A psychic archetype represents a core energy expression that we believe defines our psychological and spiritual journey, in this, past and future lives. Although we practice different forms of life, such as being a soldier or a doctor, we may realize that we are a certain archetype, namely the Warrior or the Healer.
This article explores the psychic archetype of the Warrior.
One archetype, many guises
History is full of warrior priests and soldier healers (medics). Teachers can be athletes and athletes can be teachers. We can wear many guises over the course of our lives, but we usually operate from a single psychic archetype.
Sometimes necessity and circumstances can force us into a guise that is far removed from our spiritual purpose, it will seem. If we look closely enough at our actions under any circumstance, we will be able to see the consistent psychic imprint of our representation.
I have a varied work history including construction, website design/management, teaching (college English), and now spiritual consulting. With each iteration of my work opportunities, I repeatedly found myself in the same role… as a spiritual and emotional advisor to those around me.
The warrior
I’ve had my fair share of experiences with cops, lawyers, bouncers, military personnel, etc., but only a few were warriors. True warriors have a tremendous sense of duty, extremely high combat intelligence and intuition, intensity and courage. Their ability to know how and when to fight are some of the traits that define their type.
Warriors exist outside of the combat professions and can be found in any profession, as can all archetypes. Their ability to act directly, decisively and aggressively applies to the physical body, emotions and psyche. When we need some form of protection and we cannot reach the state of security on our own, Warriors provide the energy, knowledge and action to help us.
Each archetype travels through lifetimes gaining experience within and beyond its ideal representation to enjoy and understand the full range of human experience, while learning lessons related to completing his or her work and/or the fact that he or she is prevented from completing his or her work. Lessons flow both ways, but they don’t have to.
The ideal society (utopian vision)
It is really not difficult to imagine an ideal society in which everyone discovers his or her psychic or spiritual archetype and is given a way to express that archetype through work and interactions with the other archetypes in the world. Creating such a world would require a wholesale and comprehensive acceptance of the balance between science and spirituality, between creativity and necessity, and between compassion and integrity.
Reality is an ebb and flow of balance, imbalance and rebalancing, and that is where all learning for the spiritual soul that inhabits a human or animal body teaches lessons not found in utopian visions or in the spirit realm. We choose to be here; and psychic or spiritual archetypes indicate that we choose a singular type of role so that we can experience true mastery.
Are you a warrior?
Each archetype has definable and distinguishable properties.
Attracted to competition
Competition is a situation in which we strive to win or gain something by defeating or establishing superiority over others who are trying to do the same. Warriors love to test themselves against other warriors.
Combatants ‘move’ towards conflict; they are not repelled or afraid of it. They are attracted to and invite challenges to find the measure of themselves and others. Warriors do not fear death or failure; instead, they respect and honor it, both as a necessity for the life cycle and as energy for their purpose.
Drawn to training
Training is the action of learning a skill or type of behavior. The Warrior moves through the world and “activates” when he can hone his combat skills and knowledge and test his strength. As a society or community, we want Warriors to be ready for battle and physically placed in locations with good access and central location so that those in need can find and receive help from them.
His scholars and ‘doers’
Warriors, like all archetypes, seek to master their craft, which sets them apart from other archetypes who may perform the same practices, but not from the same place of soul and spirit. A surgeon can be a warrior, who sees illness or injury as the enemy he must fight and defeat.
The best warriors master action knowledge: they study the science of decisive action and acting under high stress, including training in many forms of warrior work, tools and techniques. Warriors are “doing” people, who benefit from clear direction in situations that require action, and no discussion (unless it’s a combat conversation).
The “willing to act” part of the Warrior is the defining quality that sets him or her apart from other archetypes that fill the same roles. The motivations are different and more unique than the practices for each archetype. All archetypes can learn to defend themselves and fight to help others, but their motivations will be different.
The Warrior is motivated to connect with the fear, worry, and anxiety that accompany security threats and use their skills and drive to protect others and triumph over those who wish to harm them or those they protect. Warriors understand the power of confident thinking as part of the fighting process; Doubt and hesitation can get you killed or injured, so acting with confidence best serves and defines this archetype.
Are direct
Results matter for the Warrior class; they work best with objectives. They know they are weapons and want to be used or act as such. In their highest form they can be understood as the moral soldier, operating above and beyond the patriotism of any nation. During peaceful times they will train and compete so that they are ready to spring into action when real life moments call for their skills.
The Warrior can show others what is needed and how to take action when there is a threat or ‘no other choice’. This path through the world is fundamental in helping them understand their place in the scheme of the community of archetypes.
