Archetypes

According to Jungian Theory, archetypes are, “Collective universal patterns or motifs which come from the collective unconscious and are the basic content of religions, mythologies, legends, and fairytales.”  They emerge in individuals through dreams, visions, and their effects appear in Consciousness as images and ideas.  

An archetype can be said to express the presence of a divine force within the human soul that manifests itself in all of the typically human patterns of thought, feeling, imagery, and behavior.  Human instincts are but one of its manifestations.  According to Jean Shinoda Bolen [who wrote, Goddesses in Every Woman and Gods in Every Man -- but presumably not the obvious sequel, Demons in Every Child], the ancient Greeks used a deity to mirror every state and capacity, every mood, thought, act, and experience of the human being.  

Such an exercise can be psychologically helpful, even if the Gods and Goddesses so used turn out to be more than Mythology, and in fact, were living, mortal beings.  In the latter case, it might be wiser to think of the immortal archetypes as mortal mentors, the latter deserving of a substantial amount of respect.  Such respect can be demonstrated most effectively by fashioning one’s life after the characteristics of one’s selected deity(s).   

To aid the reader in this new quest, the following is a listing of the archetypes (mentors!) and their unique characteristics, as have come down to us from Greek Mythology.  Also included, however, are two Sumerian mentors (archetypes?) which represent, perhaps, the more complete being -- the greater picture in effect before the loss of power and splitting off of the different aspects (the specializations) due to the actions of the patriarchy.  

Accordingly, choose both your archetype (what you’re probably currently acting out) and your mentor (what you might like to become).  

Gods and Goddesses in Everyone

(taken in part from Jean Shinoda Bolen)  

Aphrodite -- Aphrodite was one of the three virgin goddesses.  [Only virgin meant, “beholden to no man”.  Slightly different from the current mistranslation!]   

Aphrodite was the Goddess of Love -- the sexual, romantic, platonic, soul connection, deep friendship, rapport, and empathic understanding type, with a desire to know and be known.  Her consciousness was focused, yet receptive, taking in what was attended to, what was affected by.  Her style was to be genuinely, momentarily involved in whatever interested her.  She attended to another person as if he or she were fascinating, beautiful and profound.  She was always present in creative work (including solitary work), and facilitated change and growth.  “Whenever Aphrodite consciousness was present, energy was generated: lovers glowed with well-being and heightened energy; conversation sparkled, stimulating thoughts and feelings.”  

Aphrodite as mentor was [and as archetype, is] possessed of the power to transform and was never victimized, valued emotional experience with others more than independence from others or permanent bonds, sought to consummate relationships and generate new life, was a vision carrier with the power of positive expectations on the behavior of others, enjoyed love and beauty, sex and sensuality, was demanding, creative, fell in love often and easily, was loaded with sex appeal, and became a tremendous force for change (because of her passionate creativity), had intense relationships, enjoyed the moment, attractive with a natural unselfconscious sensuality, an innocent flirt, not focused on long-range academic goals or career, unemotional work of no interest, preferred variety and intensity, gravitated toward men who were not necessarily good for her or to her (but may have made major changes at mid-life: ready to settle down with a better choice of males), and had a tendency to act on desires without considering the consequences.  

Artemis -- another of the virgin goddesses.  Artemis was independent, nonrelational, untouched by the heat of emotion or passion, not moved by love, sexuality, or infatuation, one-in-herself, belonging to no man, with an active, focused consciousness, with little apparent need to become vulnerable (to give and receive love and comfort and support growth in others).  Artemis’ adaptation mode had been to separate from men and their influence, and join other feminists.  

Artemis was [is] the personification of the independent feminine spirit, capable of feeling whole without a man, seeking her own goals on terrain of her own choosing, the ability to concentrate intensely on whatever was important to her and to be undistracted (either by the needs of others or by competition from others), competent, capable of achievement, concerned for victimized and powerless women and young (including her mother), safe childbirth goddess, sister, back-to-nature, capable of at-oneness with herself, “moonlight vision”, active rather than passive, felt strongly about her causes and principles, interests of no or limited commercial value, competitive, individualist, recreational sex advocate, where relationships were secondary, sexual intimacy as another dimension of friendship, “Wonder Woman”, a female bear (protecting girls on the threshold of being women), could be very vengeful, could be merciless, needed to develop compassion and empathy, and “the Far-Distant Artemis”.  Mid-life made her more reflective (as the Goddess of the Moon, vice Goddess of the Hunt).  While Artemis might rescue women and feminine values from the patriarchy, she could also require women to sacrifice and devalue what had traditionally been considered feminine (receptive, nurturing, related-to-others and willing to make sacrifices for the sake of others). “Outrage at wrongs done, loyalty to others, strength to express a point of view, and a propensity to take action can be very positive characteristics of Artemis."

Athena -- Another of the virgin goddesses.  Athena was like Artemis, but in Athena’s case, her adaptation mode was identification with men -- she became like one of them.  She became, in fact, the “father’s daughter”, valuing rational thinking and standing for the domination of will and intellect over instinct and nature.  She was protector, advisor, patron, and ally of heroic men, ruled by her head rather than her heart, kept her head in the heat of emotional situations, was invulnerable, avoided emotional or sexual entanglements with men (but with whom she worked closely as companion, colleague, or confidante), she thrived in the business/academic/ scientific/military/political areas, knew the “bottom line”, went for the practical and pragmatic, not swayed by “unprofitable” emotions or sentiment, understood the value of having a mentor, expected two-way loyalty, Goddess of health, planed ahead, analytical, uninterested in feelings and people, an affinity for computerese, thought linearly and clearly, attention to detail, organized (er), accepted reality and adapted, attracted to powerful men (“power is the best aphrodisiac”) and usually chose her man (and planed his “capture”), deliberate rather than impulsive, lived in her head, lived for her work, and never a child (she was born an adult).  Her Medussa qualities manifest in her “ability to intimidate others and to take away the spontaneity, vitality, and creativity of people who are not like her.”  She enjoys the companionship of others, but lacks emotional intensity, erotic attraction, intimacy, passion, or ecstasy; thus spared the deep despair and suffering that may follow bonding with others or needing them.  

Hestia -- Another virgin goddess, like Artemis and Athena, but having an adaptation mode of withdrawing from men, becoming anonymous in appearance and alone.  Hestia focused, instead, on the inner subjective experience, totally absorbed when she meditated, sought quiet tranquillity, solitude, found keeping house a meaningful activity (kairos time -- participating in time) or even a form of worship, above and out of intrigues and rivalries, avoided being caught up in the passions of the moment, never elated or devastated, wise, detached and connected, centered, quiet, unobtrusive, warm, peaceful, self-sufficient, the original “old soul”, lacked ambition and drive, did not value power or recognition, viewed sex as a nice, warm experience, nonorgasmic, “still waters run deep”, rejected the intellectual and emotional forces that might pull her away from her center.  

Hera -- One of the vulnerable goddesses.  She was [is] relationship-oriented (dependent upon a significant one), had a need for affiliation, tended to experience powerlessness and responded with rage and jealousy, accepting, diffuse awareness. Fundamentally incomplete without a marriage partner, Hera yearned to be a wife, stately, regal, a Nancy Reagan, beautiful, honored and humiliated, with the capacity to bond, loyal, faithful, enduring, committed, predisposed to displace blame from her mate (on whom she was emotionally dependent) onto others, vindictive (a mental sleight of hand which made her feel powerful rather than rejected), derived emotional security from a high-status male, work was secondary, placed minimal importance on female friends (husband’s primary friend), preferred a man who was emotionally dependent upon her, saw sex as a duty, could oppress other women, could be very destructive, and judgmental of other women (and really hated Aphrodite types!).  He style of “limiting herself to being a wife results in limiting her growth and ability to adapt, if death or divorce brings her wife role to an end.”  She is only a half of a whole, fulfilling a culturally determined role.  

Demeter -- Another vulnerable goddess.  Demeter was [is] also relationship-oriented (and like Hera, dependent upon a significant other).  She had a need for affiliation, tended to experience powerlessness and responded with depression, accepting, diffuse awareness.  She was the epitome of the maternal, an instinct fulfilled through pregnancy or through providing physical, psychological, or spiritual nourishment to others, the provider (food and spiritual sustenance), nurturing, Mother Nature, generous, Lady Bountiful, dependent upon her maternal role (after which her life lost its meaning), solid, dependable, fertile, long-suffering, unconcerned with status, envious or jealous only with respect to children, mixed feelings about feminism and the women's movement, relied on women friends for emotional support (vice her husband), did not choose her mate, just as soon cuddled as made love, huggy, preferred breastfeeding to intercourse, and tried to be indispensable.  

Persephone -- Another vulnerable goddess, like Hera and Demeter.  She adapted to the experience of powerlessness by responding with depression, acceptance, and only a diffuse awareness.  She fulfilled the dual figure of the Maiden (Kore or young girl) and mature Queen who claimed for herself whatever she wanted.  On the one hand, she was carefree, compliant, passive, acted upon by others rather than active herself, did not know “who she was” and unaware of her desires and strengths, malleable, innately receptive, adaptable (to meet a man’s wishes), and unaware of her sexual attractiveness, innocent, lacked passion, nonorgasmic, demure, youthful, vital, young in spirit, receptive to change, willowy, conformed to circumstances or stronger personalities, open, flexible, uncertain of getting married (“bartered bride”), introverted or dormant sexuality, and the most indistinct and unthreatening of all the goddesses.  Sleeping Beauty or Snow White.  Persephone avoided anger, but could become narcissistic, devious, dishonest, and manipulative.  Her work was unimportant until she entered the underworld and became Queen -- whereupon she became possessive, creative, spiritual, psychic, artistic, unorthodox, deeply personal.  Only when she lacked someone to do things for her or someone to blame could she grow.  

Ares -- The rejected son.  He was physical, manual rather than mental, and motivated by emotions -- did not use his mind or words.  “Ares could be stirred to fight by rage or loyalty, using weapons for a destructive purpose.”  Often ridiculed or called names by others, his self-esteem was affected.  He was the son of a devalued, angry, impotent mom.  Ares is the image of masculinity, physical power, intensity, and immediate action; dancer and warrior, lover, loyal, in touch with his feelings and his body (good for lovemaking), often uncontrolled and irrational, brawler, emotional, protective of his children, assertive, active, embodied, reacted before thinking, capable of licking his wounds and going on, success often depended on luck (which then became a surprise to everyone, including himself), here-and-now, most compatible lover for Aphrodite, exuberant lover, neither planed on marriage nor avoided it, generous father, impulsive, lost out to his siblings, discouraged, and repressed.  As a developed lover, he was a man who loved to make love, a man who loved women’s bodies, a man who could spend hours making love, a man who preferred a grownup, sexually liberated woman who enjoyed sex as much as he.  In the patriarchy, his fate was often sealed by mid-life.

Apollo -- The favored son.  He was emotionally distant and mentally active, into words, negotiations, and commerce, well-traveled, but avoided physical conflict.  Apollo never had a wife or consort.  He was the patron of medicine, the instigator of Know Thyself, Nothing in Excess style thinking, favored thinking over feeling, distance over closeness, objective assessment over subjective intuition, sought clear definitions, valued order and harmony, and preferred surface over underlying appearances, not a dreamer, wanted to go, accomplish and win, All-American, minimal humility, fair-haired son (but never quite made it to the top), out of touch with feelings, preferred Bach, brother to his siblings, valued prudence, avoided physical danger, unriled by emotions, and preferred being an observer, ideal organization man, lacked passion with respect to women (not a lover) and preferred to control women (particularly psychic women who were his opposite), pursued in order to possess (rather than woo), could be underhanded, narcissistic, arrogant, and unable to be intimate.  George Bush (reminds women of their first husbands).  Unsuccessful in love, not sexually spontaneous.  Mother was probably physically undemonstrative.  His life mission was “I will reveal to mankind the exact will of Zeus.”  When he rose above his competence, trouble occurred -- he was unprepared to fail or falter.  When he defeated a rival, he showed no mercy.  A streak of cruelty, exercised within his legal rights.  To grow, Apollo needed a streak of Dionysus (a place for him to be honored, as at Delphi for 3 months).  “The woman who most needs to be liberated is the woman inside every man.”  

Dionysus -- Ambivalent.  He was [is] nurtured, mothered and fathered by Zeus.  Preferred to be with women and often came to their rescue.  Women liked his influence, while men reacted strongly with ambivalent feelings.  

Dionysus was close to nature and women, familiar with the mystical realm and feminine world, often an unwelcome and disturbing element, a cause of conflict and madness, “the god of ecstasy and terror, of wildness and the most blessed deliverance”, mystic or murderer, divine child (specialness of person or destiny), actively repressed in men, regularity and constancy were foreign, shaman, psychological androgynous, capable of major emotional shifts precipitated by minimal events, focused on the moment, dancing and lovemaking were especially important, intense, spontaneous, sought full sensual experience (all five senses), tantric yoga advocate, individualistic (not a team player), non-competitive, wildly promiscuous or celibate, erotic nature easily evoked, impersonal in lovemaking, sex experience more important than conquest, anorexic?, needed to leave behind the divine child image and become the hero.  Rescued his mother from Hades.  

In Greek mythology Dionysus was the only god who rescued and restored (instead of dominating or raping) women, who represent diminished earlier goddesses, and whose people and worship had been conquered.  “By ‘old boy’ standards, the Dionysus man is likely to be either too feminine, too mystic, too counter-culture, too threatening, or too attractive and too fascinating.”  

Hermes -- A favored son.  Emotionally distant and mentally active, well-traveled, into words, negotiations, and commerce, but avoided physical conflict.  No wife or consort.  Quick, mentally agile, wordsmith, crossed boundaries and shifted levels with ease, lucky, friendly, bachelor, united opposites, inventive, communicator of meaning, guide of souls, ability to think and act quickly (in order to achieve or deceive), rescuer of the child (saving what is innocent and vulnerable, or divine and sacred, by providing meaning for an otherwise terrible experience), problem solver (but seldom worried about right and wrong), messenger, trickster, wily, traveler between levels (integrated the realms of spirit, human life and soul), unplanned eloquence, spontaneous, acted on intuition, precocious, questioned the conventional rules of success, inventive generalist, charming, personal and experiential sexually, “Jack of all trades, master of none”, variety and newness may have overridden passion, the eternal adolescent living in the realm of possibilities, tended to rationalize.  Hermes introduced fluidity, motion, new beginnings -- and the confusion that almost inevitably precedes new beginnings.  A major way for Hermes to grow is through falling in love with a woman who thus becomes his Aphrodite.  She would become the challenge, someone he yearned for, and could not have immediately, who moved him, made him vulnerable and more sensual.  

Hephaestus -- A rejected son.  He was [is] physical, manual rather than mental, motivated by emotions, did not use his mind or words.  “Rejected and betrayed, Hephaestus put his feelings into the objects he made, using tools for a creative purpose.”  Often ridiculed or called names by others, yielding low self-esteem.  One who identified himself exclusively with his work, was at a total loss without it.  Craftsman, inventor, artisan, loner, unvalued and rejected by the culture, earthy, passionate, creative, intense sexual and erotic fire, deeply introverted but would suddenly and unexpectedly erupt, crippled craftsman (or wounded artist, writer, healer, inventor, manufacturer) whose creativity was inseparable from his or her emotional wounds, sensitive to impending conflict, peacemaker, hard physical work saved him from depression, strong feelings not articulated, instinctual in his creativity, ill at ease, inner directed, bottled up his feelings, monogamous and faithful and expected his partner to reciprocate, here-and-now intensity, lacked a basic trust due to maternal rejection and neglect, his memory was not facts but events colored by emotions, could be emotionally crippled, constricted in expression, and alienated from others, might have become the buffoon or clown (hey fes' tus), TV couch potato, the strong silent man stereotype.  Son of devalued, angry, impotent mom.  Given a genuine admiration for women with intelligence, assertiveness, or beauty, he was drawn to women with these qualities and then would often give them power over him.  Hephaestus didn't strike back with his fists; instead, he devised elaborate plans to humiliate his persecutors.  

Zeus -- As chief of the gods, Zeus was required to lose touch with the earth in order to gain an overview; to see the forest but not the trees.  The sky was also consciousness, “a perspective that exalts control, reason, and will.”  He was King, “a man’s home is his castle”, husband, father (children as extensions of himself), expected his wife to run the household and parenting (while he was minimally involved), protective, generous, and trusting toward many of his sons and daughters (although his generosity was motivated by his desire to control them and was tied to his expectations of them), sought authority and power, risk taker, entrepreneur, focused and single minded (the eagle), alliance maker, philanderer, ambitious, pragmatist (not an idealist), accepted the world as it was and wanted his piece of it, never an intellectual nor introspective, didn’t waste time on other’s feelings or dwelling on the past, “Power is an aphrodisiac”, everyone was expendable to him, but there is no profit in making enemies, the “alpha male” who had his pick of females, women were a “perk”, not a good lover, not passionate and didn’t bother to try to please women.  

Poseidon -- Brother to Zeus, but second rated.  His symbols were the oceans and horses, both symbols of the unconscious, the sea’s powerful moods: turbulent, indiscriminate, tremendous destructive force, flood-bringer and earth-shaker, “the undersea is the realm of repressed personal feelings and instincts, and the emotional realm we humans share collectively.”  The patriarchal culture allowed fathers as lord and master of their household to unleash fury there.  They were trained, in a world ruled by Zeus, to devaluate and submerge their feelings and instincts.

 Poseidon’s temperament was his most characteristic feature.  Bad-tempered, violent, vindictive, destructive, and dangerous, not content with his lot, lost out to others, plotted unsuccessfully against them, philanderer, rapist, fiercely loyal to his children, grudge holder, a placid sea which might erupt in fury, not a good loser, strived to be important (if not in the world, then in his home), sexually potent, indiscriminate and promiscuous, made no distinctions between young and old women, “the wild man at the bottom of the pool”, felt deeply and intensely, spontaneous, directly in touch with his feelings, physically demonstrative, didn’t plan (“It wasn’t raining when Noah built his Ark.”), academic achievement had little meaning, patriarchal attitude and emotionally powerful, capacity for loyalty and emotional depth, insensitive (he actually raped Demeter while she searched for Persephone), and vengeful (“an eye for an eye”).  Poseidon wanted to achieve positions with status and power that would be the envy of others, only to find that the power was personally meaningless.  Poseidon was Zeus’ shadow -- the emotional aspect of the father archetype that was repressed or buried, undeveloped and inaccessible in a man whose conscious identification was with Zeus.  

Hades -- God of the Underworld.  He was [is] grim, inexorable, sternly just, irrevocable in his decrees; he was not evil in himself, not an enemy of mankind, nor a tempter of evil.  His realm was the unconscious.  He was the god of riches, the cornucopia or horn of plenty, the unseen presence.  Human recluse, unaware of what is happening in the world, without a persona, invisible, without position or wealth, preferred the subjectivity and richness of his interior world, capable of “doing nothing”, a source of creativity, good counselor, Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde (Zeus and Hades), introverted, weak will or simply didn’t get-into-an-uproar, autistic, secretive, “different”, but with an inner orientation which conveyed strength and thus did not make him a victim, cut off from the realm of emotions, emotionally illiterate, dreamer (“Fantasies and active imagination are voluntary descents to be entered and left at will.”).  Both Zeus and Poseidon forced women sexually repeatedly, yet it was Hades who got the bad reputation; the others got away with it.  

vvvvvvvvvvvvvvv  

These then were the God and Goddesses of ancient Greece.  Choose your archetype (who you are most like) and your mentor (who you would like to emulate).  But before rushing in too quickly, consider the archetypes of Inanna and Enki, given below.  Having their heyday long before Greeks knew a comedy from a tragedy, they are more complete, more the generalists, and less the specialists.  They just might appeal to you as a mentor.  

Inanna -- Queen of Heaven and Earth. A symbol of wholeness, a many-faceted image combining earth and sky, matter and spirit, earthly bounty and heavenly guidance.  As Goddess of Grain, she provided the food of life as well as emotional nurturing.  Grains and legumes were said to pour forth from her womb.   The Me

As Goddess of Heaven, Inanna brought gentle rains, terrible storms and floods, and overcast skies.  Her radiant, erratic morning and evening star had the power to awaken life and set it to rest, to usher in and out the sun and the moon. She symbolized consciousness of transitions and borders, flexibility, play, and unceasing change;  energies which were never contained, made certain or secure.  Hers was The Me: the ordering principles, potencies, rites and talents of the civilized world.  She symbolized the feeling capacity to evaluate from a continually fresh viewpoint, to recognize life as a changing process.   

As Goddess of War, she was more passionate than Athena, possessed of the wild instinct of an Artemis.  She could be “all-devouring in power”, with an “awesome face” and an “angry heart”, yet singing with abandoned delight at her own glory and prowess.  Seven lions pull her chariot.   

As Goddess of Sexual Love, she was equally passionate, singing ecstatic songs of desire, self-adornment, and the delights of lovemaking.  Her chosen consort, she referred to as her “honey-man” who “sweetens me ever”.  More extroverted than Aphrodite [Geez!], she craved and took, desired and destroyed, grieved and composed songs of grief.  She claimed her needs assertively, celebrating her body.  Her receptivity was active.  She literally called to have her body filled, calling herself bridesmaid and hierodule (high priestess and ritual prostitute) of the gods.   

As Lady of Myriad Offices and Queen, she was healer, lifegiver, and composer of songs.  She created and gave birth.  The behavior of emotions were in her keeping -- loving, jealous, grieving, joyful, timid, exhibitionistic, thieving, passionate, ambitious, generous.  She was eternally youthful, dynamic, fierce, sensuous, the harlot-virgin, never settled nor domesticated, magnetic, yet independent.  Goddess of fertility, order, war, love, heavens, healing, emotions, and song, she was also the wanderer, searching for her home, her power.  Ultimately, Inanna was “the embodied, playful, passionately erotic, feminine; the powerful, independent, self-willed, feminine; the ambitious, regal, many-sided feminine.”  

Enki -- The God of Water, Wisdom, and Creativity.  “Lord of the earth”, wily and wise, equated with the scorpion, he lived deep within the abyss, sharing a bond with mother earth (his ancient counterpart) and with Ereshkigal.

As God of Water, he ruled the flow of both seas and rivers, his waters containing the engendering power of semen and amniotic fluid.  He was the flowing water jar, giving forth life.  His waters restored the wasteland, symbolic of the never-ending flow of life’s energies.  

As God of Wisdom and Creativity, Enki was the creative, playful, generative, empathic male.  Like Hermes, he included opposites in his realm and had no abstract, constricting bonds to the principle of law.  Creator of The Me, the ordering principles he shared with Inanna, he was nevertheless creative without being static, the culture evolver rather than the preserver of the status quo.  His wisdom was that of improvisation and empathy.  His bisexual consciousness allowed his penetration into Hades and the psychic components of human nature that derived from death. He trusted the fluidity, ecstasy, and lubricating acceptance of what was -- wisely flowing with, breaking up, and releasing the inertia and rigidity of the underworld.  

As God of Craftsmen and Artists, he was the creative sculptor god, “image fashioner”, “god of the original form”.  He improvised to create from whatever presented itself to whatever the moment needed.  He cared little for rules and precedents, finding ways around the chaos and impasses thus imposed.  He flowed creatively with life, holding the possibility of totally restructuring the system from his own impetus, often mediating between the patriarchy and the feminine.  He initiated new processes, often resorting to what was hitherto ignored, motivated by his emotions.  His potency was in the small “autonomous flickers of emotion, the gripping, vibrant, and painful concrete details, the compelling fantasies” that might easily have slipped by or been concealed.  

As “Patron of Therapists”, he accomplished the basic restructuring of psychic inertia, using whatever was at hand, improvising, taking a new and different perspective.  He felt for the plight of others and reverenced the cause, avoiding the adversary-scapegoating patriarchal perspective.  He found value where there was misery, viewed pain as a valid part of life’s process; thus permitting empathy and natural healing.  Enki was receptive, participatory, empathic, and accepting of life in all of its myriad forms.  

Ninki and Enlil -- For the sake of completeness, we might also mention two other deities from ancient Sumer.  On the one hand, Ninki is the mother, the creator of mankind.  She is the ultimate in female wholeness, the ecstatic pinnacle of Croneness, the incredibly wise Sophia, and quite likely, The Great Goddess.  As an archetype, however, she might be a bit too much to strive for.  Still, it’s always a good plan to stay on Mom’s good side.  

Enlil, meanwhile, the other half of the Enki and Enlil half-sibling rivalry can be summed up as Zeus and Apollo, with a bit of Poseidon on a bad day thrown in.  ‘Nuf said.  

Mythology         Gods and Goddesses

Forward to:

Ancient Myths         Heir Apparent         Return of the Goddess

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