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Cindy's avatar

Beautifully said! I loved your separation of the image from the archetype - images can be archetypal, but they are not the archetype itself. Great clarification! I wonder what you think about the idea of possession by an archetypal energy? Thank you!

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Alyssa Polizzi's avatar

Archetypal possession would be an interesting topic to explore further in another article. The intensity of psychological energy that an archetype contains can be incredibly overwhelming. Without a strong ego to defend itself, the archetype can take over, driving erratic behaviors of all kinds. Mythically, it reminds me of the fit of madness that Heracles falls into when he is possessed by Hera, leading to the death of his family.

What are your thoughts on archetypal possession?

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Cindy's avatar

I think of it when the archetypal energy overwhelms the personality and takes over, like in cases of Mother energy that permeates relationships to the point where you are mothering everyone and everything without consciousness, choice and balance. You can see it in cases of gurus being posessed by the archetypal energy flowing through them and then identifying with it.

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