Understanding Our Inner Child

The concept of the inner child, as discussed by Carl Jung and Carolyn Myss, refers to a part of ourselves that retains memories and emotions from childhood. This aspect represents our innocence, creativity, spontaneity, and emotional vulnerability. The inner child's purpose is to remind us of our authentic selves, unmet needs, unresolved emotions, and help us reconnect with our past experiences.

To meet the inner child, one can engage in practices like inner child meditations, journaling, or visualization exercises. By creating a safe space and listening to the inner child's needs and emotions, we can establish a connection. Positive work with the inner child involves acknowledging and validating its feelings, providing comfort, nurturing, and healing past wounds through self-compassion, self-care, and inner child therapy techniques.

This process can lead to emotional healing, self-acceptance, and personal growth.

Some of the archetypes associated with the inner child include:

1. The Wounded Child: Represents past traumas, emotional wounds, and unmet needs from childhood. This archetype seeks healing and understanding.

2. The Magical Child: Symbolizes innocence, wonder, creativity, and imagination. It embodies our sense of playfulness and curiosity.

3. The Abandoned Child: Reflects feelings of neglect, loneliness, or abandonment experienced in childhood. This archetype seeks to address feelings of isolation and insecurity.

4. The Orphan Child: Represents feelings of being alone in the world or disconnected from others. This archetype seeks to find a sense of belonging and connection.

5. The Playful Child: Embodies joy, spontaneity, and the ability to experience life with a sense of fun and lightheartedness.

By recognizing and working with these inner child archetypes, individuals can gain a deeper understanding of their emotions, behaviors, and past experiences, leading to healing, self-discovery, and personal growth.

We will be sharing more about each InnerChild archetype; here is a video to explore the wounded inner child— a very common dynamic many of us feel: