“By immersing ourselves into the death and resurrection of Christ through the Sacrament of Baptism, we are moved to free our hearts every day from the burden of material things, from a self-centred relationship with the ‘world’ that impoverishes us and prevents us from being available and open to God and our neighbour.” – Pope Benedict XVI – Message for Lent 2011

Granny says: “Do onto others as you have them do unto you” and the Gospels say “What you do to these you do to me.” So one has to say that the relationship we share with others reflects and affects our relationship with God and vice versa.

Archetypes provide symbols by which we are able to put our manner of relating into some perspective. In looking at these four archetypes the call of God to us as men is to renew our ways of relating with family, wives, children, workers and with Him in whose image we are made etc.

Let’s look at the archetypes of the man.

THE KING

The King is the source of order in what is his kingdom, his domain. If he is a wise and just king, the kingdom prospers, people eat well and are safe from harm and he is able to bring people together in the midst of conflicts. He is selfless, and puts the good of his people above his own needs. When the King grows weak however, darkness threatens the borders of the kingdom, the sun disappears from the sky, and the crops wither and die and is characterised by the man who is constantly overwhelmed by life – who can’t seem to find harmony or order – must develop the King energy, often in conjunction with Warrior energy to protect his borders.

THE KING IN DARKNESS

The Tyrant is the image of the king in shadow. The Tyrant, unlike the King, is not concerned, with harmony in the kingdom and his power is so fragile that he hates with a passion all new life. He does not realise that a King is merely a channel, and wants the power to be associated with himself. He will even develop attitudes that establish himself as a god – an absolute ruler. He is extremely sensitive to criticism, and will be deflated by the slightest remark, responding with rage, when what he feels is fear and vulnerability.

THE MAGICIAN

The Magician is the wise man, the sage, the thinker, and all knowledge that requires special training is his domain. The Magician has the capacity to detach from events – the chaos of the world – and draw on essential truths and resources deep within him. He thinks clearly in times of crisis, and enables us to take a broader view of things.

THE MAGICIAN IN DARKNESS

The Manipulator is the image of magician in darkness. His objective is to undermine others. He is willing to withhold crucial information, and works for others to appear inferior to him. The specialist knowledge he possesses makes him feel proud and gives him a feeling of being better than.

THE WARRIOR

The warrior is the embodiment of energy and is extremely loyal to his warrior code – which is his honour. The primary concern of the warrior is not his own comfort and security in pursuit of his goal not fearing what can lead to his demise. He is a mindful at all times of his limitations, and finds creative ways around them. The warrior is not bored by inaction – he is empowered by being called into action.

THE WARRIOR IN DARKNESS

The Sadist is the image of the warrior in darkness. The Warrior who leads an unhealthy life becomes detached from life leaving the door open to cruelty. Instead of protecting his primary interest is conquering. The Warrior is most vulnerable in the area of relationships, where he must constantly stay vigilant of his mind and emotions. Because of being so energised with things outside of him which he protects, he may tend to have low sense of self-worth, and will endure great self-torment on his way to burnout.

THE LOVER

The lover is into what feels good and desires for the most part everything to be beautiful. He is passionate, and delights in touching and being touched. He wants to always stay connected, and does not recognise boundaries. His need to see good and beauty in everything and everyone can lead such a man to painful encounters when he in fact meets darkness. The Lover is crucial in keeping the other archetypes energised, humane, and in touch with the ultimate purpose of love.

THE LOVER IN DARKNESS

The Addicted Lover is the image of the lover in darkness. This darkened state of life takes form in a quest mainly after satisfaction of his sensual desires. He may seem scattered because when he encounters what he thinks is uncomfortable or dark or ugly he moves to wherever he deems to be comfortable. This can make it difficult for him to settle in a fixed job or relationship.