📚 BOOK CLUB: KING/QUEEN, WARRIOR, MAGICIAN, LOVER - ARE ARCHETYPES REAL?
Details
📚 In our next Book Club, we ask: Is there a King (or Queen) inside all of us?
We are discussing the concepts of Archetypal Energy—universal personality patterns found in Jungian psychology.
Our guide for the discussion is “King, Warrior, Magician, Lover” by Moore and Gillette. Don't let the title fool you; while the book focuses on men, we will be debating whether these structures (and their feminine counterparts) are universal to everyone. Are archetypes a biological reality for both genders?
POTENTIAL DISCUSSION POINTS:
- Are personalities hard-wired? Jung suggests we are born with deep-seated instincts like the "King" (Order) or "Lover" (Connection). Do you feel these forces exist inside you, or are they just made-up metaphors?
- Are these energies gender-specific? While the book focuses on men, many argue there is a mirrored "feminine" quadrant: Queen, Mother, Wise Woman, and Lover. Is this symmetry real, or does the female psyche require a totally different map (like Toni Wolff's Mother, Amazon, Medium, & Hetaira)?
- Is "Boy Psychology" to blame for toxic behavior? The authors argue society is full of adults acting like children because we lack "initiation" into adulthood. Does this explain modern "toxic masculinity," and is there a roadmap to fix it?
- Have you met the "Shadow" forms? The book argues that when these energies are unbalanced, they turn dark (e.g., the King becomes a Tyrant). Have you seen these shadow behaviors in your boss, your partner, or even yourself?
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Prior to meeting, please read/engage in the summaries of the book to ensure a fruitful discussion:
Buy the book
“King, Warrior, Magician, Lover” by Moore and Gillette - https://www.amazon.co.uk/King-Warrior-Magician-Lover-Rediscovering/dp/0062506064
Read or Listen for Free:
- Download the PDF: https://pdfroom.com/books/king-warrior-magician-lover-rediscovering-the-archetypes-of-the-mature-masculine/Y6R2XwP2gZ3
- Listen to the Audiobook (YouTube): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AKwwHPV9IyA
Watch some of the online content about the books:
There are several great video summaries on YouTube to get up to speed quickly:
- The 4 Archetypes of the Mature Masculine (Animated Summary):
- King, Warrior, Magician, Lover (Deep Dive): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MmS4bGb3bAE
GROUND RULES:
This is a nice gentle, but thought-provoking, discussion.
It's a judgement-free zone where people can air their thoughts on particular issues, and find out about other people's similar and different perspectives.
So bring your best opinions and ideas. Everyone is welcome.
LOCATION:
We will meet in the 1st floor area of Coffee Island Edgware Road.
There's plenty of space 🛋️, and coffee ☕, tea ☕ cold drinks, and snacks are available.
NEAREST STATIONS:
Edgware Road [Circle, Hammersmith City, District Line] (1 min walk)
Edgware Road [Bakerloo Line] (1 min walk)
Paddington [Bakerloo, Hammersmith, Circle and Elizabeth Line] (7 mins walk)
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FOOD AND SOCIAL AFTERWARDS:
Most of us usually go for food afterwards, so feel free to factor in time after for dinner 🍛🍟🍝🍣🍜🍗🍔[1]