The Sabotuer Archetype
Archetypes
Each person has at least 12 archetypal energies they are born with. These 12 energies provide the foundation for our personality, drives, feelings, beliefs, motivations, and actions. We can learn from and work with these 12 archetypes throughout our life. Although at different ages and stages a certain archetype might be more present than others, but they are all there working in subtle and not so subtle ways. Once we learn the exact 12 archetypal energies we work with we have a road map to our highest potential.
Carl Jung made us aware of archetypes, although it is believed that Plato was the first to bring this concept to our consciousness. Jung saw archetypes as the fundamental units of the human mind. The term "archetype" has its origins in ancient Greek. The root words are archein, which means "original or old"; and typos, which means "pattern, model or type". The combined meaning is an "original pattern" of which all other similar persons, objects, or concepts are derived, copied, modeled, or emulated.
There are more archetypes than I can list, but here is a short list of some just to shed light on this concept.
Actor, Caregiver. Crone, Dreamer, Fool, God, Healer, Knight, Magician, Matriarch, Patriarch, Poet, Victim, Warrior, Slave, Bully, Student, Clown, King, Queen, Priest, Prophet, Rebel, Scholar, Storyteller, Thief, Addict, Artist, Beggar, Child, Goddess, Mystic, Nun, Pilgrim, Lover, Monk, Gossip, Teacher….
Shadow and Light
It’s important to know that each archetype has two sides, a shadow and light side. The thought is, the less conscious you are of the energies you work with the more possible it is for that energy to be unconscious or in the shadow and therefore negatively impact you or others. The more aware of and conscious you are of the archetypes you work with the more you can choose to be in the positive or light side of that energy. Another way to think of it is, the shadow shows us the parts of our self that are buried deep within, occupy our subconscious mind, and often emerge unexpectedly, in destructive ways. The light aspects show us the opportunities to reach our highest potential and to live from a place of gentleness, integrity, and power.
Survival Archetypes
When it comes to archetypes it is believed that there are 4 universal archetypes that each and every person on the planet has as part of their 12. These 4 archetypes are considered survival archetypes.
The four survival archetypes and their primary purpose:
The Child – responsibility, innocence, authority
The Victim – personal power, self-esteem
The Prostitute – faith, negotiation, integrity
The Saboteur – choice, truth, self-esteem
These archetypes influence how we respond to challenge, how we make choices especially when we are afraid of something or someone.
Here are the positive aspects of these energies.
Child — Sovereign
Victim — Victorious
Prostitute — Lover
Saboteur — Alchemist
The Saboteur
The specific archetype I want to focus on is saboteur. This can be a difficult archetypes to understand, because its name bring up betrayal. Yet the purpose of this archetype is not to sabotage you. This archetype is here to help you learn the many ways in which you undermine yourself. So, in many ways the role of the saboteur is to protect you.
The saboteur can cause you to sabotage opportunities, resist healthy relationships, and close your heart. This archetype is linked to your fears of surviving in physical reality. It can bring doubts of not being able to pay your bills, fit into society, find the right job, or have the relationship of your dreams. The Saboteur’s fears and issues are related to low self-esteem. In particular self-esteem that causes you to make choices that block your own empowerment and success.
In order to find empowerment working with this archetype you need to face it and make it an ally. When you do, you will find that it calls your attention to situations in which you are in danger of being sabotaged, or of sabotaging yourself. Once you are comfortable with the Saboteur, you learn to “hear” these warnings, saving yourself from making the same mistakes over and over. Ignore it, and the shadow Saboteur will manifest in the form of self-destructive behavior or the desire to undermine others.
Ways in which we sabotage
How often do you set new plans in motion, only to end up standing in your way because of the fears that undermine those plans? Or, you begin a new relationship and then destroy it because you begin to imagine a painful outcome. You begin a working relationship with another person and find yourself once again in a power struggle. Or you befriend someone you don’t fully trust so you fall into a destructive pattern because you fear the other person.
Whenever you try to get too close to people, the saboteur will help you to subconsciously create situations that cause conflict and pain, and leave you feeling disappointed, hopeless, or lonely. It can also judge, criticize, and put you down, telling you that you are unworthy of good things. Thus, you may stop trusting the wisdom of your heart without realizing that the saboteur is running the show.
Ways to work with this archetype
To learn how to become aware of the action of the Saboteur within, ask yourself these questions:
What fears have the most power over me?
What happens when a fear overtakes me?
Do I allow people to speak for me?
Do I agree to some things out of fear that I otherwise would not agree to?
Have I let creative opportunities pass me by?
How conscious am I in the moment that I am sabotaging myself?
Am I able to recognize the Saboteur in others?
Would I be able to offer others advice about how to challenge one’s Saboteur? If so, what would it be?
Once you confront your saboteur and understand how it is trying to keep you safe, you can develop a healthy relationship with it. Instead of creating pain, it can alert you to wonderful opportunities and lead you toward acceptance, forgiveness, self-love, and joy! It can also show you all the choices that are available to you, help you overcome your fears, and reclaim the courage you need to live your life from a space of love.