Depth and Archetypal Psychology
Session Two, Part One (1–2)
The Archetypes of Order and Chaos
The Most Fundamental and Ancient Archetypes of the Mind
Aydin Areta

Chaos and order are the oldest and most fundamental human archetypes. From the beginning of creation stories, consciousness has always sought to bring chaos into order; at the same time, every human story begins with chaos and with an encounter with it. The hero always seeks, by travelling into the unknown space of chaos, to bring it within understanding and knowledge so that it can be ordered.

In truth, an immense part of the world is unknown to us and only a small part is known. In our personal lives, too, we are repeatedly thrown from the secure known of our lives into an uncertain and frightening unknown. What we trusted disappears, and the anxiety of insecurity and uncertainty takes its place.

From an unpredictable wilderness capable of bringing many dangers to human beings, people have for centuries tried to build societies in which order and security could be established—societies where, through law, things would proceed as they ought. In our personal lives, similarly, we continually try to make the unpredictable nature of life more predictable.

Despite every human attempt to bring chaos into order, the real quality of life continually confronts us with what cannot be predicted. Our efforts to understand these unknowns and the way we confront the chaos of our lives are our hero’s journeys towards finding our individuation. Perhaps one could say that the basic duality of problem and solution is always founded upon chaos and order.

Whenever we experience loss and the structure of order in our lives collapses, we fall into the chaotic underworld. Understanding the archetypes of chaos and order helps us understand the true quality of the world’s story and how to face it.

Awareness of these archetypes can give us the consciousness needed to confront the unpredictable chaos of life.

Seminar link on YouTube:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0t039r42Qng