Essay 19 - Drilling Down on Archetypes

Archetypes are such an important element in the cultivation of personal meaning that they require some special attention. An archetype, in simple terms, is a primal pattern or primal model. It is, again simply, a basic pattern into which we can organize our experiences. The term archetype was popularized by Carl Jung in his work on archetypes of the personality. Jung identified twelve personality archetypes: Sage, Innocent, Explorer, Ruler, Creator, Caregiver, Magician, Hero, Outlaw, Lover, Jester, and Regular Person. Jung used archetypes extensively in his thinking. If you have ever been called an extrovert or an introvert, you are being classified using Jung’s archetypes.

But archetypes are, by no means, limited to psychology. Joseph Campbell used the idea of archetypes to explain similarities between mythologies. For example, Loki the God of mischief in Norse mythology is very similar to Hermes the God of mischief in Greek mythology. Similarly, Mars and Thor have a lot in common. You could say that they share the same archetype. We see this in literature with good guys and bad guys; heroes and villains and maidens in distress; greedy businessmen and selfless social workers; and so on.

Archetypes also extend into the mystical. Major Arcana Tarot cards represent archetypal stages on a journey of growth or exploration. Minor Arcana Tarot cards (roughly) examine each major archetype from different perspectives (feelings, duties, conflict, and resources). Nordic runes are also archetypes albeit simpler and cruder.

Archetypes are popular in pop culture and cinema as well. We have celebrities and rock stars who may or may not be at all like their images. The hero of a movie or book is compared to the hero archetype and may be demoted to a flawed hero. Archetypes are necessary in pop culture, literature, and cinema because they provide a great deal of intellectual economy. Good guys wear white hats. So, when you see a guy in a black hat, you know he is a bad guy. In fact, it would be almost impossible to understand a book or movie without archetypes.

Similarly, it would be almost impossible to make sense out of your life without archetypes. Archetypes can be the building blocks of cultivated meaning. So, if you are struggling to find or cultivate meaning in your life you may want to find some archetypes that resonate with you.

This essay is 398 words long and the audio is 3 3/4 minutes long.