15/03/2015

TheKingArchetype:The4ArchetypesoftheMatureMasculine|TheArtofManliness

January17,2012

AMan'sLife,OnManhood

TheFourArchetypesoftheMatureMasculine:TheKing

Thisisthesixthandfinalpartofaseriesonthearchetypesofmaturemasculinitybasedonthe
bookKing,Warrior,Magician,LoverbyRobertMooreandDouglasGillette.Ifyouhaventalready,I
highlyrecommendreadingtheintroductiontotheseriesfirst.Also,keepinmindthatthesepostsarea
littlemoreesotericthanournormalfare,andaremeanttobecontemplatedandthoughtfullyreflected
upon.
TheKingarchetypeisthemostimportantofthefourmaturemasculinearchetypes.Justasagood
http://www.artofmanliness.com/2012/01/17/thefourarchetypesofthematuremasculinetheking/

1/8

15/03/2015

TheKingArchetype:The4ArchetypesoftheMatureMasculine|TheArtofManliness

kinginmythologicalstoriesisoftensomethingofaRenaissancemanagoodwarrior,magician,and
lovertheKingarchetypeincorporatestheotherthreematuremasculinearchetypesinperfect
harmony.AmanwhoaccessestheKingarchetypeinitsfullnesswillalsohaveaccessedtheWarrior,
Magician,andLoverarchetypes.Forthisreason,theKingarchetypeistypicallythelastofthemature
masculinearchetypestopowerupinamanslife.Inthisway,itistrulythecrownoftheother
archetypes,theenergythatgivesamanasenseofhisfull,godlikepotential.

TheCharacteristicsoftheKinginHisFullness
Heiscentered.
Throughouthistory,cultureshaveoftenplacedthekingatthecenteroftheuniverse.Fromhim
radiatedallofexistence.Ifyoulookathowancientcivilizationslaidouttheircities,weoftenseethat
thedwellingplaceofthekingorleadersatatthecenter.
Inadditiontoservingasthegeographiccenterofhisrealm,theancientkingalsorepresentedits
spiritualcenteraswell.Hewastheintermediarybetweenheavenandearth.Throughhisdivine
powers,thekingbroughtordertotheuniversebyreconcilingoppositeforces.Mythsaboundofkings
battlingevildemoniccreaturesandestablishingorderinchaos.
WhenamanislivingtheKingarchetypeinitsfullness,hefeelsthatsamecenteringpowerwithin
himself.Notthathebelievestheworldrevolvesaroundhim,butratherthathisconfidence,purpose,
andwellbeinggivehimasupremesenseofbalance.Evenwhentheworldaroundhimbecomes
chaotic,heremainscool,calm,andcollected.Heacts,ratherthanreacts.Hestherockincrisis.A
manfullyengagedwithpositiveKingenergyiscompletelypresentasaman.Becauseofhisposition
atthecenterofthings,hecansurveyeverythingthatisgoingon,soakitallin,andthentakeabroad
viewofthings.Thisoverarchingperspectiveallowshimtoremainimmovableinthefaceofthe
passingandsuperficial.
Heisdecisive.

TheKingistheexecutiveoftheotherarchetypes,andassuch,ischargedwithmakingdecisions.His
abilitytobedecisiveisrootedintwothings.First,whoheisandwhathestandsfortheKingscore
valuesarecenteredonfirmandunchangingprinciples.Sowhenacrisiscomes,hedoesnotwaver
becausehehasalreadydeterminedthecoursehewilltake.Secondly,theKingseasonshisdecisions
http://www.artofmanliness.com/2012/01/17/thefourarchetypesofthematuremasculinetheking/

2/8

15/03/2015

TheKingArchetype:The4ArchetypesoftheMatureMasculine|TheArtofManliness

withexperience.Hisexperiencesprovidehimwithpracticalwisdom:theknowledgeofhowtodothe
rightthing,attherighttime,fortherightreasons.
Heliveswithintegrity.
Thewordintegrityisrelatedtotherootsofwordslikeintegrateandentire.InSpanishitis
renderedintegro,meaningwhole.Integritythusimpliesthestateofbeingcomplete,undivided,
intact,andunbroken.Integrityisreallythebondthatholdsamansothervirtuestogetheritisthe
markofamanwhohassuccessfullyintegratedallgoodprinciples.Hislifeisaunifiedwhole.
TheKinghasnotonlyintegratedalltheotherarchetypes,butseeksthiswholenessinotherareasof
hislifeaswell.Hemendsbrokenrelationships,keepshisword,actswithhonesty,andtakes
responsibilityforhisactions.Heiswhohesaysheishedoesnthaveonesetofprinciplesfor
Sundaysandonefortherestoftheweek.
Heprotectshisrealm.

Historically,oneofthekingsprimaryfunctionswastoprotecthisdominion.Whenenemyforces
encroachedonhisterritory,akingwouldactwithwrathfulaggressiveness.Eventoday,welookto
ourleadersasprotectors.ThePresidentoftheUnitedStatesistheCommanderinChiefoftheArmed
Forces,chargedwiththeresponsibilityofprotectingournationssecurity.
Whileamanmightnotbealeaderofacountry,hecertainlyhashisownrealmshesresponsiblefor
protectingwhetherthatprotectionbephysical,mental,emotional,orspiritual.Ifyouremarriedwith
children,yourhomeisarealm,aplaceyouwanttomakearefugefromnegativeinfluences.The
departmentyoureresponsibleforatworkisanotherspherewhereyouworktoprotectyour
employeesfrominfighting,mediocrity,andlayoffs.Andyourownpsycheandpersonalboundaries
aresovereigntiesthatyoumustprotectanddefendwithzeal.
Whateveryourrealmsmaybe,whenyoureaccessingtheKingarchetypeinitsfullness,youdowhat
youhavetoinordertoprotectthem,andthisoftenrequiresaccessingtheaggressivenessofthe
Warriorarchetype.
Heprovidesorder.

http://www.artofmanliness.com/2012/01/17/thefourarchetypesofthematuremasculinetheking/

3/8

15/03/2015

TheKingArchetype:The4ArchetypesoftheMatureMasculine|TheArtofManliness

Throughouthistory,Kingshavebeenlawgivers.Thefirst,andperhapsmostfamousofthese
king/lawgiverswastheancientBabylonianking,Hammurabi.Hiscoderepresentsoneofhistorys
firstwrittensetsoflaws.TheselawstouchedonallareasoflifeforancientMesopotamians,including
trade,religion,andmilitaryservice.Otherfamousking/lawgiversincludeSolonofancientAthens,
LycurgusofancientSparta,andMoses(whiletechnicallynotaking,Moseswasaleaderofthe
ancientHebrews).
Justastheseancientkingsprovidedordertotheirrespectivesocieties,sotoodoesamanaccessingthe
Kingarchetypeestablishorderinhisownlifeandinthelivesofthosearoundhim.WeseetheKing
manifestitselfinuswhenweestablishrules,guidelines,andprinciplesforotherstofollow.Aman
accessingpositiveKingenergydoesntcreaterulesjustsohecanreapthesatisfactionofwatching
peopleobeyhim.Rather,hisrulesprovidethestructurethatallowsotherpeopletoflourish.Figuring
outhowtocreaterulesthathelpinsteadofhinderpeoplesprogressrequiresthekindofthoughtful
reflectionthatcomesfromaccessingtheMagicianarchetype.
TocompletelyintegratetheKingarchetypeintoourlives,itisntenoughtotellothershowthey
shouldliveamanmustalsolivebythosesameedictshimself.Beforewecanprovideorderfor
others,weourselvesmustbecomemenofdiscipline.AsGeneralGeorgeS.Pattontoldhisson:
Soldiers,allmeninfact,arenaturalheroworshipers.Officerswithaflareforcommand
realizethisandemphasizeintheirconduct,dressanddeportmentthequalitiestheyseek
toproduceintheirmen.WhenIwasasecondlieutenantIhadacaptainwhowasvery
sloppyandusuallylateyethegotafterthemenforjustthosefaultshewasafailure.
Hecreatesandinspirescreativityinothers.
AccordingtoMoore,mythologicalkingswereoftenassociatedwithfertilityandcreation.Many
ancientculturesbelievedthattheirkingsabilitytoprocreatedeterminedthefateoftheircrops.Ifthe
kingwaslusty,virile,andsiringnumerousprogeny,theharvestwouldbebountiful.
ButwedonthavetofatheranentirefootballteaminordertoaccesstheKingarchetype.Whenever
wetakepartinanyactofcreation,whetheritbewritingasong,startingabusiness,oryes,becoming
adad,theKingarchetypeismanifestingitselfinourlives.
TofullyintegratetheKinginourlives,however,wemustinspirecreativityinothersaswell.Aman
http://www.artofmanliness.com/2012/01/17/thefourarchetypesofthematuremasculinetheking/

4/8

15/03/2015

TheKingArchetype:The4ArchetypesoftheMatureMasculine|TheArtofManliness

whoisaccessingtheKingarchetypeunderstandsthathispowerandinfluenceintheworldincreases
asheempowersotherstolivetotheirfullestpotential.
Heblessesthelivesofothers.

Thegoodkingdelightedinnoticingandpromotinggoodmentopositionsof
responsibilityinhiskingdom.Heheldaudience,primarily,nottobeseen,buttosee,
admire,anddelightinhissubjects,torewardthemandtobestowhonorsuponthem.
Moore,KWML
Oneofthefunctionsofancientkingswastoblessthosewhomtheyled.Asintermediariesbetween
thegodsandearth,thekinghadthepowertoblesshispeoplesothattheymightprosper.IntheBible,
wecanreadseveralaccountsofthegreatpatriarchsleavingafathersblessingontheirposterity
beforedying.
Weoftenassociateblessingwithareligiousact.WhileamancertainlyaccessestheKingarchetype
bygivingafathersblessingtohischildren,justlikeJacobandIsaacdid,hecanalsoblessothers
aroundhiminotherwaysthatarentnecessarilyreligious.
Simplyrecognizingandhonoringothersfortheirachievementsisawaywecanblessothers.Aswe
getolder,Ithinkwetakeforgrantedthepowerthatakindwordcanhaveonayoungpersonslife.
Butthinkbackonyourownexperience.Rememberwhenyouwereayoungman?Howdidyoufeel
whenanolderperson,especiallyamanyouadmired,gaveyouacomplimentorwentoutofhisway
torecognizeanachievement?Ifyouwerelikeme,itmadeyoufeelawesome.Youmighthavestuck
outyourchestabitmoreorwalkedwithaspringinyourstep.Youprobablystillrememberexactly
whattheysaidtoyou.Thatsthepowerofblessinginaction.Itupliftsandedifiesothers.
Wecanalsoblessothersbybecomingamentor.Wevetalkedabouttheimportanceofmentorshipon
thesitemanytimesbefore,butoneofthereasonssomanyyoungmenarestrugglingtodayisbecause
theylackpositivementoringfromoldermen.Moorearguesthat:
Youngmentodayarestarvingforblessingfromoldermen,starvingforblessingfrom
theKingenergy.Thisiswhytheycannot,aswesay,getittogether.Theyshouldnt
haveto.Theyneedtobeblessed.TheyneedtobeseenbytheKing,becauseiftheyare,
somethinginsidewillcometogetherforthem.Thatistheeffectofblessingithealsand
makeswhole.Thatswhathappenswhenweareseenandvaluedandconcretelyrewarded
http://www.artofmanliness.com/2012/01/17/thefourarchetypesofthematuremasculinetheking/

5/8

15/03/2015

TheKingArchetype:The4ArchetypesoftheMatureMasculine|TheArtofManliness

forourlegitimatetalentsandabilities.
Aswegrowolder,wiser,andmoreintouchwiththeKingarchetype,itisourresponsibilityasmento
blessandassistyoungermenontheirpathtomaturemasculinity.
Heleavesalegacy.

Kingsthroughouthistorywereobsessedwithlegacy.Increatingempires,buildingedifices,writing
laws,andchangingtheculture,theysoughttobecomeimmortalandtoleavebehindsomethingthat
wouldremindsubsequentgenerationsoftheirlivesandtheirgreatness.
Nomatterthesizeofyourprincipality,thedesiretoleavealegacyisaswitchofmanlinessthat
cannotbeignored.Happily,creatingalegacyneednotinvolvetheconstructionofgreatpyramids,but
cancomefromanyidea,business,tradition,relationship,orthoughtanythingthatchangesaperson,
theworld,justalittleandgetspassedon,anythingthatlasts.

http://www.artofmanliness.com/2012/01/17/thefourarchetypesofthematuremasculinetheking/

6/8

15/03/2015

TheKingArchetype:The4ArchetypesoftheMatureMasculine|TheArtofManliness

TheShadowsoftheKingArchetype
TheTyrant
UnliketheKingarchetypewhichcreatesandblessesothers,theTyrantseekstodestroyandtear
down.Plaguedbynarcissism,hereallydoesthinkthathesitsatthecenteroftheuniverse.TheTyrant
wronglybelievesthatpowerisfinitehehasascarcitymentality.Hedoesntunderstandthetruththat
powerandinfluenceactuallyincreasethemoreyoushareitwithothers.Thustheburdenof
maintaininghisfragileillusionofabsolutepowermakeshimveryinsecureanythreattohisauthority
andsupremacyenrageshimandcauseshimtolashoutwithabusephysically,emotionally,or
mentally.
WhentheTyrantisntviewingothersasathreatandputtingthemintheirplace,heseesthemas
objectstoexploitforhisowngainheiswillingtopushhisfriends,family,andemployeesunderthe
businordertofurtherhisgoals.WeseetheTyrantmanifestitselfinthismannerwhenbusinessmen
orpoliticiansfurthertheirowncareerattheexpenseofthepeopleundertheirstewardship.
TheWeakling
TheWeaklingisthepassiveshadowoftheKingarchetype.Insteadoftakingcontrolofhislifeand
resolutelymakingdecisions,amanpossessedbytheWeaklingoftenabdicateshisthronetoothers,
handingoverpower,responsibility,andcontrolofhislifetothem.Thisisthemanwho,thoughgrown
up,stillletshismotherorfathermakehisdecisionsforhim.Thisisthemanwhokowtowstohis
bossorhiswifeseverywhim.
Thisisalsothemanwhowasabusedinsomewayasachild,andwhenhebecomesanadultand
ascendsintoapositionofpower,relishestheopportunitytoturnthetablesandbecomethebully
himself.NowthatImincharge,thingsaregoingtochangearoundhere!Buteveninapositionof
power,theWeaklingsinsecuritygetsthebestofhimhebecomesparanoidthatpeopleareouttoget
himandtheyoftenarebecausehessuchajerk.Thisparanoialeadshimtobecomeevenmore
controllingandcruel.
http://www.artofmanliness.com/2012/01/17/thefourarchetypesofthematuremasculinetheking/

7/8

15/03/2015

TheKingArchetype:The4ArchetypesoftheMatureMasculine|TheArtofManliness

MoorebelievesthattheWeaklingandTyrantshadowsworkintandemwitheachother.Itsveryrare
thatamanisruledbyoneandnottheother.UnderneatheveryblusteringTyrantisascaredWeakling.
AndunderneatheverycoweringWeaklingisaTyrantwaitingtoexplode.

HowtoAccesstheKingArchetype
TheKingseekstointegratealltheotherarchetypesandallgoodprinciplesinordertoreachhisfull
potentialsothathemayusethisenergyforahigherpurposeandtoblessthelivesofothers.
Createmore,consumeless
Leavealegacy
Developpracticalwisdom
Becomeamentor
Findamentor
Establishyourcorevalues
Developthevirtueoforder
Breakawayfromyourmother
Developalifeplan
Developthetraitsoftrueleadership
Protectthesanctityofyourideas
Becomedecisive
Avoidthecorruptionofmoney,power,andsex
Livewithintegrity

SeriesConclusion
Thisconcludesourseriesonthearchetypesofthematuremasculine.Ihopeyougotsomethingoutof
thearticles.
Sohowmuchcredenceandfocusshouldyougivetothesearchetypes?Wellobviouslytheirexistence
cannotbeprovenonlyspeculatedabout.AndIdobelievethatthemainfocusofamanslifeshould
beonpracticalwaystotakeaction.Butponderingthemoreesotericstuffiswhatguidesyouin
determiningwhatthoseactionsshouldbe.Thesearchetypesrepresentonewayaveryhelpfulwayof
organizingthosemeditationsandcanleadyoutoamoreproductiveexplorationofwhoyouareand
whatkindofmanyouwanttobecome.
TheFourArchetypesoftheMatureMasculine:
Introduction
TheBoyhoodArchetypesPartI
TheBoyhoodArchetypesPartII
TheLover
TheWarrior
TheMagician
TheKing
Brett
39Comments
PreviousPost
NextPost

http://www.artofmanliness.com/2012/01/17/thefourarchetypesofthematuremasculinetheking/

8/8