The Comic Inner Child Archetype
A deep dive into the archetype of the comic inner child for my project - The Book of Love
Hello!
We are going to move straight into this month’s inner child archetype - if you’re not sure what I’m talking about - see this post which has a bit more info on what the inner child is and what this project is about. Note that we each hold the capacity for an aspect of each archetype - there might be some which you read and think YES: This is me! and some you feel - meh, a version of, some you can’t locate at all. Some archetypes may cause resistance in you, consider the truth that in each archetype there is a mirror and a medicine.
Quick note: If inner child work is of interest I am holding an inner child workshop along with Saga Blane in Feb - for more on this send me a message or keep an eye on my IG - @ purplediamondtarot .
Today we are exploring The Comic inner child archetype:
If tarot and archetypes are your jam, these might help situate you - if not, no worries, tarot knowledge is not necessary for this work. The comic child is connected to the fool and the sun cards in traditional tarot and in common archetypes she is a close relation to the jester or clown, or well, the comedian archetype. There is an element of trickster archetype in there too - but remember as these are inner child archetypes we are noting that some of the archetypal weight given to adults or adult figures are not appropriate for children. Some aspects which are characteristic and even powerful in adult archetypes are crushing and unfair for children to hold - this also reaches into our ability to listen compassionately for these archetypes afresh from our pre disposed conceptions.
Let’s begin by contemplating the role of the comic. The comic in society, much like the jester is often called upon for entertainment. Even though they can posses a silly or even degraded identity they also have the ear of the power (king/queen/parent). The comic is non offensive in their presence, outwardly not vying for power, not showing neediness and yet offering a specific medicine : laughter. The classical archetype of the court jester also possesses information, they are able to listen in on conversations because they have been othered - welcome in court society but not the same as common folk. This shows up for the inner child as often being made an adult, privy to adult conversations, the comic moves outside of their role as the child - this may feel like a privilege, but being a child is what we want for children. Unlike the carer child who also offers services, the comic’s labours don’t make the recipient (sub)consciously feel bad for receiving them, they don’t as easily highlight the inability of the recipient, they seem… fine.
One of the key qualities of the comic is that they have an excellent ability to appear fine, buoyant, witty, and needless. Much like the adult archetype of the clown, they often pay the price for this incredible performance internally. This can cause a loneliness and kind of depression which is particular to their mode of isolation.
Their mode of belonging is rooted in service, and this can become both a wisdom and a wounding later in life. Many comic child archetypes adopt this means of being in order to ‘make ok’ very difficult situations - these might include a chronically or terminally ill parent or carer, a chronically stressed, grieving or incapable parent /carer, or a situation which has the child feeling they need to fill some kind of energetic void rather than be themselves to keep everyone ok *note - safety includes belonging.
Some comics are smoother than others, some need to be to survive and some are deeply talented in this realm. The matured comic may in fact be an excellent comic, they may become a talented performer on stage or in job that requires a similar ability to make people feel good. The comic may also show up in smaller ways in those of us who often deflect through laughter, even self deprecation.The young comic is holding a lot on her back, keeping up a bobbing beach ball of laughter or persona because she believes this will keep things/her/carers/the world as she knows it: safe. I have so much compassion for all of the archetypes but as I write this I am renewed with such a sense of gratitude for this child - May you find safe arms to rest in little one, and know that it is finally safe to be the most glorious being there is : you.
