Years ago, long before TikTok healers started handing out archetypes like candy and Instagram was flooded with “Find Your Inner Priestess / Pirate / Pancake” quizzes, I quietly came up with an archetype-based healing modal. Yes, me. Sitting in my sunlit room, probably sipping herbal tea and listening to chanting whales or moody cello solos, I channelled my forever besties (aka the Greek Goddesses) and mapped out an entire system. It is deep, it is juicy, and it works.
At the time, nobody really cared. Except maybe Jung, who was no longer available for collaboration, what with being both famous and deceased. So I tucked my little modal away like a secret love letter to the soul. And I watched as the archetype revolution began to unfold. Fast-forward to now: every self-development course and their mother’s shadow work workshop has its own archetype system. I mean, I’m delighted… but also… ahem... I was totally ahead of the curve.
So what is an archetype, anyway?
An archetype is a universal symbol, character, or pattern of behaviour that recurs across cultures and time, representing shared human experiences and emotions.
Think of them as the timeless characters or themes living in our collective imagination, like the Hero, the Wise Old Woman, or the Trickster.
They show up in myths, fairy tales, books, films, and even our own dreams and relationships. Carl Jung made archetypes popular in psychology, describing them as parts of the collective unconscious, deep, inherited blueprints of how humans perceive and navigate the world.
An archetype is that character who walks into your life (or your novel) and makes you go, “Ah, I know you. You’re the Wise Mentor / Hot Mess / Lone Wolf.” They've been around forever, like emotional Ikea furniture, pre-assembled templates for the human condition.
What’s funny (or slightly overwhelming) is how we’ve gone from a handful of classic archetypes (think Hero, Maiden, Crone, Trickster, Ruler) to an absolute buffet of archetype sets. We've got:
-Money Archetypes: Are you the Nurturer, the Maverick, or the Martyr with a shopping addiction?
- Sacred Feminine Archetypes: Your Inner Queen, Wild Woman, Sacred Slut, or Inner Nun are waiting to be unlocked via a $997 online course.
-Starseed Archetypes: Apparently, some of us are cosmic beings from the Pleiades, Andromeda, or other very glittery corners of the galaxy. (No passport needed.)
-Wild soul Woman Archetypes: Journey through the Forest, Desert, Ocean, and Mountain of your psyche—with comfy shoes and lots of journaling.
-21st-Century Archetypes: The Selfie, The Genius, The Bitter Old Dog. Equal part hilarious and disturbingly accurate.
-Business Archetypes: The Disruptor, The Visionary, The Spreadsheet Witch.
- And let’s not forget Systems Thinking Archetypes, which are like corporate Jungian fan fiction… “Shifting the Burden” and “Tragedy of the Commons” are oddly relatable if you’ve ever worked in an office.
Everyone and their business coach is dreaming up new archetypes, some deeply meaningful, others sounding like personality quizzes for enchanted forest residents or overworked marketing baits.
Now, I’m not complaining. Archetypes are fabulous tools. They help us understand ourselves and others, find language for our messy magic, and sometimes even heal. But let’s not forget: the Greeks were doing it way before it was cool. Hecate was guiding souls and burning illusions long before anyone typed “archetype” into a Canva template. And Artemis was running wild in the woods, bow in hand, long before “reclaiming your inner wild woman” became an Instagram hashtag.
So what does this tell us?
The proliferation of modern archetype systems reflects a collective desire to understand and articulate the complexities of human identity in contemporary contexts. While traditional archetypes like the Greek Goddesses have provided foundational insights for centuries, these new frameworks offer personalized lenses through which individuals can explore their unique experiences and aspirations.
In other words, archetypes aren’t going anywhere. They’re evolving, multiplying, cross-dressing, and becoming meme-able. And I, for one, welcome our new archetypal overlords. But let’s raise a glass (or a ritual chalice) to the originals. And maybe, just maybe, give a little look to that archetype model I quietly birthed all those years ago. Jung would’ve approved, I believe!
So... how do we actually work with Archetypes?
Glad you asked, dear reader. Because this is where the magic gets deliciously practical.
First and foremost comes the knowledge, the understanding of the hidden symbols, shadows, and powers of each Archetype. That’s exactly what I offer in my articles, videos, and yes, in the ever-so-revealing Goddess Quiz. When we learn about the Goddesses, when our unconscious is gently (or not so gently) lit up by awareness, it becomes conscious. And that’s when the real work can begin.
Once we’re clear on which archetypes are active, asleep, over-caffeinated, or throwing emotional furniture around, that’s when we can start tapping into the blueprint. We can begin to harness the power of each Goddess, not just as a distant symbol, but as an energy we embody, a force we live through, dance with, and sometimes gently ask to please calm the heck down before she alphabetizes your emotions and turns your altar into a to-do list…
Take Athena, for example. Too much Athena might show up as a hyper-organized, overly-rational spreadsheet queen who hasn’t cried since 2009. You know the type: goals for her goals, colour-coded calendar, feelings neatly filed under “maybe later.” Too little Athena? You might be floating in a sea of beautiful ideas with absolutely no structure, no plan, and a desk that’s become a chaotic altar to procrastination. Or maybe you’re biting your tongue in every relationship, unable to clearly express your truth.
Now… When you know Athena’s playing out of tune, you can correct that imbalance. Maybe you need to invite more Athena in: baby steps in planning, buying an actual calendar, tidying your workspace, claiming your voice. Or maybe you need to soften her grip by calling in another Archetype, say, Aphrodite with her invitation to feel, to flow, to luxuriate in beauty and pleasure rather than rigid control.
That’s what I mean when I say “tapping into the blueprint” or “incarnating the Archetype.” It’s not vague woo-woo. It’s a deeply embodied, down-to-earth, practical approach to living more fully, more wisely, more you.
And believe me, once you start working with these Archetypes consciously… life gets a whole lot more magical.
Ready to rise with the Archetypes?
I’ve created a unique healing model called Rise, designed to guide you from Earth to Sky, chakra by chakra, archetype by archetype. It’s a soulful journey through the 8 major Greek Goddess Archetypes, each one a portal to a part of you ready to be remembered, reclaimed, and reintegrated.
Whether we travel this path one-on-one or in a circle of sisters, we begin in the unseen: connecting with each Goddess in the invisible realms, then calling her forward into your awareness, and finally, into your daily life. This is where the magic gets embodied.
Rise brings together a delicious mix of healing modalities: meditation, guided visualization, womb healing, touch and massage, sacred food and clothing rituals, music, reconciliation with your menstrual cycle, oracle and tarot work, EFT, essential oils, Bach flowers, crystals, nature connection, art, journaling, affirmations, all embodiment practices and energy techniques tailored to each Goddess.
But I don’t just layer these tools randomly. I weave them intentionally, Goddess by Goddess, chakra by chakra, body and soul. It’s less like a checklist and more like a song, and you are the singer. This is not a plug-and-play toolkit. It’s a living, breathing journey where each element is chosen to meet you where you are and guide you where you’re meant to go.
All of it in service of one thing: helping YOU reconnect to YOUR Divine Feminine within.
Each Goddess lives within you: in your womb, your heart, your body, your mind, your soul. Through Rise, you’ll meet her. Embody her. And thrive.
Curious to explore this transformative journey, this unique path of Archetype Magic and Holistic Life & Business Mentoring?
Start by taking the Goddess Quiz to discover which archetype is currently most alive in you.
Then send me a DM or visit my website. I’d love to walk this path with you.
Voilà.
I believe that is all for today.
I would be so happy to hear from you.
If this spoke to your heart, I’d love for you to share it with a sister, a friend, a fellow Goddess on the path.
I send, as always, love, light and gratitude.
Isaya
PS: I am now on Substack, sharing my writing adventures over there too… If you’re interested, you subscribe for free here:https://substack.com/@isayabelle
