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My guess is that it's just part of the experience and it does serve a purpose. Not everyone survives this hell, but those who does will never be the same. Its like a super big purification and transformation. If you love your ego then you have to play otherwise you die and your name would be wiped out from this dream.

@Nahm Thank you very much for the long comment, I am already feeling optimistic. I started reading your story but will finish by tommorow. Very interesting and I can very much relate to your transformation but I have a long way ahead of me. Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!

Personally I'd encourage them to understand that they don't need to avoid suffering. That they grow stronger when they are in pain. There is an analogy of a butterfly. During the transformation of the Caterpillar to the butterfly, the butterfly struggles to push itself out of the cocoon, developing strength in doing so. If you, being the kind hearted person you are, seen the butterfly struggling, and helped it out of its cocoon, you would actually be doing incredible damage to it. See the strength that it is required to summon, in order to push itself out of the tight spot...is the strength with which it survives after it leaps into the wild. Similarly, I think we are cutting our children out of their cocoons far too much these days. I'm not saying to be heavy handed, but wisdom is as important as love. And wisdom tells me, the harder that child is trained at a young age, the more robust it will be as an adult❤️

After having several peak experiences, I tried to meditate, contemplate and observe under weed. And that day I've had 5 major peak experiences (overwhelmingly intense, lasting several seconds and then closing up), several minor, and the ability to enter plateau experience (prolonged and at generally less intense connection to Being/Reality) at will. The level of consciousness outside of peak experiences was at times so high that it has brought me to tears in awe of experiencing reality, and just simply being. I'm still going through this transformation, but the main point is that I'm pretty sure that weed can act as a push that makes it easier to tune into connection with Being, provided you've already had some peak experiences. This is analogous to how having experience of 5-MeO (a peak experience) can alter your future experiences of regular psychedelics (with weed being a possibility).

So last night I had sex with this girl...and it was pretty bad. Empty, boring and kinda awkward. There was no real connection. It was just flesh rubbing against flesh. Now I'm left feeling unsatisfied and kinda dirty. I'm disappointed in myself for getting involved with this girl that I didn't even like really - just for the purpose of busting a nut. (Which I didn't. Could not cum. Was struggling to remain hard, even) I've been contemplating a bit and came to a conclusion that I'm unable to just have casual sex with random girls. It might've worked in the past; but now I'm looking for something deeper. I don't want to have meaningless sex. I want to make love. I want to feel that connection. To merge with another's soul. However; finding a partner for that is a bit more challenging than just picking up random girls. I ended a pretty serious relationship not that long ago. And I had this idea that I'd be single now and fool around with girls for a while. In my mind the idea seemed cool. But when it came down to actually doing it; it didn't feel right. I don't feel ready for a new, full-blown relationship now. And I also cannot just have random sex. So I'm guessing the only right thing to do is...to just drop it all for some time. Focus on other areas of life. It will most likely be challenging. I'd say I'm very sexual by nature. But I know it's the right thing to do. No sex until I fall in love with someone again. Curious if anyone here went through something similar? Speaking mainly to men... but maybe even some women went through a similar transformation. Do share your experience, please. Thanks!

@blackchair yeah bro as if it was like a button, i'm finding authenticity every day, striving towards it i guess but it's not like anone night transformation to be 100% authentic, in fact i thibk in society it's impossible

Like every breakthrough a human has is spliced into ten second clip and does this for every psychedelic breakthrough people have from movies, their phones, etc to show the power and love and transformation of these substances. I am never the same after my 4g break into the god head and final death. Complete fucking liberation and I’ve never been happier. To out smart ego, death! if you have one you’d like to send: PM me please. https://open.spotify.com/track/5jmYu7XY4zd3mJfizA8t1K?si=_fhgBTrER26oKSnd_mLzJg

Yes, seeing what you really are, in all the endless ways, can be scary. You do have to wade through loneliness, grief, confusion, and immense loss. You have to see and love the parts of yourself that frighten and disgust you the most. You have to be willing to die into the fires of awakening, with no hope of recovery. You have to let go of getting a fix from that guy, or that show, or that cookie, or that meditation technique. The part of you that can get a fix will be no more, and when you try to get off on whatever it is, it won’t work. It’s scary and you lose a lot, but once you stop hitting snooze and wake up to the next transformation, none of that will matter. You will be operating from a whole new perspective. Born again, so to speak. Until you reach the next plateau and do it all again. The good news is, your relationship with this process will change as you do. It won’t always be such a big drama to awaken. You won’t hit snooze so many times, and eventually not at all.

I've lived among Sunnis for most of my life, like 99.8% of my life probably. I know how Islam works, and Muhammed has set a rigors rules to sort of define the spirit of Islam. Had Muhammed been here, he would have Sufis for example executed, the same Sufis you consider them now a part of the developed Islam, they are NOT. It is just insulting that a western guy like yourself sir is trying to define what Islam is and isn't, probably you haven't even lived among Muslims before. You can't be further than the truth here. When it comes to Islam, well it qualifies that Today's Muslims do live, and exactly have same mindset as Muslims from the time of Muhammed's era. Your comparison to today's Christians is baseless in my opinion. Islam is more strong of a dogma, and its instructions as per how a Muslim should live and behave are well-kept accurately. The way a Muslim's body is supposed to move during daily 5 times prayers are for example described thoroughly, and had been documented and followed in an accurate way for the past 1000+ years or so. A similar approach is applies to each and every aspect of a Muslim's. Through thousands of Muslim scholars documenting the way a Muslim should be, and behave, I think today's Muslim lives a life that's an accurate representation of a Muslim who was living during the inception of Islam. Shiite are a diversion of that, they are not Muslims. They are more like Kafirs, or infidels according to the recorded Sunni doctrine. In fact, Sunni is not a division of Islam, Sunnah (the source of the name) means something like "the true way that Muhammed practiced ISlam, through is accurately recorded quotes and stories). Sunnis do a form of science to prove the validity of Muhammed's life stores, and try to reproduce as much accurate set of guidelines similar to how Muhammed lived his life, and Muhammed's vision of how a Muslim should lead his/her life. Again Shiite are a diversion of that, they do not accept Sunni doctrine, which is as I said, the most accurate, and"scientifically based" method of practicing Islam the way its founder intended it to be practiced. Islam is all about order, while in Christianity, the interpretation has been left open as there's a decentralization of power and authority, i mean for God's sake, they have 12 disciples ! This will greatly diminish any chance to establish an order in a Christian's life, thus you see the transformation. Don't fall in the trap of generalizing. In Islam there's one prophet, once source for a Muslim's lifestyle, and everything about Muhammed's life is recorded accurately, I won't exaggerate if I said even the way he pisses or shit has been recorded, and Muslims follow that to the point. Just have a look on this, it is a scientific research by Dr. Damanhuri !! About the stories of Muhammed's style in peeing! an exciting subject

In one post Leo said something like ' spirituality requires a peaceful stable society'. When another commenter questioned the existence of such a thing, he said' you are living in one'. I would say the facts are against him on both counts. as to living in one, America is still, as Martin King said ' the greatest purveyor of violence on earth'. We live on stolen land and still refuse to honor our treaties with the indigenous people who lived here for thousands of years. Our wars and use of fossil fuels has destabilized the planet and caused massive destruction. So far chanting and kundalini experiences and prayers have not stopped the wars, or the building of nuclear weapons, or global warming, and has not housed the millions of refugees, despite many assurances that all of that would naturally happen as rich people got enlightened. As to the requirement for stable societies. I beg to differ. The teachings of Jesus emerged under the cruelty of Roman occupation, Black Elk, Chief Seattle, Handsome Lake and Wovoka spoke great wisdom and showed courage and spiritual depth after and during the destruction of their culture, The Tibetan Buddhists were murdered and tortured in large number and driven from their monasteries only to move to Nepal, continue their devotion, rebuild and reach an ever larger audience. The center is not the inner transformation of the individual. There is no center. We really are all part of the same whole. And that whole is looking for us in a million practical and wonderfully impractical ways. Loving communication within that whole is the life force that gives it a meaningful totality of being. But when an individual fills his house with carbon monoxide, and there is no escape for the gas, that individual will die. So it is with our planetary home. If we do to evolve the wherewithal to turn off the gas, and open the plant windows to let it back into mother earths carbon storage system, and if we do not do that soon, the wholeness and beauty will face feedback loop of destruction.

What is the ego? First we must understand it on the level of generation. Then we must understand it on the level of integration Further we must understand it on the level of recycling. And through the interaction of these dynamics we need to understand it on the level of transformation. So that can be remembered via the following acronym, of course, GIRT. Rhymes with dirt, if you remember Joe Dirt, you'll remember Girt. I'll elaborate on these mechanisms in the future, and yes, this is simultaneously how we grow, heal and shift the ego in various ways relative to where awareness wishes to take it.

Ime; It's only sneaky and it only plays dirty until you gather the courage to level with it (yourself) and acknowledge its experience. Understand why it acts the way it does. Its point of view. Yes, it's capable of doing some rather nasty stuff. It's just like a child that's begging for your attention. It will grow bigger and nastier until you finally stop running away from it, trying do deny it, ignore it, eliminate it etc. Once you start meeting 'the false self' with love - giving it the time, space, respect and attention it requires - it will let go and slowly dissolve into the Truth of who you are. It is your greatest transformation and initiation. I understand we're all wired differently and come from different backgrounds... But trying to eliminate, kill or destroy the ego simply did not work for me. I imagine I'm not the only one. While I was on that path; I only created more judgement, resentment and suffering. I was splitting myself in two. Dividing instead of uniting. One day it just clicked for me; 'holy shit! I'm trying to separate myself from myself here. That's not gonna work. Best find a common ground... A common language...' And that language was Love.

Oracle Deck 7 1. Abundance. Count your blessings. 2. Acceptance. The cycle of life. 3. Awareness. Look beyond what you see. 4. Balance. Light and dark. 5. Bravery. Explore your inner wild places. 6. Bright future. The darkest hour is just before the dawn. 7. Connection. We are all connected. 8. Courage. Courage in the face of conflict. 9. Dance. Let your body move. 10. Direction. Where are you heading. 11. Dreaming. Be aware of your dreams. 12. Forgiveness. Compassion and kindness. 13. Free spirit. Be your own person. 14. Happiness. Joy of life. 15. Imagination. Let your dreams take flight. 16. In nature. Connect with nature. 17. Insight. Be open to enchantment. 18. Inspiration. Begin now. 19. Intention. Spinning faith. 20. Intuition. Inner wisdom. 21. Letting go. Emotional release. 22. Life purpose. Manifest your dream. 23. Moon lore. Ebb and flow. 24. New Beginnings. Take a fresh look at life. 25. Opportunity. Expand your horizon. 26. Passion. Burning with life's passion. 27. Patience. Through the darkness to the light. 28. Rhythm. Tune into the natural rhythm of life. 29. Self exploration. Fairy tales and myths. 30. Self love. Love yourself. 31. Serenity. Be Calm. 32. Spiritual insight. Sacredness 33. Strength. Know your strength. 34. Transformation. Be open to change. 35. Trust. All is as it should be. 36. Your path. Have courage to follow your own path.

Oracle Deck 4 This 42 card deck is divided into 3 suits - Action, Meaning and Message. Action cards tell you what you need to DO about your situation. Think of them as the Universe giving you practical advice on how you should act in order to manifest the best outcome. Meaning cards explain what your situation MEANS. Think of them as your subconscious mind or intuition telling your conscious mind the hidden truth. Message cards is what the Universe wants you to KNOW. It doesn’t necessarily mean you have to do anything about it, it is just messages related to your situation for you to be aware of. After receiving and understanding the message, you can make up your own meaning or action inspired by it. Sun cards are action cards. Moon cards are meaning cards Star cards are message cards 1 action card 2 breathe sun card 3 create. Nurture your creative energy. Star card 4 dream. Star card 5 Energy... Star card. 6 Flow.. Star card. 7 Forgiveness set yourself free. 8 Gratitude.. Star card. 9 Hard work... Sun card. 10 Let go.. Relax and release. Sun card. 11 Listen... Sun card.. 12 Patience... Sun card. 13 Rest..... Sun card. 14 Set intentions.... 15 Speak up.. Express yourself.. 16 Trust.... Faith in the power of the universe. 17 Change. New season of life.. Moon card 18 Fire. Transformation, rebirth and renewal. Moon card 19 Freedom.... Moon card 20 Growth... Overcome limitations. Moon card. 21 Guidance. You're Divinely guided. Moon card. 22 Happy endings. End of a chapter. Moon card. 23 healing. Allow light to enter your wounds. Moon card.. 24 joy. Your inner child is here to play.. Moon card. 25. Lesson. Wisdom through mistakes. 26 Love.... Moon card. 27 Manifestation... Moon card 28.. Mystery. Secrets and hidden meanings. Moon card. 29 Nature. Moon card. 30 A new beginning. Have the courage to open a new door. 31 Peace.... Moon card.. 32 Stillness. Moon card. 33 Caution... Star card. 34 Don't stop. Miracles are around the corner. Star card. 35 Head... Evaluation... Star card. 36 Heart card... Star card. 37 The moon.. Subconscious mind.. Feminine. Intuition.. Star card. 38 Remember who you are.. Return to the roots. Star card. 39 The star.... Blessings, inspiration, time to shine .... Star card... 40 The sun....... Conscious mind, masculine life force. Star card. 41 You are safe.... The universe has your back. Star card. 42 Your wish is coming true.. Celebrate your success.. Star card.

Oracle Deck 4 This 42 card deck is divided into 3 suits - Action, Meaning and Message. Action cards tell you what you need to DO about your situation. Think of them as the Universe giving you practical advice on how you should act in order to manifest the best outcome. Meaning cards explain what your situation MEANS. Think of them as your subconscious mind or intuition telling your conscious mind the hidden truth. Message cards is what the Universe wants you to KNOW. It doesn’t necessarily mean you have to do anything about it, it is just messages related to your situation for you to be aware of. After receiving and understanding the message, you can make up your own meaning or action inspired by it. Sun cards are action cards. Moon cards are meaning cards Star cards are message cards 1 action card 2 breathe sun card 3 create. Nurture your creative energy. Star card 4 dream. Star card 5 Energy... Star card. 6 Flow.. Star card. 7 Forgiveness set yourself free. 8 Gratitude.. Star card. 9 Hard work... Sun card. 10 Let go.. Relax and release. Sun card. 11 Listen... Sun card.. 12 Patience... Sun card. 13 Rest..... Sun card. 14 Set intentions.... 15 Speak up.. Express yourself.. 16 Trust.... Faith in the power of the universe. 17 Change. New season of life.. Moon card 18 Fire. Transformation, rebirth and renewal. Moon card 19 Freedom.... Moon card 20 Growth... Overcome limitations. Moon card. 21 Guidance. You're Divinely guided. Moon card. 22 Happy endings. End of a chapter. Moon card. 23 healing. Allow light to enter your wounds. Moon card.. 24 joy. Your inner child is here to play.. Moon card. 25. Lesson. Wisdom through mistakes. 26 Love.... Moon card. 27 Manifestation... Moon card 28.. Mystery. Secrets and hidden meanings. Moon card. 29 Nature. Moon card. 30 A new beginning. Have the courage to open a new door. 31 Peace.... Moon card.. 32 Stillness. Moon card. 33 Caution... Star card. 34 Don't stop. Miracles are around the corner. Star card. 35 Head... Evaluation... Star card. 36 Heart card... Star card. 37 The moon.. Subconscious mind.. Feminine. Intuition.. Star card. 38 Remember who you are.. Return to the roots. Star card. 39 The star.... Blessings, inspiration, time to shine .... Star card... 40 The sun....... Conscious mind, masculine life force. Star card. 41 You are safe.... The universe has your back. Star card. 42 Your wish is coming true.. Celebrate your success.. Star card.

Oracle Deck 2 1. Earth Star Chakra. Initiation 2. Root Chakra. Ground and center 3. Sacral chakra. Core of creation 4. Solar plexus chakra. Radiant illumination 5. Heart Chakra. Back to love. 6. High Heart Chakra. Ecstatic bliss 7. Throat chakra. Express your truth 8. Third Eye chakra - pineal perspective 9. Crown chakra. The unlimited self 10. Soul star chakra. Emerging with the divine. 11. Aether. The seamless unspeakable. 12. Water. The overflow 13. Air. Paradigm shift. 14. Earth. Nurture. nature. 15. Solaris sublime. 16. Loving compassion 17. Awakened Awareness 18. Alignment 19. Balanced forces 20. Beyond the mind 21. Communication co-creation 22. Crystal keys 23. Endless Opportunities 24. Evolution 25. Freedom 26. Full Spectrum 27. Furred and feathered friends. 28. Gracious Receptivity 29. Harmonic flight 30. Healing 31. Home 32. Internal Explorer 33. Journey to Wholeness 34. Life force Energy 35. Lumin Essence. 36. Manifestia. 37. Mount Shasta 38. New Blueprints. 39. Our Ancient future 40. Radical Expansion 41. Realm Bridger 42. Reclaim your energy 43. She of the lotus 44. Shine your light 45. Starseed elemental 46. Star seer 47. Stepping through 48. Surrender 49. The infinite 50. The portal keeper 51. The sound of the universe. 52. The violent flame 53. Transformation 54. Trust your innocence 55. Unique gifts 56. Vulnerability.

36 card deck 1. Abundance. Count your blessings. 2. Acceptance. The cycle of life. 3. Awareness. Look beyond what you see. 4. Balance. Light and dark. 5. Bravery. Explore your inner wild places. 6. Bright future. The darkest hour is just before the dawn. 7. Connection. We are all connected. 8. Courage. Courage in the face of conflict. 9. Dance. Let your body move. 10. Direction. Where are you heading. 11. Dreaming. Be aware of your dreams. 12. Forgiveness. Compassion and kindness. 13. Free spirit. Be your own person. 14. Happiness. Joy of life. 15. Imagination. Let your dreams take flight. 16. In nature. Connect with nature. 17. Insight. Be open to enchantment. 18. Inspiration. Begin now. 19. Intention. Spinning faith. 20. Intuition. Inner wisdom. 21. Letting go. Emotional release. 22. Life purpose. Manifest your dream. 23. Moon lore. Ebb and flow. 24. New Beginnings. Take a fresh look at life. 25. Opportunity. Expand your horizon. 26. Passion. Burning with life's passion. 27. Patience. Through the darkness to the light. 28. Rhythm. Tune into the natural rhythm of life. 29. Self exploration. Fairy tales and myths. 30. Self love. Love yourself. 31. Serenity. Be Calm. 32. Spiritual insight. Sacredness 33. Strength. Know your strength. 34. Transformation. Be open to change. 35. Trust. All is as it should be. 36. Your path. Have courage to follow your own path.

Firstly, you can't do shit to change someone. So even if your conclusion is going to be "my partner should have a purpose" (as defined by you), that just means you have to break up with him. The way you describe your interactions, there is no way you can talk him into it. Could he talk you into slowing down with your self-actualization, and chilling more? If he felt like you should read less books and play more playstation with him, would you adapt to his wishes? Probably not. So it's not fair to expect him to change. When I started eating healthy, I started thinking that people around me should be eating healthy. When I started a business, I started thinking my peers are stupid for working a 9-5. When I started planning my days working towards my goals, I started judging other people for not having goals. And so on. This is a trap. It actually comes from the shadow that you create when you try to change yourself. Until I'm done with that part of my transformation, I am still fighting myself sometimes. I still have impulses to "chill" and "waste time" and I suppress and judge those impulses. As long as I have to do that, I will also do it to others. Only when I feel fully secure and trust myself to eat healthy, without having to whip myself at all, can I relent, and with that, also the harsh judgment of others will relent. So be aware of this effect. If you think it's something like that, it's only in the mind, and I would try to let it go. Because it's about you, not about him. If you are truly not meant to be together anymore, the way you know is not by a mental reasoning like this. You would feel that you are not attracted to him anymore. So let go of these thoughts, and trust your heart, to tell you whenever it might really be time to move on. Until then, indeed these thoughts are a distraction. If you continue focusing on your own development, and you show the fruits of it by transforming into a different person, with new qualities like improved understanding and empathy, there's a good chance that you may inspire him to catch up with you. You can inspire people to want to reach your level, by becoming a great person. Through your actions, not your words. If you read complicated topics and try to talk about them to him, you're just paying lipservice to self-development. It will likely make him feel like you're bullying him, and making him feel stupid, by forcing topics onto him that he doesn't care about and then judging him for it. This is just an ego game. If you on the other hand actually integrate what you learn, you won't need to talk about it: he will see the transformation in you. Continue your own work, show him who you've become, and watch what happens Maybe you'll drift apart, maybe he'll catch up!

PART 3) EXPERIMENT UPDATE: Next morning Yes I can create this state whenever I want now, as soon as I wake, within moments. There is one most important rule. The acceptance of truth and through the execution of that rule what are some of its implications: - Accept literally everything within every fibre of my being and utilise that as an energy source to explode my state. This doesn't need to be before I hop out of bed. It all starts with consciousness, so you begin with consciousness and you perform this act as consciousness, and after consciousness has absorbed and transformed enough of its subsidiary and primary energetic material, getting out of bed, for me in less than 30 to 60 seconds after the absorption and transformation process, happens not just automatically, but inspirationally, powerfully, like thunder and lighting on a sunny day. Cool shit right. Done. Feeling great and I haven't even had my coffee yet.

@Shunyata I think the greatest danger with shadow work is splitting yourself up into good and bad parts, things to be nurtured and eliminated. There are things that need correction and transformation for sure, but that needs to be done in a loving way. It is almost always possible to rehabilitate things that are unhealthy or have started generating bad impulses in yourself, transformation is a better way than trying to eliminate things. But you will want to stay alert with how your inner self is presenting things to you. Not everybody’s inner models will work in the same way as others.

Of course, and it can be a helpful one for sure! It can become an obstacle though when it sprouts thoughts like you used in your first post: "shadow elimination" "getting out of a state" "reaching adulthood" That's what I was pointing at, the thought of trying to to get rid of something and reaching some new state. It's really good that you want to work on yourself, that is the fuel. Now maybe your strategy needs work. Let me give you an example: I had energetic knots in my head for a long time, kind of felt like a headache. Most of the times I wasn't sure which of these two things it really was, but it was painful. I always subconsciously wanted it to go away, and after years I found out that that is why it never went away and came back stronger. In a book I read recently, the author says to visualize knots in your body as flowers to blossom, to open up like a clenched fist. This is transformation. This is love. The other way would be rejection which is lack of love. Maybe you see what I mean. It sounds like a word game, but it is not. For me, it changed everything. You're on the right path, don't worry ??

Whenever one fights or opposes something, it only makes what one is fighting more powerful. In the Fourth Way it’s stated as - To oppose second force increases second force.iME, this is what Red Hawk was getting at, in the quote I put up above. As humans, we have the tendency to either dismiss, explain away, or make excuses for our discontinuity of consciousness. It might be called a change of moods or perhaps the activation of a sub personality, the result of temporary stress, etc.,, Terence McKenna pretty much dismissed the contemporary diagnoses of schizophrenia. In a roundabout way, his view aligns with a core element of the Gurdjieff Teaching. Earlier in this journal I metaphorically labeled myself as a ship of fools. This metaphor I borrowed from Robert Deropp, a biochemist of the early 20th century and student of Ouspensky. He authored a book about the path to higher consciousness and enlightenment called The Master Game which became a classic in the early 1970’s. The Fourth Way teaches that we’re more fractured psychologically than the majority of contemporary psychologists and academia will allow. Transpersonal psychologist Charles Tart coined the phrase “cultural consensus trance” . A beautiful description of the result of the fracturedness prevalent in modern humans which creates the collective ego This element of fracturedness is susinctly delineated in an article written by Ralph Losey called The Problem of the Subtle Sybil effect. http://www.lawsofwisdom.com/course-overview/opening-statement/the-problem-of-the-subtle-sybil-effect/ It’s very difficult to change our habits but it is possible to transform our habits of mechanical behavior over time. It’s why in the Work, it is advised to not try and change ourselves but to just objectively observe. This observation will allow Conscience to awaken through remorse. Remorse of Conscience will make transformation of our mechanical behaviors much more possible than the route of self criticism, blame and guilt. It makes our transformation of lower self and lower chakra energies a conscious endeavor by way of awakened conscience. Awakened conscience is the same in everyone unlike acquired conscience which changes over time and from culture to culture. Awakened conscience is called by some, the intelligence of the universe. Jesus Christ and the Buddha taught non-violence and forgiveness through letting go and not judging or keeping accounts. The path of awakened conscience. By awakening, we leap out of our graves, as Ocke deBoer humorously puts it. Awakened people are not over burdened with false seriousness, they’re light hearted.

Seeker (Wanderer, Vagabond, Nomad) This archetype refers to one who searches on a path that may begin with earthly curiosity but has at its core the search for God and/or enlightenment. Unlike the Mystic, which has the Divine as its sole focus, the Seeker is in search of wisdom and truth wherever it is to be found. The shadow side of the archetype is the “lost soul,” someone on an aimless journey without direction, ungrounded, disconnected from goals and others. The shadow emerges when seekers become infatuated with the trappings of a certain practice or guru–what Chögyam Trungpa so aptly called “spiritual materialism”–but never actually change their underlying egocentricity. Servant (Indentured Servant) We all serve someone or something. Because the spiritual path is essentially one of service to others, anyone can relate to this archetype. The Servant engages aspects of our psyche that call us to make ourselves available to others for the benefit and enhancement of their lives. This task can only be done in a healthy manner if the Servant is able to simultaneously be of service to the self. Without the strength to maintain your own well-being, the Servant becomes consumed by the needs of those around you and loses all focus of the value of your own life. From a mundane perspective, the Servant is associated with money because servants are hired help. This aspect is witnessed within the psyche of the Indentured Servant, a person who sees himself bound by conditions of service that are not of his choosing or preference because of an inability to “buy his freedom,” or symbolically coming into your own power. Therefore, the core challenge with this particular archetype is making choices that serve your highest potential. If this describes a substantial personal issue for you, then consider this archetype as a possibility for your own chart. Shape-shifter (Spell-caster–see also Trickster) This archetype has long been known to shamans of the American Indian and other native traditions for having the ability to change appearances for a variety of reasons. The Shape-shifter can navigate through different levels of consciousness, dream and waking states and the astral plane. Somewhat related to the Trickster, it is more flexible and less tied to a specific goal. The shadow aspect emphasizes instability, fickleness, and lack of conviction, as can be seen in any number of modern day politicians who reinvent themselves to appeal to the latest popular trends. Slave The Slave archetype represents a complete absence of the power of choice and self-authority. Yet it is precisely the absence of will power that gives the Slave its potential for personal transformation. The ultimate spiritual task is to surrender one’s will to the Divine–in effect, to become a Divine Slave. The goal in many monastic practices is to release one’s individual power of choice and become subject to the will of a spiritual mentor, trusting that individual to have your best interests at heart. This act of releasing your will to a higher authority is also witnessed within organizational hierarchies, such as in the military and corporations. One becomes a Slave to the system. For tens of millions of African Americans, the Slave archetype carries a historical freight that is impossible to overlook. If Slavery is part of your genetic history, you need to take a close look at the possible presence of the Slave archetype in your intimate family. Others who may dismiss this archetype as having no role in their life may discover that it is more prevalent than most people imagine, because of its many different expressions. We don’t think of a soldier armed with weapons as a Slave, yet following orders unconditionally is an aspect of the Slave–especially when these orders personally violate your integrity. The Puppet, for instance, may be manipulated by others. Regardless of how this archetype manifests, however, its core learning is to understand the paradoxical truth that you are only truly free when you have surrendered all power of choice to the Divine.

Healer (Wounded Healer, Intuitive Healer, Caregiver, Nurse, Therapist, Analyst, Counselor) The Healer archetype manifests as a passion to serve others in the form of repairing the body, mind, and spirit. It expresses itself through channels other than those classically associated with the healing of illnesses, and so you need to look beyond the obvious definition of what you “do.” You can be strongly guided by this archetype in any occupation or role in life. Some people, by their very nature and personality, are able to inspire others to release their painful histories or make changes in their lives that redirect the course of their future. Essential characteristics include an inherent strength and the ability to assist people in transforming their pain into a healing process, as well as having the “wiring” required to channel the energy needed to generate physical or emotional changes. Wounded Healer The Wounded Healer is initiated into the art of healing through some form of personal hardship–anything from an actual physical injury or illness to the loss of all one’s earthly possessions. Regardless of the shape of the wound, the challenge inherent in this initiation process is that one is unable to turn to others for help beyond a certain degree of support. Only the initiate can ultimately heal the wound; if it is an illness or accident, it will frequently be one for which there is no conventional cure. The Wounded Healer archetype emerges in your psyche with the demand that you push yourself to a level of inner effort that becomes more a process of transformation than an attempt to heal an illness. If you have successfully completed the initiation, you inevitably experience an exceptional healing, and a path of service seems to be divinely provided shortly after the initiation is complete. The shadow of both the Healer and Wounded Healer manifests through a desire to take advantage of those who need help, including claims that you can heal any and every illness a person has. Hedonist (Bon Vivant, Chef, Gourmet, Gourmand, Sybarite–also Mystic) This Archetype has an “appetite” for the pleasurable aspects of life, from good food and wine to sexuality and sensuality. As scientific reserach has shown, pleasure can improve our health and extend our lives and needs to be part of a balanced life. Indulging the self is central to the psyche of this archetype, whether treating oneself to a health spa or learning the nuances of lovemaking. That the Hedonist is generally thought of as someone who pursues extremes of self-indulgence is more a reflection of our Puritan heritage than of the archetype itself. In positive terms, it inspires creative energy in the psyche to embrace the “good” things in life. It also challenges in a positive way the collective archetypal fear of being seduced and losing control in the physical world. The shadow Hedonist may manifest as pursuing pleasure without regard for other people or one’s own good health. The search for physical ecstasy parallels the search for spiritual transformation, a truth that is apparent in the dual identity of the famous Greek icon of pleasure-seeking, Dionysus. Besides being a god of wine and fertility (later adoped by the Romans as Bacchus), Dionysus also represents the goal of mystery religions, like those practiced at Eleusis: ecstatic delivery from the mundane world through the physical or spiritual intoxication induced by secret rites. (See Mystic.) The sacrament of Soma (also a god of the Vedic pantheon) played a similar role in ancient Indian spirituality. Hero/Heroine (see also Knight, Warrior) Many of the gods of the world’s ancient religions began their lives as heroes capable of great feats of strength or skill. The Hero is also a classic figure in ancient Greek and Roman literature, often portrayed as one who must confront an increasingly difficult path of obstacles in order to birth his manhood. Today this archetype holds a dominant position in the social mind as an icon of both male and female power, from the Superheroes of comic books, such as Superman and Wonder Woman, to television and countless movies and popular novels. In the classic Hero’s Journey, defined by Joseph Campbell and others, an individual goes on a journey of initiation to awaken an inner knowing or spiritual power. The Self emerges as the Hero faces physical and internal obstacles, confronting the survival fears that would compromise his journey of empowerment and conquering the forces arrayed against him. The Hero then returns to the tribe with something of great value to all. From a shadow perspective, the Hero can become empowered through the disempowerment of others. The manner in which the Hero uses his physical power is a reflection of the spirit of the Hero, represented through authentic acts of heroism. Judge (Critic, Examiner, Mediator, Arbitrator) The template for the Judge archetype in Jewish-Christian culture largely derives from King Solomon, who was notable for balancing justice and compassion. So thoroughly do we maintain this ancient template that Solomon’s characteristic balancing is now the standard by which we measure all judges. Those who manipulate or disgrace justice or violate this creed are held to be social and moral criminals, having damaged the honor of the courtroom and the nation, and the archetype itself. For that reason, this archetype should be understood as one that has the vision to manage the fair distribution of power in whatever form it takes, from violating military codes to breaking marriage vows. One need not be an attorney, judge, or critic by profession to identify with this archetype. If you are a natural mediator or involved in interventions between people, you may carry this archetype in your psyche. Personal qualities that inspire in you a commitment to lead a life with high standards related to justice and wisdom as well as the manner in which you interact with other people are very reflective of a strong connection to this archetype. Prolonged suffering from having been misjudged–an experience that walks hand-in-hand with learning forgiveness–should also be considered an expression of this archetype in your life. But as with all other archetypal evaluations, you are not looking for one experience of having been misjudged or misjudging another, but rather a life-long learning process that is centered around the learning of justice and compassion. The shadow Judge manifests as consistently destructive criticism, judging without compassion or with a hidden agenda. Legal manipulation, misuse of legal authority, and threatening others through an association with the law are other expressions of the shadow. Such manipulation includes the misuse of business authority as well as conventional legal and criminal authority.

Child: Magical/Innocent The Magical Child represents the part of us that is both enchanted and enchanting to others. It sees the potential for sacred beauty in all things, exemplified by Tiny Tim in Dickens’s A Christmas Carol, and by Anne Frank, who wrote in her diary that in spite of all the horror surrounding her family while hiding from Nazis in an attic in Amsterdam, she still believed that humanity was basically good. Her insights offered at a time when most people were collapsing under the weight of war and persecution continue to inspire people to seek out the wondrous side of life, even in a crisis. One might assume from the name that this archetype refers to only the delightful qualities of children, but as demonstrated by Anne Frank and Tiny Tim, it also embodies qualities of wisdom and courage in the face of difficult circumstances. Baudelaire wrote that “genius is childhood recaptured,” and in that sense the Magical Child is something of a genius too. The Magical Child is gifted with the power of imagination and the belief that everything is possible. The shadow energy of the Magical Child manifests as the absence of the possibility of miracles and of the transformation of evil to good. Attitudes of pessimism and depression, particularly when exploring dreams, often emerge from an injured Magical Child whose dreams were “once upon a time” thought foolish by cynical adults. The shadow may also manifest as a belief that energy and action are not required, allowing one to retreat into fantasy.