The Warrior is the archetype of patriarchy and all of the war and violence that accompanies it. It has also been the primary archetypal model for men in our society—both negative and positive. Certainly, there have been and are female warriors, but when we traditionally think of the warrior hero, we often think of a man out there slaying the dragon.
There is a Paul Harvey story in which he tells about Speedy Morris, a basketball coach from LaSelle University. He was shaving when his wife called out to tell him he was wanted on the phone by Sports Illustrated. Speedy Morris was so excited by the prospect of a warrior’s success and national recognition, that he nicked himself with his razor and ran, with a mixture of blood and lather on his face and fell down the steps. He got to the phone and the voice on the other end said, “For only $1.50 an issue, you can get a one year trial subscription…”
If you have been thinking about exercising, joining a gym, dieting, starting a new venture…invoke your inner Warrior and then you will do it. The Warrior does not think about it—he or she does it. This archetype is all about action.
The spiritual power associated with Warrior is that of strength. And this power is located near the adrenal glands in the small of the back, and is associated with our ability to persevere, to endure, to persist.
It is vitality and courage and freedom from weakness in mind and body. It is the ability to achieve, to be a leader, to be an expert in one’s field of work. It is steadfastness to the belief in good, and persistence in expecting it, and the ability to withstand temptation. It is powerful commitment and integrity.
For the highest-level warrior, the real battle is always against the dragons within—laziness, doubt, fear, irresponsibility, denial. The courage to confront the inner dragons is what ultimately allows us to confront the outer dragons with strength, wisdom, and skill. We do not find courage by avoiding fear, but by facing it. Courage and fear go hand-in-hand, but courage allows us to overcome.
This is a time of both a personal and collective crisis when it comes to fear. It is rampant in our world and our country right now. This impacts all of us personally in different ways. It is time to find and call forth our inner strength and courage. We do not need to wait for it; we can activate it by focusing on the part of the body where it resides—our lower back—sending thoughts of strength and courage. We can meditate and pray for both to express more fully in our lives. We can envision strength of body, mind, and spirit, and imagine ourselves being courageous and overcoming any worries, concerns, or fears.
We can create affirmations to post and read daily, such as:
I now express my strength and courage.
I am a tower of strength and power.
I act with courage in body, mind, and Spirit.
I AM a spiritual warrior!
I suggest you add to this list and surround yourself with positive thoughts of courage and the power of strength.
Know that the Spirit of God goes before you surrounding and enfolding you with all of the courage, strength, and protection that you need.
Love & blessings,
Rev. Kathy