Interview With The Child Archetype

This work with the Child Archetyp is based on Caroline Myss's book, "Sacred Contracts."

In this self-help/self-healing book, Ms. Myss uses her own theory of archetypes to build on the work of Carl Jung, who is "generally credited in the modern world as having introduced archetypes, although the idea had originally been espoused by Plato." (direct quote from the book) Using her book for guidance, I found the work to be fascinating, enlightening, and helpful.

I shared bits and pieces of my insights with friends and they found them to be so helpful to them in their own work that they suggested I share them with you here on my website.

In this book, Ms. Myss introduces the archetypes and then has the reader choose which archetypes resonate most strongly for them. She then guides the reader to greater self-understanding through the exercises she provides.

The part of my work that I share here are the "Interviews with the Archetypes."

I hope you enjoy.

Child Archetype -- Guardian of Innocence

-- Our beginning point

-- We most easily identify with the Child

-- Establishes our perceptions of life, safety, nurturing, loyalty, and family

-- Its many aspects include the Wounded, Abandoned or Orphan, Dependent, Innocent, Nature, and Divine Child

-- The core issue of all the this archetypes is independence and responsibility: when to take responsibility, when do have a healthy dependency, when to stand up to the group, and when to embrace communal life

-- Confronting this archetype within you awakens a new relationship with light, a fresh beginning

-- As the guardian of your innocence, the Child helps heal, repair, and put a stop to the inner directed abuse of the Wounded Child

-- This archetype often inspires you to act outside restrictive boundaries or to explore an adventure without the burdensome weight of the adult mind

I chose to interview the Eternal Child. Positive aspects of the Eternal Child Archetype manifest as a determination to remain eternally young in body, mind, and spirit. People who maintain that age will never stop them from enjoying life are relying on the positive energy this archetype to supply that healthy attitude. The shadow Eternal Child often manifests as an inability to grow up and embrace the responsible life of an adult.

Historical Questions

"Why did I choose you?"

Child Archetype: You are in the middle of a time of great change in your life -- your elders have all passed and your children are entering adulthood. You are no longer responsible to all those you were most responsible to -- you are free! You are re-defining yourself without the prefixes "son of...," "grandson of...," "husband of...," or "father of..." Being released from those parameters, you are now able to define yourself according to your own wishes and dreams. You have a clean slate to draw the new "you" on. In this sense, you are reborn. You need to tap into your dormant inner child to help create the new you. You not only need to access the creativity, wonder, playfulness, and openness of the Child Energy, but you also need to access the fears that have plagued you from your childhood so that you may be free of them in your rebirth/redefinition.

"Where have we met before?"

Child Archetype: The energies of curiosity, playfulness, and innocence that are associated with the Child Energy are a natural part of you and have been with you eternally. That is the best way to answer that question.

"How does your shadow self influence me?"

Child Archetype: Light has no shadows. Any shadow energies are from your self-made fears about your adequacies, capabilities, and sense of worth. Shadows are not my doing.

"What do I least like about you?"

Child Archetype: Anything you don't like about me is not really about me. I gently lead you to your greater Self. Each time we take a step, we go into what you consider to be the unknown. Because you don't yet fully know your true self and the limitless your true self embodies, you are unsure of your ability to handle the new. Because you don't yet fully trust yourself, you feel afraid with each new step. Your fear is sometimes expressed as anger towards me for taking you places you deem scary. So your lack of trust in yourself is projected out as anger towards me, which is why what you least like about me is actually not about me.

"Which opportunities in my life are connected to your energy?"

Child Archetype: All. I use the wonder of the child to keep you moving forward. The energy of your curiosity eventually overwhelms your sense of fear and you move forward. And what are you moving toward? You're only destiny -- the discovery of your true Self as whole and unified. That is your only true opportunity, so all things are used as mini-opportunities to lead you to your destiny.

Personal Questions

"Who are you most connected to in my life? How has this connection contributed to our spiritual development?"

Child Archetype: Everyone. Each person and event in your life is an opportunity to find your one destiny but only when you let Love be your guide and not fear. When you have allowed Love to be your guide, you have moved closer to your ultimate destiny, which is an act you call "spiritual development."

"Which people have assisted me?"

Child Archetype: Everyone! They all had something to learn, either about their own need to allow fun into their lives or to see their own unwillingness to let go of their own fear of growing up. If they are mean to you or blame you for anything, it is just their own way of rejecting their own power to mature. Don't worry about it. Worrying about it keeps you in the past. It is now time for you to let go of the past, be free of it, so that you can move on unencumbered. Your growth will be much faster this way. So change will come more quickly, but relax into it -- you are safe with change.

"How do you help me fulfill my Contracts with people?"

Child Archetype: For your part of the contract, I introduce you to people and circumstances that will mirror your own fears so that you can become aware of them, heal them, and move on unencumbered by them. For the other person in the contract, I introduce you to them so they can see their own needs. When you are being childlike with them -- full of wonder, playful, funny, innocent -- they are most likely to disarm and enjoy the energy of your message. This will help you and your message stand firm.

"Who in my life do I associate with your power?"

Child Archetype: The jokesters and tricksters. Those who used humor to keep themselves young. "Funny" and "Creativity" go hand in hand. The Sundance Kid. Humor expressed his insecurities and vulnerabilities in an occupation in which either of those qualities would get you killed. (Sidebar: Since I was a kid, I have loved the movie "Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid" starring Paul Newman and Robert Redford.)

"Who are you connected with from my past that I still have unfinished business with? In what way can your influence helped bring closure to each of these relationships?"

Child Archetype: It doesn't really matter. Those particular unhealed energies continue to play out in your present life and make new relationships with the same patterns. I will help guide you through those new relationships and as we heal them, the old ones will be healed simultaneously.

Energy and Intuitive Questions

"How do I know when your energy is influencing my thoughts or actions?"

Child Archetype: When you feel like Kaitie's wiggle or Meaghie's smile. (Sidebar: Kaitie and Meaghie are my daughters.) When you feel gentle and vulnerable, open and loving. Smiling on the inside. When you are curious. When you are enjoying somebody.

"How do you present your energy to me through the dream state?"

Child Archetype: Remember the midget dream? Falling in love with a midget was really about embracing your inner child.

"In what ways does your influence enhance my sense of personal power?"

Child Archetype: It gives you gentle eyes to see others through, eyes that are forgiving and kind and sensuous. It lets you kid around with others about serious matters. By connecting you find your power. You have been afraid to connect because you associate connecting with someone with losing that person. So you associate connection with pain and loss. Which ultimately leaves you feeling powerless. Just like the story you were writing, this needs to flip so you can connect. True connection is where your power lies. Connection with God and connection with people so you can relate your connection with God to yourself and others.

"Do you have a negative influence on my self-esteem or on my behavior or attitudes?"

Child Archetype: It is impossible that guiding you to your greater self, your whole and holy Self, could possibly have any negative influences on you.

"What have I learned lately that comes directly from you?"

Child Archetype: Anything that concerns the great changes that are taking place in your life. All the things that you fear about these changes are all on my "to-do list." (laughs) Every time you become afraid of these changes, and the things you perceive as requirements associated with these changes, remember that I'm right there with you holding your hand. Simply acknowledge my presence, turn to me, and you will find all the help and answers you need.

"When and where in my life have you communicated with me most directly?"

Child Archetype: With your daughters. You have a nice balance with them, Dad and equals. As your relationship with them is a mirror of your relationship with yourself, it will change a little now but all for the good.

"What do you make me afraid of?"

Child Archetype: Nothing, really. Your curiosity is natural and it has good boundaries. It knows/feels what is right for you -- when to go, when to stop.

"What positive characteristics do I have that you enhance and help me with?"

Child Archetype: Your curiosity, your being equal to everyone. Your ignorance of when people are being mean to you so they can feel superior. Your sense of humor. Your generosity. Your kindness. Your willingness to see the humor in a situation. You love to laugh and hug and cradle.

Spiritual Questions

"What is your central contribution to my spiritual development?"

Child Archetype: Curiosity.

"What are the most important personal lessons that you have taught me?"

Child Archetype: That being practical isn't always best. I've been trying to teach you to trust more. You are quite kind and generous and oblivious to negative outcomes -- some have called that courageous, some have called it naïve.

"What immediate guidance can you give me in this present moment?"

Child Archetype: Let go of the past, your fears you can't trust you. Your fears that you are all alone and must do things by yourself. Your fears that connection is bad. Stay young, not immature.

"How do you help me work with my agreements and Contract?"

Child Archetype: I'm not sure I agree with this premise, but your curiosity keeps you moving, growing, reaching out, leading people to help you and for you to help. Your kindness and love is the motor beneath your curiosity, helping to keep your nose clean. Trust God, Wesley. He knows you and knows what's best for you. Give your curiosity to Him.

"What is the most immediate personal change connected to your influence that I can make that would best empower me at this point in my life?"

Child Archetype: Let go of the past, trust love, give your curiosity to God.

"How do you cause me to block personal change?"

Child Archetype: I don't. I hope to help you change so you can return to the changeless.

"What do I fear most about your influence?"

Child Archetype: You fear my absence. You fear that I will also leave you. You fear that to lose me is to get old and bald and fat and sweaty. With a comb-over. (laughs) I will never leave you. I love you. I am you. We are inseparable. So you can stop squeezing me so hard. Relax your grip. The parts we no longer need and want will fall away but my essence will stay with you forever. Take the energy you are expending worrying about me leaving and holding me so tight (your hand problems) and move forward with confidence knowing I will always be there.

"Why am I afraid to let you go?"

Child Archetype: You love your past. You feel loved in your past, part of something. You are afraid that if you let go of your past and grow up, you'll be letting go of your mother. Part of it is fear of abandoning her, betrayal of her. Part of it is being afraid you are not capable of standing on your own two feet -- making good decisions, moving forward, leading others. Also, you believe the only way to stay young is to be this way -- immature. Immaturity and youth are not the same. The rebel in you can be a mature rebel. Let go, you'll see. I was ready to let go of you a long time ago but you were not, so I stayed. I was happy to accept your invitation -- I love you, and you are a lot of fun!

"I have lost a lot by keeping you - right?"

Child Archetype: Not completely. You have lost opportunities but you will just have different ones. They were all great, just different. Your rebel can grow now, mature. It's okay.

"Thank you. Is there anything else you need to tell me?"

Child Archetype: No, not really. You're great. And you're right -- you deserve so much more than you are experiencing. And you also have so much more to give. Just keep moving forward. You are not alone, you never are. And it is not just me who is with you, it is all the Universe with you, behind you, ahead of you, all around you. Clearing the way, lining people and things up. Just move forward confidently. What falls by the wayside you don't need and they don't need you in that way anymore either. Curiosity didn't kill the cat -- it was bad Mu Shu! (laughs)

To order the "Sacred Contracts" book, click here.