Unleashing the Archetypes A Fox’s Tale
During a recent mentoring session with Paul O’Mahony, I was transported into the fascinating world of Rory Kilmartin’s archetypal relationships.
It’s a little different to the usual inline marketing mentorship sessions but with Paul we explore a broad spectrum of business, AI, mindset and general personal growth.
Incidentally it seems that I am a fox. I found his theories both high enlightening and amusing. Here’s my playful take on the different archetypes we discussed.
It seems that we are one of 4 archetypes illustrated by a gorilla, a sheep, a fox and a wolf with roughly 25% of people in each.
So what are the characteristic of these archetypes?
Gorillas: The Perfectionist Dictators
Gorillas demand perfection and control. They hate letting others take charge, and their worst nightmare is making mistakes. Imagine a Gorilla running a meeting – they’d check the presentation slides thrice and still not let anyone else handle the remote. Their core wound? Imperfection. Gorillas struggle with the idea of being wrong, which is why they maintain such tight control over everything.
Sheep: The Harmonious Helpers
Sheep are the ultimate peacemakers. They prioritize harmony and avoid conflict at all costs. These are the friends who will solve your problems even if it means putting aside their own needs. However, their kindness often leads them to be easily dominated. Sheep avoid saying what they truly feel, which can lead to suppressed frustrations.
Foxes: The Creative Escapists
Ah, my fellow Foxes – creative, solution-oriented, and fiercely independent. We despise being pinned down and cherish our freedom. Invite a Fox to your wedding and expect an RSVP on the day of the event. We thrive on adventure and change, using humour as a shield to avoid entrapment. Our motto? Freedom at all costs!
Wolves: The Fierce Protectors
Wolves are mission-focused protectors, unafraid of conflict. They are direct, stand up for what’s right, and are fiercely protective of their loved ones. However, their bluntness can sometimes be intimidating. Wolves struggle to apologize and need to win every battle, driven by a deep fear of insufficiency.
Putting It All Together
No archetype is better than the other, and understanding these traits can significantly improve our relationships and personal growth. Whether you identify with the control-loving Gorilla, peace-seeking Sheep, freedom-craving Fox, or conflict-embracing Wolf, each archetype brings a unique strength and challenge to the table.
So what does this mean in relationships. Well the graphic above will illustrates each archetypes opposites. So the Fox is the opposite of the Gorilla and likewise the Wolf is the opposite of the sheep. Now you would think that the different types would avoid one another but no, it doesn’t work that way, In fact a very high percentage of people get into relationships with their opposite. Maybe this is our way of getting drawn mote to the middle of the chart
The same applies in business. When we are ready to work with or collaborate with someone else it would be a nightmare if you had a group of gorillas together or a group of foxes. A blend of at least 2 conflicting archetypes would bring the best balance.
Thanks to Rory Kilmartin’s extensive research, we can navigate our interactions with greater empathy and understanding. Embracing our inner animals might just be the key to mastering the wilds of human relationships.
Which animal are you, Let me know in the comments
I am a fox, too!! This is so cool! Your teacher seems to be an interesting person. I would never think of archetypes this way. Are you familiar with Carolyn Myss? Her teachings on archetypes are completely different. More involved and lengthy. Her teachings never held my interest!
Hi Kate, Many thanks for visiting and for your comment. Sorry I don’t know of Carolyn Myss but I may have a look. It’s maybe not something I would want dive deeply into but I found the couple of sessions we have done recently fascinating.