The Archetypes Are Just Parts in Costume

How IFS helped me stop performing my power and start living it I’ve always been drawn to archetypes — The Queen. The Saboteur. The Lover. The Warrior. They gave language to the things I felt but couldn’t explain. But sometimes, even in the “empowerment” world, they started to feel… performative. Like I was trying to become The Sovereign instead of letting her speak through me. Then I found Internal Family Systems (IFS). And suddenly, something clicked.

7/8/20252 min read

IFS says: You’re not one voice — you’re many.

You’ve got Parts.
Some are loud. Some hide. Some protect. Some fight. Some numb out.
And underneath all of them? There’s your Self — calm, clear, confident, compassionate.

IFS helped me see that archetypes aren’t who we are — they’re energies our parts carry.

Archetypes are just Parts with stories.

The Inner Child? A young part needing care.
The Saboteur? A protective part keeping us small to keep us safe.
The Sovereign? A Self-led part who knows her worth but doesn’t need to prove it.
The Prostitute archetype? That part of us that compromises our values in exchange for safety, approval, or survival.
The Magician? Often a creative, visionary part with the power to transmute — if we let it.

These aren't just cute labels. They’re reflections of what’s happening inside us — the roles our parts have taken on to get us through life.

I used to try to “step into” my Sovereign.

Now, I ask:

“What part of me doesn’t feel safe letting the Sovereign lead?”

“What exile is the Prostitute protecting?”

“Can my Magician trust that I’ll listen to her ideas — even if they don’t make sense yet?”

Archetypes became a map… but IFS gave me the keys.

If you love archetypes but feel like you’re still stuck…

IFS will meet you where you are and show you the truth under the performance.

It will teach you how to listen to the part of you that’s sabotaging — and thank her.
How to give your Sovereign space without needing to dominate.
How to be with the scared part who thinks rest = failure.

Because leading yourself isn’t about being in charge.

It’s about letting all your parts feel safe enough to stop protecting you — so your Self can lead.

This is what I help women do:

Speak to the part behind the pattern
Understand why the Saboteur shows up right when things are going well
Build trust with the Sovereign without abandoning the Inner Child
Turn archetypes into mirrors, not masks

It’s not always cute. But it’s honest. And it works.

Want to explore your own archetypal parts in a session?
I offer coaching that blends IFS + archetype work — where you don’t have to pretend to be powerful to access your power.