I talk about Caroline Myss again and her perspective on archetypes and why it is so important to understand them and use them to see the "big picture".  When we can rise above the chaos and uncertainty of our immediate situation and sit back and look at the different forces/archetypes in play, we can realize that nothing about our situation needs to be taken personally.  It's a power struggle in one form or another that has been played out over and over throughout time.  Learn the dynamics relative to the particular struggle we are in and we can see our way out/the solution.  Using archetypes simplifies situations that normally seem muddy and confusing.  They are a very useful tool to have.