Dear one,
The one thing that is certain in life is that we have to die. For years, I have spent building relationships with my inner parts. However, building a relationship with death and the pain that comes with loosing a loved is one is still tender and scary.
In my Voice Dialogue Archetype training in Crete with Robert Stamboliev, we did a visualisation in which he induced energetically four different archetypes. Archetypes, according to Jungian psychology, are the sub-personalities (inner parts) that are rooted in a collective layer in the human psyche that goes beyond the personal and individual. In that sense we can say that archetypes are actually the sources of sub-personalities. There are many ways to map them out and to make them accessible and conscious: astrology, the Gods and Goddesses in different myths, fairy tales and religions, numerology…Archetypes have played and play an important role in ancient traditions such as Shamanism, art and culture and nowadays even in advertising. For example, the German brand ‘Demeter’ that produces certified organic food is named after “Demeter”, the Goddess of grain and fertility. She is know for her motherly qualities such as care for others and generosity.
The God that spoke to me in the visualisation was Hades, the god of transformation and death. I experienced a rush of electricity running up and down my spine. There were no visuals but I received a lot of messages that I wrote down immediately afterwards to capture the wisdom.
“I am light. I am love. I am re-union”
Without death there is no life. Cultivating awareness of death as part of life is what makes life special and worth living. Building a relationship with death is crucial in order to prepare ourselves for the transition to the other side. The older I become the more I become aware how important it is to consciously cherish every day we got. I make sure my son doesn’t leave the house without giving him a proper nice hug, I make an effort to call my parents on Sundays and I create moments of togetherness with them and other people that are dear to me. I practice gratitude every night before I go to sleep for having a warm bed, a roof over my head, a full fridge and most importantly: for having so much love in my heart.
After the visualisation I wanted to work with the part in me that is scared to loose someone that I love. What happened though was that very soon I connected with Aphrodite, the archetype of love. She showed herself the same way she showed herself to me the other day when I worked on my sexual energy (life energy) - as a big wave. Guided by my breath, my body moved as one big wave, cultivating and generating more and more of the most powerful energy there is. The sentence that kept on coming to me was: “there is no love without pain”. Just as there is no life without pain. Child birth is probably the most painful experience a human can have. And yet, we do it. Again and again. Because there is no other way.
My wish is to build a healthy relationship with death. This starts with building a healthy relationship with life.
I want to dare to experience the full spectrum of love. Which means to embrace the pain that comes with love and losing life and a loved one.
“Just hang out with me.” That’s what both Hades and Aphrodite told me.
I connect to the rhythm of my heart and to my breath.
Slow Sex helps me to just be and to hang out. With what is.
For those curious about how to deepen their relationship with the archetypal energies of Aphrodite and Hades, here’s a concise and practical guide to what they represent—and how to work with them.
Aphrodite
Archetype of Love, Beauty, and Connection
✧ Core Qualities:
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Love & Passion – sensuality, romantic connection, sexual energy.
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Beauty & Creativity – appreciation of aesthetics, artistic expression.
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Connection & Harmony – emotional openness, charm, social ease.
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Self-Worth – cultivating self-love and inner value.
✧ Her Tasks:
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Inspire emotional openness and intimacy.
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Spark creativity and the joy of beauty.
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Deepen relationships and connection with others.
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Heal wounds around love and self-esteem.
✧ Ways to Work With Her Energy:
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Creative Flow: Engage in art, music, dance, beauty rituals.
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Self-Love: Prioritize pleasure and personal care.
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Emotional Intimacy: Practice vulnerability in safe relationships.
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Romantic Connection: Nurture healthy, heart-led relationships.
Hades
Archetype of Depth, Transformation, and the Shadow
✧ Core Qualities:
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Inner Depth – unconscious realms, shadow work, introspection.
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Death & Rebirth – endings as doorways to transformation.
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Hidden Wealth – uncovering inner wisdom and unseen gifts.
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Inner Authority – power rooted in acceptance of all parts of the self.
✧ His Tasks:
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Support deep psychological and emotional transformation.
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Guide through darkness to growth.
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Reveal hidden potential and inner truths.
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Integrate disowned or rejected parts of the self.
✧ Ways to Work With His Energy:
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Inner Reflection: Journaling, meditation, dreamwork, therapy.
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Rituals of Letting Go: Honor transitions, embrace impermanence.
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Shadow Practices: Name, reclaim, and integrate the unconscious.
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Depth Psychology: Explore the psyche through Jungian methods or inner parts work.
