The King Archetype
The King is the Sacred (inner) Father figure
He blesses the people, just like we bless our sons with our presence and our gaze.
In Egyptian Mythology the Eye (where the light enters) of Horus (the god of the Sun) was a significant symbol. The sun is the symbol for the father in Alchemy and depth psychology. The sun also brings light, and consciousness. In Egypt, the crowd would gather to be seen by the Pharao. Literally the people felt it was healing them. And I think they were right. Young boys, young men, are hungry to be seen. And wanting to be seen is a natural and healthy aspect of human beings in my opinion.
The Pharao blesses the people with his presence and his eyes. He sees them.
Remember the moments in your life that you felt very seen by an older man. My tae kwon do teacher, giving me the next color belt after a half year of hard training. Small compliments in schools by a male teacher, an uncle that saw me. Moments that I remember.
In the Lion King we see the ordering principle. One of the key purposes of the king. He brings order, creates rules and lives by them. He is disciplined. For example, Mufasa does not hunt outside of their hunting territory. He tells Simba, that he will rule one day, but only over the part where the light shines.
We can bless ourselves too, by looking in the mirror and gazing into our own eyes, really seeing ourselves. See how this is for you, are you judging? Can you bless yourself?
Journaling prompt: remember when an older man, whom you looked up to, blessed you. He saw you, you felt really seen. For example, my martial arts teacher asked me to demonstrate a kick, you feel seen and appreciated. The words and actions can be strong memories, this is the strength of a blessing, from a man that channels the King Energy.
Write down how you felt blessed by a man with King Energy.
Active Imagination: go back to a time as a little boy and feel the energy of a man that had that mature king energy around him. Now become this person and feel how it is to also embody that energy.
“Young men today are starving for blessing from older men, starving for blessing from the King energy. This is why they cannot, as we say, “get it together.” They shouldn’t have to. They need to be blessed. They need to be seen by the King, because if they are, something inside will come together for them. That is the effect of blessing; it heals and makes whole. That’s what happens when we are seen and valued and concretely rewarded for our legitimate talents and abilities.”
As we grow older, wiser, and more in touch with the King archetype, it is our responsibility as men to bless and assist younger men on their path to mature masculinity.
Women and mothers can also really see a man and believe in him. His potential. They can also bless as they embody the queen archetype. The sacred mother connected to the moon and more related to the inner world and the unconscious world of a man.
The father’s blessing is more related to the outer world. The core of a man. The sun in astrology is the sign that corresponds with the core of a person. If a man misses the blessing in his youth, he misses a certain core and foundation. This will often turn out problematic.
Journaling prompt: how are you blessing your surroundings? Other men, your son, your team mates? What can you do to embody or channel the king energy?
Suggestion: create a group of men, start gathering and do volunteering work for young boys in youth detention centers. Young boy’s that can’t ‘get it together’.
The model of Robert Moore about the King Archetype
In the image above we see the process from boyhood to manhood and the corresponding shadow poles of the archetypes. The boy archetype is the divine child, Jesus Christ for example as a baby, a (potential) king is born. He is just a little boy. A divine child has a relationship to god, and is dangerous for the ruling principle, that is why Scar wanted to kill Simba, and king Herod tried to kill Jesus Christ. The birth of a young boy (a divine child), means new consciousness, and a new world. The old ways most die. Every couple of decades a special child is born. A couple of examples. These boys turned out to be men that really changed the world we live in.
Jesus Christ: Jesus, the central figure of Christianity, is widely regarded as the epitome of the divine child. Born in Bethlehem, his life and teachings have had an immeasurable influence on billions of people around the world. Jesus is revered for his compassion, wisdom, and the message of love, forgiveness, and salvation that he preached during his time on Earth.
Siddhartha Gautama (Buddha): Born as a prince in present-day Nepal, Siddhartha Gautama later became known as Buddha, the enlightened one. Seeking answers to the suffering he witnessed, he embarked on a spiritual quest that led him to attain enlightenment under a Bodhi tree. Buddha's teachings on the Four Noble Truths and the Eightfold Path continue to guide millions in their pursuit of inner peace and liberation from suffering.
Mahatma Gandhi: Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi, better known as Mahatma Gandhi, was an extraordinary leader and advocate for nonviolent resistance. Born in India, Gandhi played a pivotal role in the country's independence movement against British rule. His philosophy of Satyagraha (truth-force) inspired civil rights and freedom movements worldwide, emphasizing the power of nonviolence, love, and self-discipline.
Dalai Lama: The Dalai Lama is the spiritual leader of Tibetan Buddhism and considered to be the incarnation of Avalokiteshvara, the bodhisattva of compassion. Each Dalai Lama is believed to be a special boy born with divine qualities and chosen to guide and enlighten humanity. Known for their wisdom, compassion, and tireless efforts for peace, the Dalai Lamas have been influential figures in spreading Buddhist teachings and promoting harmony among diverse communities.
Swami Vivekananda: Swami Vivekananda, an Indian philosopher and spiritual leader, is revered as a divine child who brought the teachings of Vedanta and Hindu philosophy to the West. Born in Calcutta, Vivekananda played a crucial role in popularizing yoga, meditation, and the concept of unity among religions. His eloquent speeches at the Parliament of the World's Religions in 1893 in Chicago made a lasting impact, promoting interfaith dialogue and fostering a deeper understanding of Eastern spirituality.
Eventually the divine child grows into the King when it is time to wear the crown, when it is time to take the sword and lead. Often when the old king dies or becomes sick. If a king is not potent anymore, this effects the land and his realm, a new vital king needs to be crowned.
Suggestion: Imagine being a king for a day, go outside and walk around, how is your kingdom doing? Everything is your responsibility, what are you proud of? What needs to change? Who will be in your court to help you lead? Do you have a group of brothers like King Arthur and his knights of the round table?
Journaling prompt: Tyrant. How are you abusing power? How are you a tyrant? A slave to sex, power, money, fear and a low self-image, this often results in making yourself bigger and claiming power for the sake of control and power not for a better world.
Journaling prompt: Weakling: How are you rejecting power? Are you handing over your power, responsibility, and control over your life to others, your wife, parents, and your boss? Do you think for yourself? Are you too soft? No spine? Not challenging yourself? Avoiding conflict and life in general?
These questions can be seen as shadow work. Every man has to look in the mirror and has a connection with the two shadow poles of the king energy.
The road towards individuation and the king (the center of the psyche for a man) is a road of claiming our potential. Connected to our soul. Our true self.
In the movie of King Arthur - Ritchie, G. (2017) the boy does not know he is a divine child, just like Joseph in the bible. Joseph's journey in the Bible involved going from a divine child and favored son to being sold as a slave, rising to a position of power in Egypt, and ultimately becoming a benevolent ruler who reunited his family. His story highlights themes of redemption, forgiveness, and the providence of God in difficult circumstances. We often doubt ourselves, we get told who we are by society etc. Our job is to claim our authenticity. Claim our grief (like King Arthur grieves the death of his mother and father) and awaken a new energy that helps us on our journey. He learns how to yield the sword of Excalibur.
The movie of King Arthur directed by Guy Ritchie shows Arthur and his group of brothers around him, that will help him claim his birthright. We all have a birthright, and we are all divine in a way. We are connected. To the collective unconscious. To the Self. And there is a reason for you to be on this earth.
Whenever a knight of the Grail tried to follow a path made by someone else, he went altogether astray. Where there is a way or path, it is someone else’s footsteps. Each of us has to find his own way -- Joseph Campbell - From Rhythms of the Grail
Romance of the Grail - The relationship between the King, the Heart and Love (or Amor).
Joseph Campbell explores the concept of "Amor" and its connection to individuation within the context of Arthurian mythology and the Grail Quests. "Amor" refers to the theme of courtly love, a prominent aspect of medieval literature and culture.
Campbell examines the relationship between the ideals of courtly love and the process of individuation, which is the psychological journey towards self-realization and wholeness. In the context of the Grail Quests, "Amor" represents a transformative force that drives the heroes on their spiritual journeys.
Through the lens of courtly love, Campbell explores the concept of transcendent love, which goes beyond the romantic or personal realm. It is an expression of deep connection and union with a higher or divine aspect. The Grail, often associated with spiritual illumination and fulfillment, serves as a symbol of this transcendent love.
Campbell suggests that the pursuit of the Grail and the ideals of courtly love are intertwined with the process of individuation. The heroes in the Arthurian myths, driven by their quest for the Grail, embark on a path of self-discovery, inner transformation, and spiritual growth. The challenges and encounters they face along the way serve as catalysts for their individuation, leading them towards a deeper understanding of themselves and their place in the world.
In this context, Campbell views courtly love and the Grail Quests as symbolic representations of the human longing for union with the divine, and the transformative power of love as a catalyst for personal growth and spiritual awakening. The pursuit of "Amor" becomes a metaphor for the individuation process, where individuals seek to integrate and harmonize their inner selves, ultimately leading to a sense of wholeness and fulfillment.
The Grail Legend - a vision of Emma Jung (wife of Carl Jung)
"The Grail Legend" by Emma Jung and Marie-Louise von Franz is described as a psychological consideration of the Grail legend. The authors conducted meticulous research, delving into Celtic and pre-Christian Eastern sources as well as focusing on twelfth-century texts by Chretein de Troyes and Robert de Boron.
The book explores the story of Perceval's quest for the Grail within the context of King Arthur and his knights of the Roundtable. According to Emma Jung, the inclusion of Arthur and his knights in connection with the Grail represents "the psychological expression of an extraordinary stirring of the unconscious" at that time. The authors suggest that the Grail legend addresses the religious problem of modern man.
The Grail is depicted as a mysterious and life-preserving vessel, guarded by a king in a castle that is difficult to find. The king, who is old or suffering from a mysterious wound, can only be restored to health if a knight of conspicuous excellence finds the castle and asks a specific question. Perceval embarks on the quest but initially fails to ask the crucial question. However, he gets a second chance and ultimately prevails.
The authors interpret the Grail Castle as a representation of the timeless dimension concealed from view, an archetypal concept of the unconscious. They associate the Grail with the Self, the inner guide that signifies the whole psychic man as a realization of divinity reaching into matter. The Grail story, according to Jungian terms, projects the Self as an inner center that remains inaccessible to those trapped in a medieval mindset.
The authors argue that the medieval world suffered from a one-sided emphasis on the light side of the God image, neglecting the shadow and failing to integrate it. This imbalance led to the king's sickness, representing the dominant collective consciousness. The story suggests that the king must die or be restored before the land can be freed from its present state. It is as if the dark aspect of divinity had attacked the king to awaken him to a more conscious religious attitude.
The Grail is seen as a stage of development of the human spirit, symbolizing a move beyond a materialistic view to endowing the concrete with symbolic meaning. It requires reflection, discernment, and the ability to recognize the value beyond the world's perspective. The Grail is compared to the Feeling Function, our capacity to discriminate between good and evil beyond the world's viewpoint, and rediscover the soul of nature and the incarnate God.
Perceval's quest is portrayed as the redemption of the Spirit of God in matter, guided by the Self, the inner Christ. By asking the question "To whom does the Grail serve?" and realizing the importance of what he witnesses, Perceval brings about the death of the old king and the restoration of the ailing king and his kingdom. However, Perceval chooses to remain at the Grail Castle and does not take the Grail back to Arthur's court, resulting in the disappearance of the Grail with his death. This signifies that the archetypal Grail remains in the unconscious of each living person, serving as an inner guide and inviting individuals to their individual completeness.
Encountering the Grail poses a question to the beholder rather than imparting direct knowledge. It provides an emotional readiness to receive and offers a numinous experience of our inner center, the Self.
This blogpost is a summary of the tales we are discussing in the online men’s circle to explore the king energy, and what mature masculinity is. The idea’s of Joseph Campbell, Emma Jung and Marie Louise von Franz (the most talented student of Carl Jung) are significant resources in our study.
Why is love or AMOR connected to the King?
The King is connected to the Heart Chakra. The center of the body. Just like the King, the castle is in the center of the realm. The king is the center of the psyche.
In the 1200 there was a shift needed in consciousness. Today we are seeing another shift.
Order is under attack these days. We expect men to build a kingdom, but offer them no guidance of the king energy in his fulness.
The king brings fertility, he penetrates the world. His impulse grows the land, people are starving for a kingdom with a good king.
We need the rules of the system - father-son - women (mostly in feminine energy) and men (mostly in masculine energy).
But tyrants do not like new energy, new ways. So just like the battle between Simba and Scar, King Arthur and the unrightful king on the thrown, we need to step up.
The ego fuses with the King Archetype. While the ego should be in service to the self. Not identified with. Then you have fallen victim to the Power Shadow. A thirst for power for the sake of power.
A King:
Knows the boundaries of the kingdom
Fertility & blessings ( provider, appreciation for players in the kingdom)
Tyrant fears and acts violently due to weakness, shadow king focuses only on himself
Weakling King... Self-glory, abuses power
Great King is in the service of all. Listens to people. Open to Feedback.
Passion for people and recognizing the struggle of people. Stands for Peace. Voice for human rights
A man that is in connection to the King - appreciates others, connects, brothers, uplifting energy, blesses, praises.
A man can make millions with an E-commerce store online, and feel like a king, with a gigantic house in Dubai, but is focused primarily on himself. He is not in service to others, something bigger.
If you want to learn more about these archetypes, join my online monthly circle.
