Searching For An Archetype

Intuitive Types:
    Egyptian gods and goddesses appeal to highly spiritual people who probably need to develop the earthier side of their natures. If you're new to magic and are an intuitive type, choosing an Egyptian archetype will benefit you greatly. But if you're an experienced magician then you should consider a Norse deity.

Thinking Types:
    The Greek and Roman deities appeal to those who are by nature
intellectual, and who probably need to acknowledge and express their emotions with greater ease. If you're new to magic, a deity from the Greek or Roman pantheons will benefit you. If you are an experienced magician, you should probably seriously consider a Celtic Deity.

Feeling types:
    The Celtic archetypes appeal to those who are by nature emotional, and who probably need to develop their capacity for rational thought. If you again a newbie and a feeling type, a deity from the Celtic pantheon will be a good choice. If you are experienced then consider choosing an archetype form the Greek or Roman pantheons.

Sensate types:
    Norse deities appeal to the naturally earthy, practical people who
probably need to elevate their energies to a spiritual level. If your new to magic and are a sensate type, a Norse archetype will be a benefit. But if you are experienced you should consider an Egyptian deity.

    If you are new to the practice of magic, you will greatly benefit most by choosing a pantheon which is closest to your natural temperament. If you are an experienced magician you will benefit most by choosing a pantheon opposite of your natural temperamence. Once you have chosen a pantheon, search for an appropriate archetype with that pantheon must begin.

Imagine that your goal is to attract a new romance. Logic would dictate that
you choose an archetype which embodies the spirit of love - the Greek
goddess Aphrodite, or her Roman counterpart Venus. In the Egyptian pantheon, you might want to choose Hathor. the Norse goddess Freya would also be appropriate, as would the Celtic Guinevere. Men might invoke the lusty Zeus (Roman counterpart Jupiter), or Aphrodite's lover Ares (Roman counterpart, Mars). Adonis would also serve well, as would the Celtic figure of Lancelot.

Choosing a Patron Archetype:
You may prefer to choose an archetype, not for specific purpose, but rather
for assistance with your general aim in life - a patron deity, so to speak.
    If you decide to choose an overall Patron deity, be aware of your chosen
archetype will probably not be able to provide you with assistance in every
area of your life. it is important that you understand your patron deity's
limitations before placing yourself under it's sponsorship, and that you
make allowances for these.
    It is possible to adopt a patron for general purposes and to choose,
when needed, another archetype for a specific goal. But your patron deity
and the secondary archetype should be compatible. If they aren't, then you
risk offending your patron deity. Be aware that some patrons are disliked by
other deities. Ares, God of War, is detested by ALL his fellow gods - except
Aphrodite, who likes macho lovers. Hades isn't popular either.. hee hee 8o)!
    It's probably best for beginners not to mix pantheons. Later on, when
you are more experienced, you can try combining deities from different
pantheons. But you should know that some pantheons combinations are better than others. The Egyptian and the Norse pantheons tend to work well
together, as do the Greek and the Celtic. As an experienced magician, you
could successfully choose the Norse Freya, as your patroness, and ask for
additional help from the Egyptian Bast on occasion. The Norse/Egyptian
combination works well together, and both are cat goddesses, so they have
much in common.

One good way to choose a secondary archetype is to ask your patron to
make the choice for you. this involves using a pendulum.

The following instructions assume the reader to be right handed. Left-handed individuals should hold the pendulum in their left hands.

*Take the pendulum in your right hand. Rest your right elbow on some stable surface, such as a table. Holding the end of the pendulum's chain, let it dangle an inch or so above the table. Try to keep it absolutely still.

*When the pendulum is motionless, ask it to show you a "yes" response. The pendulum may swing forward and backward, in relation to the perpendicular line of your body. It may swing in a clockwise motion. Or, it may move in some manner unique to you and your pendulum.

*Now ask your pendulum to show you a "no" response. It may swing from side to side, parallel to your body. It may swing in a counterclockwise motion. Or, again, it may move in some other manner unique to you and your pendulum.

Once you have determined your pendulum's positive and negative responses, you have all the skills you need. But it is imperative that you understand that the "magick" is not in the pendulum; it is WITHIN you. The unconscious mind, which always rejoices when it has a chance to give good advice, is
what activates your pendulum.

When you are comfy working with your pendulum, you may ask your patron deity's advice on an archetype that can help you achieve the specific goal you have in mind.

Write down the deity names on a sheet of paper, and place it by your left hand. Mentally go within yourself and ask your patron deity for guidance. Ask the deity to indicate, through the pendulum, which archetype he thinks is most appropriate to you and your goal, one with whom that deity can easily work.
Take up your pendulum in your right hand. Point with your left hand to each name on the list and ask the pendulum to signal "yes" or "no" to each name on the list. If your patron through the pendulum, signals yes to ONE name then you have found your secondary archetype. If it signals "yes" to 2 or more then you have a choice. If you only get "no" answers from the
pendulum then you will have to search out further possible archetypes and go through the procedure again.

As a magician, you should do everything you can to balance your character. Doing so produces a well-rounded personality, one which is capable of achieving goals in every area of your life.

Suppose, for an instance, that you are a fiercely independent and very private woman, who would like , perhaps for the first time in your life, to marry and settle down. Your natural temperament is akin to that of Artemis, who prefers solitude to human company. You would benefit from inviting Hera, the Greek goddess of marriage, into your life.

Perhaps you are an over civilized male who wishes he could let go and have some fun for a change. Your natural counterpart in the spiritual realm is Apollo. You'd benefit from calling in Dionysus, who likes an occasional orgy. Or you're a bookworm and your lifestyle could use some fresh air. Your too much like Hermes. Try invoking wild, natural Pan.

The trick is to "know thyself" - a motto emblazed upon all of Apollo's temples - and to know what you need in order to balance your temperament. By invoking the aid of an archetype opposite to your natural temperament, you can activate underdeveloped energies within you.

I recommend Jean Bolen's Goddesses in Every Woman and Gods in Every Man for readers who would like to choose archetypes in order to balance their temperament. Bolen is a Jungian therapist, and her psychological studies of the major Greek gods and goddesses are both fascinating and fun to read. The Greek deities have their counterparts in every major Western pantheon, so even if you're not specifically interested in the Greeks, you'll still find Bolen's information useful. Female magicians will also be interested in Murry Hope's analysis of the Greek goddesses in the "dragons and Serpents" chapter in her Essential Woman.