Archetypes
An Archetype is basically any idea that controls the manifestation of social, political, economic, and psychological realities of this world. Archetypes are usually, though not always, big ideas providing answers to Big Questions. Archetypes include ideas like the notion that there exists a fundamental and universal, moral or energetic, antagonism (i.e. "good versus evil," make versus female, anima versus animus, etc), ideas like "survival of the fittest, and ideas about life purpose and destination.
An archetype can function at the individual level or the meta-level (i.e., the group level, the societal level, and the planetary level). An archetype functions at each level by virtue of its acceptance into consciousness. An organizing archetype accepted by a single individual is functional and influential primarily at the individual level only. By the same token, an archetype accepted into the consciousness of the planet is functional and influential at all levels.
Any idea can function as an archetype so long as the idea is a) intended as such and b) accepted into consciousness as significant and sacred. Once an archetype is in consciousness it influences, sometimes subtly by influencing energetic flow, sometimes directly by influencing thought and action, reality.
As Carl Jung noted, archetypes are "inter-generationally persistent," meaning each new physical unit is born with a certain set of meta-level archetypes passed on from the previous generation. As Jung observed, archetypes passed on in this fashion are dim and shadowy. Consequently, archetypes are deliberately reinforced by Agents of Socialization as children grow and mature.
It should be noted that more than one archetype is required to condition a planet. We may refer to the collection of archetypes used to control the manifestation of reality as a Creation Template. Keep in mind that just as each archetype may function at multiple levels, so to can creation templates function at multiple levels.
Archetypes are not fixed and though some may result from experience (see note below), most are deliberately inserted into consciousness, usually when the Physical Unit is young and unable to decide whether they want certain archetypes inserted or not. This fact, plus ongoing attempts to mystify the creative process and dissemble about its true "secret" nature, make critical inquiry into extant archetypal structures difficult, if not impossible. The general tendency (up until right now, I believe) has been to view archetypes as "divine" or "cosmically" generated and to subsequently attempt to plumb archetypal depths for "secret" "wisdom" and enlightenment. Even Carl Jung, perhaps especially Carl Jung, fell victim to this tendency to elevate simple (though highly significant) ideas to lofty, mystical heights.
Changing the world, ushering in any significant new reality, shifting to the "new age," or whatever you want to say, requires that the Creation Template of this planet be unpacked, interrogated, exposed, and modified to more accurately reflect collective (rather than private, as is currently the case) values and goals. For a recent attempt to interrogate, expose, and modify the Creation Template of this planet see the Halo/Sharp Tarot.
Notes
Carl Jung felt that archetypes were natural phenomenon and suggested that the ongoing experience of something like the diurnal rhythms of Gaia became "burned in" as an archetype and "passed on" through the genetics of the body. While it is true that archetypes that become widely accepted are coded genetically and therefore do become persistent, it is not true that archetypes emerge out of natural experience. Archetypes are always constructed by some self aware entity. however when constructed properly and accepted widely, archetypes can easily become persistent across generation in which case they may come to "look" natural. To conclude they are natural based on their inter generational persistence is, however, an empirical and logical error. In any case, because archetypes are not "given" to us (either by nature or god), archetypes can be changed.
See Also
Sharp, Michael (2012). Archetypes. The SpiritWiki: http://www.thespiritwiki.com/index.php/Archetypes [Accessed: May 19, 2012]
