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!

Often portrayed as a young woman, the muse is not only the subject of art, but is an artist herself. She is a channel for vision, for dreaming, and for human ingenuity. She is expressive and open, and her energy is typically light but can change quickly. She calls to us to explore our deepest selves, and the truths of the Universe. The muse is usually associated with elements of light and color, and is thought to be one of the most playful and spontaneous of the archetypes. She may seem childlike at times, but represents our connection to our own inner child, and the freedom that comes with unfettered self-expression.

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:

• Maiden

• Lover

• Queen

• Muse

• Warrior

• Earth Mother

• Wild Woman

• Sage

• Huntress

• Healer

• Priestess

• 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.

When you feel like life has gotten dull, or you wish to reclaim your innate creativity, your inner muse may be calling out to you. She may invite you to put away your to-do list for a while, go outside, try something new, or learn something for the sheer fun of it. The muse is not motivated by money, power, or progress, but solely by the prospect of interacting with life in a way that is deep, rich, meaningful, and transformative.