Discovering Your Archetype Through Somatic Arts

Each year, we are presented with the opportunity to set intentions, align with our purpose, and carve out a path that feels authentic to us. For some, this might look like choosing a word to focus on. For me, this year (or this cycle as I prefer to use), it meant embodying an archetype—a symbol of energy and intention that guides me on a deeper level.

For my current cycle, I’ve chosen the Thunderbird, a powerful and mythical archetype symbolizing transformation, abundance, and alignment with divine creative energy. Through my journey with somatics for the last nineteen years, I discovered the life-changing potential of connecting with archetypes through somatic and creative arts sessions. These experiences have allowed me to truly align my mind, body, and soul with energies that resonate with my purpose.

If you’re curious about how archetypes and somatic arts could transform your life, read on to learn more about my story—and how you can begin your own transformative journey.

What Is an Archetype, and Why Choose One?

Archetypes are universal patterns or symbols that hold deep emotional and spiritual significance. They represent energies, qualities, and themes that can guide our lives in profound ways. For me, the Thunderbird symbolizes transformation, authentic direction, and an unwavering connection to the cycles of nature.

When I chose to work with an archetype, it wasn’t about intellectualizing or overanalyzing. It was about tapping into my mind-body connection, finding the energy that felt most alive within me, and letting it guide my intentions for the year.

How Archetypes Begin to Show Up in Your Life

Archetypes don’t exist only in the ethereal or symbolic realm—they often begin to show up in tangible ways as we heighten our awareness. Once you open yourself to the idea of archetypes, they start manifesting through subtle cues in your daily life. These could be patterns you notice, symbols that catch your eye, emotions that arise, or internal messages that feel distinctly “other,” as though coming from a deeper part of your psyche.

This heightened awareness begins with an essential step: creating safety within the body. When your body feels safe, grounded, and resourced, your nervous system has room to relax and explore. You become more attuned to subtle shifts in your internal world. From this place of safety, you can decode the intuitive language your body speaks—through sensations, movements, and impulses that guide you.

For example, you might notice recurring images in your daydreams, a strong feeling when you encounter certain animals or symbols, or a deep resonance with particular qualities or archetypes. These are the ways your body and subconscious mind communicate, offering breadcrumbs for you to follow. Somatic practices are key in fostering this awareness. They slow you down, root you in the present moment, and open the doorway to these archetypal messages.

As you begin to listen to your body, archetypes can act as mirrors, pointing out areas of personal growth, transformation, or healing. They might nudge you toward alignment with a purpose that your conscious mind hasn’t yet realized. By paying attention to what your body reveals as you move through the world, you create space for archetypes to manifest fluidly, guiding your transformative journey with wisdom and clarity.

When I connected with the Thunderbird, it wasn’t an immediate or linear process. Each insight unfolded as I built safety in my body and allowed its quiet yet powerful voice to speak. That’s the beauty of archetypal work—it’s not something forced; it’s something felt. This discovery process invites you to see archetypes not as fixed roles but as evolving energies, weaving in and out of your life to teach, guide, and inspire. Through somatic arts sessions, you can deepen this connection and learn to decode the language of your body, opening the door to a relationship with your archetype that is as dynamic and empowering as the energies it represents.

The Thunderbird first began to come into my awareness over the last year, as I reclaimed my Indigenous roots and set the intention to begin sharing my personal somatic studies and experimentation of practices with the collective. I’ll never forget the moments that led up to this profound embodied experience—thunderstorms resonating through my being, a fascination with the lightning that split the sky, and the realization of its scientific role in catalyzing transformation in nature. These signs were coupled with descendant animal medicine that came through the forms of red-tailed hawks, caracaras, and ospreys, each one appearing as if to confirm I was on a path of rediscovery.

As I began to research the Thunderbird archetype to make sense of what I was receiving, I remember thinking, Me? Are you sure? Why me? The gift felt so BIG, bold, and beautiful that it filled my heart and soul with light until the tears began to flow. At that moment, my own somatic mentor gently whispered back, Why not you? And with those words, a new cycle of personal healing was initiated.

This process deepened my embodiment of somatic wisdom and Indigenous practices, allowing me to explore them in a way that felt deeply aligned with my roots and my heart’s purpose. To step forward with the intention of sharing these practices with you, with the collective, is the ultimate gift.

I care deeply for nature, for its rhythms, its teachings, and its power. But I also care deeply for you—for the collective, for the greater web of life, because we are all connected to something so much greater than ourselves. It’s a beautiful thing to be part of, but to truly feel and receive this connection, you must first begin the journey inward. You must connect with your authentic self, your chosen archetype, and the energy waiting to guide you. And believe or not, it’s your body, the vessel in which you move as an energetic being through the world that holds all the answers. Only then can you stand in alignment with the grand, intricate design that ties us all together.

The Power of Somatic Arts Sessions

One of the most profound ways to discover your archetype is through a somatic arts session. These sessions are unique in that they focus on the wisdom of the body—rather than just the mind. Unlike traditional intention-setting, which can feel rigid or overly logical, somatic work invites you to experience energy on a physical, intuitive level.

Through movement, breathwork, and creative exploration, somatic arts sessions allow you to feel into the energies that resonate within you. This process often uncovers surprising insights, helping you reveal an archetype that aligns with your deepest desires and intentions. The result? A year filled with personal growth, profound alignment, and clear direction.

Lessons from the Thunderbird

Working with the Thunderbird archetype has been deeply transformative for me. Here’s what I’ve learned so far on this journey of self-discovery.

    • Trust in the Timing of Your Personal Cycles

      One of the greatest lessons I’ve learned is the wisdom of attuning to nature’s cycles. Just as the seasons turn in their own time, so too do we as individuals.

      There’s no right or wrong timing to begin your discovery process, no too-early or too-late. What matters most is trusting in your own rhythm, honoring the moments that feel like natural turning points, and allowing your intuition to guide you.

      If you’re feeling the call to uncover your more about yourself, know that the timing is always perfect when it aligns with your heart.

    • Transformation Requires Trust and Surrender

      The Thunderbird reminds me daily that true abundance comes when I release control and open myself to receiving. Like a storm nourishing the earth, life flows more freely when we surrender to its rhythm.

      Somatic sessions can help you step into this flow by guiding you to release tension and discover freedom in your mind and body. Daily walks in nature, and pausing to reflect on the abundance all around me that often gets overlooked was a key to helping me shift my awareness from lack to abundance.

    • Aligning with Authentic Direction

      The Thunderbird never questions the winds—it flies boldly, trusting the currents to guide its path. This year, I’ve made it my mission to embody this energy, to step into my authentic direction without second-guessing myself.

      Through somatic work, you too can uncover your archetype’s unique message and trust in the vision it provides for your life.

 

    • Creativity Is a Divine Force

      The thunderclap of the Thunderbird represents powerful, raw creation—an energy that awakens the world. Just as the Thunderbird awakens the skies, I want to channel this energy into my art, movement, rituals, words, and everyday choices. Somatic practices often reveal these creative impulses, unlocking intuition and allowing you to create from a place of ease and flow.

      Somatic arts help spark this same Divine Creativity within you, unlocking the intuitive power that lies beneath the surface.

 

    • Forgiveness, Empathy, and Balance

      The Thunderbird embodies both power and stillness, reminding me to listen with empathy and an open heart. This year, I’m practicing forgiveness and the art of being a “keeper of secrets.” Like the Thunderbird, I’m finding discernment in what to hold close and what to release. A somatic session could awaken the same wisdom in you, helping you understand when to stay grounded and when to soar.

      Through mindful somatic practices, you can cultivate greater balance and emotional awareness, becoming more attuned to your needs and the needs of those around you.

Why You Should Try a Somatic Healing Session

If you’ve reached that moment where you’re searching for clarity, direction, or a fresh approach to your year, season of life, or cycle, consider the impact of discovering your personal archetype. Somatic and creative arts sessions provide a profound way to tap into your inner self, unlocking insights that might otherwise remain hidden.

Here’s what somatic arts can offer you:

  • Connection to Your Archetype: Uncover the guiding energies and qualities you need for your next cycle.
  • Mind-Body Awareness: Develop a deeper sense of self through physical and creative practices.
  • Transformative Growth: Step into a life more aligned with your purpose and desires.
  • Renewed Intentions: Move away from rigid goal-setting and connect with the flow of your natural rhythms.

Are You Feeling the Call?

If you’re ready to say yes to your next cycle of transformation, I’d be honored to lead you on this path. Together, through a somatic and creative arts healing experience, we can uncover the archetype waiting to guide you. This process isn’t about rushing or forcing; it’s about slowing down, attuning to your inner world, and letting your energy reveal itself in its own time.

This year, as I walk the Thunderbird’s path, I invite you to explore your own archetypal adventure. What energy calls to you? What qualities are waiting to awaken? Trust your timing, listen to your intuition, and step boldly into the year ahead with wings wide open.

Book Your Somatic Arts Session Today

If you feel the resonance of this calling? Begin your year, personal season, or cycle with intention, creativity, and aligned purpose.

Reach out to schedule your somatic healing session and discover the archetype that will transform your life.

A somatic session is a powerful tool for self-discovery, offering insights you might never reach through thought alone. 

Let’s drop into the body. 

Remember, the greatest journeys begin with a single step—or, in the case of the Thunderbird, a single leap into the open sky.

For me, embodying the Thunderbird this cycle means holding true to the highest vision for the collective. Its energy reminds me that my choices ripple outward, influencing more than just my life. They ripple outward #FluturizationEffect, touching everyone I encounter. With each action I take, I am reminded to hold love, equity, and hope at the core of my intent

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