From an Ebook entitled ESCAPE TO THE HOMELANDS OF THE HEART

written by Michael R. Dale

… Now what of the poet archetype? Where does the Inner Poet fit in?

The poet archetype is so important, because it is in a poetic frame of mind and spirit. Through it, we are able to interpret all the other archetypes most effectively. Remember archetypes are the soul’s way of communicating the unconscious and poetry is the language of the soul.

The energy of the poet archetype is one of metaphor, interpretation, connection and translation. Just as when meditating we cultivate the witness – a detached, watchful eye that spectates without judgment on the ephemeral nature of existence – the poet is the observer and the interpreter of the internal world – the feminine kingdom of the soul.

Just as skill acquisition is a meta-skill, the poet archetype is a meta-archetype – the observer and interpreter of all the other archetypes within us. The Inner Poet is the alchemist to whom the soul alone will bear its deepest secrets – the trusted emissary of her otherwise indecipherable love letters to the king, who reigns over the conscious ego mind.

For further testimony to this assertion I must again turn to Robert A Johnson and his words on the alchemists of old, “Alchemy – that treasure house of psychological insight that is so often mistaken for early attempts at chemistry – traces out the steps of synthesis in poetic language.”

Inner-work is the work of connecting with observing and interpreting the wonderful and terrifying world of within – the work of creating new meaning, awareness and healing where pain and confusion and suffering presided previously. The work of lovingly embracing every facet of our being – is alchemy – and alchemy is inner-work. The metaphor of turning lead into gold is exactly that, a metaphor.

Alchemy is turning problems into opportunities, turning pain into wisdom, turning hatred into compassion. Poetry is alchemy, when you take for instance burning rage, death, uncontrollable desire or even something mundane like boredom and put that into words on a page, you create something raw, intense and alive, something beautiful; a window into your heart that leads you to a deeper understanding of who you really are. You create an avenue for your ego and your soul to approach each other as equals and unite in the homelands of your heart.
This chapter ends with a poem called: Every poet is an alchemist

Every poet is an alchemist.

Her poetry is the gold

She wrings From the lead

Of life experience.

The poet thanks life

For the pain.

Without it

There would be

No love.

To learn more of this work: http://mrmichaelDale.com
or on facebook: Escape to the Homelands of the Heart