Archangel
Raphael, Messenger of the Gods.
Common Traits: Brings information, inspiration and/or power to groups of people. Friends amongst vastly different groups of people. Social flexibility. Ability to find commonality with others who at first might not seem potential allies. Tendency to use others for personal gain. Prone to gossip.
THE PIONEERAka: Explorer, Settler, Pilgrim, Innovator
In Entertainment:
Judy Garland in
The Harvey Girls,
Jean Arthur in
ShaneCommon Traits: Desire to be groundbreaking. Interested in doing and creating what has not been done before, setting a trend, a new path for others to follow. Tendency to compulsively abandon one's past and move on, sometimes associated with The Seducer/Don Juan/Femme Fatale archetypes.
THE SABOTEURIn Entertainment:
Woody Harrelson in
The People vs. Larry Flynt,
Angela Landsbury in
The Manchurian CandidateIn Religion:
The Serpent, a figure who deceives humans, often sabotaging their only chance at immortality.
Common Traits: Low self-esteem. Blocks paths to hapiness and success out of fear that they will be taken away. Self-destructive.
THE STORYTELLERAka: Singer, Narrator, Actor, Writer
Common Traits: Prone to exaggeration. No concept of time. Teachers. Entertaining by nature.
THE STUDENTAka: Disciple, Devotee, Follower, Apprentice
In Entertainment:
Matthew Broderick in
The Freshman,
Audry Hepburn in
My Fair LadyIn Religion/Myth: The great sorceress
Medea, devotee of Hecate and Greek goddess of the crossroads.
Common Traits: Insatiable thirst for knowledge and self-growth. Pursuit of mastery. Tendency to invent new reasons to continue being schooled without ever putting their current knowledge to the test.
THE VISIONARYAka: The Dreamer, The Prophet, The Seer
In Religion/Myth:
Muhammad, the final prophet of Islam. In Greek lore,
Cassandra, the daughter of the king and queen of Troy, who was given the gift of prophecy by Apollo in an attempt to seduce her, but because she refused his advances he made all her prophecies fall on deaf ears.
Common Traits: Ability to see possibilities beyond the span of one's lifetime that benefit the all of society. Attune to divine guidance. Selfless, working on behalf of humanity. Often associated with psychic abilities.
P.S.: This entry was writen, as always by
The Networker, but relayed by information from
The Student. ;-)
P.P.S.: Through choosing the twelve, I was also forced to eliminate certain archetypes that I may have felt I identified with, but after close introspection found I probably just look up to. For example, I found that I am not The Artist, but instead the Storyteller, an art of its own of course, like anything, but this does not make one an Artist by the archetype's standards. (I didn't compose the brilliance, I'm just stepping outside of myself so I can embody it. A humbling discovery, to say the least.) In the same vein, I found I am not the Mystic (devotes majority of their day if not all of it to ascension to the divine realm), but the Guide and the Visionary. Anyway, I found it's really quite helpful knowing what you're not, too!
JASON'S OTHER SITES:JasonCurious.com JasonSechrest.comDV8Entertainment.comRELATED SITES:Kabbalah.com72.com - Technology for the SoulThe Zohar - Weekly StudiesWeekly Kabbalah WisdomWeekly Kabbalah AstrologyExclusively Kabbalah GroupThe LogosNew World AstrologyKabbalah 4 AllSpiritualityforKids.comHave questions? Need advice? Want to share? EMAIL Jason at jason@jasonsechrest.com
Questions. I have them.
