An archetype is a recognisable pattern of human behaviour and psychology.

In other words, you might think of an archetype as a universal pattern of human identity and experience.

Archetypes appear throughout mythology, religion, literature, movies, dreams and everyday life.

The Hero. The Lover.

The Warrior. The Sage.

And the Magician.

We recognise these characters because they represent something already living within us.

They are not merely fictional characters.

Instead, they are expressions of human consciousness. And each unique expression follows a pattern.

Think of a bully, for example. Whether you meet one in the schoolyard or teaching a class through force rather than finesse, you recognise the same traits or qualities. Together, these form the pattern we know as the ‘bully’ archetype.

Each archetype sees the world differently.

Each has its own desires.

Its own fears, gifts and challenges.

Its own way of responding to life.

And its own language.

Recognising your inner archetypes

When you begin recognising these archetypes within yourself, your behaviour begins to make more sense.

For example, you understand why one part of you longs for security while another craves adventure.

Or why one part wants to care for everyone while another desperately needs freedom.

And why one part believes anything is possible while another prepares for disappointment.

These are not contradictions.

Rather, they are different aspects of you asking to be seen, understood and empowered. They are your inner archetypes making themselves known.

And though there is an argument to be made for there being hundreds of different archetypes, the easiest, most accessible and perhaps most beneficial way to understand and work with them is to focus on the Core Twelve.