Finding Your Archetypes For Personal Development

Who are you and what are you meant to do with this one precious life of yours? I think it’s safe to say, everyone has contemplated these questions at some time or another. For some, it’s a daily concern that brings frustration and anxiety with it.

One way to bring about a sense of fulfillment is by engaging in activities and work that utilizes your talents and gifts. This thought leads to more questioning: What exactly are your unique talents and gifts?

One why to find out more about yourself is by using Caroline Myss’ card deck called, Archetype Cards. Caroline Myss author of Sacred Contracts, is known for her personal development website. The 80 cards are beautiful with intricate drawings and lovely colors. There’s also a small useful instruction/guide book included in the box.

Archetypes are patterns of behavior and can be seen in the media today. For instance, many movies have The Hero, The Seductress, or The Criminal. These are a few examples of archetypes. Which archetypes are you? Are you a Healer, Pioneer, Visionary, Warrior, Leader, or Hermit?

To find your archetypes with the card deck, find a quiet space where you won’t be interrupted. Then begin by going through the 80 cards and sorting. Make three piles – “Definitely Not Me,” “Maybe Me,” and “Yep, This Is Definitely Me.” This intuitive process can take a few minutes or it can take hours. Everyone will approach this exercise differently. Each card explains the archetype in more detail as does the instruction book so you can choose wisely. If the “Yep, This Is Definitely Me” pile has about 8-12 cards in it, then you’ve found your core archetypes, thus, your core self. If you need to add a few more cards to this pile, sort through the “Maybe Me” pile. If you have way over 12 cards in the “Yep, This is Definitely Me” pile, then do another sorting with just this pile to get down to 8-12 cards.

Now that you have your cards, journal about them or speak to a life coach, therapist, expressive arts therapist, expressive arts coach, or art therapist about them. Or you can find a trained archetype reader on Caroline Myss’ website who can help you understand your findings more deeply. Be sure to keep your cards out so you can see them frequently and learn more about yourself. These cards can help you understand your gifts and help you find your life purpose.