The Invocation of Archetype
The invocation of an archetype is a deep, powerful, and self-actualizing journey into the realm of the subconscious and the universal symbols that reside within it. This ritual, coming forth from ancient traditions and modern metaphysical practices, offers a unique path to embodying and harnessing the qualities of powerful archetypal energies. In this guide, we explore a detailed approach to invoking an archetype, a process that blends deep contemplation, ritualistic practice, and altered states of consciousness.
Understanding Archetypes:
At the core of the invocation ritual is the concept of the 'archetype.' Derived from ancient Greek, where 'arche' means original or old, and 'typos' means pattern, model, or type, archetypes are primitive mental images inherited from the earliest human ancestors. These symbols and themes reside in the collective unconscious and are universally present in individual psyches. The concept was brought to prominence by Swiss psychiatrist Carl Jung, who believed these archetypes manifest in our dreams, myths, religions, and arts, embodying fundamental human concerns and experiences.
Classical Psychological Archetypes
Jung identified several primary archetypes, including the Self, the Shadow, the Anima and Animus, and the Persona. These represent different aspects of the psyche: the Self is the unified unconscious and conscious mind, the Shadow contains our darker, repressed instincts, and the Anima/Animus symbolizes our 'true self' as opposed to the Persona which represents our public image. These archetypes play a main role in personal development and psychological health.
God Forms and Deities
Beyond psychological constructs, archetypes also include deities and mythological figures from various cultures. These entities, such as Greek gods, Egyptian deities, or Norse pantheon, embody universal human experiences - love, wrath, wisdom, etc. They also represent natural forces and societal roles, making them potent symbols for invocation rituals.
Saints and Prophets
Figures like Buddha, Jesus, or Moses serve as archetypes representing spiritual enlightenment, moral excellence, or divine connection. They provide models of behavior and spiritual aspiration, embodying ideals such as compassion, sacrifice, and wisdom.
Fictional Characters
Modern narratives and stories also create archetypes. Or maybe modern stories embody ancient archetypes anew. Characters like Aragorn, Merlin, or Ellen Ripley carry archetypal qualities – leadership, wisdom, bravery, resilience – that resonate deeply with audiences. These characters, though fictional, are crafted from the same psychological building blocks as ancient gods and heroes, tapping into universal themes and personal aspirations.
In the context of the ritual, invoking an archetype means aligning oneself with these powerful, symbolic presences. It's about drawing on their energies, wisdom, and attributes to facilitate personal growth, insight, and transformation. Whether one connects more with a psychological archetype, a deity, a prophet, or a fictional hero, the underlying principle remains the same: these figures represent profound aspects of the human experience and the universe, serving as guides and models for personal and spiritual development.
The Ritual
Immersing in the Archetype:
Study and Contemplation (1 Week): Start by fully immersing yourself in the archetype you wish to invoke. This includes reading relevant texts and learning about their attributes, myths, and stories. Meditate on the archetype, visualizing its qualities and imagining embodying these traits.
Consider cosplaying or dressing as the archetype during this period to deepen your connection. Think about the archetype. Draw it. Listen to music that evokes it. You can even visualize yourself transforming into the archetype.
This is to steep your subconscious mind with the archetypal energy and power, to make it prominent so that you can easily summon it from the depths when the time comes.
Preparing the Ritual:
Gathering Props and Icons: Collect items that symbolize or are associated with your chosen archetype. This can include statues, images, clothing, pictures, props like swords or staffs, or any relevant objects. Impose no limits on your imagination. Make it so that it feels right and magical.
Creating a Ritual Space: Set up a sacred space with these items. Arrange a playlist of music that resonates with the archetype or prepare chants and songs. Choose appropriate incense to burn during the ritual. Make sure you won’t be disturbed.
Choosing a Psychedelic Method: Decide on a psychedelic medium, whether it's through substances or non-drug methods like fasting, drumming, or holotropic breathing. The intensity of the experience should be balanced with your ability to remain focused on the ritual. Do not blow your mind too much, but remember, mind expansion grants us direct access to the subconsciousness and that is exactly what we need.
Performing the Ritual:
Timing: Conduct the ritual at a time that holds significance for the archetype, such as a specific day, hour, or holiday dedicated to it.
Intention Setting: Clearly state your intention aloud at the beginning of the ritual.
Cleansing and Sacred Space: Perform a banishment to purify the space and declare it sacred.
Invocation of Helping Spirits: If you have them, invoke any helping spirits or guides to assist in the ritual. After following my blog for so long you should now be a proficient shaman and have at least a few.
Archetypal Invocation: Engage in the invocation of your chosen archetype. This can include chanting, dancing with the items, and intense visualization. It is good to prepare a longer text that you can read to get into the zone. It should have some repetitive passages and a list of the qualities of the archetype and why it should be available to you. I highly recommend the “Invocation of Thoth” as an excellent template.
The Divine Encounter: At the peak of the ritual, you may experience a profound shift, feeling the presence of the archetype. This moment can be awe-inspiring, marked by a deep sense of the archetype's power and wisdom entering your sacred space or you yourself.
Supplication and Request: Humbly ask the archetype for guidance, knowledge, or a share of its power. Be respectful and thankful.
Offering: Provide an offering or perform a symbolic sacrifice in gratitude for the archetype's presence and assistance. For gods, you may promise to worship them in the future with a small altar and regular sacrifices of food and water.
Releasing the Energies: Respectfully release the archetype and any helping spirits.
Closing the Ritual: Conclude with another banishment to ensure all energies are properly dispelled. Ground yourself and slowly return to your normal state of consciousness.
Invoking an archetype is a powerful spiritual exercise, one that can bring magical insights and personal transformation. This ritual is a bridge between the mundane and the divine, a path to understanding deeper aspects of oneself and the universe. Remember, such practices require respect, preparation, and a mindful approach. As with all magic, slower, more deliberate, and more attention to detail means better and more effective.
As you integrate these newfound insights and energies into your life, do so with wisdom and gratitude for the mystical journey you have undertaken.
Empowerment Through Archetypal Invocation
The ritual of invoking an archetype represents more than just a ceremonial practice; it is a journey of aligning oneself with the universal energies and qualities that these archetypes embody. This alignment plays a crucial role in the process of self-actualization, which is the realization or fulfillment of one's talents and potentialities, considered to be a primary drive in humans by psychologist Abraham Maslow.
Identifying with Universal Qualities
By choosing an archetype that resonates with one’s aspirations or desired qualities, the mage begins to identify with these universal attributes. For example, invoking a deity of wisdom can help an individual tap into their own reservoir of insight and knowledge. This is not about becoming the archetype literally but rather about drawing from its symbolic power to enhance one's own attributes.
Integration of the Shadow
Carl Jung believed that confronting and integrating the 'Shadow Self' – the unconscious aspect of our personality which the conscious ego does not identify in itself – is vital for self-actualization. By engaging with archetypes, especially those that might contrast with our conscious self-image, we can uncover and integrate these repressed parts of our psyche, leading to greater internal harmony and self-understanding.
Sometimes, it is empowering and enriching to invoke archetypes that repulse us, that we hate, or that make us angry. This may reveal deep traumas and psychological issues we never even thought we could have. Our minds project these outside. The world is a mirror to our psýché and the intense reactions we have point to something within us.
The Process of Transformation
Assuming the powers of an archetype is essentially an act of transformation. It involves stepping into a role that may initially feel foreign but gradually becomes a part of the individual’s identity. This can manifest in developing new skills, gaining new knowledge, or altering one’s approach to challenges and opportunities. It's a process of becoming, where one evolves into who they truly want to be.
This type of magic usually opens new paths marked by synchronicities. Don’t forget to follow them.
Regularly performing this ritual and embodying the qualities of an archetype can significantly boost self-confidence and empowerment. It reinforces the belief in one's own abilities and potential, aligning one's external actions with internal values and aspirations.
Whether it’s the courage of a warrior archetype, the wisdom of a sage, or the compassion of a healer, these qualities begin to manifest in the practitioner’s life.
The invocation of an archetype is a symbolic yet powerful act of aligning with the qualities that represent our highest aspirations. It is a method of tapping into a deep well of psychological and spiritual resources. This practice, when approached with respect and introspection, can be a transformative force, guiding us toward self-actualization and helping us shape ourselves into who we aspire to be.
Love,
Felix
Powerfull technique, in the world.. :) Cool as fuck, Felix. You kill it! :D
I think invoking Fictional Characters as archetype is the new rage :D (is this the correct slang? :D )
But for some reason I am 100% some people who would try invoking God or specific archangel or even some other dieties as norse or egyptian gods would be looking at people invoking Fictional Characters as wierd. But a lot of Fictional Characters these days are being worshipped the same way as old dieties were. Which I find really interesting.
Can the ritual be done in tandem? I would guess that yes? In that case would both participietns need to invoke the same archetype?