Archetype

Archetype - The elements of personality and behaviour

Each individual's personality is comprised of four primary archetypes: the Shadow, the Anima, the Persona, and the Self. These archetypes serve as templates for our behavior, shaping our thoughts and actions. By exploring their roles within our psyches, we can modify our behavior to realize our full potential in life.

The Shadow embodies personal qualities that we deny, suppress, or overlook, relegating them to the unconscious realm. This archetype symbolizes the darker aspects of the psyche, encompassing elements of wildness, chaos, and the unknown. These rejected traits or desires often resurface in our dreams, reflecting our unconscious struggles.

The Anima represents the feminine aspect of a man's unconscious, while the Animus embodies the male aspect of a woman's unconscious. Integrated individuals embody a balance of both feminine and masculine energies, though imbalances can lead to stereotypical behaviors.

The Persona is the mask we wear to present ourselves to the world, derived from the Latin word for "mask." We adopt various personas in different social contexts, such as at work, with family, or at social gatherings. Our personas are shaped by societal approval and disapproval, with the shadow formed by repressed traits and the persona influenced by overemphasized qualities, including a tendency to please others.

The wise man or woman archetype often symbolizes the Self, representing integration and wisdom. Dreaming of such a figure suggests alignment with the path towards self-realization and wholeness.