Interview With The Victim Archetype

The Victim Archetype work 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." Using her book for guidace, 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 and then guides you to a 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.

Victim Archetype -- Guardian of Self Esteem

-- Being a Victim is a common fear

-- The Victim Archetype may manifest the first time you don't get what you want or need; are abused by a parent, playmate, sibling, or teacher; or are accused of or punished for something you didn't do

-- The core issue of the Victim is whether it's worth giving up your sense of empowerment to avoid taking responsibility for your independence

-- The lessons associated with the Victim Archetype demand that you evaluate your relationship to power, particularly in your interactions with people with whom you have control issues

-- The primary objective of the Victim Archetype is to develop self-esteem and personal power

-- The primary role of people with whom you are directly connected to through the Victim Archetype is to help you develop your self-esteem through acts of honesty, integrity, courage, endurance, and self respect

Historical Questions

"Why did I choose you?"

Victim Archetype: I protected you at a time you needed protection. You were young and afraid. I gave you some power when you felt powerless. It has been a while since you needed me but you wanted me to stay, kind of like a "blankie." I am not effective for you anymore, I'm holding you back now.

"Where have we met before?"

Victim Archetype: At first, when you were feeling abandoned by your father, lonely for your mother, afraid of your grandmother, or "less than" with your friends. Later when you felt lonely for relationships, and when you felt less than a man.

"How does your shadow self influence me?"

Victim Archetype: Now? Poorly. I am keeping you feeling "legless," like you have nothing to stand on, untrusting of you, and when you are afraid you are frail and not strong and capable, which is of course not true. It's time to let me go. You probably need to see that it is safe to do so before you will. I know that, so I'll stay as long as you want. But I know you better than you know yourself and I love you so I'm patient.

"What do I least like about you?"

Victim Archetype: You project onto me your own dislike of yourself for still relying on me. You want to let go of me but give yourself a hard time because you are afraid to.

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

Victim Archetype: The opportunity to believe you are reliable, worthy, mature, dependable, and lovable. All pretty important, wouldn't you agree? A lot is at stake here. Trust me, I can help. I want to help. Remember, I know you better than you know yourself and I love you.

Personal Questions

"Who are you most connected to in my life?"

Victim Archetype: Everyone, as they are all just a projection of you.

"How has this connection contributed to our spiritual development?"

Victim Archetype: Slowed it. It is more difficult to accept unlimited power if you are afraid of limited power, yes?

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

Victim Archetype: It's all just a projection so as you change, the people and the "contracts" change. I stay flexible so you can learn in any situation.

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

Victim Archetype: Most people. Because you feel powerless, you feel most others are more powerful than you. You feel others have control over your destiny. You feel you can't get ahead. You feel things don't work out for you. You feel/believe life is tough and full of obstacles. All untrue. But because you believe it is true for you, it is true for you.

"Who are you connected with from my past that I still have unfinished business with?

Victim Archetype: Mostly your mother, father, and grandmother. You are projecting your unfinished business with them onto others. Stop agreeing with them: learn who you are through your own eyes, or better yet, God's eyes.

"In what way can your influence helped bring closure to each of these relationships?"

Victim Archtype: Say "Yes" to responsibility. Like that project at work yesterday. Small, but you were afraid because it was new to you and you didn't want the responsibility of making a mistake. You are afraid to make a mistake. You don't need to be perfect to be loved, Wesley. You just need to be you. Who are you? Say "Yes" and find out. That was good with the mistake at work last night. The blame was your fears manifested, that's all. The lesson and the "legs" you received were of greater value than the $27 you lost. I am with you - just say "Yes." I love you, I won't leave you all alone.

Energy and Intuitive Questions

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

Victim Archetype: When I give you an alternative to "I can't..." I'm guiding you to believe in yourself, to smash your self-imposed limitations, and leading you to your more abundant Self. I'm walking you into love, Love.

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

Victim Archetype: When you're having your "running but can't run" dreams. They are both about protecting yourself (can't say "no") and your unwillingness to move forward. You're exhausted from holding yourself back. Let me carry you for a while. Trust me.

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

Victim Archetype: I am loving you to your power.

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

Victim Archetype: No, although I have been blamed for them.

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

Victim Archetype: Taking more responsibility. Wanting to step your life up some, move into a higher level of "youdom." Saying "Yes!" to the things you would have said, "I can't" or "How do I do it?" to just a short while back. That was me and your inner child holding hands.

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

Victim Archetype: When you were young. I protected you and gave you a slight, and slightly distorted, taste of your own power. Then I stepped away because you wanted to do it all on your own - the arrogance of young adulthood. And now that you have learned some humility (thank waitering but mostly thank you daughters) you are asking for help again. I never left you, mind you. I just did what you asked of me.

"What do you make me afraid of?"

Victim Archetype: The question is backwards but I will answer it anyways. I make you afraid of living your small life. I make you afraid of not being a good dad and being unable to support your children. I make you afraid of choosing an incompatible mate, settling again. Actually, I don't make you afraid of anything. I just let you see what you are choosing, trusting that isn't what you want, knowing you deserve more, and loving you enough to let you make the choice. I'll help make either come true, whichever you choose.

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

Victim Archetype: I just give you the opportunity to see your greatness, to choose your greatness. I don't enhance you at all; how does one enhance Perfection? (laughs) It would be arrogance on my part to believe I can enhance you. It is loving to know you and help you know you too.

Spiritual Questions

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

Victim Archetype: I assist you to move forward at whatever rate and speed you want -- baby steps or leaps and bounds -- so that you can accept your greatness enough so that you can move beyond your present definition of you as a body and accept your place in Unity Consciousness.

"So I am right to believe my goal as a Christed Master is my true goal?"

Victim Archetype: Yes, although your choice of words to describe that place is a little biased by victimhood -- you want to master it. As if you can be a servant to it. HA!

"What would be better?"

Victim Archetype: This is how I help you. Give a little opening and you see and accept the possibility there is more, that there is something over the horizon. By doing that, you do the work and you get the legs under you. I help you a little bit, that is all you need. I know you, I've seen what you've already accomplished. You have it all already. You will come to know that too. I love you.

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

Victim Archetype: Accept the Love that you are. That is all that I am showing you. The Love that you are is greater than any power victimhood can give you. God is joy and happiness and He is infinite. Where can you be anything but joyful, happy, and powerful in Him? And where can it be that He is not? Accept your greatness and love with humility. This is who you already are. Be you.

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

Victim Archetype: Again, the question is an impossible one but...I hold your hand and love you no matter which particular agreement you have made with yourself about yourself and how these agreements project out into the world and present themselves. I am ALWAYS with you, protecting you with the Love that sent me to be with you. In that Love you are never forgotten, never left alone, and never in any real trouble. Love is always with you -- I am Love, you are Love, so I am you. God is Love, you are Love, so you are God. See how simple? I am here to help you make the simple choice, the only choice there is: that you are one with God. So simple. So true. So powerful. I love you.

"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?"

Victim Archetype: Choose Love. You think in so doing you make yourself too gentle to live, that you will be trampled on and crushed, taken advantage of, burned, lied to, destroyed. Do you really believe love can destroy you? Do you really believe that when you choose God you will be destroyed? That makes no rational sense to you but you are afraid that hatred, jealousy, anger, and violence are more powerful than God. How silly. When it is said that way, it really sounds silly to you, doesn't it? Choose God, choose Love. Trust God, trust Love. You do not trust that which is wholly trustworthy, the only thing that is wholly trustworthy. Choose Love, baby. Choose Love.

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

Victim Archetype: Another impossible question. Or actually, a question based in impossibility.

"What do I fear most about your influence?"

Victim Archetype: Now then, is this a question that can be answered? You project you fear onto me because I ask you to look on things you don't believe you can do. I ask you to see yourself in a way that you are afraid to see yourself, but hope and secretly wish is true. You are afraid I am going to push you into a place where there is no safety and no safety net, a ledge where there isn't a wall to grasp. You are afraid I am going to kill you. Or worse yet, embarrass you. You have felt my love for you in this conversation and you know that the Love I represent and exude would never harm you in any way, no less kill you or set you up for public ridicule. I simply ask you to go to an indescribable place. But because you can't define that place, you fear it. But that is the only place that is not fearful to go. Trust me. The more you trust me the faster we can move and the shorter the journey. Trust God. Trust Love. Love is the fast lane.

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