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Tuesday, October 25, 2005
Rimban: Archetypes of womanhood
By Erwin Rimban
LAST time, we learned about the archetypes of manhood. And so today, we shall discover the other side of the fence, the fascinating universe that is the archetypes of womanhood.
For comprehension, let us categorize the many archetypes of womanhood into four fundamental realities, which correspond to the four elements of Esoteric Astrology and Archetypal Psychology. These are the archetypes of the huntress, the priestess, the lover and the queen.
The archetype of the huntress corresponds to the astrological element of fire. This archetype imparts to women the positive qualities of passion, independence, initiative, ambition, leadership and courage. Unfortunately, it also imbibes in them the negative qualities of egotism, self-centeredness and pride. Yin and yang. You cannot have one quality without the opposite, a fair exchange anyway. This archetype is active whenever a woman enters the male world and blazes a path for herself! Thus, we see many women in leadership positions nowadays, all over the world. In Greek mythology, the archetype of the huntress is epitomized by Artemis, the goddess of nature and hunting. In Tarot symbology, its essence is best captured by the suit of staves.
The archetype of the priestess corresponds to the astrological element of air. This archetype imparts to women the positive qualities of intelligence, wit, charm, the ability to make friendships with people from all walks of life, the ability to absorb and communicate ideas, and the ability to educate others. Unfortunately, those who have this archetype in excess would have the tendency to be talkative, selfish and critical of others. In Chinese philosophy, they would say you have an excess of Yin if you display these negative qualities too often! This archetype is active whenever a woman interacts with both members of the sexes. The gifts of the priestess are excellent communication skills, interpersonal intelligence and the ability to form friendships and networks. In Greek mythology, the archetype of the priestess is epitomized by Pallas Athena, the goddess of wisdom. In Tarot symbology, its essence is best captured by the suit of swords.
The archetype of the lover corresponds to the astrological element of water. This archetype imparts to women the primal qualities that have been their signature characteristic throughout the ages, which are intuition, sensitivity, perception, emotionality, depth and empathy. Unfortunately, those who are undergoing depression manifest this energy configuration too strongly. A woman must learn continually to manage her moods and the moods of her partner. This archetype is active in many situations throughout life. In moments of passion. Moments of love. Moments of death. Moments of life. Family affairs. Personal affairs. The list is endless. In many ways, it is the element of water, meaning interconnectedness, which defines a woman's life. In Greek mythology, the archetype of the lover is epitomized by Aphrodite, the goddess of love; Persephone, the goddess of the underworld; and Selene, the goddess of the moon. In Tarot symbology, its essence is best captured by the suit of cups.
Finally, we have the archetype of the queen, which corresponds to the astrological element of earth. This archetype imparts to women the positive qualities of determination, persistence, practical intelligence, and common sense. It also imparts attributes like the love of nature, the outdoors, and the love of building in all its forms. Unfortunately, it also comes with opposite qualities like being stubborn, laziness, being too materialistic, etc. This archetype is active whenever a woman is developing the practical skills that she will need later on in her life, like cooking, dressing, etc. Being able to manage resources well is a gift of this energy configuration. So that women who have strong placements of earth signs in their natal astrological chart are bound to become rich and wealthy, given the right circumstances and application of skills. In Greek mythology, the archetype of the queen is epitomized by Hera, the queen of the gods. In Tarot symbology, its essence is best captured by the deck of pentacles. This is why the pentacle is a good luck sign as well as a symbol of wealth.
This is just one configuration of the archetypes of womanhood. There are many other ways to categorize them, using various esoteric traditions and archetypal expressions. Let me share more in the future. My email is wizardspen@yahoo.com.
Blessed be! Embrace Infinity! God bless you all!
(October 25, 2005 issue)
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