the poet as archetype: a guide for our times
When poet Andrea Gibson died, it shook something tender in so many of us. Their poetry is raw and beautiful, honest and devastating, fierce and hopeful all at once. Andrea had a way of speaking directly to the soul,inviting us to deeply feel our grief, while still holding onto the glimmer of light. They invited us out of our heads and into our hearts — to stop overthinking, to feel, to simply be.
That is part of the gift of poetry itself. In a culture that often pushes us to stay busy, distracted, and efficient, poetry invites us to slow down. To feel. To savour. To remember what it means to be human.
Why We Need Poetry
Poetry has always been a guide, pointing us back to the truth of our lives in ways that logical thought alone cannot. We don’t read poetry to analyze — we read it to feel. To be moved. To encounter ourselves again in a new way.
Here are some of the reasons poetry matters so deeply:
It speaks the truth that often goes unspoken
It moves our hearts — bypassing intellect and touching soul
It is the meeting place of the everyday and the sacred
It invites vulnerability as a doorway to self-discovery
It slows us down and teaches us to savour rather than rush
We read it to feel understood- to feel our own story mirrored back to us
We read it to keep going in the midst of fear and struggle
When life feels uncertain or overwhelming, poetry reminds us that we are not alone. Someone else has felt this ache, this joy, this fear. Someone else has walked this road. And in that recognition, we find the courage to keep going.
The Poet as Archetype
Beyond words on a page, the Poet is also an archetype — a universal pattern of human energy and expression. The Poet archetype reminds us of the sacred power of language, image, and metaphor. It is the energy that awakens beauty in the ordinary, that names grief in a way that softens us toward it, that connects us to the depths of our emotional life. The poet’s work is to feel immensely and not be afraid.
My Own Journey with the Poet Archetype
I carry the Poet archetype within me, and over time I’ve come to see both its gifts and its shadows.
The Poet in me feels a deep urge to create — to play with words, images, and colours as a way of giving expression to the soul. I love to share my creative writing and storytelling in ways that evoke feeling and invite deeper understanding.
The Poet also makes me a weaver — I see connections everywhere, pulling threads together between experiences, symbols, and patterns. I feel called to deep honesty and reflection, to embody self-expression not just in words, but also in how I dress, move, and show up in the world. At its heart, the Poet is the urge to distill what it means to exist, to express the soul in symbolic language.
But there’s a shadow side too. The Poet can get lost in words and symbols, wandering in dream-space without grounding. At times, I feel like I’m never fully communicating the truth, or I spend so much time in the imagining that I struggle to move into action. The Poet can also be tempted to soften or alter its unique vision to please others, compromising its authentic insight.
This archetype has taught me the beauty of creative expression — and also the importance of balance, grounding, and courage to speak from the truest place within me.
Some of My Favourite Poets
Over the years, certain poets have become steady companions on my journey:
Andrea Gibson, Mary Oliver, Chelan Harkin, Richard Wagamese, John O’Donohue
Each brings their own unique lens, but all remind me that poetry is a form of soul care — a way of remembering what matters most.
And I’d love to hear from you. Comment below what poets guide you? Whose words are carrying you through this season?
Explore Your Archetypes
If you feel a resonance with the Poet archetype — or perhaps the Warrior, the Healer, the Seeker, or others — I invite you into the Explore Your Archetypes group. This 6-month journey is about uncovering these universal patterns in your own story, and discovering how they can guide your path toward authenticity and wholeness.
The group begins in just two weeks, with only 3 spots left. It’s available both virtually and in-person (for locals).
Perhaps the Poet archetype is stirring in you. Or perhaps another archetype is waiting to be explored. Either way, this group offers a space to listen, discover, and reconnect with the wisdom already living inside you.
