Jungian Archetypes & Zodiac Signs

 

The 12 Jungian Archetypes

1. Ruler
2. Every person
3. Jester
4. Caregiver
5. Hero
6. Sage
7. Lover
8. Rebel
9. Explorer
10. Wizard
11. Innocent
12. Creator/Artist

1. The Ruler King/Queen, Boss, Autocrat

The Ruler

• Saying: Power isn’t everything, it’s the only thing.
• Desire: Control
• Goal: create a prosperous, successful family or community
• Strategy: exercise power
• Fear: chaos, being overthrown
• Weakness: being authoritarian, unable to delegate
• Talent: responsibility, leadership

Aries is the cardinal fire sign when nature regrows itself. That powerful strength is the sign of The Ruler, which is, therefore, the archetype of Aries. 

It’s the character of seeing life as a challenge and taking it on.

Also known as the king, queen, boss, leader, politician, role model, manager, or aristocrat, the Ruler is always at the top of the food chain and is generally wholly responsible for the atmosphere of the world in which they inhabit. 

For this reason, it is quite common to either find the benevolent ruler killed or otherwise maimed early on in the story or the evil dictator, who is the main villain the heroes must overcome by the end. 

Why is this? 

Because if the Ruler is available and doing her job properly, there would be no story to tell!

The Ruler is concerned with creating wealth and prosperity, and in order to do that, they must obtain absolute power. 

By the end of the story, many Heroes may, in fact, be on the path to becoming Rulers themselves. 

Unlike the Hero, the Ruler isn’t concerned with a singular purpose—they must weigh the entirety of the community they oversee, and as such, are rarely universally loved. 

In fact, there may even be a benevolent ruler who appears wholly the villain, simply because they can not grant the requests of their followers. 

They exert their power as the first course of action, with or without counsel.

The Ruler, therefore, also has a very real fear: being overthrown. 

In the Ruler’s mind, he is only doing what is best for the world, but the world may not agree, and so, as the story dictates, he must fall, so the cycle can start again.

The Ruler is one of the most dangerous archetypes to fall into shadow. Aragorn becomes Sauron. 

Peter Pan becomes Captain Hook. 

Katniss Everdeen becomes President Snow. 

When the Ruler falls, they fall with absolute power on their side and are difficult to overcome without heavy costs to the opposing side.

The buck stops here.

– HARRY TRUMAN

The Ruler archetype gravitates to power and directs the power you have to achieve goals, keep order, and promote the good enterprises of which you are a part. You easily sense who defers to whom and what the hierarchy is among the members of various groups. You like to be in control, and you willingly take on responsibilities.

2. The Everyperson / Peasant

The Everyman

• Saying: All men and women are created equal
• Desire: connecting with others
• Goal: to belong
• Fear: to be left out or to stand out from the crowd
• Strategy: develop ordinary solid virtues, be down to earth, the common touch
• Weakness: losing one’s own self in an effort to blend in or for the sake of superficial relationships
• Talent: realism, empathy, lack of pretence

Taurus is the fixed earth sign. 

In the solar year, its time is that of sowing the fields and growing food for the coming year. 

Thus, its archetype is The Everyperson / Peasant, close to nature and senses. Develops ordinary solid virtues.

It is the Everyman. It is the Everywoman. The Everyperson.

Morality, virtue, and equality are important–and when you are an Everyperson, perhaps they are appreciated more than anything else. Among the twelve archetypes, there are none more “centered” than he. The Everyperson is not just centered in heart and spirituality and education, but also in the “wheel” of archetypes. The Everyperson can easily turn into any of the other Soul or Self types.

Sometimes referred to as the Orphan, the good neighbor, silent majority, good old boy, common man, or person next door, the Everyperson is a little bit of you, a little bit of me, and a little bit of everyone else, too. The Everyperson stands on equal footing with all of her peers, and is eager to build new and lasting relationships with all of the personalities that populate her world.

The Everyperson wants, more than anything, is security. Her life has been hard: trauma and ordeals have forced her to accept a realistic outlook, and at worst, a terrible cynicism. It takes a while to became a true friend of the Everyperson.

To be accepted by her chosen peers is part of the Everyperson’s wishes. And while belonging to a family, a group, a country, or adventure is what motivates her to succeed, the unending desire for acceptance can also lead to loss of self in the effort to please so many others.

The Everyperson is virtuous, down-to-earth, and carries indelible empathy for the pain of others. If the Everyperson were an astrological sign, she’d be the Virgo. She is resilient, hardworking, and is most in touch with the consequences of “the quest”, particularly death, as she has had contact with it before. She sometimes has a pessimistic or deadpan sense of humor, which can help her bond with others in tougher situations.

On the flip side, the Everyperson is disdainful of elitism, classism, and any other “-isms”–and may even, in her Shadow, turn to the mercenary (or Outlaw archetype) as a way to combat the systems that have caused her suffering earlier in life. The orphan is prone to self-pity, and is often mistrustful of others when forced into a leadership role. Unlike the Innocent, the Orphan tends to demotivate her team members with her constant negativity. She is also willing to be abused if the only other option is to be alone.

The Everyperson is virtuous, down-to-earth, and carries indelible empathy for the pain of others. If the Everyperson were an astrological sign, she’d be the Virgo. She is resilient, hardworking, and is most in touch with the consequences of “the quest”, particularly death, as she has had contact with it before. She sometimes has a pessimistic or deadpan sense of humor, which can help her bond with others in tougher situations

3. The Jester Entertainer, Trickster, Court Fool

The Jester

• Saying: You only live once
• Desire: to live in the moment with full enjoyment
• Goal: to have a great time and lighten up the world
• Fear: being bored or boring others
• Strategy: play, make jokes, be funny
• Weakness: frivolity, wasting time
• Talent: joy

Gemini is a mutable air sign, quick-witted and adaptable. 

Therefore, nothing should be taken too seriously. 

It’s the archetype of the Jester, sociable, talkative, and loves to be surrounded by interesting people all the time. 

They are high energy and easy-going beings. 

You only live once, but if you do it right, once is enough.

– MAE WEST

For an active Jester archetype, humour and joy in living is paramount. 

You easily see the inconsistency, absurdity, and irony in life, but you are not compelled to change the way things are. You may chuckle inwardly or you may actively instigate frivolity and laughter, but you revel in furthering the enjoyment of yourself and others.

Also known as the clown, trickster, comedian, practical joker or the fool, the Jester is an archetype that is at peace with the paradoxes of the world. 

He uses humor to illuminate hypocrisy, and also level the playing field between those of power and those without.

The Jester is a fun-loving character who seeks the now, inviting others to partake in creating a self-depreciating form of satire. 

The Jester is also almost always male, though this may be more from the cultural gendering of humor more than a limitation on the archetype itself. 

The Jester excels at projecting infectious joy, letting go, and banishing depression or aggression from their friends and enemies. 

They strive for light-heartedness and carefree living.

A moot life is a Jester’s worst nightmare. In some cases, a Jester can also have a second “dragon,” which takes the form as humor being raised as a shield to deflect inquiries about personal trauma. 

Since fun and humor are requirements for a Jester’s lifestyle, periods of time where humor might be inappropriate make them uncomfortable, and maybe even willfully insensitive.

The Jester does not seek to solve the story’s problem. 

His main purpose on the journey is the journey itself. The outcome rarely matters to him, and in some cases, he may even be a bit of a devil’s advocate in the interest of spicing things up. 

The Jester does not reminisce, or plan for the future. In his darker, shadow form, the Jester may be prone to constant inebriation, or drug abuse. 

These vices could also manifest as a pervert, or any other negative trait defined by a lack of impulse control.

Unlike some of the other archetypes, there is also a secondary, split framework for this archetype in fiction. 

The Jester is sometimes cast as the comic relief (often the best friend to the lead character). The main difference between the Jester-as-Jungian and Jester-as-Comic-Relief is that the latter does not know he is the Jester. Comic reliefs are built as humorous foils for the audience, yet still often show the same characteristics of the classic Jungian archetype.

4. The Caregiver

The Caregiver

• Saying: Love your neighbour as yourself
• Desire: to protect and care for others
• Goal: To help others
• Fear: selfishness and ingratitude
• Strategy: doing things for others
• Weakness: martyrdom and being exploited
• Talent: compassion, generosity

Cancer is the cardinal water sign, the one who cares for our feelings and wants each of us to be pleased. 

That’s the archetype of the Caregiver / Mother. 

They love their home and family more than anything else in this world. 

They are imaginative, clever, protective and sympathetic. 

On the other side, they are moody and overly emotional and unable to let go.

Sometimes, all we need is someone to give us unconditional love.

Cue the Caregiver, originally known as the Mother. 

This person will offer their heart openly and willingly and extend whatever energies they can to help the hero succeed on their quest. 

Quick to forgive and encourage, the Caregiver offers characters weary from a long period of strain a welcome respite, in the form of companionship, health care, or emotional support. Sometimes, it is the presence of the Caregiver, or even the memory of that Caregiver, that keeps those that would otherwise fall from giving up. 

Because not all is bad in the world, and if nothing else, their love is a certainty.

 The Caregiver

Also known as the altruist, saint, helper, and parent, the Caretaker is the archetype that is energized and fulfilled by taking care of others.

The Caregiver is moved by compassion and a genuine desire to help others through generosity or dedicated assistance.

As a peaceful archetype, the Caregiver strives to keep harm away from himself and those he loves. He is motivated by goals that assist more than himself, and in fact is prone to martyrdom, due to his need to satisfy everyone else before seeing to his own needs.

Though the Caregiver’s intentions are often meant with the best of intentions, she can sometimes enable bad or weak behaviour in those she cares for. Additionally, through selfishness is her greatest fear, either in others or herself, over-extending her energies into those that would take advantage of her generosity can lead the Caregiver to become bitter, often demanding acknowledgement of her “sacrifices”, and guilt-tripping those that aren’t quick to sing her praises.

5. The Hero

The Hero

• Saying: Where there’s a will, there’s a way
• Desire: to prove one’s worth through courageous acts
• Goal: expert mastery in a way that improves the world
• Fear: weakness, vulnerability, being a “chicken”
• Strategy: to be as strong and competent as possible
• Weakness: arrogance, always needing another battle to fight
• Talent: competence and courage

Leo is the fixed fire sign, so the archetype of Leo is the King. 

Majestic, sitting on his throne, gleaming the subjects as well as himself with his shine. 

They are bold, intelligent, warm, and courageous.

Life is full of peril. Danger and darkness lurk the corners, and in our blackest moments, most of those journeys would fail if not for the Hero rising up to save the day. He–or she–is the final trump against evil: resilient, strong, and death-defying.

We experience most stories from the eyes of the Hero, and many follow the archetypical journey named after him. 

The Hero’s Journey, often used to describe works of fairy tale and fantasy (in particular), would not exist without this archetype, the most familiar of all of the Egos.

Also known as the Warrior or Crusader, the Hero can manifest as many superheroes, sports players, and soldiers. His narrative is well-known.

The Hero only wants to prove her worth, and return home to her ordinary world. However, she is often forced into action by external forces, good or bad.

Once the Hero has taken on his task, he is focused, and will fight for only what really matters. Losing is not an option. The Hero will continue trying to succeed, or die trying. He is addicted to success, and once one goal is complete, he will not be satisfied until the cycle has started again (this is why so many Hero stories can easily span years, in sequel after sequel). The Hero restores peace for everyone but himself. Often, he leaves the fight with both an unhealable wound and a weapon or tool that gives him an advantage over his foes.

Though the Hero is courageous, determined, and disciplined, he is quite susceptible to his Shadow. Apathy, stoicism, rejecting help, and especially arrogance are all vices he has a hard time avoiding. On the extreme side of things, the Hero can become the ruthless villain, ignoring all good and sense for the attainment of his goals.

6. The Sage

The Sage

• Saying: The truth will set you free
• Desire: to find the truth.
• Goal: to use intelligence and analysis to understand the world.
• Fear: being duped, misled—or ignorant.
• Strategy: seeking out information and knowledge; self-reflection and understanding thought processes.
• Weakness: can study details forever and never act.
• Talent: wisdom, intelligence.

Virgo is the mutable earth sign. 

The archetype of Virgo is the Sage paying the greatest attention to every detail, making as sure as possible to reach the intended outcome. 

There’s no substitute for skill and hard work.

Also known as the scholar, expert, detective, thinker, teacher, mentor, savant, and philosopher, the Sage seeks to understand the world in analytical ways, processing reality with logic and the wisdom of their often long life.

The Sage seeks nothing but the truth. Whether that truth is uncomfortable or heart-rendering, it will be accepted, as the only meaningful path in life is one that pursues the truth.

Personal truth based on falsehood is one of the great fears of the Sage, and so they are always questioning what they know to be true. This eagerness to find contradiction sometimes leads the Sage to be misled or even manipulated by others who are aware of their weakness. In addition, the Sage can be addicted to learning, spending so much time pouring over books and information that they never actively engage in the threat facing their world. One of the most easily recognized representations of this fault is Morla, the giant turtle from the Neverending Story, who is so trapped by her knowledge that she will not even pull herself out of the mud she is in, even to help save her world.

7. The Lover

The Lover

• Saying: You’re the only one
• Desire: intimacy and experience
• Goal: being in a relationship with the people, work and surroundings they love
• Fear: being alone, a wallflower, unwanted, unloved
• Strategy: to become more and more physically and emotionally attractive
• Weakness: outward-directed desire to please others at risk of losing own identity
• Talent: passion, gratitude, appreciation, and commitment

Libra is the cardinal air sign. This is the archetype of the Lover, who knows intimacy and experience. Firm but fair. Still confused at times, since reality doesn’t always fit the model of it.

There is strength in intimacy; divinity in love, and no archetype wields this power more skillfully than the Lover: aptly named, often misunderstood.

This archetype brings to mind the great romances, playboys, and jilted lovers of the world’s story tapestry, but they are not limited to passionate affections. The Lover presides over all love: familial, religious, cultural, romantic, peaceful. The Lover desires their anima and animus to be united, in whatever form that might be.

Sometimes known as the friend, partner, intimate, enthusiast, sensualist, or team-builder, the Lover is all about creating lasting, meaningful relationships. They thrive in situations that bring them closer to the things they love.

The Lover performs best under mutually-beneficial arrangements. They are no stranger to dedication and commitment, will show appreciation and gratitude for others without being prompted, and are quickest to (excuse the cliches) wear their heart on their sleeve and view the world through rose-tinted glasses.

They are terrified of being alone. Getting excluded from the group, not having their passions reciprocated or even acknowledged are some of the greatest fears for the Lover, who usually has such a narrow, precise goal that anything less than bliss will leave them broken-hearted. The Lover rarely recovers from this sort of loss.

The Lover’s shadow can take many forms. As a chameleon, thy can risk losing their own self-identity in trying to remake themselves into the image their desired wishes, or can grow so bitter over their failure that they will obstruct the path of their scorning love, or naive people who remind them of their former, innocent passion. The shadow side of the Lover is also one of the most dangerous, as he can not be reasoned with. There is no life for the Lover after loss of love, and many times, they are willing to take many down with them in a final, fitting end. They can also have commitment problems, objectify their desire, and become addicts in the pursuit of recreating the instigating emotion.

8. The Rebel / Outlaw

The Rebel

• Saying: Rules are made to be broken
• Desire: revenge or revolution
• Goal: to overturn what isn’t working
• Fear: to be powerless or ineffectual
• Strategy: disrupt, destroy, or shock
• Weakness: crossing over to the dark side, crime
• Talent: outrageousness, radical freedom

Scorpio is the fixed water sign. It seems unreal but still works its way. It’s the archetype of the Rebel, being in revenge or revolution, by disrupting, destruction, or shock

Rules are made to be broken, and without those at the ready to test the status quo, they never would be.

The Outlaw, or Rebel, is a fiction favorite, striding through their worlds with a confidence bordering on arrogance and shaking the foundations their society has always known — often doing so with little to no help at all from those around them.

Also known as the rebel, revolutionary, iconoclast, and misfit, the Outlaw is the archetype that lives for revolution.

The Outlaw, though often motivated by a need to better the world through somewhat questionable means, can also have a desire for revenge against atrocities committed against her.

Independent and radical, the Outlaw employs outrageous or disruptive, shocking habits to shake those they interact with out of complacency.

Though the Outlaw can also be a strong advocate for change, the methods they often employ to get the attention of their oppressor can be outright dangerous or misguided. They can also be dogmatic about their own perspective, and outcast those who do not fit their definition of “good,” thus repeating the cycle of society they are trying to break out of. It is not uncommon for them to turn to crime that harms innocent people on the sidelines, and in the process, lose their way, as well as their sense of morality. They often alienate their friends or those who would otherwise support them.

7. The Explore / The Seeker

The Explorer

• Saying: Don’t fence me in
• Desire: the freedom to find out who you are through exploring the world
• Goal: to experience a better, more authentic, more fulfilling life
• Fear: getting trapped, conformity, and inner emptiness
• Strategy: journey, seek out and experience new things, escape from boredom
• Weakness: aimless wandering, becoming a misfit
• Talent: autonomy, ambition, being true to one’s soul

Sagittarius is the mutable fire sign. It’s the archetype of the Explorer, constantly searching for new worlds, never settling, never at peace.

We know them. They are in the eyes of the imaginative child, or in the heart of our favourite cartoon characters’ songs. We are exposed to this archetype first, most likely because of its significance to exploring our world and learning, each day, how much wider it is than we thought the day before. The explorer is a self-fulfiller. They are self-motivated, self-driven, and self-sufficient. Independence is their hallmark.

Also known as the seeker, wanderer, pilgrim and iconoclast, the Explorer is a character that, familiarly, seeks to escape the confines of their average life by travelling the world or exploring its many mysteries.

The Explorer is moved by the possibility of a more fulfilling and authentic life by being more true to herself, and unlike the Hero, needs no inciting incident to try and find it on her own.

Conformity is what terrifies the Explorer the most. To while away, unfulfilled and bored, is death to her. I could cue the lyrics of many Disney princess songs at this point, but you get the idea. We have all seen this character many times. Especially as children, it is the archetype most easily identified with. The Explorer loves to learn about his world.

The Explorer has its Shadow side, however, as with all the archetypes. They are self-sufficient, but sometimes so much so that they become misfits, or actively repel others because group mentalities seem to equal conformity. In her quest to be more fulfilled, the Explorer may become an aimless wanderer or even a thrill-seeker. 

Their goals are often unachievable, and in trying to ever scale that expectation, often disappoint themselves and excuse their lack of decision by suggesting they haven’t learned enough to try.

10. The Magician

The Magician

• Saying: I make things happen.
• Desire: understanding the fundamental laws of the universe
• Goal: to make dreams come true
• Fear: unintended negative consequences
• Strategy: develop a vision and live by it
• Weakness: becoming manipulative
• Talent: finding win-win solutions

Capricorn is the cardinal earth sign. It’s the archetype of the Magician, the one who puts use to everything at our disposal, develops a vision and then lives by it.

Also known as the visionary, catalyst, charismatic leader, medicine man, healer, and inventor, the Magician is the archetype that seeks transformation, and a deep connection to the cosmos, whatever their definition of that might be.

The Magician is not involved in the everyday of regular people; they do not find ‘mortal’ concerns interesting or curious. 

Rather, they seek the threads beneath the surface that tie a world together. Unlike the Sage, however, knowledge isn’t enough. 

The Magician wishes to harness magic for their own purpose. 

Similarly, unlike the Creator, who uses the rules of the physical world, the Magician seems to draw his power from supernatural skill or resources.

The Magician is known as the catalyst for a reason. 

In the Hero’s Journey, the Magician is the pin in the balloon of a hero’s sheltered life. 

While the Magician, in fiction, is powerful, he is also often maimed by the same power, restricted (or willfully determined) from assisting the transformation of the world, except from a distance. 

The Magician is the chess player. 

One of the reasons that a Magician might not be willing to risk life and limb is because his power is born of ego–to in turn be corrupted or otherwise consumed by “evil” is one of his greatest fears. 

The Magician has an extreme duty to his own self-preservation.

The Magician is one of the less flexible archetypes when it comes to fiction. The faults of the Magician are typically unvarying, as if those limitations did not exist, most epics would end at the second chapter. 

This means that the Magician is often perceived to be a coward, manipulative, dishonest, and even cultish. 

However, when a Magician aligns himself fully to the light, away from his Shadow, he can be a force of great healing and transformation for others. The Magician can often return after a fall from grace as a galvanizing force for the Hero, and make all the difference in the world’s darkest hour.

11. The Innocent / Mystic

The Innocent

• Saying: Free to be you and me
• Desire: to get to paradise
• Goal: to be happy
• Fear: to be punished for doing something bad or wrong
• Strategy: to do things right
• Weakness: boring
• Talent: faith and optimism

Aquarius is the fixed air sign. Time for reflection. It’s the archetype of the Innocent, who makes sure that humanity gets to a paradise.

Known by many other names, including the Child, the Youth, Utopian, naive, and mystic, the Innocent embodies all that we wish to return to in old age and a soul untarnished by the harshness of the world.

The Innocent craves happiness above all else. It need not be just his own; the Innocent desires paradise for all, even his enemy. The motivations for the Innocent are sincere. Truth is all he knows.

This unadulterated innocence is what makes this archetype one of the most sympathetic characters, and in group settings, it is the Innocent who often rallies those sooner down-trodden. They inspire people to default to the good, especially those that are apathetic. At his height, the Innocent can convince a neutral party to fight for the Hero, even if there is no reward to be had and the chance of success is slim. His optimism is unrivalled.

However, the Innocent is not impervious to the Shadow, or those elements of an archetype that the Self rejects from its day-to-day Persona. In fact, the Innocent can be terribly naive, to the point of endangering those around him. The Innocent can also be precocious, and difficult to reason with. They are dependent on the skill of others to survive, but may not be aware of it, often living sheltered lives or having a disposition that ignores reality in order to retain a fantasy ideal.

12. The Creator/Artist

The Creator

• Saying: If you can imagine it, it can be done
• Desire: to create things of enduring value
• Goal: to realize a vision
• Fear: mediocre vision or execution
• Strategy: develop artistic control and skill
• Task: to create culture, express own vision
• Weakness: perfectionism, bad solutions
• Talent: creativity and imagination

Pisces is the mutable water sign, the restlessness of emotions. That’s the archetype of the Creator/Artist, who dream to create things of enduring value.

If it can be imagined, it can be created.

This is the motto of the Creator, the Jungian archetype driven by the need to see dream become reality, while providing structure to the world. They are the great architects: the artists, the scientists, the gods and goddesses. Their mind is always questioning, tinkering, and entertaining new theorems. Ingenuity is their hallmark.

Also known as the artist, innovator, inventor, architect, musician, artist, and dreamer, the Creator is solely focused on examining the boundaries or our reality and perception. As a character, they often take the position of the well-meaning scientist, or savant artist.

The Creator carries an inexhaustible imagination, often excelling at their chosen vocation. When presenting as a mortal character in a reality-based world, he is often portrayed as a man ahead of his time. There are often better examples of this archetype in the real world (Galileo, Einstein, Mozart, Steve Jobs) than in fiction!

Mediocrity is the Creator’s worst fear. Whether this result comes from concept or execution doesn’t matter. The creator wishes to be an authentic voice in a world of white noise. They gain rivals easily, answering those challenges with innovation in their work, and their personal outlook.

The Creator, however, has no shortage of a Shadow. Often given to starting multiple projects but finishing none, or abandoning morality for the sake of their craft, they can be taxing on other people for their insensitivity. Because of their genius, the Creator often tends to play god, allowing the end to justify the means, and deciding what is best for the masses without consulting outside opinion. Many a tormented villain began life as the over-eager, excitable, and impulsive Creator.