The Caregiver | Character Archetypes | Flora & Fauna Symbolic ArtThe Caregiver

Here is “The Caregiver.”

The idea of the twelve character archetypes, invented by Carl Jung, is that there are universal, inborn models of people, behaviors, and personalities that influence human behavior.

Fiction writers and all kinds of storytellers use these archetypes as a helpful device when creating characters in a story. In real life, no one person fully embodies any one archetype. Rather, this is a useful device for us to describe parts of ourselves that we all have in different measures, which may come to the forefront at different moments in our lives.

Meditating on the essence of each archetype can be an inspiring and empowering reminder of the different strengths that exist within our own character. These ideas can help us answer the continual question of who we want to be in our lives.

I chose to paint animals and plants that humans have associated with the various traits inherent in the different archetypes. Some of these symbols are shared across different world cultures, others less-so.

Perhaps looking at this image will help awaken this part of your character a little bit, reminding you of a well within yourself that you can tap into when needed.

The Caregiver protects others from harm and provides for their needs.

The ultimate caregiver is human’s best friend, the dog.

I chose to depict a beautiful flat coat retriever.

The dove wings in the background represent love.

Lily of the Valley flowers, shown larger than life in the foreground, symbolize kindness, caring, and the nurturing love of motherhood.

The overall image is that of a guardian angel who protects and cares for others.

The pink color of the background represents tenderness, comfort and hope.

Contact me if you’re interested in purchasing the original painting or a print of this artwork.