When positive, having the Ruler archetype in your character armour enables you to become a good leader. If you are moody or cold-shouldered when you feel hurt it is because you have not learned to deal with failure and accept your own wrongdoing. Likewise, understanding the positive attributes of all the major archetypes will enable you to determine which archetypes are developed, which are dominant, which have possessed your ego and which you need to mature.

Jung believed all human beings possess some psychic energy or “archetype” passed down from generation to generation. When an unconscious content is brought to the conscious mind, you expand conscious awareness and enrich your quality of life. In fairness, there is an argument to say the magician archetype is the feminine aspect of the Sage’s masculine energy, whereas the Artist is masculine energy and thus is applicable to the mind – the Masculine Principle of alchemy. When the playful side of your nature is ignored and suppressed because your personality is dominated by a tyrant king, the jester will appear to make a fool of you.

Not only can loving someone too much lead to infatuation and suffocate your partner, but the intense feelings will inevitably lead to rabid jealousy, disappointment and petty arguments. By tapping into the infinite resource of the unconscious, the wisdom of the Sage appears – the next development of consciousness once you have mastered to control the inner powers of the magician. However, if this energy is a dominant force in your psyche, you run the risk of never settling down, starting a family and finding stability.

One point that is worthy of mention, is that if the outlaw archetype is present in a political leader that is also possessed by the tyrannical King, they may propose reckless changes that are not in the best interests of other people. The ‘mad scientist’ or ‘artistic genius’ that divorce themselves from society are possessed by the Sage archetype. The ones that intrigue, trigger, disgust, or enrapture you are the archetypes you need to work with the most closely. These are symptoms of an immature mind that has not outgrown the childish behaviour which makes the Jester archetype such an adorable character.The warrior can help you achieve your goals but unless the positive aspects of this energy are developed, the warrior archetype is destructive and harmful. The caregiver archetype is also known as the Great Mother that imbues unconditional love, compassion, dedication and patience. Attributes of the Ruler include good leadership, the ability to influence other people and maintain a likeable persona (ego). Alternatively, you may be interested in how you can use ancient symbolism to help you better understand archetypal energies. Whilst this newfound freedom or interest can bring joy, it may not necessarily help you to mature and develop conscious awareness.

Jung believed this wisdom comes from the collective unconscious – a second source of consciousness which is separate from the personal unconscious (subconscious). In the second column, I have named Jung’s original archetypes and stated which modern archetypes I feel closely resembles Jung’s original. We all have different balances of the anima and animus within us, and whatever balance that we are most comfortable with, and feel the most ourselves with, is absolutely fine! There may also be times when you feel vulnerable or dependent on others to make your decisions for you rather than voicing what you really want.

You must learn to accept other people’s opinions whilst having the confidence your opinions have value also.