(text from our new Arkanosophy Archetype Cards)
Welcome to the world of the “archetypes”. This is a fascinating topic that we can integrate in various ways in our Mystery Performance, and in our own inner work as you will see.
The word archetype comes from Greek: ἄρχω, árkhō, 'to begin' + τῠ́πος, túpos, 'sort, type' , a collectively-inherited unconscious idea, pattern of thought, image, etc., that is universally present, in individual psyches. A concept that Carl Jung made important in his profound study of the human mind, relevant in the "individuation" process.
Before going into the specific needed information, lets observe the deeper meaning of the theme itself.
Why bother about archetypes as Mystery Performer?
When I write my performances pieces, I always get inspired by this concept that I call “archetypical themes”.
I can perform a mindreading experience (lets say using a billet technique) using a theme of Artificial Intelligence or Human Connection.
Both can be effective in different circumstances, but the issue with the first one is that it is too specific, so anyone in the audience that doesn’t care about that theme, will lose interest.
Who cant care about human connection?
Music?
The transcendence of the self?
Those are “archetypical themes”, and obviously the theme of archetypes itself is the epitome of the concept.
Everyone can care about this universal phenomena of our mind. Now, just talking about the theme is not enough, you need to present the concept in performance in such an authentic and enthusiastic way that people NEEDS to pay attention.
If you offer Readings, as we will see soon in the text, you can also offer interesting dynamics of mysterious introspection using this cards. You can even use them as part of a playful dynamic in your workplace.
As Psychologist and Facilitator I use them for years to create stories and other activities that can catalyze change.
So this cards can be even more relevant than playing cards or other type of visual stimuli. People care about archetypes naturally, most of the times they don’t know that. YOU are the one that needs to communicate and connect in real ways in order to invite them into this mysterious exploration of symbols and fundamental ideas.
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