THE INNOCENT

Group: Ego 

Every era has myths of a golden age or of a promised land where life has been or will be perfect. The promise of the innocent is that life need not be hard. Within each of us, the Innocent is the spontaneous, trusting child that, while a bit dependent, has the optimism to take the journey. The Innocent, fearing abandonment, seeks safety. Their greatest strength is the trust and optimism that endears them to others and so gain help and support on their quest. Their main danger is that they may be blind to their obvious weaknesses or perhaps deny them. They can also become dependent on others to fulfill their heroic tasks.

Goal: Remain in safety

Fear: Abandonment

Dragon/Problem: Deny it or seek rescue

Response to Task: Fidelity, discernment

Gift/ Virtue: Optimism, trust, hope, faith, simplicity

Pitfalls: Naive, childish dependence, denial, obliviousness

Addictive Quality: Denial

Addiction: Consumerism/sugar/cheerfulness

Shadow Side: Evidenced in a capacity for denial so that you do not let yourself know what is really going on. You may be hurting yourself and others, but you will not acknowledge it. You may also be hurt, but you will repress that knowledge as well. Or, you believe what others say even when their perspective is directly counter to your own inner knowing.