What archetypal roles do you play that are dominating your life?
What beliefs do you hold that might be limiting you?
Carolyn Myss, in her book Sacred Contracts, says that we each assume many roles that make up the composite of our personality. These archetypal roles may include teacher, student, leader, seeker, healer, rescuer, femme fatale, priestess, mother, queen, etc. In our roles we frequently assume one of what Carolyn Myss calls the four archetypes of survival: the archetype of the child, the victim, the prostitute, and the saboteur.
The archetypes are intimate companions of our intuition and offer valuable information, as well as connecting us to the depth of our shadow. As the Magical Child we can be playful, spontaneous and creative, yet as the Wounded Child we may be sad, insecure and lonely. The Victim archetype makes us conscious of our vulnerabilities and fears. When we sabotage our opportunities or abort our dreams then our Saboteur is active. We have all experienced a time when we might have “sold” ourselves, or accommodated someone else’s interests over our own, for security, acceptance, or comfort – this is our Inner Prostitute at work.
In the roles we play we may embody one or more of these archetypes, or other archetypes, that are supportive, or detrimental. For instance, the mother who plays her role as Martyr, or the employee who plays the role as a Child, may be playing out the role in a way that is not only potentially harmful to themselves and others, but they are also limiting themselves in a role that is too small for whom they could potentially be.
Some of our roles are positive and aid our growth, like that of Teacher or Healer. Others become shields behind which we hide, such as the Victim, or the Damsel in Distress, which trap us in deceptively safe roles, which, in reality, are self-limiting.
We also harbor core beliefs, many that were formed when we are very young. John Bradshaw, an expert in child development and dysfunctional families, claims that most of our beliefs are formed by the time we are 6 years old. When our parents help us develop self-esteem and a good self-image, we can confront life’s challenges with confidence and resiliency. Yet when we develop limiting beliefs like, “I’m not good enough” or, “I can’t upset you ’cause you might get mad and stop loving me” or, “In order to be loved I have to be like you want me to be,” then we show up in life with insecurities and self-doubts that impede our potential.
When we hold beliefs that we are responsible for fixing the feelings of others, or that we are responsible for the behavior of others, then our own behavior becomes handicapped. We can’t live out our truth because we are too busy trying to figure out what others want from us, or how they want us to behave so we can be acceptable and loved. These core beliefs are buried deep in our subconscious. Many times we are not even aware they exist, yet they can dominate our lives.
If you remember from my article last week, Ereshkigal, the Queen of the Underworld, was in labor. She is metaphorically the mirror of Inanna, the earthy primitive shadow side of Inanna that is not sugar coated with niceties, who is about to give birth to the awakened, wiser Inanna. Anyone who has encountered trauma, like a divorce, or death, or who has hit “bottom” with a demon – be it a substance or some other form of addiction or obsession, knows that the bottom can feel very much like a death. It can also be a source of great knowledge, understanding and personal awakening.
This is the essence of Inanna’s Journey that I shared in last week’s article. Inanna hits bottom metaphorically when she confronts Ereshkigal in the Underworld and is hung on a meat hook. This is where Inanna confronts her own dark side and thus “learns the secrets of life and death.” Inanna returns from her journey reborn, with a new wisdom and clarity of vision because she has been willing to engage with her own shadow. She now sees through superficiality.
Inanna also realizes the value of her journey, and of the journey that each of us must undergo at some point in our lives. Dumuzi, if you recall from last weeks article, pleads to escape his own journey to the Underworld. He does not want to confront the darker side of reality. He prefers to be the coddled son/consort. But he can’t escape – no one can. We must all eventually confront our own shadow side.
What survival archetype(s) do you recognize as being prominent in your life? How is it hindering you? How is it helping you? What part do you play in your life?
If you have detrimental archetypes dominating your life, then contact me today for a complimentary 30-minute consultation. I would like to help you step into your full potential and live a more joyful life. Contact Joy at 415-819-8769 or email me.