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!
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.
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.
This has been a brilliant read and I’ve restocked sections not once but twice as they resonated with me, my own work and lived experiences. Thanks for this.
‘As innate patterns, Jung saw archetypes as inextricably linked to the body. Soma and psyche are not split, but rather, exist on an intertwined continuum that can swing to the somatic end in the form of instinctual actions, felt-sense perceptions and physical processes or to the psychological end in the form of symbols, images and thoughts.’
This has been my experience. Soma and psyche are not split. You’ve explained this so artfully here ✨
This really helped click it into place for me: “Archetypes are vessels waiting to be filled with the conscious contents of our experience. The shape of the container is something sacred to behold. It is paradoxically numinous and awe-inspiring to interact with and exceedingly mundane. Each of us are a tapestry of archetypal forces which are constantly blending, overlapping, exciting or depressing the psyche.” Thank you!!
I love this post!!! We can learn so much about ourselves through the process of exploring embodiment and how archetypes are showing up in our lives. Great piece!
Yes, the embodiment piece is not something that is always talked about, but it can reveal a great depth of insight into ourselves, just as archetypes, dreams, intuitions, etc.
I think when we take a step back and really look at our behaviors, patterns, what feels stuck or hard to attain, the statement that archetypes/complexes "have us" rings as true. There's only so much conscious control we can exert on these psychological dynamics, they clearly have a level of autonomy that we cannot override! It's why building a relationship to them is so important. The more aware we become of the subtle influences, the more we can bridge our conscious actions to them.
Yes, that shapeshifting aspect really is destabilizing. It really solidifies the mercurial nature of the unconscious. The belief of linearity (a chief belief of ego, I think) dissolves quickly, and yet, I find the more I engage with the unconscious, the better able I am to surf the waves and understand it's unique currents.
Are there any other Jungian concepts or misconceptions you'd like to see me cover in this series?
Reading Jung and von Franz often leaves one wondering...well, how do I apply this in practice? There's a lot missing in terms of formal, practical instruction (and that was intentional, at least on the part of Jung). If you feel called to formulate that into an inquiry for my Q&A series, I'd love to reflect on it further and perhaps provide some steps or insight. Here's the link to the form if you like: https://www.theartemisian.com/i/141125841/archetypal-guidance-q-and-a
Anima and Animus is really tricky, I'll add this to the list!
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!
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?
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.
This has been a brilliant read and I’ve restocked sections not once but twice as they resonated with me, my own work and lived experiences. Thanks for this.
Glad you're finding it to be such a useful resource :)
Incredible work xxx
Thank you :)
‘As innate patterns, Jung saw archetypes as inextricably linked to the body. Soma and psyche are not split, but rather, exist on an intertwined continuum that can swing to the somatic end in the form of instinctual actions, felt-sense perceptions and physical processes or to the psychological end in the form of symbols, images and thoughts.’
This has been my experience. Soma and psyche are not split. You’ve explained this so artfully here ✨
Thank you :) It's been my experience as well!
Love this ✨
This really helped click it into place for me: “Archetypes are vessels waiting to be filled with the conscious contents of our experience. The shape of the container is something sacred to behold. It is paradoxically numinous and awe-inspiring to interact with and exceedingly mundane. Each of us are a tapestry of archetypal forces which are constantly blending, overlapping, exciting or depressing the psyche.” Thank you!!
Thank you!
You're welcome! I know getting at the core theory can be tricky.
Are there any other Jungian ideas you'd like to see me cover in this series?
Excellent explication, Alyssa. Thank you.
Thanks, Frances :)
I love this post!!! We can learn so much about ourselves through the process of exploring embodiment and how archetypes are showing up in our lives. Great piece!
Yes, the embodiment piece is not something that is always talked about, but it can reveal a great depth of insight into ourselves, just as archetypes, dreams, intuitions, etc.
Thanks for reading :)
Thanks, Deryn :)
I think when we take a step back and really look at our behaviors, patterns, what feels stuck or hard to attain, the statement that archetypes/complexes "have us" rings as true. There's only so much conscious control we can exert on these psychological dynamics, they clearly have a level of autonomy that we cannot override! It's why building a relationship to them is so important. The more aware we become of the subtle influences, the more we can bridge our conscious actions to them.
Yes, that shapeshifting aspect really is destabilizing. It really solidifies the mercurial nature of the unconscious. The belief of linearity (a chief belief of ego, I think) dissolves quickly, and yet, I find the more I engage with the unconscious, the better able I am to surf the waves and understand it's unique currents.
Are there any other Jungian concepts or misconceptions you'd like to see me cover in this series?
Reading Jung and von Franz often leaves one wondering...well, how do I apply this in practice? There's a lot missing in terms of formal, practical instruction (and that was intentional, at least on the part of Jung). If you feel called to formulate that into an inquiry for my Q&A series, I'd love to reflect on it further and perhaps provide some steps or insight. Here's the link to the form if you like: https://www.theartemisian.com/i/141125841/archetypal-guidance-q-and-a
Anima and Animus is really tricky, I'll add this to the list!