Hero Within - Rev. & Expanded Ed.: Six Archetypes We Live By

by Carol S. Pearson

The Classic Guide, Updated for Our Contemporary World

A modern classic of Jungian psychology, The Hero Within has helped hundreds of thousands of people enrich their lives by revealing how to tap the power of the archetypes that exist within. Drawing from literature, anthropology, and psychology, author Carol S. Pearson clearly defines six heroic archetypes—the Innocent, the Orphan, the Wanderer, the Warrior, the Altruist, and the Magician—and shows how we can use these powerful guides to discover our own hidden gifts, solve difficult problems, and transform our lives with rich sources of inner strength.

This book will speak deeply to the evolving hero in all of us and reverberate through every part of our lives. With poignant wisdom and prolific examples, it gives us enduring tools to help us develop our own innate heroic gifts—the Orphan's resilience, the Wanderer's independence, the Warrior's courage, the Altruist's compassion, the Innocent's faith, and the Magician's abiding power.

Genres: Psychology, Nonfiction, Self Help, Mythology, Philosophy, Writing, Spirituality

370 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 1986

About the author

Carol S. Pearson, Ph.D., is an internationally recognized scholar and well-known author of numerous books, among them the bestselling The Hero Within, Awakening the Heroes Within, The Hero and the Outlaw, and Magic at Work. Her new book, Persephone Rising: Awakening the Heroine Within, was published in October 2015.

Dr. Pearson previous book, The Transforming Leader, is an edited collection of cutting edge essays on the challenges facing leaders in the 21st century. It grew out of the Fetzer Institute's Leadership for Transformation Project, for which she was principal investigator. The Transforming Leader was honored by the International Leadership Association for making a significant contribution to the field of leadership.

Dr. Pearson previously was executive vice president and provost and later president of Pacifica Graduate Institute in Santa Barbara, CA. She has been a senior administrator and professor at higher education institutions including the University of Colorado, the University of Maryland, Georgetown University, and Goucher College; a consultant for multinational corporations and government agencies; and a popular public speaker and workshop leader. Before going to Pacifica, she was executive director of the James MacGregor Burns Academy of Leadership at the University of Maryland, a professor in the UM School of Public Policy, and a member of the executive committee of the International Leadership Association. Earlier in her career, she was president of CASA: the Center for Archetypal Studies and Applications; president of Meristem, a nonprofit educational organization; and senior editor of The Inner Edge: A Resource for Enlightened Business Practice. She and her husband currently live in the Washington, DC area.

Reviews

[Karson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I found this book to be pretty profound - not just blow your mind - novel thinking type of profound, but "Holy crap this is deep stuff, and it seems like it could really be true." It isn't empty intellectual exercise. It is based on Jung's archetypes, and I love Jung, but Pearson puts Jung's ideas into everyday language and makes them more accessible. The archetypes are like a catalogue of possible personalities one can have. It is a way of conceiving of the world. It is like a road map. You can go back and look through your life and recognize what archetypes were dominant at certain periods. You can check your growth and see which archetypes you may need to further develop. The theory also shines a light on personalities you might have difficulty with, and suggests that you could learn from people that are different from you rather than alienate them.

[Moh. Nasiri · Rating 4 out of 5]

کهن الگوهای یونگ یا به قولی الگوریتم های کهن درونی مسیر سفر قهرمان درون را ترسیم می کند.

در حوزه روانشناسی، آرکتایپ یا کهن الگو عبارت است از تصاویر، الگوها و مدل هایی که از ناخودآگاه جمعی بیرون می‌آیند. در رؤیاها، اساطیر و افسانه ها ظاهر می‌شوند. و در همه انسان ها طیفی از آن وجود و مشابهت دارد.

اگر لذت مطالعه این کتاب را بخواهید بچشید پادکست "جادوی راه"مجتبی شکوری را در تلگرام یا کست باکس میتوانید گوش بدهید.

https://t.me/radiorahpodcast/91
سفرهای دورنی ذکر شده در پادکست: شازده کوچولو، مولوی، بودا ، علی کوچولو (فروغ فرخزاد) و تولستوی
****
* کهن‌الگوها در وجود ما هم جنبه مثبت و هم منفی دارن، مثل شمشیر دولبه‌اند؛ در برخی افراد جنبه‌های مثبت و در برخی دیگر جنبه‌های منفی نمود پیدا می‌‌کنه

*این سفر قهرمانی بارها و بارها توسط انسان‌های پیش از ما تجربه شده


انواع کهن‌الگوها
حالا در ادامه یکی یکی با این کهن‌الگوها آشنا می‌شیم:


۱. کودک معصوم: پر از انتظار از دیگران و خوش‌بینی هست - معتقد خواستن همون داشتنه! - چون خوش‌بینه رنج‌ها به شدت آزارش می‌دن - به شدت وابسته به دیگرانه - پر از دلخوری و توقع هست و همیشه به دنبال ناجیه - دارای کمترین درجه از رشد روحی - مقاومت خیلی کمی در سختی‌ها داره – با افزایش سن ما از کودک معصوم رها نمی‌شیم بلکه به خواسته خودمون بستگی داره (ربطی به سن نداره)

سفر اول: سفر از بایدها به هست‌ها: همراه با رنج - باید رنج رو به آگاهی تبدیل کرد - رهایی از وابستگی، اتکا به خود – دردناکه اما خیلی لازمه؛ بایداز پیله بیای بیرون تا پروانه بشی – مثال: دیدار مولانا و شمس


۲. یتیم: واقع‌بینی اصیل - انتظارات حداقلی از دیگران و اتکا به خود

*چه رنجی رو در زندگی تجربه کردی که واقع‌بین و در واقع یتیمت کرده باشه؟ (مثل اونجا که شازده کوچولو که از گلش جدا می‌شه و سفرش رو آغاز می‌کنه...)
دانش همنشین اندوهه - اولین مرحله دانستن و اندوهگین شدنه – باید به بیداری دچار شیم - این که بدونی فقط تغییره که تغییر نمی‌کنه، زندگی زندگیه نه ظالمانه‌ست و نه عادلانه و ما کنترلی روی خیلی چیزا نداریم، دنیا پیچیده‌ست و باید این رو بپذیریم - رسیدن از یقین به شک - زندگی گاهی نه یافتن پاسخ‌ها بلکه زیستن پرسش‌هاست! – رسیدن به درکی واقع‌بینانه از جهان

*چطوری؟ از حواس‌پرتی‌های روزمره و فضای مجازی و صنعت سرگرمی دور شو و خلوت کن و رنج رو ببین - رنج رو حس کن و بهش فضا بده - رنج رو واکاوی و تحلیل کن.

* اگه رنج رو انکار کنی شاید به تعویق بندازی‌اش اما فرصت عالی رشد و قوی شدن رو از دست می‌دی; یک بار مردن بهتر از هر روز مردنه (با رنج مواجه شو) – اولین مرحله از رشد روحی واقع‌بینی است

سفر دوم: آغاز ماجراجویی فکری و روحی - آغاز جستجو برای پیدا کردن پاسخ‌های خودمون به پرسش‌های بنیادین زندگی

۳. جستجوگر: دنبال پاسخ‌های عمیق و بعضا متفاوت با جواب‌های پذیرفته‌شده توسط دیگران - دنبال پاسخ‌های جدید برای پرسش‌های قدیمی گشتن - خروج از ناحیه راحتی (Comfort Zone)

* رنج جستجوگری چیه؟ تنهایی تا مغز استخوان

جستجوگری یعنی درگیرشدن با ناشناخته‌ها و جستجوی واقعی و اصیل - جستجو فرایندی مادام‌العمره

* دنیای امروز ضد جستجو و حافظ وضع موجوده – یه حصار دور آدم‌ها می‌کشه و اون‌ها رو تشویق به پذیرش هنجارهای موجود می‌کنه اما رشد انسان خارج از این حصار رقم می‌خوره

* سفر از درون انسان آغاز می‌شود و در بیرون امتداد می‌یابد.

سفر سوم از جستجوگر به جنگجو: سفر از سرزمین هست‌ها به بایدها – جایی که رفتار ما بر جهان اثر می‌گذاره
۴. جنگجو: وقت محقق کردن آرمان‌ها و اقدام برای به دست آوردن - اثرگذاشتن در دنیا و افزودن چیزی به آن - مثال: گاندی، ماندلا، مارتین لوتر کینگ - فروتن و بخشنده

* توانایی مهم جنگجو در تحمل درده و اون می‌دونه برای چی داره می‌جنگه و به دنبال عمق خوشبختیه بیشتر معنوی و حتی خوشبختی مادی

اگر آتشست یارت تو برو در او همی سوز / به شب فراق سوزان تو چو شمع باش تا روز

تو مخالفت همی‌کش تو موافقت همی‌کن / چو لباس تو درانند تو لباس وصل می‌دوز

تو مگو همه به جنگند و ز صلح من چه آید / تو یکی نه‌ای هزاری تو چراغ خود برافروز

(مولانا)

سفر چهارم: از جنگجو به حامی:

به دست آوردن قدرت بخشش - برای حمایت از دیگران اول باید خودمون رو بسازیم و به دست بیاریم و برای خودمون بجنگیم تا بعدش بتونیم ببخشیم - وقتی هواپیما در حال سقوطه اول ماسک خودت رو بزن بعد ماسک همراهت - ایثار وقتی فضیلته که از روی اختیار و خواسته خودمون باشه

۵. حامی: انتقال آنچه فهمیده‌ایم به دیگران - پرهیز از انبارش دانسته‌ها و استعدادهایمان و به اشتراک‌گذاری آن‌ها با میل و اختیار و صبر و حوصله و استفاده از هنر و خلاقیت

سفر پنجم: از حامی به بالغ معصوم

۶.بالغ معصوم: بهشت رو می‌سازه با دستان خودش و برای خودش - اوج نشاط روحی و لذت و شادی اصیل (حاصل رویارویی با رنج و پشت سر گذاشتن آن) – گشوده‌شدن دریچه‌های الهام و دست‌یابی به شهود بالا

سفر ششم و آخر: رسیدن به قله
۷. جادوگر: خودمون با اختیار خودمون از بهشت خودمون بیرون میایم و به کمک دیگران می‌شتابیم - لذت رو مختارانه رها کنیم و جهان رو به جای بهتری تبدیل کنیم - جادو کردن دیگران در جهت مثبت - تغییر هویت انسان‌های دیگر در جهت رشد.

سخن پایانی
ییرون ز تو نیست هرچه در عالم هست
در خود بطلب هر آنچه خواهی که تویی

منبع تکمیلی برای مطالعه: اعترافات تولستوی

نقل خلاصه مطلب از لینک زیر
https://vrgl.ir/bmQOr

Carl.Gustav Young, Archetype

[K.M. Weiland · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent and thought-provoking.

[Shima Mahmoudi · Rating 5 out of 5]

چند هفته قبل از سمینار نقشه راه این کتاب منتشر شد.
هم کتابش هم سمینارش فوق العاده بودن
آدم می فهمه چقدددرررر تا بلوغ کامل روانی و تبدیل به یک انسان سالم شدن فاصله داره.
ممنون از بنیاد فرهنگ زندگی بابت چاپ این کتاب.

[Jake · Rating 2 out of 5]

The author has a progressive agenda and is not subtle about it. I have no problem reading opposing viewpoints, but in a book that is about Jungian archetypes one can only handle so many references to unconscious racial biases, feminism, environmentalism, and evil white men. Every page is dripping with it.

"Women, minority men, and the working class all have been culturally define as inferior and, as such, their role is to serve. To the degree that these groups have internalized such ideas, much of their giving and serving is linked unconsciously [...]" - p. 75

Implicit biases has been debunked as a concept - I'm talking mainstream science here. But that aside, why is this textbook feminist dribble being injected into a book about archetypes at all?

Here's another example: the idea of wives leaving their husbands is promoted throughout, often shoe-stringed in as an example with no relevance to the topic at hand. It's utterly baffling. Here are some quotes I selected, there are many more:

"The contemporary woman leaves her parents, husband, or lover and takes off too. So prevalent is this expression of the Wanderer archetype that Erica Jong wrote in the 1960s, in How to Save Your Own Life, that 'Leaving one's husband is the only, the cosmic theme'" - p. 75

"What my friend did not see was that her client could not have a happy marriage because as yet she was incapable of taking her own journey while staying with him [...] no matter how wonderful her husband was, he was a captor to her." - p. 83

In discussing the "securest people she knows" she writes

"In this list I would put several friends: a woman who knew in her soul she must be an artist and left a marriage to a wealthy man to pursue her art [...]"- p. 89

When she uses men as an example, it's often negative:

"Men in this state infantilize women, so that women will not have the confidence to abandon them [...] they want to keep their wives, if not barefoot and pregnant, at least without the skills and confidence needed to have career" - p. 72

I'm going to stop here because there's really no value in continuing. Those who are opposed to progressive ideologues have been given warning enough, and those who disagree with me have likely already psychologized my motive for writing this as some sort internalized oppression or other such nonsense.

I'm giving the book 2 stars because despite all of I've said, I still find archetypes fascinating, and I did find some of what I was looking for. Despite having left a terrible taste, there is some good here, and I don't doubt that people could be helped by the psychological approach itself. It's the presentation I hate.

[Kes · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a book about Jungian psychology. It talks about the stories we tell ourselves in our lives, and how to shift that internal narrative.

These stories generally fall into six archetypes: orphan, innocent, magician, wanderer, warrior, and altruist. The type of story shifts over time and is partly culturally constructed (this is the third edition, and the author talks about the changes briefly). The idea is that we think of ourselves as heroes in our stories. The type of hero differs, but we can change the hero we want to be. As she puts it:

Heroes have the esteem that comes from personal responsibility, but they have little or no sense of entitlement. To claim the hero within, we must let go of our belief that we are victimised if we do not have perfect parents or a perfect job, a perfect government or unending affluence. The very nature of heroism requires us to face the dragon, not sit around and complain that dragons exist and someone should do something about them. It never was, and it undoubtedly never will be, popular or easy to challenge "Holdfast the keeper of the past."

The author then goes into the different archetypes:

1) The Orphan, who deals with adversity - that life is full of suffering but they have the resilience to deal with it. Orphans see themselves as victims.

2) The Wanderer, who realises that they are too busy conforming that they start a journey to find their sense of self. Wanderers can see themselves as outsiders.

3) The Warrior, who seeks to prove who they are (defeating the competition) and the ability (and courage) to achieve it. Warriors claim their own authority within the system - they have the conviction and personal responsibility to change things. Gender roles often demand that men are warriors and women are altruists, although the mix is preferred.

4) The Altruist focuses on social responsibility (as opposed to the warrior's sense of individual responsibility) - they believe in making the world a better place through collective effort.

5) The Innocent has faith in a greater good. It also needs to be married with a faith in self and living life authentically (instead of constantly listening to others). (To me, the Innocent felt a bit like security - that is, the security in knowing your self and in achieving happiness by being your self.) As the author puts it: "A happy ending may well await us if we just have the courage to trust our own journeys." The idea is that the reaction to an experience is not "who is to blame" but "what can I learn from it? How can I trust this process?"

6) The Magician is about transformation - it is "associated with the human will, the capacity for free choice, and the decision to take control of one's life". Compared to the Innocent, Magicians take control of their life - with the risk of burning themselves out.

The second section deals with applying the archetypes to your own life, understanding how your environment can shape the archetype you're drawn to, and how to shift your archetypes.

It's a useful self-help book and a good introduction to Jungian psychology.

[Sarbook]

نقشه‌ی راه زندگی ما درست ریشه در درون خود ما دارد. همه‌ی ما استعدادهای بالقوه‌ای داریم که اگر به فعل درآیند موفقیت و رضایت خاطر ما را در پی خواهند داشت. همه‌ی آن‌چه که نیاز داریم تا با چالش‌های مسیر زندگی مواجه شویم در درون خود ما نهفته است؛ قهرمانی در درون ما زندگی می‌کند که در انتظار شناخته شدن و بالیدن است.

دکتر کارول اس. پیرسون در کتاب «نقشه راه» با استفاده از دیدگاه‌ها و روش‌های روانکاوی پروفسور یونگ کمک می‌کند تا مسیر ساختن زندگی شاد و سرشار از رضایت و موفقیت خود را بیابیم. این کتاب نقشه‌ای در اختیار ما قرار می‌دهد که با کمک آن می‌توانیم کاستی‌های خود را در مسیر پیشرفت تشخیص دهیم و در راستای رسیدن به آرزوهایمان گام برداریم.

کتاب «نقشه راه» چراغی است که مسیر رسیدن به پیشرفت و موفقیت را پیش چشم ما روشن می‌کند.

http://sarbook.com/product/350253

[radioparesh · Rating 4 out of 5]

کتاب بسیار جالبی که شمارو با کهن الگو ها آشنا میکنه. طبق گفته ی کتاب ۶ کهن الگو ی اصلی وجود داره که هر کدوم از ما ممکنه هر کدوم از این کهن الگو ها رو در درونمون داشته باشیم، یا سرکوبش کنیم یا دوست داشته باشیم که فعالشون کنیم. راه حل هایی برای شناسایی اونها و عوامل تاثیرگذار بر شدت این کهن الگو ها ارائه میده که خوندنی و آگاهی بخش هست.
متاسفانه با وجود محتوای خوب، فن بیان مطالب گیرا نیست و این موضوع خوندن کتاب رو سخت میکنه.

[Emiliya Bozhilova · Rating 1 out of 5]

Заглавието се оказа от омразния ми тип “книги за самопомощ”, с много малко истинска психология и хаотичен микс с Юнг и Кембъл. Има някои интересни идеи, като 6-те архетипа от заглавието (за които съм убедена, че други автори поднасят с различна класификация). Но ефектът се размива в доста общи приказки от сорта “дай си сметка какъв си, иначе тъмната страна ще те управлява, а не ти нея”. И авторката не пропуска да изрекламира колко целебен ефект са оказали книгите и, както и да ги упомене тук-там.

1,5⭐️

[Bassmh · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is an invitation to live your truth ( magician archetype ) and go on your own journey of psychological individuation guided by archetypes.

Reading the hero journey and learning about basic archetypes allows a space to reflect, to know where are you from your most integrated self and how to find a the path to true transformation.

I enjoyed this book. Could be my best read this year so far !

[Andrew Tomlinson · Rating 2 out of 5]

Her marxist-lite approach undermines the entire book, best stick with Jung for now...

Although her perceptions of the mentioned archetypes are largely correct, I can't help but get very tired of her feminist, anti white male stance.. So tired I couldn't take her seriously after the first 60 pages.

From someone writing a book on psychological archetypes, I'd expect a more balanced and less Marxism-lite ideology suffusing almost every page.

[Hodjat ghoreishi · Rating 4 out of 5]

کتاب کلا بر اساس نظرات و ایده یونگ نوشته شده که خب ارزشمندی کتاب رو بالا میبره
در کنار اون بررسی خرد جامعه بشری که در داستان‌های هر قومی سینه به سینه به ما رسیده بسیار کار ارزشمندیه
ضمن اینکه ایده‌ی کهن الگوها برای خودشناسی و پیدا کردن جایگاه فردی بسیار ایده‌ی کاربدی و جذابی هست
کتاب قسمت‌های کاربردی و روشمند هم داره که در حین خواندن کتاب شما رو بیشتر درگیر میکنه
کلا کتاب ارزشمند و توصیه شونده‌ای هست

[Roy Madrid · Rating 4 out of 5]

Love the ideas and framwork presented here to recognize, organize, and actualize personal growth. Gets off to a slow start, but gradually you you start to identify with each archetype presented until finally you realize where your journey should take you next.
I recommend the extended edition that includes exercises to work towards the experience and integration of each step asking the way.

[Holly · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not hugely readable... that and/or I just wasn't all that interested. Maybe useful for more careful study, or for study with a therapist... not so much for independent study. I read the beginning, then found myself skimming and skipping through the rest.

[Mercedes Brevner · Rating 1 out of 5]

BORING

[Ashley Doutt · Rating 1 out of 5]

DNF

[bookwormylife · Rating 3 out of 5]

Feeling stuck and lost? Don't know what to do with your life? Don't enjoy your personal progress? Carol S. Pearson, PhD is here to help you. Her book the hero within is a marriage of psychoanalysis and myth scholarship. There she describes six archetypes or stages of human development. According to Pearson, understanding the archetypes and their "quests" should help people to have a balanced and happy life. By quests she means the storylines that people follow, plots that are somewhat typical in their structure.

Here are the archetypes and what they mean: ▪ Innocent is basically a baby, dependent, trusting and optimistic, fears abandonment and in they quest the have to experience "the Fall" (from the metaphorical grace of God, I assume) ▪ Orphan is a pragmatic realist, sad because of the Fall and relies on interdependence ▪ Wanderer is already more interesting, they are seeking autonomy and identity, are usually non-conformists ▪ Warrior is seeking to win over what controls them, their quest us "to kill the dragon" ▪ Altruist is a helper and supporter, gives up his emotions, time, physical posessions, and life to others ▪ Magician is on a quest to transform reality aka make things the way they need them

This is a very basic description.
I would recommend this book to people who are looking for a kick in the right direction. It gives several useful tools to figure out this direction.

My copy of "The Hero..." Also has tests and exercises, they help you understand in which archetypal plot you are at the moment.

Two things I didn't like about the book: ▪ Slightly abstract outbursts of spirituality rambling. They mostly happen around the chapter on Innocent. I didn't find them particularly helpful but very Christianity-centric ▪ Repetition of ideas. Pearson just keeps saying the same things again and again especially in the last thrid of the book. It could benefit from being a bit shorter

[Jeffrey Howard · Rating 4 out of 5]

The first 50 pages of this book stirred within me a new hope for navigating life. Pearson introduces us to 6 archetypes--in the tradition of Carl Jung and Joseph Campbell--that have universal staying power. These archetypes are constantly at play in our daily lives, transcending cultures, religions, science, and any other dogmas. By familiarizing ourselves with these 6 archetypes we find contextualized truths that shape to individual temperaments and circumstances. Ignoring the power of these archetypes is akin to "scorning the gods."

Pearson provides plenty of exercises to apply this framework daily life, to continue to grow toward a more authentic self. Still, too often the book sours the meat of Jungian archetypes with the fluff of 1990's utopian, "you're all winners" intellectual elitist obsessions with self-esteem. Her commentary on western society, gender roles, and misrepresentation of market processes and business lags behind as well.

Despite being slightly outdated, this book reminds us to hearken back to great human stories. Humans are story-telling creatures. In our stories we don't just find entertainment, but learn of the values, ethics, and heroic paths we should take--as individuals, as a wider society.

If you want something less pop-psychology or self-help and more academically rich, I recommend reading Carl Jung or Joseph Campbell. Still, The Hero Within is a great introduction to those wanting to learn about the power of archetypal psychology.

[Vickie Conner · Rating 1 out of 5]

I have to be honest. I only read a little of this book. Pearson divides people into six hero types: the orphan, the martyr, the wanderer, the warrior, and the magician. She claims that Joseph Campbell's hero archetype really applies mainly to white males in the Western culture, not really addressing the hero journeys of women and African Americans. The problem with reading the book is that Pearson writes about all six types at once. Even though she breaks the book into chapters, within each chapter she is constantly jumping between archetypes even within single sentences. If I get around to writing my own great American novel, I may come back to it to it as a tool for character development. Otherwise, I probably won't get back to it.

[Kris · Rating 4 out of 5]

An enlightening read for personal growth. The Hero Within goes over six hero archetypes that we all live/have lived by, the innocent, orphan, martyr, wanderer, warrior, and magician, and how the progression happens between them, and the (potentialy) 'good and the bad', among other things. I found myself to be primarily magician with a mix of wanderer and martyr with a little warrior and hints of orphan.

[Cathy Proses · Rating 5 out of 5]

Explains people without pigeon-holeing.

[Mohammad · Rating 3 out of 5]

بخش اول کتاب خیلی برام جذاب بود ولی نیمه دومش حس میکردم دارم یکی از کتابای دست چندم قانون جذب رو میخونم

[Maede Gharghashe · Rating 5 out of 5]

همه با برای بهتر شناختن لایه های درونی مون احتیاج به بیشتر خوندن داریم این کتاب بسیار کمک کنندس.

[Parvin · Rating 5 out of 5]

بهترین کتابی بود که اخیرا در زمینه خودآگاهی و خودشناسی خوندم.

[Mohamad Jahanshahi · Rating 3 out of 5]

اصولا من این جنس از تمثیلات یونگی رو میپسندم. کتاب هم کتاب جذابیه و آرکی تایپ ها و سفر قهرمانی، میتونه کمک کننده باشه

[Guilherme Smee · Rating 2 out of 5]

Assim como outros livros que tenho lido sobre a Jornada do Herói e os arquétipos heroicos este aqui também me lembra muito mais livros de autoajuda do que alguma coisa que lembre psicologia apoiada em fatos científicos. A psicanálise junguiana abriu caminho para essas diversas interpretações. Esse é apenas um dos livros de Carol S. Pearson. Ela tem pelo menos mais dois publicados no Brasil e diversos publicados em língua inglesa, todos revolvendo sobre o mesmo tema: os arquétipos que orientam nossa vida. Embora em um livro posterior ela apresente doze arquétipos, neste aqui ela traz seis: o órfão, o mago, o guerreiro, o nômade, o altruísta e o inocente. Para entender qual deles somos, este livro também traz testes e perguntas para que compreendamos a qual nos relacionamos. O propósito de saber qual é nosso arquétipo é a possibilidade de transformar nossas vidas através deles. Mas se temos ou somos um arque tipo, como iremos nos libertar do que é pensado sobre eles ao mesmo tempo que libertamos a nós mesmos desses pensamentos? Difícil...

[Steven Fouse · Rating 5 out of 5]

Highly recommend for personal development.

[David Hollingsworth · Rating 3 out of 5]

"The Hero Within" is an interesting fusion of Jungian archetypal psychology, New Age belief in the universe, and self-help, with a special attention to how all of those things have a gendered way of applying to people thanks to how we've been socialized. To be straightforward, this book is different from what I expected. I expected it to be less self-help and more an analysis of the stories we tell ourselves that might benefit me as a fiction writer.

Honestly, I've never really liked self-help books because I find the advice they give to be vapid. This book had enough substance that I certainly wouldn't call it vapid as a whole, but some of the stuff does get a little "trust the universe" New Age-y in a way that I don't think is very harmful. To get there, we must talk about how she defines the Magician archetype.

Basically, she defines it as putting trust in the universe that life will never give you too much you can't handle, and that going with the flow is the key. To be fair, she doesn't call the Magician the endpoint, and says you need to balance it with the Wandered (going it alone to find yourself), Warrior (fighting to exercise some agency over the world), and Martyr (self-sacrificing as a sign of love) to be healthy. But there's still a lot of "you are responsible for your own condition stuff" that I think is true to an extent, but all too often is used to reframe systematic failings as individual failings. She often brings up gender, race, and class inequality, which is appreciated, but it's done in an individualized way.

She also does this thing where she gives a social psychological failing for certain political philosophies that I think is an inexcusably shallow way of looking at things. For example, she blames the "failings of welfare liberalism" on some Orphan archetypal social psychology nonsense, despite the fact that social democracy demonstrably resulted in the highest standard of living in US history and got stripped away in large part because special interest money has gradually stripped away the function of the state to redistribute wealth and reign in industry. Politics in this book, however, is only seen through a social psychological lens, and as a historian I find that to be shallow to the point of irresponsibility.

That said, I did find the discussion of these archetypes interesting and thought-provoking. I think balancing the lessons of each (the book says six, but really the Innocent is the starting point and the Orphan is sort of a trial stage where you learn to get past your fear of lonely helplessness, so really it's four) does seem like a healthy way to conceptualize inner balance in approaching the world. Overall, despite the issues I had with this book, I'm glad I read it. I imagine there are probably better books that are less New Age-y, but it's a quick and solid enough read that I'd still recommend people check it out if the topic seems interesting.

[MiCaela Chagnon · Rating 5 out of 5]

I stopped reading this book fairly quickly after I started; not because I didn't enjoy it but because life is often chaotic and I was attempting to navigate through many things. I recently found it as I was researching for my blog and I got so excited! This is book is everything that I want to teach the world, the very kind of thing I'm hoping to get across in my blog. I could identify with the voice of the author as well as the archetypes she describes, in innumberable ways.

I stumbled upon this book in a used book store one day a couple of years ago. I had recently ended a relationship and was looking for ways to improve myself. I've never been particularly mainstream so the idea of "self-help" books didn't especially appeal to me. But alternate philosophies & perspectives? Yes, please! It is absolutely fantastic for anyone who is unhappy with themselves, their lives, their job, what-have-you. I genuinely believe that self-awareness is the first step on the path to happiness and this book has become a stepping stone on my path to self-awareness.

[Jaclyn · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fascinating stuff. I like how the archetypes all exist in all of us to some extent or other, and that our dominant archetypes at any point in time are determined by our upbringing, the people around us, and our circumstances. It's far more complex than what I expected (more like a Buzzfeed quiz of 'which archetype are you?")

I also like that we need to pull up different archetypes within us depending on the situation, and that the traits we dislike in others may sometimes speak to the archetypes we lack/suppress in ourselves.

That being said, the book is super long and after a while, kinda repetitive. I might have enjoyed this more as a seminar/workshop than a book, ideally taken with people I like, so we can discuss our experiences of archetypes in a safe and open way. But that's a personal preference. Overall, the book is informative with lots of examples.