King, Warrior, Magician, Lover Review/Summary

King, Warrior, Magician, Lover: Rediscovering The Archetypes of the Mature Masculine Robert Moore, Douglas Gillette

As with much psychodynamic thought, there is no objective proof rather things that seem correct. This book is brief short and can be used as a simple guide for men looking for self-help. Worth reading if you ascribe to Jungian beliefs. I like how the duality of the archetypes are represented, each prime apex has an opposite, which is largely the result of failure to properly channel the correct archetype.

4 Archetypes must be developed which all must be integrated and all compliment each other 

King: Creates boundaries and rules for his kingdom. There must be order, "Dao" in the kings ways

The King blesses his subjects and rarely punishes them. Punishment should come in a form of shame of failing to standards of the kingdom, shaming yourself in the kings eyes. 

King give a sense of inner calm and authority.

Shadow: tyrant and weakling

- Avoid obsessing over rules and forcing your subjects but still have values that you yourself hold.

Warrior: An intense vigourous battle heavy nature to defend and expand the kingdom. The Warrior knows how finite his life is so he charges and takes it offensively. That Warrior is not afraid to use force to protect himself and his values.

Shadow: Sadist and Masocist

- Avoid cruelty and being a pushover, have control and value to your life that fuels your being.

Magician: The Magician is capable of the unknown, of profound knowledge. Like all magicians, be wary of exposing the source of your power. Keeps us centered and emotionally detached. The good Magician can initiate others.  

Shadow: Manipulator and Innocent Idiot

-Know the power and destruction of with holding information. Directing people to places they can't see. Taking people to the deep end when they cant swim. Avoid crushing those less knowledgeable than you in a field to satisfy your ego. Share a bit with others, don't isolate yourself Avoid acting like you don't have to learn, no Nihilism. Avoid stifling others because you are not as good as them.

Lover: Healthy pleasure without shame. A sense of playfulness is shown in the Lover and a sense of empathy for the world and others. The Lover makes other archetypes more humane. The Lover appreciates beauty in life.

Shadow: Addict and Impotent

-Avoid obsessively searching for an experience or being too consumed by an experience that it dictates your life. Don't become the victim of your senses. Don't block your ego from love and connection with others.

The Alchemist Review/Summary

The Alchemist Paulo Coelho

A simple story packed with specks of self-help advice. At times the story is captivating, the first ten pages are very promising from a story perspective and lure you in with the imagery and symbolism but this gimmick grows tiresome and at times story (which relies heavily on fables) is not as stimulating or novel. The book is largely allegorical and tries to sell wisdom, not a captivating story. Some of the wisdom sticks and the main message is "follow your dreams" but this is interpolated in different ways through different fables. Much of the advice is beneficial to people feeling unsure or stuck in life.

According to Coelho and my personal interpolations, everyone has their own Personal legend 

- Like Sartre said, people get caught in "bad faith" and forget what they are, assuming a role, baker, waiter etc forgetting their own personal legend.

- The personal Legend seems to be a healthy ego (healthy cherished Inner Child, Parent, Magician and Warrior or whatever) who understands what the individual needs. We must follow this path and allow others in our lives that can help us undergo this Personal Legend.

- Try to avoid envisioning your Legend (don't live in dreamland) instead enter the flow and do what you think is right. Avoid thinking too much.