The Addict Archetype

The addict archetype is one of great power for when it is transformed into wisdom, light, and leads from the heart then there is strength, centeredness, and flow. In this short discussion, we look at the narrative and behavior traits of the addict.

We also share how to move towards healing if addiction is a struggle for you. We all face temptations through the journey of life thus all humans, at some point, do confront the addict within. It is part of our metamorphosis. This archetype encourages us to see the addict as a guide with a basket of jewels rather than something to be shunned.

Transcript

Welcome to this short discussion on the Addict Archetype with me Helen Hansen.

I have a background in developmental psychology,

Holistic psychology as well as archetypal psychology which I blend into my practice with kinesiology.

Archetypal psychology is about looking at patterns of behavior that one has as an individual as well as individuals around us.

So this work is useful for self-awareness but also for awareness of the other so it can really support relationships and the quality that one has with interaction of life on a daily basis.

Patterns that are with us throughout our life,

Their content might change from one cycle of life to another but the theme is still there.

That is part of our personal identity,

Our personal archetypes and there are some which are collective and there are others which are more personal.

So the collective ones for example the victim,

The saboteur,

The negotiator,

The inner child which could be the wounded child,

The orphan child,

The nature child,

Many different child archetypes or child identity patterns.

Archetypes are really about understanding one's own power,

Your true power and your true essence or in our essence lies our ultimate power and this power is not to be misidentified or misunderstood with a power of greed or a power from the ego.

This is more one's spiritual power that is the true power of oneself and when we get to know and activate our true power we are then able to share this power with others as opposed to needing power from others.

Now the beauty of the addict is that it drives us to find our power and that is why we all have it because part of our experience here on earth is to find and know that true power of ours as human beings individually but also collectively.

So while not everyone has the addict as a personal archetype we all do experience the archetypal expression of the addict somewhere throughout our life and this archetype is all about craving.

What do you just have to have to need to have no matter what?

Now if you are not experiencing craving in your adult life then this means that you very well may have gone through the process of addressing and confronting cravings in your childhood because that is the first time that a craving will appear and it's how it is dealt with and managed at that time which then unfolds into the expressions throughout the rest of one's life and this is affected by many different areas,

The environment,

People in the environment as well as one's own self.

We all come into the world with our own personal set of identities or archetypes so no matter the environment or the authority figures around us when we are children we still will nonetheless go through that sacred experience which is a contract that we have when we enter here on earth that is still there with us nonetheless.

In other words if you're destined to have the addict travel with you through life then that is there for you from day one and what I'm really getting at here is that we need to move away from blame.

Blaming parents,

Teachers,

Society,

Our environment,

Past experiences,

Childhood wounds because this can hold the true beauty and power of the addict back because when we have the addict as an archetype,

One that travels with us through our life,

The addict is there then as a teacher,

As a guide and it brings forth the opportunity to activate an incredible strength because when one overcomes an addiction the empowerment that is present then within the self radiates through throughout all areas of life and activates other areas and other archetypes within the self that are perhaps still more in a shadow mode,

Still reactive in other words,

Will be uplifted through the empowerment of a powerful archetype such as the addict and there are a few archetypes that are extremely empowering.

We as humans can be addicted to anything,

It's not only substances,

It can be good things as well like exercise,

It can be addicted to relationships,

A certain person or maybe hopping from relationship to relationship,

We can be addicted to religion,

To spiritual experiences,

To certain emotions or behaviors like looking for attention,

Complaining,

Needing to be right,

We can of course also be addicted to work,

There are so many different angles and avenues to look at.

Now every one of us has patterns of cravings but they're at different levels from person to person,

Some people it will be so subtle they might not even notice it but it's where the craving becomes harmful for the individual or for those around them,

This then is the form of the addict.

The addict's narrative might include hmm I've had a good day so I deserve to have you fill in the blank or I've had a really bad day so I need ABCD or I've had a really tough childhood and I'm still feeling the wounds and I'm still suffering and all these reasons fill up the basket of excuses to keep out the focus of what is really needing the attention.

In other words an addict's head can be filled with distractions and distractions of any sort show that the head and the heart are not in harmony,

In other words our thoughts or our words are not congruent with our feelings and our actions or our choices.

So for example you might find yourself at one point in the day feeling like a really strong person and saying you know I know that when I get home later I'm not going to have what I usually have,

Whatever that is,

Sugar,

Cigarettes,

Engaging in a certain way with somebody and you really do feel sincere and strong about that but then something changes and it's that change that shows the dissonance between the thoughts and the feelings because what really that change is talking about is the feelings are now pulling more than they were earlier.

Earlier when there was a certain decision that was made that was coming from a headspace but feelings always are stronger and they have a great ability to pull conscious intentions away from the intention just through an emotion.

Have you ever noticed this?

Have you ever had a situation where you thought one thing and then because your feelings got so strong you actually changed that decision often on the spur of the moment and that is reactive,

That is not responsive,

In other words it's coming from the subconscious automatic habitual center of the brain and not from the intentional conscious part of the brain where that previous intention was made from and maybe one doesn't give in straight away,

There's first a conversation,

A dialogue that takes place between the previous intention,

In other words the conscious brain and the subconscious which is linked with the feelings and so there is thoughts or words of I shouldn't because I decided I wanted to do this and that,

I know I shouldn't do this,

I promised myself I shouldn't but even while this dialogue is going on the body is in its habitual mode and automatically reaches for whatever it is that we are dialoguing about,

That is the addict at play.

So when your addict is controlling you it's coming from and operating from a shadow space,

In other words think about shadows,

We often don't see them,

They might be behind us,

That's really what we're talking about happening in the psyche that things are taking place that we don't see completely,

We often think we do but it's only when we're out of the shadow space and completely in the light,

Think about when you're outside in the daytime and there's no shadows falling around you,

It's just light everywhere and you standing in that center point that is the ultimate state of congruency and when we have flow between the heart and the head and they're aligned we naturally notice this flow throughout our life,

There's an easiness in the body and relationships and this is where one's true power resides.

When a pattern stops us from knowing ourselves completely and owning our power completely so that we can thrive,

Then it is time to stop the pattern and it starts first with an awareness and this awareness can be cultivated with stillness,

It's a regular practice of being still with yourself,

Being in a space of meditation or contemplation every day and that will bring into your awareness that which you need to see,

Which you need to know.

Self-awareness is half the journey for transformation,

It's a huge part and it often is the most important part,

It's a part that keeps on turning the wheel so never doubt the value of stillness,

The value of meditation,

The value of contemplation and the value of solitude,

Being quietly with yourself with no distractions,

Switching the phone off or on silent and just having full awareness on your whole self,

It is one of if not the greatest gift you can give to yourself.

So no matter what your challenge is,

Whether it be the addict or some other pattern,

That first step is the step of awareness and if you would like some guidance through your awareness,

There are archetypal psychology courses available for you here on Insight Timer.

Thank you for joining me in this discussion and I wish you well on your journey of awareness.

Reviews

Very interesting and informative/empowering, thank you

I really enjoyed your talk on the addict archetype, I resonated with your descriptions. I’d love to hear more. Blessings 🤍✨🤍

Wonderful insights on the “addictive personality”, I love the idea of embracing the cravings for the light they may shed on our shadows, through the lens of self awareness. Thank you 🙏🏼🩵

Very interesting talk. I was fascinated by the concept of addiction as an archetype, but you explained it perfectly. This could be very useful in my own work with clients ❤️✨

I so love digging into these Archetypes. I appreciated the reminder of the importance of solitude. Thanks Helen! 🤗🌺