The way of the warrior is not one of wanton destruction, but of judicious use of violence in appropriate situations. “Proper aggressiveness in the right circumstances… (which the warrior) knows through clarity of thinking, through discernment” (Moore & Gillette, 1991, p. 80).
The Warrior archetype as expressed in the great Japanese samurai tradition speaks of a sense of duty, loyalty, commitment, discipline, nobility and courage. The warrior energy embodies the capacity to endure great hardship and personal sacrifice for the sake of a greater good. The warrior epitomizes decisive action, control and mastery over body, mind and emotions. Therefore, the warrior is always alert, awake, focused, mindful and flexible. It embodies aggressiveness as “a stance toward life that rouses, energizes, and motivates.” (p. 79). It represents a readiness for action, an aliveness and vitality.
In the Toltec warrior-sorcerer tradition, the warrior walks silently in the world, not needing to prove his/her power through aggression, unless there is a call for action. As a symbol of personal power, the warrior archetype infuses us with confidence and assertiveness to fight our daily battles. Without the warrior energy we might be push-overs against potential invaders in the same way peaceful civilizations were overrun by more warlike tribes. It is important to develop discernment to recognize when to be roused into battle and when to conserve the warrior energy in order not to fight unnecessary battles, which may only deplete and wound you.
The warrior represents our natural instinctual aggression to defend against an invasion of territory, oppression or maliciousness directed towards us. The warrior demands a respect of boundaries: Do not invade me, my family, my land/country and, ultimately do not invade my Soul! Always in defense of our survival, safety and a specific way of life/culture/ideology, that which we deem the highest good. The warrior’s destructive energy is necessary to destroy corruption; systems of injustice and oppression; and, bad life circumstances, marriages and work situations – in the service of spiritual renewal and an increase of consciousness.
The shadow of the archetype of the warrior plays out when the energy is used to invade, oppress and subjugate others. The warrior archetype in its negative manifested in the conquering and colonization of other tribes, nations and civilizations. The concept of loyalty can be taken too far if it is allegiance to a corrupt system or outdated ideology. The shadow of warrior archetype plays out in relationships in the wrestle for dominance, who is right, or even worse, in domestic abuse.
Source:
Moore, R. L., & Gillette, D. (1990). King, warrior, magician, lover: Rediscovering the archetypes of the mature masculine. San Francisco: Harper San Francisco.
Image credit:
Tomoe Gozen (1157?-1247?) was an onna-bugeisha (女武芸者, female martial artist) and one Japan's 12 most famous samurai
https://allabout-japan.com/
A social media post I wrote for @jungsouthernafrica
#jung #carljung #jungpsycholog #jungianpsychology #depthpsychology #analyticalpsychology #unconscious #consciousness #innergrowth #jungianconcepts #archetypes #warrior #shadow #samurai #toltec #aggression #aggressiveness #violence #boundaries #defend #confidence #vitality #aliveness #dominance #dailybattles #capetown #capetownlife #capetownliving #southernafrica
The Warrior archetype as expressed in the great Japanese samurai tradition speaks of a sense of duty, loyalty, commitment, discipline, nobility and courage. The warrior energy embodies the capacity to endure great hardship and personal sacrifice for the sake of a greater good. The warrior epitomizes decisive action, control and mastery over body, mind and emotions. Therefore, the warrior is always alert, awake, focused, mindful and flexible. It embodies aggressiveness as “a stance toward life that rouses, energizes, and motivates.” (p. 79). It represents a readiness for action, an aliveness and vitality.
In the Toltec warrior-sorcerer tradition, the warrior walks silently in the world, not needing to prove his/her power through aggression, unless there is a call for action. As a symbol of personal power, the warrior archetype infuses us with confidence and assertiveness to fight our daily battles. Without the warrior energy we might be push-overs against potential invaders in the same way peaceful civilizations were overrun by more warlike tribes. It is important to develop discernment to recognize when to be roused into battle and when to conserve the warrior energy in order not to fight unnecessary battles, which may only deplete and wound you.
The warrior represents our natural instinctual aggression to defend against an invasion of territory, oppression or maliciousness directed towards us. The warrior demands a respect of boundaries: Do not invade me, my family, my land/country and, ultimately do not invade my Soul! Always in defense of our survival, safety and a specific way of life/culture/ideology, that which we deem the highest good. The warrior’s destructive energy is necessary to destroy corruption; systems of injustice and oppression; and, bad life circumstances, marriages and work situations – in the service of spiritual renewal and an increase of consciousness.
The shadow of the archetype of the warrior plays out when the energy is used to invade, oppress and subjugate others. The warrior archetype in its negative manifested in the conquering and colonization of other tribes, nations and civilizations. The concept of loyalty can be taken too far if it is allegiance to a corrupt system or outdated ideology. The shadow of warrior archetype plays out in relationships in the wrestle for dominance, who is right, or even worse, in domestic abuse.
Source:
Moore, R. L., & Gillette, D. (1990). King, warrior, magician, lover: Rediscovering the archetypes of the mature masculine. San Francisco: Harper San Francisco.
Image credit:
Tomoe Gozen (1157?-1247?) was an onna-bugeisha (女武芸者, female martial artist) and one Japan's 12 most famous samurai
https://allabout-japan.com/
A social media post I wrote for @jungsouthernafrica
#jung #carljung #jungpsycholog #jungianpsychology #depthpsychology #analyticalpsychology #unconscious #consciousness #innergrowth #jungianconcepts #archetypes #warrior #shadow #samurai #toltec #aggression #aggressiveness #violence #boundaries #defend #confidence #vitality #aliveness #dominance #dailybattles #capetown #capetownlife #capetownliving #southernafrica
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