Archetypes and Malignotypes: A Test
We combine imagination with an ancient soul map to help you find your archetype.
The Triadic Ordering is an ancient soul map and valuable heuristic structured around three internal Executives:
The head, which governs cognitive and theoretical aspects,
The heart, which encompasses affective and emotional dimensions, and
The gut, which represents visceral and intuitive responses.
This framework blends reality with imagination, so some might dismiss it as unscientific. Yet its insights persist.
Within the Triad, archetypes and malignotypes emerge as ordered combinations of primary and secondary emphases, with archetypes reflecting healthy expressions and malignotypes indicating unhealthy ones.
Operating *with the grain* means aligning with one's dispositional patterns—that is, one’s archetype. Going *against the grain* involves training to suppress it. It is not advisable to train oneself to go against the grain. Instead, one should discover and accept one’s archetype as the bedrock on which to construct one’s aspirational self.
So, what is your archetype?
Take the test and let’s find out.
Understanding the Framework
Each Archetype and corresponding Malignotype reflect combinations of the Triadic Ordering as determined by your primary (dominant) and secondary (reflective) orientations. It’s helpful when you take this two-part test to
Think of your primary strength as your initial reaction, then
Think of your secondary strength as how you process that initial reaction.
To take the test, click on the shift key + purple button to open a separate tab. Take the test, get the result, then return to this page:
Now, learn more about your result below.
Did the result seem intuitively correct? If not, was there another archetype you thought was more suited to you?
Archetypes (Healthy) + Malignotypes (Unhealthy)
The following are the possible Archetypes results based on your primary and secondary configurations of The Triadic Ordering.
Head Primary, Head Secondary: Wizard/Sorceress
Wizard/Sorceress. Symbolizes knowledge and mystical insight. This archetype is the master of theory, analysis, and foresight, often using their cleverness and prowess to guide, teach, and transform. Wizards/Sorceresses are logical and perceive the world’s causal structures, which they channel with math or magic.
Bloodless Autist. A corrupted form of the Wizard/Sorceress, marked by a cold, unemotional approach to knowledge. Lacks empathy and often uses intelligence in abstract, robotic, or inhumane ways. This logician is so devoid of emotion that his analyses can come across as boring or cruel.
Gut Primary, Gut Secondary: Warrior-Hunter
Warrior-Hunter. Embodies strength, courage, strategy, and discipline. The Warrior-Hunter is brave, focused, and skilled in combat or conflict, representing the fight for justice, the hunt for provision, or the protection of his people.
Boy Pharaoh. This unhealthy Warrior is characterized by immaturity, entitlement, and tyrannical tendencies. Lacking loyalty and kingly attributes, the Boy Pharaoh thinks all it takes to lead is a willingness to throw his weight around. He (or she) can be domineering if not drawn to domination.
Heart Primary, Gut Secondary: Mother-Carer
Mother-Carer: This archetype represents nurturing, care, and unconditional love. It embodies compassion, empathy, and support. Mother-carers often provide emotional and physical sustenance to others. They are usually willing to sacrifice for those in their care.
Tutting Schoolmarm. A negative Mother/Carer who uses her charge to scold, control, and criticize. Overbearing and judgmental, often stifling the growth and independence of those in their charge. Justifies their behavior as “for your own good.” (See also the dangerous Black Widow archetype.)
Heart Primary, Heart Secondary: Lover-Romantic
Lover-Romantic. Symbolizes passion, intimacy, and connection. This archetype is about building deep, meaningful relationships, emphasizing the importance of romance, affection, and a life lived richly and passionately. They seek to love and be loved, so they exude warmth and helpfulness.
Forlorn Starlet/Playboy. The Lover-Romantic’s dark side is obsessed with attention and admiration. Shallow and self-absorbed, the Forlorn Starlet/Playboy uses relationships for drama or appearances, so struggles with genuine intimacy or meaningful connections.
Head Primary, Heart Secondary: Poet-Bard
The Poet-Bard symbolizes creativity, expression, and storytelling. He is an artist at heart who uses words, music, or art to convey deep emotions and tell stories that resonate with the human experience. The Poet-Bard plays a role in preserving culture and collective memory, seeking universals of truth, beauty, and goodness. His head primary means he creates iteratively, but his heart secondary regards his creations by discovering how they make him feel as he works.
Empty Melancholic. A distorted Poet-Bard, consumed by sadness or existential angst. Their creativity is overshadowed by despair or hopelessness, often alienating others with gloom. They often romanticize their suffering, using it as a form of self-identity. Most abandon truth, beauty, and goodness.
Gut Primary, Heart Secondary: Yeoman
Yeoman. Embodies hard work, reliability, and service. The Yeoman is dedicated, loyal, and takes pride in their craft or labor, often serving as the backbone of communities or organizations. The Yeoman has an essential role in maintaining traditions and stability.
Gelded Sheep. The unhealthy Yeoman who lacks initiative or personal identity. They follow orders or conventions without question, often sacrificing their values to the group. In extreme cases, it joins a mob or avoids responsibility by claiming they were "just following orders."
Gut Primary, Head Secondary: Tinker-Smith
Tinker-Smith represents innovation, craftsmanship, and resourcefulness. This archetype is skilled at creating and fixing things, often finding ingenious solutions to complex problems. People value their adaptability and improvisation.
Cold-blooded Saboteur. A malignant Tinker-Smith who uses their skills for destruction or deceit. They are cunning and unscrupulous, often undermining others for personal advantage. Cold-blooded Saboteurs might justify their actions through a distorted sense of justice or revenge.
Heart Primary, Head Secondary: Priest/Nun
Priest/Nun. Symbolizes faith, guidance, and morality. This type is a spiritual guide, holder of rituals, and moral compass dedicated to serving a higher purpose and/or power. The heart primary speaks to her devotion, while the head secondary speaks to her willingness to train in her doctrine or act as a scribe.
Pillar Saint. The dark side of the Priest-Nun, who uses faith or morals as a weapon. They are hypocritical and judgmental, often seeking to impose their beliefs on others in sanctimony. They use guilt as a tool for manipulation, and they frequently show up as feckless ideological scolds.
Head Primary, Gut Secondary
Merchant. Embodies trade, resourcefulness, and acumen. The Merchant is savvy in business and negotiation and often seeks to create prosperity and opportunity through commerce. Merchants are usually natural salespeople capable of quick thinking followed by bold action.
Crooked Swindler. The corrupt merchant is driven by greed and deceit. They engage in unethical business practices, often exploiting others for financial gain. They might rationalize their behavior as "just business" or blame their victims for being gullible.
Omni Primary, Head Secondary: Shamanoid
Shamanoid. Represents spirituality and healing. This archetype connects the physical world with the spiritual, often serving as a mediator or healer, using wisdom and insight to guide others. Their role is to impart wisdom, bring balance, and help others find equipoise. Their *omni* primary orientation means they come across as measured, if not a little strange. Their head secondary allows them to process their initial instincts and emotions theoretically or logically.
Reptilian. The malignant counterpart of the Shamanoid uses its omnivalence for manipulation and personal gain. Reptilians adapt and change to suit their needs, often at the expense of others. They often lack a core identity, constantly shifting to whatever they think confers an advantage.
Omni Primary, Heart Secondary: Trickster
Trickster. Embodies joy, humor, and light-heartedness. The Trickster is clever, witty, and often uses humor to offer perspective or challenge conventions. They frequently serve as catalysts for change or transformation by taking unpredictable actions or prompting others to do so.
Agent Provocateur. This malignotype uses her sensitivity to emotional touchpoints to manipulate, irritate, or break someone’s composure. An Agent Provocateur’s mockery can be cruel or emasculating, and she uses deception to cause chaos or destroy relationships. Some enjoy "trolling" or stirring controversy.
Omni Primary, Gut Secondary: Sovereign
Sovereign. Represents leadership and authority. This archetype embodies responsibility, control, and sovereignty, often demonstrating wisdom and a nurturing spirit toward decision-making within their domain. Omnivalence allows them to be measured decision-makers, while their gut secondary prompts quick action.
Cynical Nihilist. A twisted version of the Sovereign, embracing cynicism and detachment. This type sees the absurdity in everything, often to the point of rejecting meaningful connections and values. Uses cynicism as a defense mechanism against vulnerability or disappointment, failing to offer positive advice or contribution. The Cynical Nihilist is the king of criticism. He believes he should rule/decide, but is being prevented by others’ stupidity.
I got Shamanoid, which sounds cool. Not merely a shaman; a shamanoid! 🤣
Survey says... Wizard...