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SITE : Archetypal Female in Mythology & Religion

ARCHETYPES are ancient symbols that exist across all cultures in all eras. It comes from the Greek word ‘archein’, which means ‘the original type or pattern’.

➣ A person’s qualities are called complexes (groupings), which live in our personal unconscious, derived from past experiences.
➣ In contrast, Archetype elements are impersonal, universal, & formless – sets of ideas & experiences that “come upon us as fate”, but affect us at our core.

Carl Jung argued that all humans share a “collective unconscious”– concepts we innately know & understand. He noticed they keep recurring indirectly in stories & mythologies throughout societies & religions, so can be identified & measured. (Each one explained)

Jung’s student, Erich Neumann (1954), stated that archetypes are similar to our internal organs – they’re relatively similar in all of us, but invisible & barely noticed.
EXP : The Self is the archetype of wholeness or transcendence. Jung said that it’s what we are but do not know we are.
It’s the center of our psyche, the totality of our conscious & unconscious parts.  In Jungian terms, the Self is both personal & impersonal, the ego & our Inner Spirit. ‘Arriving’ at the Self is the final stage of the individuation process.

NOTE : Many people mistakenly assume that ‘characters’ are Jungian archetypes, so may assume that Loki is the Trickster. Not so – while a character can personify archetypal qualities, the person itself is not.  ✱ Archetypes are not individuals, instead are broad but subtle core ideas embedded in the larger story of humanity.
Also, archetypal energy is expressed in common motifs like birth, marriage, death & any kind of initiation ritual.

The SAGE is a major archetype
Jung believed it’s the innate spiritual aspect of everyone’s personality – the True Self, with no restrictions or limitations. Unfazed by life’s conditioning & chaos, it sees all, knows all.

He called the Sage the senex (Latin for old man), the wise old man (see YouTube) or wise old woman called the crone. It’s a symbol that represents information accumulated through time & experience – from patience, learning from mistakes, & figuring out how the world
The Inner Sage (I.S.) focuses on universal Knowledge, & to find The Truth in all things it ferrets out the sources of information.  At its best, it protects & guides with Insights, Dreams, or Life Lessons. And it can be expressed as a person’s psyche, such as Jung’s Philemon, Nietzsche’s Zarathustra……

Ironically,  Hannibal Lecter is also considered a Sage. He was had an essential part in guiding Clarice Starling during her pursuit of the serial killer Buffalo Bill, even though his version of “guiding” was to direct her to a jar with a man’s heart in it. (see ‘SAGE – the Dark Side‘ post)

NOTE : There’s a lack of Sage-diversity in pop culture, the majority being male, but more recently – the female Sage is portrayed as cop or shrink.
However, for thousands of years there has always been a female embodiment of this archetype – as a wise, powerful character who mentors young seekers of Truth
EXP : Greek Cassandra, as Prophetess., Sumerian Inanna as feminine Warrior….

But also as negative feminine forces of the psyche, seen in fairy tales – evil stepmother, witch / old hag…. EXP : “Hansel & Gretel, Cinderella”
RARE archetype (0.1%) : The “Sigma Female”, known for their independence & STOIC self-reliance.  (More….)

FEMALE Sage NUANCES
• Deepest fear:
Not recognized for who she is. Confined or restricted. Losing touch with her intuition & inner guidance
GIFTS
• Empathetic Listening:
She actively listens with empathy, offering understanding & useful support. With a keen ear for honesty, she’s willing to hear any story that adds to her own store of Truth.

• Hidden Talent – Master researcher
• Intuitive Decision-Making: Like the Magician, she trusts her insights to make wise & informed choices. Her well-being comes from a strong sense of self & staying aligned with her values

• Patience and Serenity: She is calm & even-tempered. As the ‘queen of cool’, she’s composed even under pressure & in challenging situations.
• Signature move: Gives the advice you did not want but need to hear. She defies societal norms to embrace her true nature, guiding others to trust their instincts & break their constraints.
• Special ability: Taps into her deep intuition & primal wisdom to lead others toward personal empowerment.

NEXT : Sage Archetype, #2