The 7 Feminine Archetypes: Discover Who You Are

Welcome, goddess! ✨ The 7 Feminine Archetypes are a powerful tool to understand who you are on a deeper level. Are you ready to learn more about yourself? You’ve come to the right place.

The 7 Feminine Archetypes are a tool for self-discovery. Shown in the image are framed illustration by artist Anna Heimkreiter. They depict the Mother Archetype and the Queen Archetype, two of the seven female archetypes.

First, let me quickly introduce myself: I’m Anna, the artist and creator behind the 7 Feminine Archetype Workbooks. I have gone from creating the artwork you see on this page to spending years researching the 7 Feminine Archetypes. It’s my great joy to now help others understand their archetypes and how they can guide us toward living more fulfilled lives.

What are Feminine Archetypes?

A feminine archetype is a symbolic representation of divine feminine traits and roles, offering insights into diverse expressions of femininity that can guide your personal growth.

We’ll start with an overview of the 7 Feminine Archetypes and then explore the typical characteristics of each archetype. At the end of the page, I’ll also answer some of the most frequent questions on archetypes. If it’s your first time hearing about them or if you want to dive even deeper, I recommend checking out that section as well.

An overview of the 7 Feminine Archetypes, including their typical characteristics and challenges.
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Discovering your Feminine Archetype(s)

To find out your dominant feminine archetypes (yes, we can have multiple!), start by exploring the traits, behaviors, and energies of the 7 different types. Usually, you should be able to tell pretty quickly which ones resonate most with you. They are an indication of your natural tendencies, your strengths, and the roles you feel drawn to in life.

The most well-known 7 Feminine Archetypes are:

To make it easier for you to discover your dominant archetype, I created the 7 Feminine Archetypes Quiz. If you have 10-15 minutes, I highly recommend taking it!

Take the quiz

The 7 Feminine Archetypes

In this section, we’ll explore the 7 Feminine Archetypes one by one. Get to know their:

  • most prominent character traits
  • representation in mythology
  • light and shadow side

The Mother Archetype

Illustrations of the 7 Feminine Archetypes by Anna Heimkreiter. "The Mother" shows a pregnant woman in a field of grain.

heart-centered • nurturing • compassionate

Regardless of whether she has children or not, the loving Mother is a universally understood archetypal image. She cares deeply for those around her and gains great satisfaction from being able to nurture others. Out of all 7 Feminine Archetypes, the Mother is the most heart-centered archetype. Under her hands, people and projects blossom. Her warmth and loving energy create a safe haven of care and protection.

Divine Inspiration: Demeter, Goddess of Harvest

Shadow Side

The Mother Archetype often puts others before herself – she forgets to fill her own well and struggles to set boundaries.

Light Side

She profoundly understands unconditional love. The Mother is caring, supportive, devoted and highly compassionate.

Click here to read more about the Mother Archetype.

The Maiden Archetype

Illustrations of the 7 Feminine Archetypes by Anna Heimkreiter. "The Maiden" shows a young, innocent-looking woman under lilies making a flower crown.

idealistic • innocent • intuitive

Often embodied by women at the beginning of their lives, the Maiden Archetype carries a spirit of innocence and playfulness. She is the most unawakened of all 7 Feminine Archetypes – which comes with the biggest potential for growth. At heart, she is an idealist who yet has to learn how to turn her dreams into reality. The Maiden moves through the world intuitively. She is a cocoon ready to blossom, which may especially happen when confronted with darkness.

Divine Inspiration: Persephone, Goddess of Spring

Shadow Side

The Maiden is in danger of being too passive or naive. If she hasn’t found her own strength yet, she remains in the role of the victim.

Light Side

She has a youthful outlook on life which makes her adaptive, creative, empathetic, thoughtful and open to learning.

Learn more about the Maiden Archetype.

The Huntress Archetype

Illustrations of the 7 Feminine Archetypes by Anna Heimkreiter. "The Huntress" shows a warrior woman walking the woods at night, with a wolf by her side.

independent • free-spirited • self-reliant

The warrior spirit lives in her – the Huntress Archetype strives for autonomy and inner strength. Also known as the “Wild Woman”, she is the most independent of the 7 Feminine Archetypes. She knows how to persevere and fend for herself. Being a wild woman, she is deeply connected to nature. Her presence inspires others to find strength and she often serves as a protector of other, more vulnerable women.

Divine Inspiration: Artemis, Goddess of the Hunt

Shadow Side

The Huntress Archetype may struggle to allow vulnerability and get in touch with her emotional side.

Light Side

She has the confidence to face any challenge. The Huntress is fierce, highly independent and courageous.

Read all about the Huntress Archetype.

The Mystic Archetype

Illustrations of the 7 Feminine Archetypes by Anna Heimkreiter. "The Mystic" shows a woman practicing meditation under giant mushrooms.

calm • introverted • inward-focused

The Mystic is a quiet soul who enjoys solitude. Out of all 7 Feminine Archetypes, she has the most spiritually inclined and calm personality. Above all, she longs to deeply know and be at peace with herself. She is a seeker of harmony, often very introverted and focused on her inner world. As a spiritual seeker, she creates a home within herself. Her calm approach to life can help others to find balance and take a deep breath.

Divine Inspiration: Hestia, Goddess of Hearth

Shadow Side

The Mystic Archetype risks isolating herself too much from the world and struggling to make meaningful connections.

Light Side

She radiates tranquility and peace which gives her an aura of mystery and soulfulness. She has high levels of self-awareness.

Read more about the Mystic Archetype.

The Queen Archetype

Illustrations of the 7 Feminine Archetypes by Anna Heimkreiter. "The Queen" shows a majestic woman with a crown surrounded by white roses.

confident • outgoing • ambitious

The Queen is a natural leader. Looking at all 7 Feminine Archetypes, she is the most loyal and committed one – long-lasting relationships are highly important to her. She is driven and, often quite successful in her career, has a special talent for making powerful alliances. The Queen is not interested in playing small or in people who betray her loyalty – she knows her worth and values the finer things in life.

Divine Inspiration: Hera, Goddess of Marriage

Shadow Side

When feeling insecure or threatened, the Queen can fall into patterns of jealousy and controlling behavior.

Light Side

Her confidence, combined with a very loyal heart, makes her shine. She is sociable, ambitious, and knows how to take charge.

Learn more about the Queen Archetype.

The Sage Archetype

Illustrations of the 7 Feminine Archetypes by Anna Heimkreiter. "The Sage" shows a wise woman surrounded by books, an olive tree and an owl.

insightful • rational • truth-seeking

Divine Inspiration: Athena, Goddess of Wisdom

Also known as the Wise Woman or Crone, the Sage is moved by logic and strategy. You possibly guessed – she is the most rational of the 7 Feminine Archetypes. The Sage pursues the path of self-improvement with discipline and is not afraid to let go of past versions of herself when they no longer serve her. Her thirst for knowledge results in a fountain of wisdom that is appreciated and sought out by her surroundings.

Shadow Side

The Sage Archetype can be overly mind-focused and struggle to develop empathy and be present in the moment.

Light Side

The Sage knows her power and speaks her truth. She is intelligent, strategic and devoted to inner growth.

Read all about the Sage Archetype here.

The Lover Archetype

Illustrations of the 7 Feminine Archetypes by Anna Heimkreiter. "The Lover" shows a Venus-inspired woman playing the drums.

sensual • emotional • magnetic

Divine Inspiration: Aphrodite, Goddess of Beauty

The Lover is an embodiment of sacred sensuality – her magnetic force captivates. Clearly, the Lover is the most sensual Feminine Archetype. She is an alchemist of love, able to deeply transform those who encounter her touch. Naturally gifted at sparking intense connections, the Lover follows her emotions and desires. She is full of life force and an abundant source of creativity and inspiration.

Shadow Side

The Lover Archetype can struggle to control her emotions, lack commitment and is often in need of external validation.

Light Side

A natural creatrix, grounded in the present, has the ability to attract, knows how to create her own reality.

Explore the Lover Archetype here.

ANNOUNCEMENT

The Feminine Archetype Workbooks

I dreamed so long of making these workbooks happen and now they’re finally here!

Elevate your strengths.
Embrace your shadow.
Embody your archetype.

Grow with me

How to work with the Feminine Archetypes

Celebrated throughout history and across cultures, these archetypal images, also sometimes referred to as female archetypes, provide a framework for personal transformation and embracing your feminine power.

They are powerful symbols of different aspects of the divine feminine and can help you to:

  • elevate your strengths
  • embrace your shadow
  • embody your femininity

To get started, take some time to explore each archetype and reflect on how it resonates with you. What qualities do you see in yourself that are reflected in each archetype? What challenges or strengths do you identify with? Once you have a better understanding of each archetype, you can begin to work with them more intentionally.

Some archetypes come to us quite naturally, while others seem foreign. However, each of them has something to teach us and can assist us in different kinds of life situations.

Setting the intention to cultivate certain archetypal qualities, doing shadow work and taking conscious action enables you to show up as your truest, most powerful self.

Archetypes are not fixed, and they are not meant to put us in a box. Instead, they provide us with a framework for exploration, healing, and growth. By working with different archetypes, we can expand our sense of self and become more fully realized individuals.

„The thing about archetypes is that all of them are potential in all of us. But some of them are inherently stronger from the beginning. It’s like talent. […] So, we’re kind of one-sided folks. […] What‘s more natural is you grow through different ones at different times, and find yourself a whole person – who has come here for a reason.”

– Jean Shinoda Bolen

FAQ: The 7 Feminine Archetypes

There is a lot of confusion about the origins and definition of archetypes online – mostly due to people not correctly researching and crediting their sources. I hope this FAQ section on the 7 Feminine Archetypes can fix some of that. I did my best throughout my research to clarify some of these misconceptions and give credit where credit is due.

It was the Swiss psychoanalyst Carl Jung who originally came up with the concept of archetypes. According to Jung, an archetype is a universally recognizable pattern in the collective unconscious.

In easier terms, you can think of it as something like a personality type, even though that does not quite capture how deeply rooted these archetypes are across cultures and history.

Feminine Archetypes specifically reflect ways in which feminine energy is typically expressed and account for the difference in personality among women.

These stories and patterns are instinctively familiar to us – we recognize them in ourselves and others. If you know someone very well, you can probably tell with high accuracy which of the 7 Feminine Archetypes they are.

The 7 Feminine Archetypes are: The Mother, the Maiden, the Huntress, the Mystic, the Sage, the Queen and the Lover.

It was Jean Shinoda Bolen who first defined these 7 Feminine Archetypes with the publication of her book “Goddesses in Everywoman: A New Psychology of Women” in 1984.

Originally, Bolen named the 7 Feminine Archetypes referencing their mythological origins:

  • The Mother = Demeter Archetype
  • The Maiden = Persephone Archetype
  • The Huntress = Artemis Archetype
  • The Mystic = Hestia Archetype
  • The Sage = Athena Archetype
  • The Queen = Hera Archetype
  • The Lover = Aphrodite Archetype

It is unclear where the descriptive titles like “the Mystic” come from – possibly Ayesha K. Faines authored them but since she did not name her sources it is hard to track back the origins of these archetype titles.

Carl Jung originally defined 4 definite archetypes: persona, anima and animus, the shadow, and the self.

From there, so-called archetypal images emerge. Examples are the mother, father, child, devil, god, wise old man/woman, the trickster, and the hero – however, there may be limitless variations of these universal patterns.

A lot of people believe Carl Jung to have defined precisely 12 Archetypes, sometimes it is even spoken of 12 Feminine Archetypes. However, the 12 “Jungian” Archetypes circling around the internet are actually archetypes that were developed for business branding, not authored by Jung himself.

These 12 Brand Archetypes were somewhat derived from Jung‘s work but actually originate from „The hero and the outlaw: Building extraordinary brands through the power of archetypes“ by Carol Pearson and Margaret Mark.

There is no (scientifically) established definition or a precise number of Feminine Archetypes. Different sources name different numbers of archetypes and may add examples such as the Priestess, the Healer or the Crone (similar to the Sage) to the discussion. Potentially, there is an infinite number of archetypes.

After doing some research, I found Jean Shinda Bolen’s 7 Feminine Archetypes to be the most cohesive and recognizable which is why I used these as the foundation for my illustration series.

Absolutely. Most people have a predominant Archetype, but it is normal to recognize yourself in several of them.

Even better: You can consciously cultivate another Archetype’s strengths. If you feel like something is lacking in your life, you can learn to embody another Archetype’s feminine energy. For example, if you wish to connect more with your sensuality, learn from the Lover – if you want to be more balanced, the Mystic can teach you how to remain calm.

Yes, it is very likely that your Feminine Archetype will change throughout your life. Naturally, as you evolve and mature, different parts of your personality will come forth.

Different situations will also require you to embody different archetypes. Maybe your insecure teenage years are influenced by the Maiden Archetype, then the Huntress helps you to stay focused while you pursue a college degree. It is common for women to later step into the role of a Mother and Queen when they wish to form a family. Even late in your life, such changes might occur.

Any combination and transformation of archetypes is possible and we can certainly shift through many – if not all – Feminine Archetypes throughout our life’s cycles.

The so-called shadow is a psychological concept that has been defined by Carl Jung. It is the dark, unconscious side of yourself – the parts hidden and denied, often buried in shame, fear, and trauma.

There is a lot of value in facing your darkness instead of avoiding it. The more you become aware of these aspects of yourself, the more you can work on embracing and transforming them. This process is called shadow integration.

While we tend to label our shadow initially as negative, it can be a source of incredible strength and transformation. The more you understand your shadow, the more light and healing you can bring into this world.

Your light and shadow are like two sides of the same coin – you can’t escape your darkness but you can choose which side to act on.

The illustrations I created to represent the 7 Feminine Archetypes are here to connect you with your purpose and potential.

Each artwork corresponds to a Greek goddess embodying the Archetype, with mythological symbolism woven into it. The 7 Feminine Archetypes can be used as a tool on your path towards self-mastery and serve you to fully develop all aspects of yourself.

Understanding your Archetype is a door to gaining a deeper understanding of yourself. They can be a tool for shadow work and cultivating your personal strengths.

The artworks are available as Fine Art Prints – in your home, they can be an empowering reminder of your highest self and how you can embody her every day.

Not exclusively – while the quiz and artworks are certainly rather geared toward women, every one of us carries masculine and feminine energy within. That’s why it’s “feminine”, not “female” archetypes – they can be part of you no matter which gender you identify with. People with predominantly feminine energy will be able to relate to these archetypes more, but all of them can be discovered and cultivated within you.

About

Hello, hello ❤️ I’m Anna, an artist & soul searcher. I believe in the divine essence every one of us carries – and that we shapeshift into many versions of ourselves throughout life.

The 7 Feminine Archetype Artworks are my personal ode to womanhood and a celebration of the divine feminine in all its forms. I hope they inspire you to live your best life and to express your most authentic self.

Researching and painting the 7 Feminine Archetypes has been part of my personal exploration of feminity and it is my great honor to share my artwork and writing with you.

This journey has eventually led me to work on the biggest passion project of my life so far, the 7 Feminine Archetype Workbooks: I realized people needed a tool to actually implement the wisdom of the archetypes – so I created one. These workbooks are your go-to resource for growing and healing with the power of the Feminine Archetypes.

If you want to support my work, I would love for you to buy a print or workbook as a special gift for yourself or a dear friend.

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Thank you for being here!

P.S. I’m a Mystic (with quite a bit of Sage and Huntress energy).
P.P.S: Any questions or feedback? Feel free to reach out.