The Self is an archetype. It’s a universal pattern of experience and expression that represents the wholeness of who we are. Unlike the ego, which is shaped by life experiences, wounds, and conditioning, the Self is the part of us that is undamaged, untouched by life’s difficulties, and always whole, yet constantly expanding and evolving as we integrate the wisdom contained in the highest potential of our personal archetypes. That’s why I consider our true, authentic Self to be sacred. The Sacred Self represents the part of us that doesn’t need fixing. The Sacred Self needs remembering¹.

A client overcame years of self-doubt after recognising she had been identifying with the disempowered Victim archetype. She realised that beneath that identity is the Sacred Self, the part of her that is the untouched core of her being that never questions its value. It’s the divine essence within her that holds steady. Each time she reconnected with her Sacred Self, the pull to seek validation and approval grew weaker. She remembered she was never truly broken.

Another client, overcome by their Saboteur archetype, constantly undermined his success. When he meets his Sacred Self, he understands that he’s not inherently flawed. He simply forgot his true power. The Sacred Self doesn’t reject the Saboteur, or any archetype. The Sacred Self absorbs (integrates) the wisdom of the Saboteur, turning self-doubt into discernment.

You are not your personal archetypes. You have archetypes.

Gail Goodwin 2025

The Sacred Self is not an ideal to aspire to. It represents our true, divine nature at the centre of our soul thinking space. The Sacred Self is an energy to align with: loving kindness, compassion, clarity, inner peace, creativity, flow. It’s the inner compass guiding us beyond shame, fear, or ego defenses. It’s sacred because it contains our most authentic, integrated life. It is not what we strive for. It’s what we uncover when the ego’s noise steps away.

Journal Prompts

Journal prompts to deepen the exploration of your Sacred Self states with clarity and spiritual alignment:

1. Which of the above Sacred Self states are the easiest for me to inhabit? This prompt encourages Sacred Self-awareness and discernment between this state and your personal archetypes.
2. Which Sacred Self state feels the most elusive or challenging, and what internal or external factors contribute to that? This invites compassionate inquiry into resistance, conditioning, or unmet needs.
3. When I’m fully inhabiting my Sacred Self, where do I feel or sense it in my body? What shifts in my energy, relationships, or decision-making become noticeable?
   This is a prompt to identify subtle transformations as markers of alignment.
4. What archetype within me best supports my transition into a Sacred Self state during times of doubt or disconnection? Use this to explore your inner resources and intuitive allies.
5. How can I create a daily ritual or symbolic reminder to anchor myself in my Sacred Self, even amid chaos or uncertainty? Encourages a bridge between the mystical and the practical. It’s a way to bring soul presence into everyday life.

1. This is what I refer to as Sacred Self-Actualisation. ↩︎