Archetypes: Who Are You? with Caroline Myss
June 5-9, 2013
Through the years, the subject of archetypes and the power of personal myths in our lives have become part of our every day conversation.People often call my weekly radio show to ask me questions about how their archetypes are influencing their relationships or their choice of occupations or their health.Many people want to know how their archetypal myths are playing a role in how they envision their creativity or their decision-making skills.These are not easy questions to answer in two or three minutes, to say the least.But such questions are indications that we are now living in a far more intuitively active society in which ordinary answers to the deeper questions about our lives are no longer sufficient.
In response to this changes in our psychic/social climate, I decided to write a second book about ten familiar archetypes that presented the characteristics of these archetypal patterns through a series of “life categories” every person can relate to in some way.These categories are: Life Journey, Unique Challenge, Universal Lesson, Defining Grace, Inner Shadow, and Archetypal Myths.The ten archetypes I chose are: Artist, Caregiver, Athlete, Rebel, Intellectual, Queen/Executive, Mystic, Fashionista, Visionary, and Advocate.I chose these ten archetypes as they embody the “social soul” of our present day society and therefore most people can identify with at least four of these patterns.
In this workshop, we will explore each of the ten archetypes presented in my new book, Archetypes: Who Are You?, using these categories as guides.Each archetype, for example, expresses itself through a specific Life Journey.The Artist yearns for expression in some form. Yet, does that type of expression necessarily come through painting or sculpture? Not at all. However, if you have the Artist archetype, you will have the impulse for “artistic expression” and that impulse absolutely needs to find an outlet.Many times a person with the Artist archetype ignores her inner Artist because there is so much uncertainty about the world or life of an artist. Yet, there are so many ways for a person’s Artist to find expression that are not typical.In this workshop, we will explore the many expressions of each archetype in relationship to your personal life, your occupation, your relationships, your health, and your future.
Or consider the dynamic Fashionista archetype that may appear to be new on the archetypal scene, but in fact, as I will share in the workshop, this archetype has a long history as a power force.Women throughout the centuries have relied upon fashion and beauty as personal negotiating tools, whether in royal courts or in private parlors.Fashion has always been understood as a statement of power. Many women are curiously amazed at how wearing even one item with a “fashion label” immediately shifts how they feel about their entire outfit. But that one fashion label item has touched the Fashionista in them. It’s awakened a sense of the “extraordinary” versus the “ordinary”, and isn’t that what the power of this archetype is really all about?
Even if you are not a pure “Fashionista”, believe me, you have had your moments of coming into contact with this archetype.The same is true for all of the other nine archetypes. Some of the people attending these workshops will identify with the archetypes as “life archetypes”, meaning that the archetypes are a part of their life long journey. They might be serious athletes, for instance, or professional Executives who really do have a sense of being a “Benevolent Queen” who cares for the people who work for her.Others of you may find that you relate to each archetype just a bit, and that’s equally valuable, as you will learn what it is like to recognize archetypal patterns and the power they have to influence your life. That insight alone is life-changing is the best way.
Finally, I’ve chosen to hold this workshop at Miraval, a lovely spa-retreat located an hour outside Tucson, Arizona, because the subject matter requires a smaller audience.This setting allows for an intimate group that shares four days together in a lovely atmosphere supportive of personal work.Miraval workshops are always exquisite experiences.