Archetypes of the Brook
Good and evil are represented by the actions of two major, or grand, “archetypes” of the Brook – Master or Giver, and Maurader or Taker. These two grand archetypes are always connected by the waters of the Brook. In the waters we find a third major, albeit not quite so grand, archetype – the Navigator or Transactionist. All three major archetypes of the Brook meet and mingle in the waters. They are influenced by the currents while they themselves influence the movements of the waters. In addition to these major archetypes, the Brook is populated with individuals who may be represented by one, or at times by a combination, of six distinct archetypes.
From the waters of the Brook we extract ancient wisdom to discover therein “five spiritual sentinels” – forces which lead the individual towards the bank of the Givers. We also discover in the wisdom extracted from the waters “five material motivators” – forces which lead the individual towards the bank of the Takers. With some reflection, we realize that the major currents in the waters are generated by individual actions,driven by these two pairs of generally opposing five forces.
The six archetypes of the Brook represent a broad aspect of human nature and behavior. Each of these six archetypes of the Brook may, and do, from time to time act in a manner that may represent one or more of the other five archetypes as well as either of the two “opposing” grand archetypes. That is to say, each individual may act as one or more of the distinct archetypes and may act as either a Giver or a Taker, depending upon the circumstances, or upon the forces by which they are driven at that moment. However, during the majority of their journeys, most travelers act as Navigators or Transactionists, both giving and taking with the flow, depending upon the currents on which they “ride” at the time.
With the help of these archetypes, we explore the philosophy of the Brook while we navigate the waters on our journey through the human mind. Soon, it is evident that life is expressed, through thoughts in the mind, in the form of action. We therefore are what we act. This leads us to a hypothesis that life and existence are expressed through our thoughts and actions. In other words, life may be viewed as a journey involving our thoughts and actions. The mind journey in the Brook then becomes a navigation through life. This leads us to address questions about “action and the purpose of action” as a practical way to address the related universal questions about “life and the purpose of life.”
The six distinct Archetypes of the Brook are:
Leader: Aligns people towards the achievement of a common vision. A dreamer, a doer, and a great communicator.
Entrepreneur: Seeks opportunities and fills needs for shared and personal gain. An individual with high initiative.
Manager: Directs actions according to a plan aimed at meeting defined goals. Oriented towards goals, productivity and efficiency.
Trustee: Performs functions under guidance, generally as part of a team. Committed to serving others. Performs clearly defined functions. Exhibits moderate to low initiative.
Intellectual: Committed to learning and sharing knowledge. Thinks about the meaning of things in life. Includes artists and inventors.
Consultant: Provides services for a fee. Can be a mercenary.
Essays describing The Trilogy, as well the entire Brookmaster Game, can be found in the pages of this web site.
Happy navigating and, again, welcome to The Brook!