Archetypal Yoga: Exploring and Coming into Relationship with Archetypal Energies

Through our practice, we will explore an archetype, related mythology, and a companioning embodiment and yoga practice to drop into our bodies and connect with the collective.  

From a Jungian perspective, archetypes are universal patterns of energies that mirror and influence human behavior. For example, the archetype of the Caregiver encompasses not only your personal experiences with caregivers and caregiving in your life but extends to all ways that caregiving shows up in our collective and throughout history. From a psychological perspective, we all contain facets and reflections of the full repertoire of archetypes. From yogic philosophy, we can utilize the practices of Yoga to “yoke” our individual being to the collective experience of these archetypal energies.

As we all contain a universe of multitudes, we have the ability to cultivate intentional relationships with these powerful energies. Why would we want to do this? By coming into conscious relationship with archetypal energies we can connect with the powerful universal life force energies that they possess and can begin to integrate towards wholeness in mind, body, soul, and community. Tending to archetypes is also a beautiful practice of engaging the symbiotic relationship between the micro and the macro; “as without, so within, as above, so below” – The Egyptian Book of the Dead.  

Archetypes explored may include, but are not limited to:  

– The Child/Innocent  

– The Caregiver  

– The Sage 

– The Peaceful Warrior  

– The Lover 

– The Jester  

Together we will learn techniques including:  

– Pranayama: Breath & life force awareness  

– Agni Sara: “Fire Essence” breath and body work  

– Yoga Asana (Postural Yoga)  

– Yoga Nidra: Guided yogic sleep  

– Active Imagination 

– Embodied Relationality  

Skills that we will develop together:  

– Intentional cultivation of archetypal energy  

– Tending to archetypal energy within Self and the collective 

– Self & group witnessing 

– Embodied Inquiry  

– Conscious empowerment