The Warrior archetype and its use in life and leadership

Archetypes come from the tradition of Jungian psychoanalysis. They are symbols which help us explore and talk about parts of our inner world. In forming a relationship with this part of ourselves we can bring more of the characteristics that this image represents into our life and work.

This article gives a short introduction to the warrior archetype.

As you read I encourage you to reflect on the following question: How and where could you show up with more of a warrior attitude in your personal and professional life?

Truth and clarity

The warrior stands for truth and clarity. She’s good at drawing lines, creating boundaries, she’s got her anger under control, as well as having her ego in check.

Do you find yourself ever acquiescing, shape-shifting to suit the needs of others? Sometimes this is useful and necessary — but check in with yourself that you’re not loosing track of what’s true for you.

Service

He’s selfless; the samurai in devoted service to the King (or Queen), or simply to the realm. He’s willing to put his life on the line, to die for his cause. He doesn’t retreat in the face of total defeat but draws a circle in the dirt and fights until his death.

What are you profoundly in service of? Is that sense of being in service something that you’re in contact with each day? It can be hugely motivating to find these deeper values to live through and from.

There is a story in the Boudica series written by Manda Scott where Ardacos, along with his closest and last surviving Bear Warriors, in the face of total defeat by the invading Roman legions, decides to form the bear line. Something not seen in living memory, the Bear Warriors draw a circle in the dirt and commit to not leaving that circle until death. The Boudica series are a wonderful insight into the warrior tradition that existed in the UK before the Roman invasion. Although Ardacos does feature, most of the story tracks Boudica and her sheer brilliance as a leader and noble warrior.

In the warrior there is a depth of willingness (or desire) to serve, to understand our mortality, and to put our lives in service of that calling.

Where does your leadership feel like profound service? Are you regularly in contact with a sense of duty and service to something larger than yourself?

Clean and clear anger

The warrior is clean and clear anger. She stands up for her beliefs and draws very clear boundaries around what she thinks is acceptable or not. She is the mother in protection of her cubs, she is the Wise Woman who fights for the preservation of nature. She doesn’t seek permission. She knows what she stands for and she stands for it powerfully.

Where and when are you standing up for yourself powerfully? And what about using clean and clear anger? It’s perhaps not something we want to be using regularly, but then there might well be situations in life when a short, sharp, clear and clean burst of anger could be just what’s needed.

The shadow warrior

Each of our archetypes have an active and passive shadow. This is the under (passive) or overly (active) developed part that is out of balance. As you reflect on your inner warrior you might find that she/he feels out of balance in on way or another.

The active shadow of the warrior sees violence and aggression as the only way forward. He’s the killer who fights wars from anger and despair comparing the number of kills he’s made with his mates.

A passive warrior is self-depreciating, she doesn’t hold her anger well and enters a state of despair too easily. She’s angry and doesn’t know how or where to express that anger well.

What warrior’s do you have in your life as sources of inspiration?

I love to turn to the world of fantasy literature to supply me with clear representations of inner ideas. My top two: Aragon and Boudica.

Embodying the warrior

According to the yoga tradition our personal power and authority lies in our solar plexus. This is the nerve centre just behind the diaphragm at the bottom of our rib cage. Breathing into this space, placing our hands there, feeling a sense of personal power radiating from this place can all help in cultivating a deeper relationship with our own inner warrior.

As we go about our life and work it’s useful to remain connected to this part of our body. It’s often where we feel our fear, while at the same time being a place from where our personal power can come.