The document describes 12 archetypes or core stories that shape people's perspectives and assumptions. It summarizes the gifts and shadow sides of each archetype, and pairs them based on how they balance each other. The archetypes are the Innocent, Everyperson, Hero, Caregiver, Explorer, Lover, Revolutionary, Creator, Ruler, Magician, Sage, and Jester.

1. Part 1: Meet the
Archetypes

4. Core of the Innocent Story:
Birth, emergence, renewal—having and developing
the trust, confidence and optimism to make the
effort
Gifts:
Optimism, trust, hope, faith, wholesomeness
— simple virtues
Shadow Side:
Naiveté, childish dependence, denial, obliviousness
The Innocent’s Assumption:
Every cloud has a silver lining.

7. Core of the Everyperson Story:
Holding common ground with other ordinary people
who have had similar experiences. It is egalitarian,
realistic, and at times, gritty.
Gifts:
Realism, resilience, interdependence, empathy
Shadow Side:
Cynicism, reluctance to stand out or push beyond the
average performance, chronic complaining, trapped in
“us and them” thinking
The Everyperson’s Assumption:
There is safety in numbers.

9. Innocent & Everyperson Pair
Both focus on strategies to understand their worlds and to figure out
what and who are trustworthy.
The Innocent’s faith and optimism balance the Everyperson’s realism
and caution.

11. Core of the Hero Story:
Fighting and slaying the dragon—the Hero narrative
is one of struggle, striving and competition. The Hero
story sets goals, fights, defends and achieves.
Gifts:
Discipline, courage, determination, skill
Shadow Side:
Ruthless, arrogant, relentlessly driving, impatient
with weakness and incompetence and fearful of
impotence
The Hero’s Assumption:
The tough prevail.

14. Core of Caregiver Story:
Helpful and compassionate, the Caregiver’s
narrative is about caring for dependents in need.
Gifts:
Community, nurturance, compassion, generosity
Shadow Side:
Martyrdom, enabling others, co-dependence,
guilt-tripping
The Caregiver’s Assumption:
Others need help, and I should provide it.

16. Hero & Caregiver Pair
Both want to take action to make the world a better place and to rescue
people from danger.
The Hero’s aggression and tendency to self-interest balances the
Caregiver’s altruism and selflessness.

18. Core of the Explorer Story:
Willing—and even wanting to be different, the
Explorer story is driven by curiosity of what else is
possible and the courage to try new things and to
find uniqueness
Gifts:
Autonomy, curiosity, exploring identity, expanded
possibilities, forward thinking
Shadow Side:
Inability to commit, chronic disappointment,
alienation and loneliness
The Explorer’s Assumption:
The grass is always greener somewhere else.

21. Core of the Lover Story:
Deep personal attachment, interpersonal connection,
making commitments and having sensual
experiences, which can include romance and intimacy
Gifts:
Passion, commitment, zeal, enthusiasm, sensual
pleasures
Shadow Side:
Co-dependence, blind to new or alternative data,
objectifying others, out of control sensuality or
sexuality
The Lover’s Assumption:
Love and connection hold the answer.

23. Explorer & Lover Pair
Both are concerned with finding themselves.
The Explorer’s tendency to do so by disconnecting and acting
independently is balanced by the Lover’s tendency to connect
and bond.

25. Core of Revolutionary Story:
Letting go, closing down, and starting over; taking
action to disrupt or overturn the established order
Gifts:
Closure, letting go, moving on, bringing things to
an end, metamorphosis, revolution
Shadow Side:
Detachment, doing harm to self or others,
dangerous and out-of-step, anti-social and
rabble-rousing
The Revolutionary’s Assumption:
Cut your losses.

28. Core of the Creator Story:
Demonstrating and acting on imagination,
innovation, and cleverness—creating the new
Gifts:
Creativity, vision, skill, aesthetics, imagination
Shadow Side:
Self-indulgence, creating messes, prima-donna
behaviors, and starting more than can be finished
The Creator’s Assumption:
What can be imagined can be created.

30. Revolutionary & Creator Pair
Both are essential to the process of metamorphosis.
The Revolutionary’s ability to rebel, clear out and over-turn is balanced
by the Creator’s ability to imagine and create the new.

32. Core of Ruler Story:
Taking charge, being responsible, establishing
laws and rules and holding others accountable
Gifts:
Responsibility, sovereignty, authority, control,
system-savvy
Shadow Side:
Rigidity, controlling behaviors, an attitude of
entitlement, elitism
The Ruler’s Assumption:
You should exercise control.

35. Core of Magician Story:
Transformation and change through the altering of
perception, approach, understanding or behavior
Gifts:
Transformative, catalytic, or healing power
Shadow Side:
Manipulation of others, disconnection from reality
and tried-and-true approaches, cultist, guru
behaviors
The Magician’s Assumption:
Perception defines reality.

37. Ruler & Magician Pair
Both gravitate toward power.
The Ruler’s focus on the establishment and maintenance of stable
systems is balanced by the Magician’s focus on the process of change
from the inside out.

39. Core of the Sage Story:
The drive for deep, personally-owned knowledge
—thinking clearly, critically, and formulating your
own opinions
Gifts:
Wisdom, objectivity, knowledge, skepticism
Shadow Side:
Being overly critical, pomposity, impracticality,
lack of feeling or empathy
The Sage’s Assumption:
The truth will set you free.

42. Core of the Jester Story:
Being in the moment, enjoying life and work
—having fun
Gifts:
Humor, mindfulness/presence—life lived in the moment,
exuberance, joy
Shadow Side:
Debauchery, irresponsibility, sloth, cruel jokes, con artistry
The Jester’s Assumption:
Life is meant to be enjoyed.

44. Sage & Jester Pair
Both seek freedom.
The Sage’s strategy of finding it through dispassionate analysis is
balanced by the Jester’s strategy of finding joy and freedom by being
in the moment.