Shrew U: The Monster and The Guide

Archetypes of the Human Spirit (Story Analysis)

Part 10

Archetype #5: The Monster

“To dwell solely on failure and loss may consume all efforts to improve.”

I depicted this archetype as a very large and gruesome fish that has the ability to attack. Making choices means that a choice might be wrong and, in this case, the repercussions of a wrong choice could be so overwhelming that you might not be able to continue your metaphysical hero journey. To be “in the belly of the beast” is to be in a very bad place.

When have you made choices that did not end well? Were you able to learn from your mistakes?
Can the darkness of being in this “belly” be compared to being in the “womb” of darkness? What is the difference?

Archetype #6: The Guide

“Wisdom will take much time to acquire.”

A guide that comes to help with your journey can come in many forms. A wise old man in this case signify’s the heavens (white hair like clouds and blue eyes like sky). Notice the light inside his eyes. This light is a reminder of your search for purpose.

Do you trust in the authentic wisdom of your inner voice? Is this voice different from your intuition? If so, then how?
In your life, can you find real people who listen well and do not judge?

If your metaphysical Self has made it this far, you have only just begun the transformative process…

Shrew U: The Road and The River

Archetypes of the Human Spirit (Story Analysis)

Part Nine

Archetype #3: The Road

“Pay attention to all that is seen and not seen.”

We all travel a unique road in our metaphysical “journey”. No matter your sex, skin color, religious belief, or up-bringing, the story is only yours. The start of this journey is new to the Self and offers a glimpse of innocence. Allowing yourself to know the concept of innocence in this way can help you to clear away any emotional baggage that you carry from your physical life. Be curious on this journey. However, if you stray from the road you will always be off course. The road leads to your purpose, and everything that comes across the road is a necessary developmental stage.

What cultures or religions emphasize a journey of inner personal growth?
Are you able to imagine yourself without sin?
In your daily life are you as aware of those things that you cannot see or know as you are about those that you can see or know?
Do you discover those things that you cannot see or know by using contempt (sinful)? Or, do you discover them with curiosity and humility (moral)?

Archetype #4; The River

“Choices give life definition like a river that has cut its path through time.”

Choices are like a river that is in your way. This archetype is very important because if you never try to cross it (i.e. Make a choice), your Self will never mature as it should.

The water in a river moves downstream and you cannot know it’s depth unless you go into it. Crossing to the other side represents a change to your Self.

How do you feel when there is change in your life or when you know you need to change your behavior?
River water is perpetually returning waters. In life there is usually more than one choice. What do you think about your own choices?

Shrew U: Three Anchient Pillars

Archetypes of the Human Spirit (Story analysis)

Part Eight

Archetype #2; Three Anchient Pillars

“Three anchient pillars remain steadfast and sure as if they contain the wisdom of all generations”

This archetype represents support. As we know, it takes at least three legs to support a stool or a table. Think of the Trinity (the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit) or the great triangular pyramids that symbolize the integration of self and soul. Three represents the physical nature that is heaven, earth and waters as well as The Triad of beginning, middle and end. All of these are measures of maturity.

Inside this strength formation is light that is reaching toward infinity. This is the great power of your Self which has no limits unless it is burdened by your own judgements as represented by the clouds. The clouds that cut across the pillars form the shape of a cross or dagger representing bravery.

There is a road leaving and a road returning. This is the metaphysical path of the hero’s journey. It is not enough to be born into existence, you must be “born again” to self actualization…A Femal Priciple of transformation.

What or who is part of your spiritual support system?
Where are you in the story of your Self?
What limits do you place on your own power of self discovery?
Are you brave enough to take this hero journey?

Shrew U: Archetypes for Being

Archetypes of the Human Spirit

Part Seven

“Humans have been literally torturing each other for centuries as they grope toward a chalice of fulfillment.” The Shrew

How do we teach each other about each other?

Our individual experiences help to shape what we believe to be true about ourselves and about each other. Consequently, an individual is easily given to influences. Those persons, or “influencers”, around an individual can be mistaken as the mold for that individual, and when this happens the individual is no longer that unique creature of his or her life and liberty. Therefore, we each bear the responsibility to seek a greater awareness of our unique purpose also known as our pursuit of happiness.

These are not new concepts. Humans have been literally torturing each other for centuries as they grope toward a chalice of fulfillment. In the United States we have the best chance of attaining individual freedom based on actual resources of shared opportunities. I believe this is where we are today. It is most interestingly evidenced by the women in our U.S. Culture, and the influence here is what I call the Female Principle (FP). Those who embody the FP are know as a Shrew.

In my first blog post (The Shrew View, Nov. 3, 2017) I describe the Shrew as having these qualities:

Emotional maturity
Openness as a condition toward wholeness
Fortitude
Humility

My story, Archetypes of the Human Spirit, recounts the metaphysical steps toward individual happiness. It is a forward driven motion of heroic proportion that when actualized on an individual level can reveal the promise of what our “Creator” intended for his or her human creature. The following analysis provides a deeper understanding of this story for the purpose of finding the happiness we all desire…

Archetype #1; Light and Dark

“Your light of truth will evolve as you leave the storm of darkness”

I depicted this Archetype in two ways:

A vast dark area with a bright spot in the shape of a triangle pointed downward.
A combination of two fetuses with a separation between them.

The fetuses represent the individual in a conflict of duality and with a separation that acts as the “waste” depository for unnecessary emotional baggage.

What does conflict mean to you?
What is your unnecessary emotional baggage?

The triangle of light represents the exit from the womb of darkness and dependency.

Can you think of religions or myths that rely on these Archetypes? There are many, and this is just the beginning (Genesis!).
Can we consider this a Female Principle?

Next, I will reveal the Archetype of the number 3…

Shrew U: Religion and the History of Violence

Higher Learning

Fields of Blood…

In this first installment of Shrew University, I would like to challenge you to read the non-fiction book, Fields of Blood: Religion and the History of Violence By Karen Armstrong.

In this anthology of humanity’s struggle with spiritual vs. animal instinct I give Ms. Armstrong much credit for her research and cohesive presentation, however I do believe she is reaching at times in order to present a picture of what Utopianism could be as opposed to what reality actually presents.

Even peace may be purchased at too high a price. – Benjamin Franklin

I have begun to question why a group like Isis (or ISIL if you wish) has sprung up from what seemed like nowhere! Sure you have your Taliban and your Hamas with their hate-filled demands and their suicide bombers, but this latest group of terrorists knows no bounds; they bring their social media propaganda directly to us from their desert! And where is the religion? I am here to tell you that there isn’t any…

Islam in this manner is simply the next form of political control. When a group forms, or a “State” in this case, it needs rules and laws and a point person. The point person is Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, also known as Caliph Ibrahim and the rules and laws are the Caliphate. ISIL is out to control the world…No ifs, ands, or buts about it.

Armstrong’s book always has a leader who is central to the conflict. She argues that it really is not religion that is to blame for the warring but rather secular motivations most times brought on by greed. I think this is pretty safe to assume since to truly practice a religion requires one to humble themselves before their creator and uphold life; think “The Golden Rule”…All religions have this aspect to them. If Islam is trying to form a “State”, then the religion of Islam is not being practiced as proved by their terrorist actions. This is certainly not Utopia! ISIL is trying to stream-line (as in secularize) Islam for the greedy motivation of universal control. It is an invasive seed choking out the roots that uphold “natural” rights (read my Shrew View 11/3/17).

Natural rights are equal to rights of human liberty and the individual’s direct relationship with their Creator. ISIL is in direct conflict with this idea. As rational beings, we must challenge any state or religion that puts women in a subservient position to men. Why does Isis hate Chritianity so much? Consider the parable of the leaven which is directly after the parable of the mustard seed (out of a small concept sprouts a transformative belief available to everyone). In the Gospel of Luke Jesus said:

“To what shall I compare the Kingdom of God? It is like leaven that a woman took and hid in 3 measures of flour until it was a leavened.”

Leaven means to transform something for the better. Women own this central idea as the Female Priciple. Jesus knew this and developed this idea from his Jewish roots.

Next up…Shrewd Awakenings

The Shrew