Gaining A Deeper Way of Understanding Who We Are
Have you ever felt like there are patterns within you – recurring themes, images, or roles – that keep showing up throughout your life, even if you can’t always name them?
Archetypal psychology invites us to see these inner patterns not as flaws or quirks to fix, but as deeply meaningful expressions of soul. At its heart, this approach asks a profound question: What if your inner life has a symbolic shape? And what if that shape isn’t random – but is trying to tell you something essential about who you are?
In this post, we’ll explore how archetypal psychology offers a soulful lens for understanding your inner landscape – and how it connects to the idea of walking a purposeful path.
Prefer to watch or listen? This short video brings the ideas in this post to life.
Seeing with Soul Eyes
Much of modern psychology focuses on problem-solving. Archetypal psychology, first named by James Hillman, turns that on its head. It doesn’t ask, “How do we fix the self?” but instead, “How do we listen to the soul’s imagery?”
This approach draws on the legacy of Carl Jung, who believed we are shaped not just by family and society, but by archetypes – universal symbolic patterns that live in the collective unconscious. The Lover, the Warrior, the Sage, the Trickster- these are not just characters in stories. They’re active within us, colouring how we see the world and how we live our lives.
But Hillman took it further. He said we should stay close to image. To metaphor. To the poetry of the psyche. Rather than reducing our experiences to neat categories, we’re invited to let them remain rich, ambiguous, and mysterious. Because that’s how the soul speaks.
Archetypes as Soul Invitations
In response to the world we find ourselves in today, I’ve developed a series of Alternative Archetypes – soulful companions for those walking the path to purpose. These aren’t fixed roles you must grow into. They’re invitations. Mirrors. Patterns that help illuminate your unique way of moving through the world.
You might resonate with The Seeker, always drawn toward what lies beyond the horizon. Or The Truthteller, compelled to speak what others are afraid to say. You might feel a pull toward The Gardener – tending life quietly, persistently, in your corner of the world.
Not all of these archetypes have been made public yet. But even if you’ve only seen a few, you might already sense the power in having names for the deep inner energies that shape you.
These archetypes aren’t prescriptions. They’re descriptive: they help give language to the forces that already live within you.
The Inner Landscape as Mythic Terrain
One of the most powerful ideas in archetypal psychology is that your inner life is a landscape. Not a blank slate to be organized – but a wild, symbolic place to be explored.
In this terrain, you might meet:
- The Wilderness Dweller, who thrives on solitude and insight.
- The Spinster, who chooses sovereignty and soul over societal norms.
- The Visionary, who dreams a new world into being.
These are just some of the soul figures who may walk alongside you. And the terrain itself is shaped by your longings, wounds, patterns, and gifts.
When we begin to map this inner terrain, we stop asking “What’s wrong with me?” and begin asking “What story am I in?” or “Which archetype is stirring now?”
Why It Matters
Understanding your life through the lens of archetypes changes everything. It brings a deeper layer of meaning to your experiences. It helps you see the cyclical nature of growth – not as linear progress, but as a spiral path. And it allows you to meet yourself with more curiosity, compassion, and creativity.
You are not a machine to be optimized. You are a soul with a symbolic life.
An Invitation
If you’re curious, here are a few simple ways to begin exploring your own inner landscape:
- Notice recurring themes in your life story. Is there a role you’ve always found yourself in?
- Track your dreams or daydreams. What kinds of figures show up? What symbols?
- Choose an archetype from the ones that have been shared so far and reflect: How does this energy live in me? How might it be guiding me right now?
The soul doesn’t usually speak in bullet points or deadlines. It speaks in images, patterns, and longings. Archetypal psychology helps us translate those whispers into meaning.
And in that meaning, we often find our next step.
🌿 Explore the Alternative Archetypes
If this idea resonates with you, I invite you to visit the – a growing collection of symbolic guides designed to help you connect with your inner landscape. Each archetype offers a unique lens on purpose, depth, and soulful living. New archetypes are being added regularly, so feel free to return and explore what’s unfolding.
Because your soul has many faces. And each one may hold a key to who you’re becoming.