The role of joy in the King Archetype
Joy is both a gateway to the Sovereign archetype and a consequence of standing in that place of power, authority and leadership. We feel joyful because our worlds are in order, because we have achieved what makes us feel good. At the same time, the high self-worth – which is the gateway to standing firmly in our Sovereign archetype – is in itself a source of joy. This aligns with the core of the sovereign archetype, which is about having strong self-worth, high self-esteem and abundant confidence.
Moreover, joy fuels our passion for life and provides us with the energy to pursue further dreams. We are alert to possibilities, we see the good in the world, and we are confident of our ability to change what we do not like. Knowing that what we are doing is in alignment with our highest values provides more joy, which supports our self-worth and our innate sense of kingship.
The joy of creation and generativity is also central to the King archetype. Every new idea, project, and successful relationship provides the King with joy because he is promoting growth and witnessing the flourishing of his kingdom. Joy is also an emotion we feel as we celebrate our achievements. And when we share that joy, we celebrate what has been achieved by us and by others in our world, which promotes a sense of shared joy in our community. These emotional connections can also be a source of great joy, for we are, at heart social creatures.
Hopefully, you can see how joy and the King archetype are deeply connected through themes of authority, generativity, benevolence, order and community. By embracing and integrating these qualities into our own kingship, we can experience profound joy and fulfilment, and align ourselves with the powerful and positive aspects of our King Within. Such integration is best done by practicing shadow work, in my view. (Link to a recommended practitioner of shadow work in the UK. And here is a link to a directory of UK Shadow Work Practitioners.)
Of course, none of us can be consistently joyful, even when we’re firmly rooted in our King archetype, which means joy is not the only sign of sovereignty. However, when we stand consistently and steadily in our King, we feel joy much more than when we are not.