Archetypes, ego states and subpersonalities: an exploration of diversity within somatic awareness

Abstract

Abstract A combination of somatic and psychodynamic approaches can reveal embodied ego-states, subpersonalities, and archetypal influences communicating through the body-mind. This paper supports the hypothesis that ego states and other elements of the psyche manifest somatically. Thus, more attention needs to be given to the body as part of the therapeutic dialogue. This can illuminate egoic manifestations occurring with body-mind, for example, Reich’s process for loosening character armouring and Jung’s theory of a universal Collective Unconscious with its archetypal forces manifesting biologically, leading to soul growth and individuation. Fragmented egostates, archetypal forces and introjected personalities become conscious as messenger molecules and neural networks attempt to communicate and heal the mind-body split. The goal is integration leading to embodied wholeness. Integration and healing are needed on both individual and cultural levels.