Developing your Archetypal Intelligence is a dynamic, ever-expanding way to grow your intuitive skills.Accessing Archetypal Intelligence begins when you identify the archetype you wish to consult. Then you can get to know it by deconstructing it.

Deconstructing an archetype by brainstorming positive and negative physical, emotional, mental and spiritual attributes and qualities—that you personally associate with the archetype—are stored in your brain and retrieved when prompted by circumstances that correspond to your current understanding of the archetype. Metaphors can be useful here. I often describe the retrieval process as a download. I tend use the term upload to describe the process of deconstructing the archetype.

For example, today, when I deconstructed the Mother archetype, (one of my personality archetypes) the characteristics I associated with this archetype were:

• On the negative side, my brainstorming has revealed overprotectiveness, smothering tendencies, and a potential to be overly controlling. (I like to start with the bad news first, then move onto the good news, so I can finish on a positive note;)
• On the upside side, I’ve brainstormed the positive qualities of nurturing, protective instincts, and loving kindness.

My understanding of this personality archetype is stored in the recesses of my brain, expanding and maturing year after year as I continue to deconstruct it when circumstances prompt me to examine and review my role as a mother.

Deconstructing an archetype stores the information in your brain, ready for retrieval later. Deconstructing an archetype over time builds up your “data bank” for it. Deconstructing an archetype teaches you to recognise archetypal attributes in yourself, in others and in the circumstances around you. It allows you to read ahead of the story as you learn that one thing predicts another.

Once you start deconstructing an archetype, the idea is to keep going. Keep adding to your knowledge, skills and experience of the archetype. You don’t need to go all manic about it. Simply review your personality archetypes when recognise the archetype is active in the situation. Or you might do a review once at New Year, or around your birthday.

Deconstructing an archetype is a dynamic, ongoing process. Your conscious awareness of an archetype has no limits. You need plenty of archetypal fuel in your tank to draw on if you want to expand your intuitive skills. The ancient wisdom contained within an archetype is unlimited. As you dig deeper and deeper into the archetype by deconstructing it, you will unearth more and more information that will sharpen your ability to recognise these universal, archetypal themes and patterns of human behaviour in your self and others. Your understanding of each archetype will continue to evolve.

Deconstructing an archetype is an ongoing process. The evolution of your archetypes ensures lifelong learning and growth. Developing your Archetypal Intelligence becomes a dynamic, ever-expanding way to grow your intuitive skills.