The Sovereign Archetype inspires us to take responsibility for our own lives, in our fields of endeavours and in our society at large. This maturity comes from our life journey, as we now take full responsibility for ourselves and our actions. Whether things go according to plan or not, the Sovereign learns from the outcome. This supports their ongoing growth and moves them towards success.
“Think like a queen. A queen is not afraid of failure. Failure is another stepping stone to greatness.” Oprah Winfrey
The goal of the Sovereign is to bring order and creation out of chaos. They seek almost as much to create a legacy or a system around them as they care about life, either their own or others. This is not to imply that they are callous, but the Sovereign will often be forced to make hard decisions about where exactly their priorities lie. This is not an easy task and the Sovereign has to commit herself fully to the task. The buck stops with them and they must be wholly responsible – for which they need ultimate authority.
Shadow side of the Sovereign Archetype
We are familiar with the quote:
“All power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely.” Lord Acton
The shadow side of the Sovereign makes us uneasy with power as may be misused. Personal power is a very important part of out own personal expression and to suppress it due to fear of its misuse is to cut off our own life force. Understanding the different shadow aspects will allow you to avoid them.
The Tragic Sovereign remembers their archetypal responsibility: bringing order in chaos but they rely on bad information and are deceived. The harm that they are causing is not immediately obvious to them, and they are ignorant of the consequences of their actions. They fail to see the true value of their companions or listen to them for advice.
Unlike the Sovereign archetype which creates and blesses others, the Tyrant seeks to destroy and tear down. Plagued by narcissism, they really do think that they sit at the center of the universe. This is the Queen who indulges in in self-righteous rages and yells, “Off with his head”. People act this way when they are put in positions of power, but don’t know how to handle the attendant responsibility. They are motivate by a strong sense of control. The Tyrant wrongly believes that power is finite and they have a scarcity mentality.
Why do I need Sovereign energy in my life?
The Sovereign has a strong internal compass.
Where the other archetypes often seek to live within the existing framework, the Sovereign will try to change it to fit their needs and desires. A good Sovereign also accommodates those around them. Part of their goal is to bring order to their society by forming or taking a role in a community. A well-developed Sovereign will turn their view away from themselves, and toward the world as a whole (or at least their immediate social/political neighbourhood). There are those who seek to create a world centered around someone else. Actively including a diverse range of voices and experiences create a collective intelligence needed for better understanding and better decision-making and takes action towards addressing structural inequalities.
“I devoted myself to the task of welfare of my countrymen – not as a ruler but as a servant.” Sheikh Hasina, Bangladesh Prime Minister
The Sovereign is reliant on having knowledge, internal strength, and social connections. Also known as the leader, ruler or boss, the Sovereign provides structure to the world through their leadership and control. They step up and take charge in times of chaos and provide stability to keep others safe through their power and confidence.
If you want to make something happen in your life, you need to access the confidence and inner compass of your Sovereign Archetype. Join my Sovereign Archetype workshop to awaken the archetype’s greatest strengths. Will you claim your power?
The Sovereign creates environments that invite the gifts and perspectives of all concerned, creating spaces where people and places thrive.