Your Archetype is...
The LOVER
"Be with someone who understands how rare your love is.”
- r.h. sin
Regardless of your unique personality or stage of life, studying archetypes can give valuable insight into your own strengths, challenges, and subconscious beliefs. Archetypes can hold up a mirror to our inner workings, allowing us to understand things on a deeper level, and finally take charge of our own destiny. You may notice that you naturally hold up the pattern of a particular archetype in your work life, or in your romantic life. You may also notice that you have an archetype or two that only become dominant in certain situations. You likely also have preconceived ideas or judgments about some of these archetypes, and these learned biases may also influence your behaviors. Working with this psychological philosophy can be very eye-opening!
The lover archetype is naturally charismatic, and oozes sensuality. Her radiance and charm draws people into her orbit, and she delights in flirtation and everything romance. Beautiful colors, clothing, music, scents, foods, and physical touch are some of her favorite things. The lover is associated with the season of summer, the time when the earth’s fruits are ripe and juicy, and when many of us savor the most relaxation and leisure time. Deep reds, purples, pinks, and golds often surround the lover, and she’s usually depicted wearing fine clothing- the vision of sumptuous, tactile, luxury.
The Lover at a Glance
If your archetype is the Lover, the following characteristics apply to you:
- confidence
- enthusiasm
- sensuality
- playfulness
- a sense of adventure
- honesty
- vulnerability
- trust
- acceptance
- selflessness
- curiosity
The Magic of the Lover
Because the lover is an object of lust and beauty, this archetype is common in art and culture, including our current pop media. Going back to goddess mythology, there are many that fit the lover archetype, including: Aphrodite, Venus, Ishtar, Inanna, Astarte, Freya, Isis, and Hathor. The lover is similar to the muse archetype, since she often inspires others to write poems and songs, or create art in homage to her beauty. She’s also similar to the temptress archetype, in that her charms may incite others to behave in ways the normally may not, for better or for worse. But overall, the lover is a peaceful woman who graces others with her full, passionate presence.
About Archetypes
Deep within our collective subconscious lie certain patterns of belief and behavior. These patterns, or archetypes, are the universal symbols of our innate, unlearned human experience. Most of us carry a bit of all of them, and these archetypes may ebb and flow throughout our lives, offering unique wisdom that is useful for situations we find ourselves in. We also tend to advance through some of these archetypes as we age. It was Carl Jung who brought the concept of archetypes into the practice of psychology, offering that all of us travel through archetypal experiences in life, echoing the rhythm of the collective unconscious.
Can You Imagine a World Without our Unique Differences?
As women, we often find ourselves put into boxes by our culture. Other people may try to stuff us into certain stereotypes, more so than they might for a man.
One example of this is the classic “Madonna-whore complex,” which pits women into either being saintly and respectable, or sensual and fun. Many women find themselves caught in this false dichotomy, which can be disempowering, and fails to recognise the value and presence of all archetypes within each woman.
None of the feminine archetypes are “better” or “worse” than the others; each has their own power and their own strengths, which we can fully embody as we study them.
All women have a complex inner world, while also operating as a part of the overall feminine consciousness.
The Power of Knowing your Archetype
In Jungian psychology, there are 12 archetypes, and you can find many variations of these in other philosophies, including goddess mythology, ancient spirituality, and other practices.
In the Soulwoman Circles we study 12 archetypes as they pertain to the feminine experience. You will likely resonate with many of them, and be able to see them in other women too. We explore the following archetypes, get to understand what they have to teach us, and how to embody their energies in an empowering way:
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Maiden
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Lover
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Queen
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Muse
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Warrior
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Earth Mother
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Wild Woman
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Sage
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Huntress
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Healer
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Priestess
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Temptress
Each of these archetypes represents a certain aspect of the collective personality, and each archetype carries its own basic human motivations, its own set of values and desires, and its own weaknesses. When we can truly understand the inner workings of each archetype, we can finally come in tune with our own behaviors, and the underlying drives that we feel. When we can see each archetype for what it is, and identify their motivations, we can get some space from our own thoughts and anxieties. This offers clarity and peace, and a roadmap of sorts, showing us the way through our current situation.
It can be fun to play with archetypes too; you’ll notice them show up as characters on your favorite show, or in a book you’re reading. You’ll notice them in your friends and loved ones. And of course, you’ll notice them in yourself, as you explore your subconscious workings and find your unique path to personal power.
We can work with the archetype of the lover whenever we wish, but especially when we are feeling unwanted, undesirable, creatively blocked, or disconnected from others. She invites us to invest in our own sensual self-care, to shine our lights brightly, and to show up fully for those around us. The lover archetype can offer insights into your relationships with your partners and friends, as well as the relationship you have with yourself. She calls you to step forward, claim your sexual power, and celebrate the unique and vibrant person that you truly are.
For more information on your Archetype, remember to download the eBook!
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Meet the Soulwoman Sistas!
Sisters by Chance, Best Friends by Choice...
Dr. Mia Rose is a registered psychologist in Australia and author of the prize-winning book, Awaken to Love. She is the founder of the Soulwoman Circles, and holds the Space of Transformation for women who yearn for connection in the warm embrace of a supportive sisterhood.
Karen, Mia's biological sister, is the Creative Muse and Chief Cheerleader in the Soulwoman Circles. Her commitment is to support women to create a blissful, purposeful life for themselves by aligning with Self, Spirit and Mama Earth.
Mia and Karen lead women in Circles and on sacred retreats worldwide to help them step into their own power and say YES to life.
