The Outcast Archetype

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Upright Meanings: caution, prudence, soul searching, introspection, withdrawal, vigilance, spiritual enlightenment, inner guidance, self-reflection, contemplation, inner strength

The Outcast is a seeker for the knowledge that comes from within. A lonely wanderer in the path of the night, he searches for that which can only be gained with long periods of solitude – the inner voice. To hear it, he must disconnect from the crowds whose voices and desires threaten to overcome his own. He walks through the dark night of his unconscious, guided only by the low light of the northern star, with his destination being his home, his self.

Reversed Meanings: hastiness, withdrawal, rashness, paranoia, isolation, foolishness, immaturity, loneliness, imprudence, bring reclusive, restrictive, anti-social

When reversed, you are perhaps in a situation where you’d like to be alone; there is nothing wrong about that. However, there is a possibility that your seclusion may become harmful to both yourself and others. Though The Outcast sets forwards with noble intentions to search for his inner truth, his path inward may also be filled with great danger. Going inward may lead to madness and the abyss, for the unconscious is filled with images that he may not yet understand, lurking and waiting to lure you ever inside. Like a man that gets lost in his own dreams, The Outcast may find himself stuck in a world of his own, alone, trapped, unreal. You must learn to balance your need for truth with connection to your fellow human.