Wizard Archetype

Wizard Archetype

KEYWORDS: STUDIED, SKILLFUL, INNOVATING
CHALLENGES: MANIPULATION, HOARDING KNOWLEDGE, CRITICAL
TO CULTIVATE: STUDY, MEDITATE, RITUAL, EXPERIMENT, TEACH

SUB-ARCHETYPES: TEACHER, INVENTOR, SEEKER, SCRIBE
SHADOW ASPECTS: KNOW IT ALL (+), CHARLATAN (-)

The Wizard searches for knowledge and innovation in all fields. He finds pleasure in learning new skills, studying, and experimentation to expand his understanding of the world. This pursuit can be for the arcane or the scientific. He doesn’t live just to eat, drink, and sleep. He feels truly alive when learning something new. 

When everyone else deals with inconveniences by turning a blind eye, the Wizard will face the problem straight on and dream up new solutions. He explores the liminal spaces, the unknown, and his imagination’s vastness to develop original ideas. This fuels his drive to invent, write, and create.

The Wizard naturally inspires others, initiating them on their path of self-discovery. He doesn’t hoard knowledge but shares it freely. However, suppose the Wizard connects his self-worth with his intellect. In that case, he can fall into the Archetype’s Shadow Aspects. Distorting and manipulating the truth for his gain. 

Whenever you wonder at the sight of the heavens or take something apart to know how it works, you are connecting to the archetypal forces of the Wizard. Behind every great inventor was an insatiable curiosity for knowledge. Through intense study and practice, what once seemed impossible will become second nature. To others, it will look as if it were effortless magic. 

Connecting with the Wizard Archetype can help you understand how and why you pursue information. When you draw this card, examine your relationship to pursuing knowledge. How do you explore the mysteries of life? How do you add to the vast body of human experience?  How does your ego attach to knowing the right answer?

Teacher

KEYWORDS: TUTOR, EDUCATE, CULTIVATE
CHALLENGES: GRANDIOSITY, STUBBORN, RIDGED, LECTURING
TO CULTIVATE: LISTENING, PRACTICE COMMUNICATION SKILLS, LEARN, TEACH

The Teacher radiates a calm and grounded knowledge. He has cultivated a vast body of knowledge and learned how to make it accessible to others. The Teacher’s advice comes from a place of encouragement and good nature. He does not share his knowledge to prove his intelligence. He shares it to improve the lives of others. 

A challenge the Teacher can face is becoming too rigid. If they become too obsessed with perfection or attached to their students’ grades, they can fall into their own Shadow. 

Another trap of the Teacher Archetype is if he becomes too attached to his authority station and wants always to be seen as an expert. He can see every moment as an opportunity to teach. This will alienate people. When working with the Teacher Archetype, always remember that a good teacher points to the mountain of knowledge. He does not force-feed every scoop of dirt. 

Inventor

KEYWORDS: CREATOR, INQUISITIVE, PIONEER
CHALLENGES: DETACHMENT, OBSESSION, POMPOUSNESS
TO CULTIVATE: EXPERIMENT, PERSISTENCE, NOTE KEEPING, PROTOTYPING

The Inventor is skilled in turning his imaginations into physical reality. The Inventor enjoys repairing, fixing, and tinkering with things to know how they work. At his heart, the inventor loves to create. Even though he’s practical, the Inventor still takes wild risks in the name of discovery.  The Inventor does not view himself as artistic but rather as pragmatic and scientific.

If the Inventor isn’t careful, he can become withdrawn, egotistical, and unaware of others. If he becomes too obsessed, he can become impatient with other people’s intelligence. It makes him seem insensitive and rude. The Inventor would do well to remember to take time away from his experiments. It’s vital to socialize and enjoy life.  Being left alone in his thoughts for too long might lead to madness, like a web designer tweaking a complex interface with no real substance or practical use behind it. 

The Inventor’s talent comes from his love of experimentation. He doesn’t look at failure as a problem, but an exciting discovery, one more piece of the puzzle that brings him that much closer to a breakthrough. 

Seeker

KEYWORDS: SPIRITUAL, DREAMER, INTROSPECTIVE
CHALLENGES: SELF-INVOLVED, CLOSE-MINDED, DELUSIONS OF GRANDEUR
TO CULTIVATE: WORKSHOPS, MEDITATION, RETREATS, CONGREGATION

The Seeker has a profoundly spiritual nature. He yearns to connect to something bigger than himself. He explores meditation, ritual, religion, and metaphysics to relate to the divine feeling of oneness. What he pursues, some might call god, spirit, higher self, or enlightenment.

The Seeker wants to discover his true spiritual nature. He looks towards teachers, guru’s, spiritual leaders, traditions, and his own intuition for guidance. The Seeker doesn’t only study the works of wise sages; he also seeks to have the same mystical experiences.

The Seeker needs to be cautious not to become lost in delusions of grandeur. If he uses his experiences to inflate his ego, telling others he is a guru; he can lose sight of his purpose. This can lead him to abuse his power or manipulate others for worldly gain.

The other danger of the Seeker is if his pursuits become superficial. He might dabble in everything but master nothing, leading to a type of spiritual consumerism that never finds the practice’s real depth. 

When working with the Seeker Archetype, explore what truths you see in the world and push your bounds of understanding.  When you travel somewhere new, change career, or contemplate the universe, you connect the Seeker Archetype. 

Scribe

KEYWORDS: OBSERVER, NOTE KEEPER, HISTORIAN
CHALLENGES: PLAGIARIZING, ALTERING FACTS, HOARDING KNOWLEDGE
TO CULTIVATE: WRITING, READING, JOURNALING, DOCUMENTATION

 

The Scribe finds purpose in the integrity of knowledge and adding his mark to humanity’s vast observations. The Scribe is drawn to understand the historical context and record current events to protect the ages’ wisdom. This can lead the Scribe to pursue writing, art, antiquity, and photography. 

The Scribe’s weakness can be hubris. He can become frustrated by others’ lack of education and think of himself as superior. The Scribe’s shadow can manifest as plagiarizing or twist facts to portray what he believes is of higher moral stature. Like a new anchor that edits an interview to misrepresent the facts. Acts like this can poison the very integrity of knowledge that the Scribe is trying to preserve.

When you draw the Scribe, consider the linage of human discovery and how your unique voice can add to the vast volumes of knowledge. You can gain a lot of wisdom by looking at the history propelling you forward.

 

Know-It-All

(+) SHADOW ASPECT OF THE WIZARD
KEYWORDS: POMPOUS, VAIN, ARROGANT, PRIDEFUL
TO BRING TO BALANCE: ASK FOR HELP, CREDIT OTHERS, HUMILITY

The Know-it-all has attached his self-worth to being seen as intelligent. He will dismiss other opinions to protect his self-image, and he never backs down from an argument. He loses his objective nature and will only look for information to support his claims. 

The Know-it-all must face his attachment to what other people think of him. He must discover where his insecurities come from and why he’s so afraid of looking foolish.  If he doesn’t let down his intellectual armor, he will ultimately never connect emotionally with other humans. He will perpetually distance himself in fear that people will see through his insecurities and posturing. 

You find the danger of the Know-it-all in the little things. It’s the white lies that can escalate. To break from this shadow, look at when you share ideas without research. Look at how you might use intelligence as a social tool, instead of pursuing knowledge. It’s in the little conversations this shadow takes hold. 

Whenever you catch yourself distorting information, break the spell, find the humility to apologize, and strive to keep a listening mind. 

Charlatan

(-) SHADOW ASPECT OF THE WIZARD
KEYWORDS: MANIPULATIVE, DECEIT, PHONY, CUNNING
TO BRING TO BALANCE: DEVOTIONAL ACTS, TRUST, HUMILITY

 

The Charlatan is a crafty manipulator that hides behind deceit. He uses his knowledge of the human psyche, desires, and emotions to hook people in his trickery. 

The Charlatan has turned to guile out of fear. He has lost trust in his fellow man and thinks the only way to protect himself is to deceive.  He takes advantage of other people’s empathy, spirituality, and compassion for his own gains. The Charlatan will ultimately find himself alone unless he can trust others. 

Suppose you create complex stories to justify your actions or withholding information to sway others. There, you might be falling into the Shadow Aspects of the Charlatan. To move beyond manipulation, look at why you feel the need to control the situation. Look at how you suppress information out of fear. 

The Shadow Aspect of the Charlatan can come from deep wounds. Look bravely at how you uphold the sanctity of knowledge to bring the Charlatan to balance. 

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