Archetypes Tell Your Past, Present and Future

Every archetype tells a story. There are thirty-six archetypes ready to tell your story. And you can do it simply by journalling with each one. An archetype is a universally recognised pattern of thinking, feeling and behaving. Archetypes influence the roles you play, the scripts in your head, and the scenarios that arise throughout your life.

Everyone has twelve core archetypes. Four we all have in common—the Child, Victim, Prostitute and Saboteur—plus eight personal archetypes¹. Your twelve core archetypes have a unique story to tell you about how to move beyond your past. These archetypes are permanent.

But.

That’s not all.

Depending on your needs, a number of temporary archetypes will come and go. At any given time, you will have unlimited access to your permanent archetypes, those that represent your personal history, plus twenty-four temporary archetypes of your choice, based on your current and future needs.

Think of your twenty-four temporary archetypes as the ever-changing wings of your twelve permanent archetypes.

Gail Goodwin 2025

Of your twenty-four archetypes, twelve are assigned to the present, and another twelve can be used to guide you into the future. Making a total of thirty-six archetypes. So, your archetypes have a fairly unique story to tell you about your past, present and future. You can find out more by using the following as a guide to journal with your archetypes. I suggest working with one archetype each day.

36 Days+ to Journal with Your Archetypes

For every facet of life, there is a story to tell. The story we tell ourselves and others about each domain of life below has a profound influence on our experience of life.

1. Physical Health
2. Financial health
3. Mental health
4. Emotional health
5. Creativity
6. Work
7. Relationships
8. Change
9. Spiritual Health
10. Success
11. Ambition
12. Greatest Fear

Have a play with archetypes. Think of the following exercise as an experiment. For each domain of life listed above you’re going to identify archetypes from the list below to describe your past, present and future.

Which archetypes can you use to tell the stories of your past, your present circumstances, and your future?

1. Assign twelve archetypes, one to each domain of life, to describe the twelve stories of your past. When identifying your past archetypes, remember to include the four archetypes we all share, the Child, Victim, Prostitute and Saboteur, plus eight personal archetypes.
2. Assign twelve different archetypes, one to each domain of life on the list, that describe your current circumstances.
3. Choose yet another twelve different archetypes to each domain of life. Select archetypes you would call on to guide you into your future.
4. Brainstorm and record one downside and one upside (in that order) for all thirty-six archetypes. Acknowledging the pitfalls in an archetype allows you to make the most of their benefits. It helps to ground and balance your approach to life.

Then observe what happens. And keep journalling. Continue to add to the list of downsides and upsides, in that order, and in equal measure, for all thirty-six archetypes. When you need a new set of archetypal wings, simply replace those twenty-four archetypes with a different set: twelve current archetypes, and twelve future archetypes.

Connecting with your archetypes is no ordinary experience. It’s dynamic, interactive and collaborative. As an outcome, you can expect anything from an aha to an epiphany, before, during or shortly after journalling with each of your archetypes.

In the ancient tradition of alchemy, when elements in opposition are brought together and unified, your transformation begins. Positive and negative forces coalesce because of a third, catalytic agent. That catalyst is your spirit.

1. According to Pearson and Marr, everyone has the same 12 archetypes in various stages of development. Caroline Myss, author of Sacred Contracts: Awakening your Divine Potential, 2001, suggests that everyone has 12 archetypes: four are shared in common and eight are personal and as a result the combination of twelve are individual by comparison. ↩︎