I completely forgot to post day 5 on saturday because of a really exciting experience i had this weekend that i’ll share with you guys soon… but nonetheless, here is our final day of the archetype exploration challenge: the higher self. the higher self is often described as the part of you that exists beyond your everyday thoughts, emotions, and reactions. the version of you that can see clearly, that knows, that isn’t caught up in fear or confusion. some people refer to it as the “eighth chakra,” like a light above you that’s always present, connected, and aware. whether you see it that way or not, your higher self is essentially your core truth; the part of you that feels aligned, grounded, and deeply connected to something greater. it holds a wider perspective, one that isn’t limited by past experiences or current emotions. it allows you to step back and see your life through a lens of understanding instead of judgment, and from that place, you’re able to move with more clarity, more trust, and more intention. spiritual growth, in a lot of ways, is just the process of returning to that space more often, choosing awareness over reaction, truth over fear, and presence over control. over the past few days, you’ve met different parts of yourself. your inner child feels. your shadow reacts. your protector protects. your persona adapts. but your higher self… knows. it’s the part of you that can witness all of these without being consumed by them, the part that can hold everything at once and still choose how you want to show up. spiritual growth is about remembering that this version of you has always been there. and the more you learn to listen to it, the more grounded and aligned you start to feel in your everyday life. one of the simplest ways to connect with your higher self is by quieting the mind and creating space to listen. 🪴 exercise: - find a quiet place (outside if you can) - sit in silence for a few minutes - focus on your breath - let your thoughts come and go without attaching

yesterday we met a softer part of you. today we’re meeting the part that’s harder to see. i like to think of the psyche as a seesaw. on one end is your ego- the version of you that you’re aware of, the one you identify with, the one you show the world. on the other end is your shadow- the parts of you you don’t fully see, the parts that were pushed down, hidden, or left in the dark. the goal isn’t to get rid of one or the other, it’s to stay in balance. because when we stay too identified with our ego, who we think we are, the seesaw may tip, and when the shadow comes up it can feel intense. you might react in ways that surprise you, feel emotions that don’t match the moment, or see a side of yourself that makes you feel deeply ashamed; especially because you didn’t know it was there. your shadow isn’t something bad, it’s just unseen. and the more it stays unseen, the more power it has over you. so the point isn’t to eliminate it, it’s to slowly bring awareness to it. to recognize: this is also apart of who i am. and over time that awareness turns into acceptance, and that acceptance is what allows you to show up more honestly, fully, and more aligned with yourself. so... how do you keep your seesaw in balance? you start by catching yourself. catch the moments where something small triggers a bigger reaction. when you feel yourself getting irritated, defensive, insecure, or thrown off. instead of reacting right away… pause. take a couple deep breaths. don’t judge what you’re feeling. don’t try to fix it immediately. just notice it, let it move through you, and when you’re ready, get curious about it. you can come up with your own process for working with your shadow, there is no right way to do this. there are so many ways to explore these parts of you. it’s really about what works for you and what helps you stay honest with yourself. 🌗 so i invite you to share in the comments below: 🖤 what are ways you’ve worked with your shadow in the past, and what has actually helped you?

the protector is often the voice of your shadow, and its main priority is to keep you safe. it might sound like “don’t wear that, people will laugh,” “you shouldn’t share this, it’s not ready,” or “they’re staring at you because they’re judging you.” it creates stories without real evidence to keep you in your comfort zone, favoring what’s familiar because anything outside of that can feel unsafe. it doesn’t introduce itself as “protection,” it shows up as patterns: overthinking before you speak, diluting yourself so you don’t say the wrong thing, people-pleasing to avoid conflict, shutting down when something feels overwhelming, or trying to control how you’re perceived. it’s the part of you that says, “if i do this (or don’t do this)… i’ll be okay.” and truthfully, at some point in your life, it probably did protect you. maybe it kept you from overreacting, navigating a difficult situation, or staying safe in an environment that was hard to adapt in. so it’s not necessarily the enemy, but when left unchecked, it can keep you from taking risks and slowly disconnect you from your self-trust. for example, if you always listen when it says “don’t share your art,” you start reinforcing the belief that you’re not good enough. i notice this in myself a lot as an artist, but instead of letting that voice control my decisions, i’ve learned to re-frame it: “my work will be appreciated by whoever it’s meant for.” the protector will always be there, but it’s up to you to decide what it gets to protect and what it no longer needs to control. ⚔️ exercise: name your protector give your protector a name or character. it could be: - “the overthinker” - “the safety officer” - “the critic” - or something funny like “paranoid peter” 😭 throughout the day, when it shows up, just notice: “oh… there goes ___ talking.” share what you came up with below and what it tries to protect you from!!

my first question for you is: when you hear the words “inner child”… what comes to mind? i’ve noticed we all define it differently. whatever comes up for you matters more than you think because it usually reflects something deeper. if you think of freedom: how free do you feel right now? if you think of play: are you actually making space and time for what you enjoy? if you think of curiosity: when was the last time you let your mind wander without judging it? your inner child is the part of you that first learned how the world works. how to receive love, whether it was safe or not to express yourself, if your emotions were welcomed or dismissed. it didn’t have language yet, so it learned through feeling and eventually those feelings became patterns. the way you react when you feel ignored, the way you overthink after being vulnerable, the way you shrink, people-please, or protect yourself without even realizing it. but it’s also where your essence lives: your curiosity, your creativity, your natural way of being before it was shaped. sometimes what we associate with our inner child is actually what we’ve been missing. so today isn’t about analyzing it, but instead stepping back into that world, even if it’s just for a moment. exercise: 🎧 revisit your world: go back to something you loved as a kid: a song, show, game, place, toy, hobby, word… even a smell or a food. let yourself experience it again, even briefly. 💭 notice what comes up for you emotionally without trying to explain it or make sense of it ✨ if you feel called, share: - what you revisited - and what it made you feel even one word is enough!

hi alchemists🤍 we’re starting something a little deeper beginning tomorrow… a 5-day exploration into the different parts of you. you are not just one fixed identity. you are layered, complex, and constantly shifting. made up of different versions of yourself that have all been shaped by your experiences, emotions, and your past. some parts feel easy to love. others… not so much. but all of them are you. for the next few days, we’re going to gently explore these parts through reflection and creativity, not to judge or “fix” anything, but to understand and integrate. each day, you’ll receive: - an archetype to explore - a reflection prompt - and a way to express it (writing, art, voice, anything that feels natural) this is something we’re doing together. so whatever comes up… you’re invited to share it here. this is a safe space. ✨ if you’re joining, comment & answer this question: 💭 what part of you are you most curious about right now? i’ll be doing this with you too🪄