anaturalwoman
10-11-2016, 03:36 PM
A View of The Trump Phenomenon Via Archetypal Psychology<o:p></o:p>
By Marcia Singer, MSW, CHt
How can a bigoted, bloviating, politically clueless investment mogul /TV star attain traction as a ‘serious’ candidate for POTUS?Enquiring minds want to know!
Two of my favorite in depth psychologists, Doug Gillette and Dennis Moore, shine light on The Trump Phenomenon via their groundbreaking book on the male psyche. King, Warrior, Magician, Lover: Rediscovering the Archetypes of the Mature Masculine regards the King as pivotal to the development of the other personas, in exploring what kind of leader a man might become. Using a pyramid model, they place at the top a fully Realized, mature ideal.At the base are two opposing, yet complimentary Shadow Kings, inexorably entwined in bi-polar dysfunction; One over-identifies with Kingly powers (the Tyrant), the other under-identifies (the Weakling.)
Moore and Gillette begin their investigation of what makes a King, with the birth of an archetypal Divine Child.At the top of this pyramid is a blessed Babe, adored by all, upon whom Heaven reigns itsblessings, promising life’s best.He is the hope of the world.At the base of this as-yet-immature royal figure pyramid are two Shadow types: a High Chair Tyrant, and a Weakling Prince. They too sit on a dysfunctional teeter-totter.
Donald Trump typifies the authors’ depiction of the ego-centric King from high chair into adulthood. The Donald throws tantrums, displaying a ‘tremendous’ sense of entitlement, and begs to be adored in the mix.But unlike the fully ensconced Divine Child who is connected to his Birthright and legacy of loving, the royal Child Trump is demanding, competitive, temperamental. He lies and cheats to win bigger than anyone else, as if eventual fame, fortune and power will secure admiration and approval. But beneath all the bluster and show, we sense the Weakling Prince, feeling alone and vulnerable, even victimized.
But every child –even a divine one, must mature to become a viable leader, a Generator of Good for his people and land.A Self-Realized King has a transpersonal vision of Service beyond self interest. His ruling presence brings order, stability, centeredness, abundance and fertility to his nation.He’s the compassionate, bountiful, protective leader, steward and father figure. This fully empowered King epitomizes generativity and responsibility, ruling as an emissary of the Divine Creator in the flesh.In return, we the people pledge our love, loyalty, fealty.
Alas, most kings ‘sin,’ missing the mark of growing up to be great leaders. They fall instead into passive and/or aggressive, bi-polar Shadow leadership styles. A bloviating, narcissistic Tyrant King (e.g. Trump) denies having any vulnerable feelings or ‘inferior’ traits, projecting them onto hated others. But his professed superiority belies a classic, hidden inferiority complex which his puffed-up, alpha male chest-pounding tries to hide (even from himself!) Conversely, a sniveling, cowardly, potentially paranoid Weakling King, if sufficiently triggered, tormented, cornered, provoked, can turn into a terrorizing, attacking aggressor. No army or wall will be “yuge” enough to save him from himself: Only awakening to his native, divine, interconnected, spiritual nature can do that.
Conclusions? The Trump Phenomenon reveals the extent to which our nation may collectively, naively, desperately miss the mark of recognizing or empowering true leadership. Mature cultural role models are scarce.Anger, fear, grief at the loss of an American Dream are running amok, attracting the potential reign of a Shadow King.I believe that we each have a spark of divinity, and thus an inborn sense of ‘entitlement’ to well being---to be safe, protected, free to pursue dreams, realize our Gifts.And a potential to lead. So do our politicians: But is America, collectively mature enough for visionary leadership? Can we see past our infatuation with Reality TV show-manship and celebrity? Materialism? Instant gratification?Past the snake oil of easy fixes for our all too real unmet needs? Past blame and retribution? Willingness to make violence socially acceptable, or bigotry fashionable again?Can we bring compassion, empathy, curiosity, wisdom to bear in making our electoral choices--as individuals, and a nation?
How will we resolve the conflicts between our sense of divine right to be well, our country’s struggle to fulfill its Promise to assist us all, and the candidates’ bids to lead us there? Will it be King Donald, or a more mature Queen Hillary?
<o:p></o:p>
By Marcia Singer, MSW, CHt
How can a bigoted, bloviating, politically clueless investment mogul /TV star attain traction as a ‘serious’ candidate for POTUS?Enquiring minds want to know!
Two of my favorite in depth psychologists, Doug Gillette and Dennis Moore, shine light on The Trump Phenomenon via their groundbreaking book on the male psyche. King, Warrior, Magician, Lover: Rediscovering the Archetypes of the Mature Masculine regards the King as pivotal to the development of the other personas, in exploring what kind of leader a man might become. Using a pyramid model, they place at the top a fully Realized, mature ideal.At the base are two opposing, yet complimentary Shadow Kings, inexorably entwined in bi-polar dysfunction; One over-identifies with Kingly powers (the Tyrant), the other under-identifies (the Weakling.)
Moore and Gillette begin their investigation of what makes a King, with the birth of an archetypal Divine Child.At the top of this pyramid is a blessed Babe, adored by all, upon whom Heaven reigns itsblessings, promising life’s best.He is the hope of the world.At the base of this as-yet-immature royal figure pyramid are two Shadow types: a High Chair Tyrant, and a Weakling Prince. They too sit on a dysfunctional teeter-totter.
Donald Trump typifies the authors’ depiction of the ego-centric King from high chair into adulthood. The Donald throws tantrums, displaying a ‘tremendous’ sense of entitlement, and begs to be adored in the mix.But unlike the fully ensconced Divine Child who is connected to his Birthright and legacy of loving, the royal Child Trump is demanding, competitive, temperamental. He lies and cheats to win bigger than anyone else, as if eventual fame, fortune and power will secure admiration and approval. But beneath all the bluster and show, we sense the Weakling Prince, feeling alone and vulnerable, even victimized.
But every child –even a divine one, must mature to become a viable leader, a Generator of Good for his people and land.A Self-Realized King has a transpersonal vision of Service beyond self interest. His ruling presence brings order, stability, centeredness, abundance and fertility to his nation.He’s the compassionate, bountiful, protective leader, steward and father figure. This fully empowered King epitomizes generativity and responsibility, ruling as an emissary of the Divine Creator in the flesh.In return, we the people pledge our love, loyalty, fealty.
Alas, most kings ‘sin,’ missing the mark of growing up to be great leaders. They fall instead into passive and/or aggressive, bi-polar Shadow leadership styles. A bloviating, narcissistic Tyrant King (e.g. Trump) denies having any vulnerable feelings or ‘inferior’ traits, projecting them onto hated others. But his professed superiority belies a classic, hidden inferiority complex which his puffed-up, alpha male chest-pounding tries to hide (even from himself!) Conversely, a sniveling, cowardly, potentially paranoid Weakling King, if sufficiently triggered, tormented, cornered, provoked, can turn into a terrorizing, attacking aggressor. No army or wall will be “yuge” enough to save him from himself: Only awakening to his native, divine, interconnected, spiritual nature can do that.
Conclusions? The Trump Phenomenon reveals the extent to which our nation may collectively, naively, desperately miss the mark of recognizing or empowering true leadership. Mature cultural role models are scarce.Anger, fear, grief at the loss of an American Dream are running amok, attracting the potential reign of a Shadow King.I believe that we each have a spark of divinity, and thus an inborn sense of ‘entitlement’ to well being---to be safe, protected, free to pursue dreams, realize our Gifts.And a potential to lead. So do our politicians: But is America, collectively mature enough for visionary leadership? Can we see past our infatuation with Reality TV show-manship and celebrity? Materialism? Instant gratification?Past the snake oil of easy fixes for our all too real unmet needs? Past blame and retribution? Willingness to make violence socially acceptable, or bigotry fashionable again?Can we bring compassion, empathy, curiosity, wisdom to bear in making our electoral choices--as individuals, and a nation?
How will we resolve the conflicts between our sense of divine right to be well, our country’s struggle to fulfill its Promise to assist us all, and the candidates’ bids to lead us there? Will it be King Donald, or a more mature Queen Hillary?
<o:p></o:p>