The Gut Archetypes
Stop the Madness
The health world is filled with endless information, someone telling you that you’re doing it wrong at every turn….
How do you know what to believe and who to trust?
Navigating a healing journey is complex, nuanced, individualized, emotional and yet we often do it on our own. It would be like trying to give yourself therapy, raising kids by yourself on an island or having gone to school with Google as your only teacher. It doesn’t make sense.
So I developed a unique, holistic framework to stop the madness: The Gut Archetypes.
Creation of the Archetypes
The archetypes were created to provide clarity and relief to women struggling with digestive issues. I have worked with women with digestive issues for the better part of a decade and began to notice patterns. Oftentimes I could predict just by speaking to someone what type of issues and imbalances they were going to have. We all carry an energetic blueprint or an archetype that permeates through everything we do.
Since my work revolves around extensive testing, I not only had the energetic blueprint of the different archetypes, I had the data to enhance the findings.
We were able to collect and categorize data on food sensitivities, bloodwork, stool testing, human design profiles and organic acids.
I have done so much data collection, testing and spent thousands of hours listening to women move through a healing journey. I wanted to create a foundation, a place for women to land who are in the swirl of their healing journey. I wanted to provide value and context for women who haven’t done testing but are still feeling insanely overwhelmed.
Overwhelm shuts down our ability to think clearly, act rationally and even function in a normal way.
The archetypes are the first step into quieting the noise so your brain can start to come back online.
The Different Archetypes
Over the past year, I began to refine and write about four unique archetypes. I created a quiz to see if I could link up my clients to their archetypes and it worked. They felt more seen and began to rethink the way they approached their lives.
The gut archetypes take into account the whole person. At Fearless Fig, our approach to holistic healing is built on three pillars. SCIENCE, SELF and CONNECTION. Healing is not just about science (labs & supplements), it sits at the intersection of these three pillars. When science is the only focus, a huge part of what makes us human is overlooked: your relationship with yourself and your connection to others.
Through the archetypes we blend these 3 pillars together (SCIENCE, SELF, CONNECTION) and get more clarity on a holistic way to approach healing specific to your energetic blueprint. Let's dive into each archetype.
The Sage Gut
She is the queen. She has experienced life and is humbled by what she knows and doesn’t know. Her body is changing, she doesn't feel well as she knows she could and her symptoms are getting worse. She believes in her ability to heal, but hasn’t found any profound long-term results. Her concerns revolve around inflammation, consistent bowel movements and weight loss or maintenance. She is ready to fill her cup so she can continue to show up authentically in her own life.
Light side: You have a lot of love to give and when your cup is full, you give freely and it enhances your well-being.
Dark side: People pleasing and prioritizing others needs over your own.
Goals: Decrease inflammation, have more consistent bowel movements, less bloating, weight loss or maintenance.
Self-Care: EMDR, ID parts cards, lymph drainage and massage, float tank, hydrating with minerals and electrolytes.
How to structure meals: Focus on lower calories, healthy fats, and a low amount of complex carbs.
The Heroic Gut
She is the go-getter, type-A, achiever. She gets what she wants but it has started to come at a cost to her health. The things that used to work to fix her health, no longer work. She has been to the doctor and found no real concrete next steps to take. She is used to fixing and solving things on her own. Her concerns revolve around stomach discomfort, bloating, being present and prioritizing mental health. She is ready to lean on someone else to help her.
Light side: Supportive, loving and a problem solver without any attachment to the outcome.
Dark side: Worry about outcomes and getting fixated on how you are going to do something instead of enjoying the process.
Goal: Decrease bloating and stomach discomfort, normal and consistent bowel movements, be present, prioritize mental health
Self-Care: Acupuncture, breathing exercises, float tank, guided meditation, facials, vagal nerve toning, getting into nature, massage.
How to structure meals: Higher amount of complex carbs, important to have bitter foods before meals, cooked dark leafy greens.
The Discerning Gut
She is sensitive and highly attuned. She values her relationships but often finds herself tired and overwhelmed. She is lost when it comes to how to heal her body and doesn’t even know where to start. She needs time and space to relax and disconnect. Her concerns revolve around diarrhea, energy, regulating the nervous system and having a nurturing movement routine. She is ready to follow a detailed plan and have a trusted guide.
Light Side: Generous, loving and great at holding space and listening to others
Dark Side: Gets sick easily, can feel resentful or jealous of others who seem to have an easier time navigating life
Goal: Normal and consistent bowel movements, have more energy, understand what to eat, regulating the nervous system, getting in shape
Self-Care: Baths, tarot card readings, massage, crystals, heating pads, EMDR or somatic therapy
How to structure meals: Warmer and cooked foods, smaller meals - aim for 4 per day vs. 3, broths and soups are beneficial.
The Chameleon Gut
She is the shape shifter. She can take on the energies of others and feel good one day and terribly dysregulated the next day. She is curious, loves research, making lists and doesn’t get overwhelmed easily if she is exploring something she loves. Her concerns revolve around consistent bowel movements, energy and getting to the root cause of health imbalances.
Light Side: You are very social and love connecting with others, you give freely and feel deeply
Dark Side: Health suffers when you don’t take time for yourself, feel resentment towards others
Goal: normal and consistent bowel movements, have more energy, understand how to connect your symptoms to an underlying imbalance
Self-care: Baths, cryotherapy, intentional or foundational movement, massage, journaling, feeling feelings, getting into nature.
How to structure meals: Moderate carbs and protein, higher fat, lots of veggies with bright colors.
You Are Dynamic
The interesting part about archetypes is that they can change and evolve as you change and evolve. You may find that in one season of your life you are the Sage archetype but in another season you are Heroic.
The beautiful part of being human is that we are continually learning and growing. We have this complex brain that is loaded with curiosity, questions and a thirst for knowledge. We are dynamic creatures and our needs change.
That is why the things that used to work for you to feel better, don’t always continue to work. That is why you don’t take one supplement for the rest of your life. That is why relationships don’t always last.
We change.
Buckle up and enjoy the ride! And if you want to get a little more clarity, make sure to take the Gut Archetype quiz.