Jung’s Map of the Psyche
Carl Jung (1875-1961) is a Swiss psychiatrist best know for his Map of the Psyche and his 12 Jungian Archetypes. His findings through a psychological analytical process significantly align with ancient spiritual teachings. He had suggested that the “Self” was coated in layers of influence to what was portrayed in the External Reality.
When processing his Map of the Psyche, our SW interpretation can be seen here. As a laments explanation of the ultimate goal for the spiritual “Journey to the Self”, it would be to understand and overcome the layers of influence as noted in this map. In spiritual teachings, the “Ego” is made up of all of these layers and is considered “I”.
Facade : The person we show others.
Ego : Our known personality traits.
Shadow : The personality traits we suppress or reject.
Personal Unconscious : Karma in Sanskrit is translated to accumulations of experience. These can be genetic traits or traumas. It could be cultural and societal upbringing. This is where both nature and nurture meet without argument.
Complexes : Accumulated personality traits from the external reality. They are derived from environmental conditioning that you are exposed to.
Collective Unconscious : Understandings and purposes that are not within our conscious knowledge. These are reasons for being alive. This unconscious knowing is attributed by the 12 Jungian Archetypes.
The spiritual journey is a journey of self discovery. It is acknowledging the “ego”, understanding it’s qualities and letting it go. The ultimate goal being, enlightenment.
Anima : The Masculine Energy. This is referred to in many spiritual areas. In psychology it is the function of the Left Hemisphere of the brain. This is the practical, “doing” part of us.
Animus : The Feminine Energy. This is the Right Hemisphere of the brains function. It is responsibly for traits such as creativity and problem solving.
All of these layers are observed and experienced by the “Self”. It is the part of you that is reading these words and listening to the thoughts in your head about what you think about these words. It is your aliveness - what makes you animated.
THE GOAL
is to understand that you are not any of these layers and you can in fact control all of them.
Before we talk about the Jungian Archetypes, lets talk about the four cardinals that Jung assigned them.
In the 19th Century, contrary to modern psychological assignment to these cardinals, Cardinals referred to directions of North, South, East and West. They were named Order, Freedom, Social & Ego. SW’s interpretation of the 12 Jungian Archetypes and their associated cardinals are that much like a compass. Modern psychology had interpreted Jung’s findings to believe that each individual is born with specific characteristics that form our personalities at the Collective Unconsciousness level.
In alignment with spiritual practices, what if it’s not that we are born with some. But we are born with all.
The spiritual journey is about deciphering the layers of the “ego” or our human. Shadow work, derived from Jung’s findings, is about uncovering and embracing our “disliked” parts of our personality. With this in mind, what if the archetypes are what make up a “whole” soul. Since the spiritual journey is about embracing all that this human experience has to offer. What if, the cardinals are the direction we aim our journey in at that point in time. So, we possess all the necessary traits that make up “the human experience” and the journey to achieving a holistic human experience is by embracing all of these traits. We are aware that some people are more in tune with some traits than others. HOWEVER, that is the journey of the soul. To recognise that we are in control of this. The journey and the difficulty (similar to a game easy vs. hard), we select is based on which traits we aim our awareness on and look to harness. Because we are all capable of all of them.
The Jungian Archetypes were observed by Jung in the 19th Century. Our research into modern psychological interpretation appeared out of alignment with the spiritual intention. Each archetype when translated from 19th Century association to modern interpretation it seemed inappropriate. Further, modern psychology had interpreted some archetypes as “desires” as opposed to personality traits. SW have included “Personality Traits” as a modern interpretation of Archetypes to emphasise Jung’s intention. The out-most words are the original Jungian suggestions, the inner circle in pink are the present day interpretations. Our hope is that your own association with each Archetype has more clarity and upon introspection you can identify which traits are stronger and weaker on your journey.
The Innocent Archetype is an example of misinterpretation. In the 19th Century, this word was associated with children and purity. Not safety or a need to be protected. Being associated with the Cardinal, Freedom, the spiritual interpretation of this would be that when you are a Pure spirit you have a sense of freedom that no one can disturb within you. Safety or a need to be protected disempowers you and attributes a personality trait with the external reality. Which is not Jung’s intention.
An example of my weaker personal Archetype would be Everyman. In 19th Cent. this referred to “the common person”. I assume this would be interpreted as those that “fit in”. I do not identify as one of those people. Psychiatrists have labelled this personality trait as Otroverted.
‘An “Otrovert” embodies the personality trait of non-belonging: remaining an eternal outsider in a communal world. Unlike those with relational disorders, otroverts are empathetic and friendly, yet struggle to truly belong in social groups, despite no apparent behavioural distinctions form well-adjusted individuals.’ - Dr Rami Kaminski
Personally, I have differences to the defined “Otrovert” that I have identified when reading Dr Rami Kaminski’s book, “The Gift of Not Belonging”. Though, many similarities. I have people pleased and struggled through small talk my entire life. I have learnt in order to blend with “the common person” and belong in society, embracing my other Archetype traits encourages myself to feel comfortable belonging. I have found that I now belong in most places through discovering others that also do not feel that they are “common people”. There are many of us.
