Six Archetypal Life Paths: Which One is Yours?

Everyone has a dominant orientation that reflects the essence of who they are. Recognizing and aligning with this allows for fuller self-expression and increases the capacity to serve others.

Written by Susan Knight for Sankarsingh-Gonsalves Productions.

Photo by Avi Waxman on Unsplash

Have you always had a clear sense of direction in your life, a distinct calling so to speak? Do you find specific themes or roles recurring in your life?

Consider the teacher/communicator orientation, for example. These individuals play an important role in the world as they share knowledge to instruct, inform, and enlighten. But their role is no more important than that of the healer/peacemaker. From fractured limbs to fractured hearts and relationships, there will always be a place for healers and peacemakers alongside the teachers and communicators. Oftentimes the roles will overlap, supporting and enhancing each other.

The teacher/communicator and healer/peacemaker are just two of the six archetypal paths identified in the book ‘Why? What Your Life Is Telling You about Who You Are and Why You're Here’ by Matthew McKay PhD, Seán ÓLaoire PhD, and Ralph Metzner PhD. The authors propose that on some level, everyone’s identity is characterized by one or more dominant paths.

As you move through life, which of the following six paths do you see emerging?

The Teacher/Communicator

Village elders who keep valuable ancestral knowledge alive through rituals and storytelling. Historians, academic instructors, and writers who disseminate knowledge through their work. Even parents who transmit knowledge to their children with their words and actions. Regardless of the shape and form it takes, the teacher/communicator path is found in every corner of the earth.

Knowledge truly is power, enriching individuals and communities. Your role as teacher/communicator is vital in providing context for events; influencing thoughts and ideas; and providing the language and tools needed to equip people to understand the world around them.

The Healer/Peacemaker Path

Do you seek ways to foster greater health and wellbeing? Do you strive to promote peace and unity? Do you feel driven to contribute to restoration and renewal? This is the path of the healer/peacemaker.

Your efforts may be channelled at the individual or community level, locally or globally. You may work with people, plants, or animals; scope, scale, and focus vary greatly. Shaman or surgeon, minister or veterinarian, counsellor or friend, at the heart of this path is a yearning to facilitate healing and assist with the attainment of a better state of being.

The Warrior/Guardian Path

Readiness to take a stand, courage to defend a cause, and a desire to protect others are reflections of the warrior/guardian path. You face challenges head on, leaning in and confidently taking action without giving in to hesitation or fear.

Industries that immediately come to mind are law enforcement, the judiciary, firefighting, and the military. However, the warrior/guardian path can manifest more subtly, as with those who make personal sacrifices to expose corruption; or those who strive to address injustice in any manner.

The Explorer/Scientist Path

Do you ask why people are the way they are? Is it your nature to wonder about what was, what is, or what could be? Are you driven by curiosity and a desire to expand knowledge?

The explorer/scientist path is characterized by a drive to search and discover, in order to reveal that which is hidden or otherwise not yet known. The terrain this path covers is vast, from the mysteries of the universe to the mysteries of the mind. If this is your path, you cannot help but ask questions; and you enrich the world as you share your observations, insights, and discoveries.

The Builder/Organizer Path

As a builder/organizer, you play a key role in shaping society at all levels. Maintaining society’s infrastructure, launching a business venture, building a treehouse for the kids, or arranging a family reunion are just a few examples to illustrate the breadth and impact of this role.

The activities of the builder/organizer move ideas into reality, thus forming the world we live in, both physically and socially.

The Artist/Designer Path

Artists and designers work hand in hand to tell stories, be it through dance, theatre, music, painting, sculpture, writing, poetry, or music. Those who create art often feel driven and compelled to do so, regardless of the medium used or the scale of the work.

As you express yourself through the artist/designer path, the beauty of your work might serve to inspire others. You might also use your work as a vehicle through which to challenge accepted norms, reveal hidden truths, or raise important questions.

Which path are you most at home with, the one that resonates most deeply with you? Do you find yourself drawn to one path in particular, or a combination of paths? Recognizing and aligning with your true path allows for a stronger, fuller, more powerful expression of yourself, while yielding opportunities to serve and enrich others in the process.

About the Author: Susan Knight | SGP Featured Writer | http://skfreelance.com 

Susan is certified health and wellness coach, focusing on personal growth and inner wellness. She was a regular contributor to Social Work Today Magazine and is now a featured Health & Wellness Columnist for SGP.