How to Spot a Tyrant (Archetype)

Last week, we explored how to navigate the shadow in dark times.

Now, in light of world affairs, it seems fitting to explore the tyrant archetype more closely.

But first … what is an archetype?

Psychiatrist Carl Jung described archetypes as “the living system of reactions and aptitudes that determine the individual’s life in invisible ways.”

To simplify, archetypes represent set patterns of behaviors and tendencies that govern most of our lives.

And for the most part, we’re not aware of these patterns.

The vast majority of our behaviors, thoughts, emotions, motivations, and attitudes are guided by archetypal patterns.

Archetypes cause us to react in standard ways to basic human problems, both internal or external.

Then what are shadow archetypes?

Because we are largely unconscious of these archetypal patterns at work within us, these patterns often represent aspects of our shadow.

While most of our behavior tends to follow set patterns of behavior, not all of our behaviors are harmful to ourselves and others.

Shadow archetypes are those patterns that are both destructive and tend to be outside of our view.

All shadow archetypes share certain qualities. They are all:

• Amoral
• Shameless
• Imperial
• Without remorse
• Void of responsibility

They are the source of virtually all the psychological disorders used as labels by modern psychology:

• Narcissistic personality disorder
• Borderline personality disorder
• Psychopathic behavior
• And so on

In the Worldwide Shadow report, I highlighted the Detached Manipulator archetype (pathological liar). This archetype is like a trickster who manipulates others using misinformation and deception.

Now, let’s examine the tyrant archetype.

Remember that archetypes follow set patterns of behavior. By becoming conscious of these patterns, you are better positioned to identify them both within yourself and others.

Void of any internal structure within itself, the tyrant suffers from grandiosity.

As such, it seeks to dominate and control others (because it can’t control itself).

Because the tyrant lacks any internal structure, it is void of any potency.

Being void of potency, the tyrant hates, fears, and envies new life.

Hating life, it revolts against beauty and innocence. (It hates true femininity.)

Being narcissistic by nature, tyrants can only think of their own self-interest.

The tyrant exploits, abuses, and degrades others. It uses coercion and intimidation to try to enforce its dominance over others.

The tyrant is ruthless and merciless, void of concern for the welfare of others.

The tyrant is highly sensitive to criticism and will lash out at expressions of insubordination.

Without fully knowing it, the tyrant wants others to experience the same trauma and suffering it experienced.

The tyrant in everyday life.

The tyrant archetype influences more of our behaviors and choices than most of us would care to admit.

A child throwing a tantrum is often possessed by what neo-Jungian Robert Moore called the “high chair tyrant.”

A parent being dictatorial toward their child is possessed by the tyrant as well.

Spouses are tyrannical when they only fixate on their own needs and demand compliance from their partners.

Many of us are aware of our tyrannical tendencies.

Those who aren’t aware of their inner tyrant tend to repress it instead.

Repressing this archetype force gives rise to the weakling archetype—the passive expression of the tyrant.

The weakling is consumed by:

• Passive-aggressive behavior
• Feelings of helplessness
• Constant complaining
• Playing the role of the victim

Ultimately, the tyrant and the weakling are two sides of the same archetype. (Yes, all of the shadow archetypes are bipolar.)

Tyrants, tyrants, everywhere!

The tyrant archetype operates in most homes, to varying degrees, but it becomes far more dangerous when it hijacks those in positions of power.

Authoritarian regimes arise from the tyrant archetype.

And wow, the tyrant is exploding on the world stage right now.

It’s bubbling to the surface in more world leaders than one can imagine.

Like all archetypes, the tyrant follows specific patterns of behavior.

That’s why we can observe so many government leaders engaged in the same language, posture, and attitudes.

It’s like a symphony of tyrants!

When a tyrant rules a territory:

• The people are oppressed and become impoverished.
• The land becomes desolate and infertile.

Under the tyrant’s rule, the life force energy is drained from its people.

The tyrant hates strength, talent, and creativity. It does everything in its power to squash the human spirit.

Tyrants are found throughout history.

An excellent example of the tyrant is Guy de Lusignan who was king of the crusader state of Jerusalem during the crusades.

The film Kingdom of Heaven (2005) beautifully highlighted all of the dimensions of this archetype.

Adolf Hilter is another prime example of a man who was fully possessed by the tyrant archetype.

The tyrant in power always leaves a wake of suffering, death, and destruction in its path.

Let’s look at some current illustrations of the tyrant on the world stage.

First, keep in mind that when it comes to shadow archetypes, our political positions aren’t relevant. That is, archetypes don’t care what side of the political spectrum we’re on.

So to examine these unconscious forces, it’s critical that we set aside our political views (at least temporarily).

Here’s an example of one tyrant currently reigning over the United States.

Notice the language at the end of his announcement, “Our patience is wearing thin.”

Impatience is another hallmark characteristic of the tyrant.

Tyrants use thinly veiled threats to try to force compliance that always serves themselves—not usually the recipient party. Unfortunately, many of us had parents who communicated in a similar manner.

Notice his facial expressions carefully (especially around and above his eyes).

He’s attempting to show strength, but he’s actually just masking his own weakness.

Here’s an illustration of a tyrant who is hiding behind the detached manipulator:

This tyrant is attempting to orchestrate a plan for global financial control.

The first-mentioned tyrant actually works for this Tyrant and his regime.

When you can fully see how these shadow archetypes have completely possessed these individuals in positions of power, you can better appreciate the situation humanity currently faces.

What’s in one of us, is in all of us.

Remember, all of these archetypal patterns are within all of us.

The more you can clearly see how these patterns operate within yourself, the easier it is to identify them in the behaviors of others.

As with all shadow archetypes, we give them more power by denying them within ourselves.

Divorced from our shadow, these psychic patterns manifest on the world stage.

Then, we either have to fight against these forces (as lions) or submit to them (as sheep).

Fighting against or submitting to the tyrant both restart different cycles in our grand theatre play.

But there’s a third unforeseen option:

Observe the tyrant clearly within oneself. Get to know the “little Hilter” within you.

Learning how to better regulate your own inner tyrant provides insights into how to approach external tyranny.

Tyrants are always hypocritical. They contradict themselves endlessly.

(I provided clear illustrations of this hypocrisy in the report here.)

We don’t need to comply with their contradictions and hypocrisy. And we don’t have to resist them either.

Instead, we just withdraw our energy and attention from them.

We can witness this drama unfold from the position of philosophic neutrality (once we fully understand what’s happening).

We can find that Center place within ourselves—that at-home feeling—and we just observe the tyrant screaming for compliance (much like a child throwing a tantrum).

Doing so strips the tyrant of all its power.

Then, the tyrant whithers and fades away on its own.

The tyrant’s power comes from our compliance.

In our current state of affairs, I’m not suggesting that overcoming tyranny is an easy task.

Whenever tyrants come into power, there’s always a large percentage of the population that blindly submit to its rule—almost instantaneously and without any questioning.

These individuals don’t understand that there’s no end to the tyrant’s demands.

Complying to one demand only leads to more and more demands until you are left with nothing—desolate or dead.

And these individuals who have already blindly submitted—who may be your family members, spouses, friends, and colleagues—unknowingly have turned into servants and agents of the tyrant.

Unfortunately, they don’t understand what has happened to them.

Some of them will wake up before this mass psychosis comes to an end. But many of them will never come to know what really unfolded.

This is what happened to an entire generation living in Germany during the Nazi’s rise to power.

And a very similar cycle is happening today in many countries around the world.

The questions are …

Will we, as a people, keep our heads in the sand, submit to the tyrant’s rule, and allow the full emergence of totalitarianism?

Or will this time be different? Will enough individuals clearly see what’s unfolding and avoid complying with tyranny?

Time will tell …

Stay alert. Stay vigilant.
Scott