Everyone needs a map to point them in the right direction. In this case, I’m referring to the direction of your spirit, using a modified map of the astrological houses to function as a dynamic framework for personal growth and spiritual transformation. While it shares similarities with tools like the Coaching Wheel of Life, the Wheel of Success, and the astrological houses, the Archetypal Wheel of Life goes beyond traditional coaching methods to offer a soul-deep, spiritual exploration of the archetypal forces shaping each stage of human development. I’ve found this approach allows for a more holistic and intuitive engagement with the soul’s unfolding journey as it deepens Sacred Self-awareness and alignment.

The Archetypal Wheel of Life is a framework that can be used to answer traditional coaching questions to guide self-reflection, goal-setting, and personal growth such as:

1. Where am I now? – Assessing your current situation, mindset, and challenges.
2. Where do I want to be? – Identifying goals, aspirations, and desired outcomes.
3. What’s holding me back? – Uncovering limiting beliefs, fears, or obstacles preventing progress.
4. What strengths and resources do I have? – Recognising skills, support systems, and inner capabilities.
5. What steps can I take to move forward? – Creating a clear, actionable plan for change and growth.
6. How will I stay accountable? – Establishing a way to track progress and maintain commitment.

However, the Archetypal Wheel of Life is not only a map of your external life. It can also be used to chart the journey of your soul. Since early times, stargazers charted the movements of the sun, moon, and planets to discern recurring patterns. Over centuries, these observations coalesced into the astrological wheel of houses: a twelve-segment template that maps recurring life themes and challenges. Each segment corresponds to traits, challenges and potentials that together form a coherent picture of human experience.

The astrological wheel functions as an archetypal model, illuminating the interplay between your conscious intentions and unconscious drives. By locating your personal archetypes within its twelve sectors, covering everything from relationships and career to inner growth, you gain a unique roadmap for life. The Archetypal Wheel of Life provides you with a way to engage with the archetypes that animate each domain of life, and to extract meaning from their patterns and presence.

Gail Goodwin 2025

The Archetypal Wheel of Life answers questions such as:¹

1. What phase of my inner life am I in? You may be navigating a transition where past patterns dissolve, new clarity emerges, and deeper alignment with your soul is reshaping your inner world.
2. Which personal archetype is currently being activated? An archetype within you may by stepping forward, revealing the lessons, challenges, and strengths needed for this phase, guiding your response to your unfolding path.
3. Who am I beyond my roles and identity? You’re exploring the essence of your Sacred Self beyond identify labels and external expectations.
4. What is my soul’s purpose in this lifetime? You’re seeking alignment between personal growth and a deeper calling.
5. How can I ensoul my life and cultivate a life of authenticity? Understanding how to live in integrity with your highest values and functioning from the energy of your true, Sacred Self.
6. What fears or illusions are keeping me from transformation? Identifying your archetypal barriers to spiritual health.
7. How do I navigate the balance between surrender and action? Finding harmony between personal effort and aligning with your natural rhythms of life.
8. What wisdom have I overlooked that I need to embody? Working with archetypes for development to eventually integrate their wisdom into your Sacred Self.

Both the Coaching Wheel of Life and the Archetypal Wheel of Life help align your goals with your present reality, but since the Archetypal Wheel of Life provides a unique map of both your inner world and external experiences, it serves as a guide to understanding what I call the Typology of Your Soul.²

The Archetypal Wheel of Life is more than just a tool for goal setting and goal achievement. The Archetypal Wheel of Life is a dynamic map that reveals the terrain you are navigating as you move through your inner life from birth to death. The Archetypal Wheel of Life provides a range of contexts for your personal archetypes. The Archetypal Wheel of Life is a model for the mind to recognise the mysteries within your soul. Based on universal patterning, each domain on the Archetypal Wheel of Life when populated with your personal archetypes can describe:

• A range of life lessons and purpose.
• 36 evolving roles you play in life.
• The many facets of your personality.
• The characteristics of your soul (the Typology of Your Soul).
• Your soul challenges and possible solutions.

By integrating your personal archetypes into the Archetypal Wheel of Life, you can unlock deeper access to boundless potential and possibilities, however, while a personalised Archetypal Wheel of Life can offer soul-deep, meaningful insights and reduce uncertainty in your life, it is not an absolute predictor. It provides insights and a map for understanding the progress of your personal growth and a way forward to spiritual transformation. It will always be a symbolic framework.

The Archetypal Wheel of Life is a tool for Sacred Self-awareness,³ for recognising the characteristics of your soul, and to indicate your current, dominant archetype and the challenges associated with it. I’ve found that its greatest value lies in encouraging self-reflection and taking timely action in alignment with the promptings of your soul.

1. Naturally, these types of questions tend to evolve as the journey into your soul deepens. ↩︎
2. The Typology of Your Soul: The Body Soul Spirit Archetypes that make up your suite of 36 personal archetypes. ↩︎
3. Your Sacred Self is at the centre of your soul around which your personal archetypes are grouped. ↩︎