Archetypes

“The archetype is a tendency to form such representations of a motif—representations that can vary a great deal in detail without losing their basic pattern. They are inborn forms of ‘intuition’, they are perceptions ‘a priori’, and even though the forms are unconscious, they nonetheless behave as if they were conscious ideas in that they seem to pursue certain goals. They are, indeed, an instinctive trend, as marked as the impulse of birds to build nests, or ants to form organized colonies.” (The Archetypes and the Collective Unconscious §91)

Anima

Mother

Wise Old Woman

Maiden

Animus

Hero

Father

Wise Old Man

Shadow

The Shadow is the unconscious part of the personality rejected by the ego.

It contains traits we consider undesirable—aggression, envy, weakness—but also creativity and vitality.

The Shadow is not inherently evil; it becomes dangerous when ignored or projected onto others.

Meeting the Shadow evokes resistance, but it is the first step toward real self-knowledge.

Shadow figures appear in dreams, myths, and relationships—often as enemies or rivals.

Integration of the Shadow is a key stage in the process of individuation.

one citation

"The shadow is a living part of the personality and therefore wants to live with it in some form. It cannot be argued out of existence or rationalized away." (CW 10, §455)

Imposter syndrome

The inner voice saying “I’m a fraud” masks unconscious fear of owning one’s power.

The ego clings to a self-image of inadequacy, while projecting competence onto others.

Impostor syndrome often reflects a disowned positive Shadow—unacknowledged strengths and capabilities.

Feelings of unworthiness signal a split between the ego and the fuller Self.

Recognizing impostor feelings as projections allows for reintegration of inner authority.

Individuation requires reclaiming not only the dark Shadow, but also our light and potential.

Traumatic bonding

Traumatic bonding occurs when intense fear and dependence fuse with emotional attachment.

“In some cases, the victim may unconsciously internalize or merge with the abuser’s Shadow, leading to dissociation, guilt, or distorted loyalty.

The ego identifies with the abuser’s power, disowning its own instincts for anger, survival, or autonomy.

This creates a psychological complex that traps the person in cycles of guilt, loyalty, and fear.

Traumatic bonds often form around archetypes of the Punishing Father or the Devouring Mother.

Healing requires confronting the projected Shadow, re-owning one’s strength, and breaking the illusion of dependence.

Trickster

The Trickster embodies the unconscious psyche in its raw, instinctual, and amoral form.

In Native American mythologies, the classical Trickster figure —chaotic, clever, and contradictory - is the Coyote.

He breaks rules, lies, mocks the gods, and often causes trouble—even when trying to help. He reveals what culture hides—our shadow, our hunger, our foolishness, our creativity...

Though destructive, he is also a culture-bringer, shaping the world through mistake and improvisation.

In Jungian terms, the Trickster is an archetype of transformation—a prefiguration of the Self in primitive form.

Child

Death

Self

Exercise 2

Create groups of three people. Choose maximum three archetypes and discuss:

how do these archetypes express themselves in myth / book / movie / artpiece of Your choice ?

is/are these archetypes somehow relevant to image encountered during the active imagination exercise ?