You contribute to society and provide structure to the world by bringing something into being — by realizing a vision. You derive deep satisfaction from the creative process above all else and live for authentic self-expression. The inventor, artist, writer, and entrepreneur are representative of the Creator archetype. 

Inherently non-conformist and sometimes self-involved, you desire freedom of expression and don’t like to feel stifled. At the core for the Creator is this reality: the act of structuring something into tangible form is an outlet — a way to exert control in an otherwise uncontrollable world.

You are all about rising to the challenge, and you instinctively seek to protect and inspire others. Whether on the battleground, ball field, or political stage, the Hero is determined to leave a mark on the world, often at the risk of great sacrifice.

You often must make tough decisions and think on your feet. You tend to seek out challenges;  the challenge to overcome may be humanitarian — to save the world at large — but may also manifest as a grandiose personal aspiration, like climbing Mount Everest.

Motto: Where there's a will, there's a way
Core desire: to prove one's worth through courageous acts
Goal: expert mastery in a way that improves the world
Greatest fear: weakness, vulnerability, being a "chicken"
Strategy: to be as strong and competent as possible
Weakness: arrogance, always needing another battle to fight
Talent: competence and courage

Also known as: The warrior, crusader, rescuer, superhero, the soldier, dragon slayer and the winner.

You aim to shake things up, whether for personal gain or for the good of others.  You don't mind being feared by others, as fear is seen as power. Extremist groups are almost always an example of the Outlaw.

On the positive end, you are capable of evoking positive change. For instance, many civil rights activists engaged in peaceful demonstrations, yet are still examples of the Outlaw archetype in action.

Motto: Rules are made to be broken
Core desire: revenge or revolution
Goal: to overturn what isn't working

Greatest fear: to be powerless or ineffectual
Strategy: disrupt, destroy, or shock
Weakness: crossing over to the dark side, crime
Talent: outrageousness, radical freedom

The Outlaw is also known as: The rebel, revolutionary, wild man, the misfit, or iconoclast.

You want to have close relationships, achieve intimacy, feel special, and make others feel special, too. The Lover is passionate and unashamed in fostering relationship and expressing appreciation.

There is also a sensual aspect that the Lover archetype represents. Anything that pleasures the senses – beautiful things, enticing smells, indulgent foods – give joy and delight to the Lover.

We see this archetype expressed all the time, from Hallmark to Victoria’s Secret. Other examples are Beyoncé, Chanel, Godiva, SendOutCards, and eHarmony.

Motto: You're the only one
Core desire: intimacy and experience
Goal: being in a relationship with the people, work and surroundings they love
Greatest fear: being alone, a wallflower, unwanted, unloved
Strategy: to become more and more physically and emotionally attractive
Weakness: outward-directed desire to please others at risk of losing own identity
Talent: passion, gratitude, appreciation, and commitment

The Lover is also known as: The partner, friend, intimate, enthusiast, sensualist, spouse, team-builder.

You are wholesome and genuine – which makes you irresistibly likeable! You demonstrate hard work, honesty, and embrace common sense values and authenticity. You have no need for pretense. 

Your motivation is to belong and be accepted. While this generally means a surface-level embracing of all people, it also manifests into a joining of cliques, social clubs, and memberships, to be around like-minded peers.

TV shows like Friends, Seinfeld, and Cheers celebrate the simple joys of the everyday and being surrounded by people who know and accept you.

Motto: All men and women are created equal
Core Desire: connecting with others
Goal: to belong
Greatest fear: to be left out or to stand out from the crowd
Strategy: develop ordinary solid virtues, be down to earth, the common touch
Weakness: losing one's own self in an effort to blend in or for the sake of superficial relationships
Talent: realism, empathy, lack of pretense

Also known as: the realist, the solid citizen, the good neighbour, the silent majority.

You believe the path to happiness is paved with knowledge and that by seeking out the truth and sharing it with others, we can make the world a better place. The Sage shuns ambiguity, misinformation, misleading claims, and ignorance, whether in itself or in others. You possess high levels of consciousness and intelligence.

Snags occur when you become too focused on the dogma of objective truth and lose touch with social graces. (You Sherlock Holmes and House fans out there know what I’m talking about.) The neverending quest for absolute answers could also result in an acute case of “analysis paralysis” which prevents you from ever taking action.

You are an eternal optimist who always sees the good in people and in life. Purity is at the heart of every action, and as a result you believe in redemption and the promise of 'paradise'. 

With our busy lifestyles, we are attracted to the focus on simplicity. For prime examples of the Innocent archetype, look no further than Dorothy from the Wizard of Oz and Forrest Gump.

Motto: Free to be you and me
Core desire: to get to paradise
Goal: to be happy
Greatest fear: to be punished for doing something bad or wrong
Strategy: to do things right
Weakness: boring for all their naive innocence
Talent: faith and optimism

Also known as: Utopian, traditionalist, naive, mystic, saint, romantic, dreamer.

You seek to prevent chaos by taking control. Motivated by the desire for safety and security, you work to get (and keep) power. A lover of policies and procedures, you are attracted to things that are substantial, timeless, and high quality. You see yourself as a role model for others to emulate.

You tend to follow the rules and behave "properly", while expecting the same of others. At one end of the spectrum, think about a protective mother raising a child responsibly. At the opposite end is a ruthless dictator, power hungry for control over nations. 

Motto: Power isn't everything, it's the only thing.
Core desire: control
Goal: create a prosperous, successful family or community
Strategy: exercise power
Greatest fear: chaos, being overthrown
Weakness: being authoritarian, unable to delegate
Talent: responsibility, leadership

Also known as: The boss, leader, aristocrat, king, queen, politician, role model, manager.

You live in the here and now. The life of the party, you just want people to lighten up and enjoy themselves! You encourage others to connect with their fun inner child — impulsive and unrestrained, not afraid to bend rules, not afraid to stand out, and comfortable in your own skin.

You have the ability to think outside the box, which leads to innovative ideas. You are a master at brainstorming, reframing concepts, and presenting new perspectives.

Motto: You only live once
Core desire: to live in the moment with full enjoyment
Goal: to have a great time and lighten up the world
Greatest fear: being bored or boring others
Strategy: play, make jokes, be funny
Weakness: frivolity, wasting time
Talent: joy

Also known as: The fool, trickster, joker, practical joker or comedian.

You are motivated by compassion and generosity, and strive to make people feel nurtured and secure. For the Caregiver, the worst fears are 1) neglecting loved ones and 2) instability, due to the impact it will have on the less fortunate.

The Caregiver archetype is often associated with the maternal and paternal instincts parents have in protecting their children, to the point of self-sacrifice. You give of yourself to make sure others are cared for.

Motto: Love your neighbour as yourself
Core desire: to protect and care for others
Goal: to help others
Greatest fear: selfishness and ingratitude
Strategy: doing things for others
Weakness: martyrdom and being exploited
Talent: compassion, generosity

Also known as: The saint, altruist, parent, helper, supporter.

You genuinely believe that there is more — something greater than us, greater than what we see — and often stands in defiance of perceived “reality”, believing that the limits we have are mostly self-imposed.

Often perceived as intelligent and knowledgeable, the Magician may appear to have special access to secret or elusive information. Even if the application is scientific, you have the ability to manipulate forces such as gravity, electromagnetism, or radiation feels magical to others simply because the concepts are mysterious, difficult to grasp, or invisible to the naked eye.

Motto: I make things happen.
Core desire: understanding the fundamental laws of the universe
Goal: to make dreams come true
Greatest fear: unintended negative consequences
Strategy: develop a vision and live by it
Weakness: becoming manipulative
Talent: finding win-win solutions

Also known as:The visionary, catalyst, inventor, charismatic leader, shaman, healer, medicine man.

You are the Explorer.  You refuse to be caged in. You love to explore and learn each day, how much more expansive the world is than we thought the day before. The explorer is a self-fulfiller. You are self-motivated, self-driven, and self-sufficient.

Motto: Don't fence me in
Core desire: the freedom to find out who you are through exploring the world
Goal: to experience a better, more authentic, more fulfilling life
Biggest fear: getting trapped, conformity, and inner emptiness
Strategy: journey, seeking out and experiencing new things, escape from boredom
Weakness: aimless wandering, becoming a misfit
Talent: autonomy, ambition, being true to one's soul

Also known as: The seeker, iconoclast, wanderer, individualist, pilgrim.