Finding Your Archetype: A Modern Guide to Ancient Wisdom with Richard J. Oldale

There’s something instantly gratifying about the Holistic Circle’s Spiritual Conversations podcast. Maybe it’s Philipp Kobald’s warm and measured insistence on wringing clarity from the complicated — or maybe it’s the genuine intrigue of his guests, who bring both their expertise and their humanness to the table. In the latest episode, Richard J. Oldale steps up to the mic to talk about self-discovery, ancient wisdom, and how staring at your Wi-Fi router in blind rage might just reveal something about your personality.

For those unfamiliar, Richard J. Oldale — author, psychoanalyst, and founder of a spiritual ministry — has spent over a decade meticulously decoding the human psyche. He’s a man who merges Carl Jung’s archetypal models, neuroscience, and the mysteries of ancient symbols to guide people toward self-awareness. A word of caution, though: if you were planning on breezing through a self-help soundbite while sipping matcha, this is not the episode for you. This is for people who are ready to look in the mirror and ask why they are what they are — and not storm out of the room at the first uncomfortable truth.

Oldale’s personal journey into the depths of the human mind began in familiar territory: anxiety and depression. But what sets him apart is his refusal to accept superficial answers. When conventional therapies failed to touch the root of his malaise, Oldale did what we all secretly wish we had the patience to do — he became his own research project. Self-study led him down paths paved by Jung, ancient civilizations, and neuroscience, a journey culminating in his book and his tailored framework of twelve archetypes.

The archetypes, as Oldale explains with clinical clarity, are aspects of our personality that shape how we respond to life’s challenges. Whether you’re an anxious Hero rushing into battles unprepared, a Caretaker giving too much of yourself while ignoring your own needs, or a Trickster whose inflated ego needs deflating, each archetype reveals patterns in our behaviour. The bad news? We’re all acting out subconscious scripts. The good news? Understanding these scripts is the first step toward changing them.

In a moment of conversational precision, Oldale discusses how our environments and relationships serve as the ultimate testing grounds for our archetypes. Forget the idea that “finding yourself” is a solitary pursuit, done in a meditative haze on a mountain top — Oldale is quick to remind us that real growth happens in our interactions. You’re not a Sage just because you’ve read three self-help books; you’re a Sage when you apply your wisdom in the middle of a shouting match or a work deadline that’s gone off the rails.

Kobald, ever the thoughtful guide, presses Oldale on where most people fall apart in the journey of self-discovery. His answer is simple: change. The ego resists any disruption to the status quo, even when the status quo is deeply unpleasant. “There’s a comfort in chaos,” Oldale muses, which is something anyone who has ever self-sabotaged can nod along to. Rewiring the subconscious requires courage, persistence, and — above all else — patience. Because yes, you will slip into old patterns. Yes, you will find yourself snapping at a loved one over something trivial. But self-awareness gives you the tools to understand why you’ve done it and, eventually, to do better.

One particularly memorable moment arises when Oldale delves into the Everyman archetype — the part of us that desperately wants to fit in. We’ve all been there: nodding along at a dinner party while pretending to care about Succession (spoiler: we don’t). The Everyman is a people-pleaser, craving connection but often sacrificing authenticity to get it. The solution, Oldale explains, lies in developing the Explorer archetype — the part of us brave enough to embrace individuality and carve out an independent identity. It’s the kind of insight that makes you want to sit back and rethink every social interaction you’ve had since 2008.

And just when you think the podcast might coast on its considerable achievements, Oldale takes us back to the ancients. His passion for mythology and symbolism — uncovered during his time in South America — adds a fascinating layer to his framework. Symbols like the sun, halos, and even the twelve disciples of Jesus become signposts for psychological wholeness, guiding us toward what Oldale calls the “illuminated mind.” It’s a reminder that wisdom isn’t always new — sometimes it’s as old as civilization itself.

Of course, this wouldn’t be a Spiritual Conversations podcast without a dose of humour. Kobald, who has mastered the art of balancing depth with levity, quips about the eternal “male approach” to marital conflict (spoiler: it involves leaving the room). Oldale joins in with wry observations about teenage tricksters and the frustration of dealing with modern technology. The result? A discussion that feels as human as it does enlightening, seamlessly blending the practical with the profound.

Ultimately, this episode is more than a deep dive into archetypes — it’s an invitation to examine ourselves and our relationships with fresh eyes. The beauty of Oldale’s work lies in its accessibility: you don’t need a PhD in psychology to identify your triggers or recognize patterns of behaviour. What you do need is the willingness to look, listen, and — when the moment calls for it — laugh at yourself.

So, if you’ve ever wondered why you react the way you do or why certain relationships feel impossibly difficult, this podcast might just have your answers. Or, at the very least, it’ll give you a much-needed nudge to ask better questions. And for those who crave more, the full episode awaits on the @HolisticCircle YouTube channel, where Kobald and his guests continue to prove that personal growth doesn’t have to be pretentious — it can be downright fascinating.

Watch the full episode on the @HolisticCircle YouTube channel.

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Website: HolisticCircle.org
Copyright © HolisticCircle.org by Philipp Kobald, 2024

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