7 Archetypes of Women

The Mother

*Dress by Nicole Castañeda* *Website*/*Instagram, Sleeves by* *Milla Lima*

The Mother is the most selfless and nurturing-like female archetype of them all. She breaks her heart into a million pieces to keep those of others remaining whole. She nurses others to health with the fruit of her own body. She sees herself as a vessel made to nurture, and as only a part of a whole without caring for someone else. She cooks a feast and doesn’t fret over leaving only the crumbs for herself. Her desire to protect and love doesn’t come from possessiveness but from selflessness.

All women are born with the qualities of The Mother; they are hardwired to nurture, love, protect, and care. Yet, not all embody her great valuing of the wellbeing of others. The Mother nurtures and nourishes love, expending all of her energy into ensuring those around her feel it. Sometimes, she doesn’t leave enough love for herself, but it bothers her not, as she is meant for this role. The Mother doesn’t care about the traditional roles she plays and the appreciation she sometimes lacks. The immense gratification attending to others gives her is enough to keep her content. But she is stubborn, and shuts down when others aren’t receptive to her warmth. She pokes and pries until she feels needed, a quality which can feel intrusive to others. She lacks boundaries for herself, and lends her hands, head and heart to others in order to fix their problems. She holds you while you cry, but never lets herself experience the same comfort. She drowns herself in others’ sorrows yet never dwells on her own. Her flaws lie in knowing that no matter how strongly she loves, how well she nurtures and how deeply she cares, no love can ever match hers in return. Yet, The Mother is not a victim of her circumstance, but rather a product of it.

The Mother’s biggest burden is not her innate need to be responsible for others, but rather the knowledge that those she loves will one day not need her anymore. She is a temple of comfort and tenderness, a gift she bestows freely and without limit. Since she is aware of her rarity, The Mother does not judge others for not loving the way she can. She was born this way, strong willed and filled with love, but her upbringing and life experiences have made her protective of others’ hearts. She is deeply aware of the pain humans can bring to those she loves, and seeks to protect them from it.

Most women, no matter the background or culture, have lived the role of The Mother at one point in their life. Whether it be carrying and birthing a child, taking care of a sick relative, walking a younger brother to school, making dinner for a family, or simply holding a crying friend in her arms, she - in that moment - is giving their whole being into caring for another life. A Mother exemplifies complete selflessness, complete adoration for another, and admiration for life. A Mother’s love is pure: money, status and power don’t affect the way she loves. She will love deeply, truly and unconditionally, even if it wears down and depletes her. Even the mightiest of men know they will never match the strength of a Mother’s.

The Maiden

by Madison Collins

*Dress by* *Angelina Leibman, Head scarf by Melon Wong* *Website*/*Instagram*

The Maiden is not a damsel in distress, waiting for her knight. The Maiden embodies creativity, independence, and individuality, through her eternal, youthful glow.

Many archaic depictions of The Maiden list her as a helpless victim in need of saving. Although we all may need a little saving from time to time, this representation of The Maiden obstructs the true characteristics of her powerful force.

The Maiden is a lover of life; she bursts with creativity and passion. Her creativity derives from her ability to see the world through the uncorrupted eyes of a child. This unobstructed ability allows for her to experience the world in a more profound way, enabling her to collect her experiences and share them with the world. Although she is able to see the innocence in the world, she is able to turn her naivety off and empathize with others. She is aware of the cruelties of the world and consoles her peers in an unparalleled manner. Her thoughtful responses enables her friends to feel seen and heard.

Hobbies, interests, and new experiences brighten The Maiden’s day to day. Her innocent and playful nature, allows for her curiosity to run wild. She dreams of exploring the world and discovering opportunities. The Maiden may find herself drawn to many different pastimes, taking on each with an energetic wonder. She is knowledgeable from her many different experiences, but never quite feels satisfied with her abundance of knowledge. She searches for understanding of the world around her. Through her abilities, The Maiden is able to juggle many projects and interests at once.

The Maiden has a rebellious streak, stemming from her independent nature. A developed maiden knows who she is and does not let the world tell her otherwise. The minute The Maiden steps into maturity, she has a soothing, unmoving power to her. This calm nature can be powerful in debates, as she has a firm belief and can communicate her thoughts profoundly. The Maiden is opinionated and is not afraid to stand up for what she believes in. Every day she discovers a new aspect of herself and develops her persona.

With her ability to embrace change, The Maiden is able to welcome her emotions as they come. She is able to see the beauty in her emotions and channels them into one of her creative endeavors. Her ability to trudge through any obstacle and come out stronger, has made her a person of aspiration. Through The Maiden stereotype, she has become a symbol of hope. Helpless is not the right word to describe a maiden, instead the words that come to mind are vulnerable and resourceful.

Each of the 7 archetypes of women stems from Greek mythology. Persephone is considered to be the beginning of The Maiden archetype. Persephone, the innocent maiden, is abducted by Hades. Through naivety, Persephone is tricked into living half her days in the Underworld and the other half above ground. However, in the end, she becomes the powerful Queen of the Underworld. This version of The Maiden archetype is interpreted as the transformation from innocence to maturity.

Although Persephone is the inspiration of The Maiden archetype in Greek mythology, a better representation would be Helen of Troy. Helen of Troy, The Maiden who launched a thousand ships. Her youthful beauty caused men from all over the globe to ask for her hand in marriage. Depending on which depiction of the story you follow, Helen chose to leave her home for the love of the Trojan price, Paris. She launched a war over her unmatched good looks. Helen is epitomized as beauty, innocence, and inner strength. I said a better representation, not a perfect one.

In modern depictions, a developed example of The Maiden would be Elizabeth Swann in Pirates of the Caribbean. At first, she seems like a classic damsel in distress, however by the end of the movie she is a rebel, fighting alongside the rest of the crew. Elizabeth Swann is independent and opinionated, without giving up her femininity and vulnerability. In media, Elizabeth Swann embodies The Maiden as a strong heroine.

Through The Maidens' vulnerable, curious, and powerful nature, she has all the tools to manifest the destiny she desires. By maximizing the attributes that The Maiden possesses, she can harness her creativity and handle any obstacle thrown her way. She allows herself to feel her emotions and guide others through shared experiences. Through her rebellious nature, she challenges the world around her. She will never let someone dull her magnetic, youthful aura and she adorns herself regularly. She is power; she is The Maiden.

The Queen

by Mckeilla Malabunga

The phone is ringing recklessly. In her chambers, a small crème bedroom in suburban New York, My Lola hides her headpiece with her best pearls. Twelve hours ahead, the sun has risen over metro-Manila. The Motherland is calling, and she will not be kept waiting.

The Queen as an archetype represents loyalty, female sovereignty, and matrimonial devotion. She is regal, stately and confident. As far as I was concerned, my grandmother was as close to a former monarch as one could get – her throne just looked a bit different now. Her private office in the heart of Manila, the best university hospital, was now a gray cubicle shared with two other coworkers, facing a brick wall in downtown Manhattan. Her patients, once in need of treatment, were now young nurses searching for jobs.

In the Philippines, she had been Chief Nurse and the Assistant Director for Nursing Research and Development. From her window, she overlooked the rest of the hospital – the nurses who loved her so much they came back from their vacations and gifted her with fine jewelry. When I was eighteen, she allowed me to raid her collection in the hopes of finding a new wardrobe. Instead, I found a regal gold heart pendant, welded with quality rubies and hung from a thin gold chain. It was a fitting present for my grandmother, who wore only custom jewelry and South Sea pearls – though, I couldn’t understand what would drive an employee to give their boss something so ____. When I asked, her answer was simple: “They loved me.”

Regardless of luxury, Pilar Malabunga is a symbol of devotion. The mother of five children and sibling of eight, she ruled within the family tree with poise. At night, I watched her reheat the sinigang in the fridge as headlights flickered in the driveway. She always stayed up a few more hours so she could serve Lolo his food. She sat next to him and chatted about his day, then washed his dishes so he could shower. Around nine p.m., her friends and family began to call. The sun had just risen, and they were chatterboxes bursting with things to tell her. She always answered. She rested her aching feet in front of the television, swollen from transferring stations and chasing down buses, and answered every call within the first ring.

Footage of the morning news flashes on the small silver screen. Her eyes flicker over maroon reading glasses.My Lola knew what it meant to be devoted, to live in two places at once. She could wear different masks, but her heart was the same: dutiful. She could family quarrels and rebuild our estate from across the world. A transnational monarch.

*outfit by PIPENCO* *Website*/*Instagram*

The Huntress

by Sarah Brown

A woman will speak her mind with the same confidence as a man and be called a bitch.

A cold, heartless, and emotionless bitch; characteristics the ladies are expected to refute, instead emulating nothing but our utterly sweet compliance to the likes of the patriarchy.

While the picture-perfect, socially manipulated idea of what a woman should be kneels before the patriarch, the Huntress rebels with a bow and arrow in one hand and a middle finger on the other.

As we flock into our female rendez-vous, linking elbows and basking in the comfortable company of other women, we stroke each other’s egos. We make comments to the likes of “Oh Julia, you’re such a Samantha!” or “You dumped your cheating boyfriend? What a bad bitch!” as if we weren’t all conditioned to value the validation of men first. The Huntress embodies everything we as women want to be and everything society hopes we never become.

The Huntress is untouchable. Undistracted by the toxicity of societal expectations and indifferent to the opinions of men. She’s independent, goal-oriented; living only for her own personal passion. She acknowledges her strengths and uses them to protect herself and others. She fears no competition simply because she won’t compete, she doesn’t need to. What she wants is already hers, and if you are in her way, you better duck before her arrow hits you in between the eyes.

The best part about her is she’s residing within you, prepared to unleash her power any time you allow her.

As young women, we are biologically engineered to desire that special someone who validates our beauty, quirks and intelligence. Someone who will make us feel okay with who we are and loved for it. We ignore the reality that this desire we’re chasing is not a guarantee, leaving us to settle with whatever love we can get our hands on, the red flags appearing as a million little hearts through our googley, love-sick eyes.

The butterflies living rent free in our stomachs over the bare minimum must finally be eviscerated.

I remember being lovesick. Losing myself completely in a man who couldn’t lose himself in a crowd of millions. Obsessing on what I had to be to keep him interested. Losing sleep comparing myself to his past conquests. Driving myself crazy over the validation I thought I needed to feel whole, sexy and worthy.

Before I embraced my own inner Hhuntress, I realized that my life was being used and abused before my very eyes.

I cringed at the reality that my lips were preaching one thing while my hips preached another. I spoke the holy word of feminism through my forage of men, as if I wasn’t wasting my valuable energy on those who were incapable of giving me what I deserve.

But now, I’m considered cold, heartless, emotionless; much like the Hhuntress herself. I’m indifferent to the opinions of men, I’m independent in my search for a happy ending and have learned to enjoy the journey along the way. I speak my mind with no hesitation; never apologizing for who I am or how I feel. I am strong, unrestrained and unconventional.

If that makes me a bitch, then so be it.

The Sage

by Nova Krasner

The teacher, the writer, the girl you see in the bookstore with piles of books to her right, a notepad at the center of her desk, and a large coffee on the left. The Sage is someone knowledgeable, intuitive, and restless for knowledge. Similar to the mystic in the spiritual essence, the mystic is able to physically represent wisdom to the collective around them. The unique aspects of the Sage archetype stem from Jungian psychology of understanding different general personality types of people. Do not underestimate their quiet spirited nature, however. Their knowledge of the world permeates around them, and if threatened, they will use their knowledge against their opponent. The Sage has an insight that is unmatched and often found as the friend you go to for wisdom. Excited to learn about the world, The Sage is always prepared to explore not only through books and knowledge, but the world in its entirety. Known to be emotionally “cool” individuals, they stay grounded under intense amounts of stress. The Sage is a timid spirit, but has raging knowledge inside of her. I personally resonate with this aspect of The Sage. I find myself immersed in the voice of poetry. While a quiet individual at times, through poetry I find myself ignited through the lyricism. As a person who resonates with the Sage archetype, I find myself always willing to learn through the experience of others.

This is the archetype of using strategy in war. Instead of charging in unarmed, The Sage prepares for the war through the mind. Sages in ancient times were sought after for knowledge and advisement. A Knack for not wielding a secret weapon, but being one. Cleopatra, a famously known sage, was able to wield extreme power in Ancient Egypt by gaining respect in a male dominated environment. For her time, when only men ruled in Egypt and kingdoms in the region, her mark on history is irrefutable.

They do not serve, they bring willingly. Do not misunderstand them.

Some prime examples of The Sage archetype are: Oprah Winfrey, Margaret Thatcher and Jacqueline Kennedy, to name a few. Often found in the political field, the Sage takes the powerful route to perform their natural power, which stems from pure knowledge. Sage women are champions. They exude brilliance. From being the first to get their group of friends out of an escape room using strategy, or talking with their peers about a new read they found, The Sage is always learning and always strategizing their next move.

In his poem, Sagacity, William Rose Benet, writes about the art of sagacity. In phrase one, “We knew so much: when her beautiful eyes could lighten, Her beautiful laughter follow our phrase..”. Then in phrase four, “Oh, ours was all knowing then, all generous displaying. Such wisdom we had to show!” (Explain this) Through Benet’s poetry and his words, his description of sagacity is best articulated as he perceives this feminine force and her inner harmony with self.

The sage will go to extreme lengths to uncover the truth. Queen archetypes are known to pair up with partners to have “king-like” qualities, while the Sage will MAKE a king. Michelle Obama for instance; Her powerful influence on Barack Obama’s presidency is known by most, and during his two terms made exceptional changes to the United States political landscape. The sage is a timid spirit, but has raging knowledge inside of her and is willing to stop at nothing to achieve greatness.

The Mystic

by Cecilia Connelly

In a world of mass-produced crystals and Patreon tarot card readings, your idea of what and who The Mystic truly is may be slightly askew. Think not of armfuls of beaded bracelets bought on Amazon, incense holders in the shape of mushrooms, or those patchwork hobo satchels (you know exactly the type). Rather, think of the woman in your life who most shares a likelihood with Harry Potter’s Luna Lovegood. This woman is spiritual, undeniably so, but not in the commercialized way we have become all too familiar with. Her spirituality will be quiet, hardly noticeable unless she allows you a glance into her deeply complex inner world. Less concerned with outsiders being aware of the extent of her spirituality, The Mystic is no stranger to spending extended periods of time in deep solitude – all in the name of cultivating and expanding her rich, inner spiritual world. Speaking on subtlety and soundlessness, The Mystic will carry with her an air of confidence that is hard for an untrained eye to detect. Her self-assuredness is a product of both natural traits and time well spent with herself to reach a point of content that some may interpret as aloofness. Like her literary counterpart, Luna, a woman heavily influenced by The Mystic will oftentimes be considered peculiar or odd by her peers. Her decision, whether conscious or unconscious, to venture internally for answers rather than externally is one that is growing in unpopularity in Western societal practices. This subtly counter-cultural act of looking within in a world that is always encouraging one to look outward in products and media will make sense to others who experience influence under The Mystic archetype. The symbiotic relationship she has curated with her inner world and her outer surroundings come together to foster a deep and unique sense of creativity; in certain mediums and also in the way she lives in her life generally. Backtracking to the aforementioned aloofness, mystically influenced women may come across as detached or uncaring, The Mystic’s natural intuition coupled with the congruence in her inner world allows her to remove herself from a situation or person if it poses a threat to her spiritual world. While this may seem selfish to some, do not paint The Mystic as a selfish woman in your mind's eye – she cares deeply for all in her world, she simply possesses the ability to see things holistically and on a grander scale than most, and will not hesitate to choose solitude over disruption. In a societal sense, mystic women are the unsung rebels in our world; the conditioned desire for material goods and external validation pales in comparison to The Mystic’s inward quest for meaning and serenity. Additionally, do not mistake The Mystic’s serenity as boring or demure; she can be as wild and rambunctious as the next, but her inner world is one that spins smoothly. Before parting ways, I will challenge you to act like The Mystic and look both around and within and see if you notice any traces of mysticism lingering in places you may have never thought to look before. Who knows, what you find just might mystify you.

The Lover

by Sarah Cassell

For the Lover, passion is the highest drive. It is the flame that inspires, that continues to push, and that brings the Lover the highest form of joy. A single spark of this passion leads her into her most authentic, most glamorous self– because that is what she finds true pleasure in. The allure of the Lover is not just made from the magnetic confidence nor stereotypical beauty that radiates to all those around her, it is the sense of self and ability to identify the deepest emotions the Lover has, that accomplishes this. All of the passion, sensuality, creativity, and confidence that stems from her is all rooted in emotions.

The unfortunate truth of this archetype, however, is its sexualization in media throughout the past centuries. The first Lover dates back to the biblical and cultural story of Eve. When she falls for the snake’s trick and eats the apple, Adam blames and resents her, believing that her beauty and desire for true living are the reason they broke the rules. This is historically the first weaponization of femininity, and the first villainization of the Lover. The antagonistic view of the Lover is seen again with the Greek story of Medusa, who famously turns men to stone upon looking at them. Her beauty is so dangerous, that it turns her into one of the most infamous Greek monsters. This recurring villainization is not just an aspect of the past. With the rise of film noir in the 1940s, the archetype turns into a trope known as “the femme fatale” who is as an attractive and sexual woman that distresses men around her. Many movies include these female characters that are mistaken to have affairs, oversexualized, or later become murderers– or in some cases— murdered. The aspects of the Lover that make the archetype what it is becomes something to be ashamed of. The Lover can be immediately criticized for her “scandalous” aspects. Her sexuality is seen as greedy, rather than what could be an embracing of lust and life at its most genuine form.

But knowing this history, it tells the Lover exactly what she is not. She is not a villain. No matter what 1940s film noir says, shows nor what greek mythology saysretells– the traits that are so villainized actually make the Lover so spectacular. The aphrodisiac desires that Eve was shamed for is something that makes the Llover aware of what she needs. The Lover can hone in on creativity like no other, because she is so deeply in touch with the world around her that she can draw the highest forms of inspiration from it. The Lover has the power to relax into intimacy, and find the ability to express and find beauty in her emotions.

Despite all of the amazing qualities of the Lover, she can improve and rise to her highest and most true self by trusting her gut. By listening to her heart, instincts, and passion, the Lover can enjoy life to its fullest– the destiny that she has always had written in the stars for her.