The Innocent
The Innocent - As represented by the calm and resilient three-toed sloth
As the the Innocent, you are driven by a need to find contentment, gifted with the power of faith. Some may scoff at those who fall under this archetype, but of the three Seekers, your gift is one of the most powerful: you can find peace and hope in almost any situation.
Peace, harmony, and living a chill and fulfilling life is your greatest desire. But as someone who is internally focused, and driven by this need for contentment, don’t allow this to make you complacent with setting goals. Be sure to not guard yourself from experience, because true happiness comes through exposing yourself to new experiences and finding the hope and faith in even the greatest darkness.
The world has likely not always been kind to you, but let the knowledge of falling within this archetype be an ember of hope and warmth in a cold world. Because what many are seeking their entire lives, you have within you inherently. Find the balance between keeping the peace and hope within your heart and opening it up as a comfort for others. A broken heart is always a danger for any Innocent, but you’ll find that even broken, you’re still free.
While it is true that this is likely the most common of the Archetypes people might find themselves in, the Innocent does not have any less value than any of the others. In fact, those who may scoff at any who are of the Innocent Archetype show their own ignorance. For though some may call the Innocent boring, fail to see the rich inner lives of the Innocent.
There is a purity to the Innocent that does not find itself easily in others. The desire to look up at the stars at night, to smell the bark of a tree, to pay attention to the feeling of cool raindrops on your skin are all tendencies of the Innocent. There is a fullness to their lives that they both crave and find with ease.
But that means in a world like ours, that the Innocent is often easily disappointed. When others fail to see the merit in the life the Innocent cultivates for themselves, choosing instead to live in disharmony, it can hurt the hearts of the Innocent who cares about this person.
There is a sincerity to the Innocent that is refreshing and needed. They have a sense of wonder, a craving for happiness, and a tendency towards a simple life. The Innocent who is still learning to be self assured in a world such as ours may occasionally feel insecure about their lack of ambition. Especially when compared to others they may meet in the workplace, who won’t understand their desire to work only to live a comfortable life, who don’t care about promotions, and would rather live in harmony than in the “fast-paced” job market. When the Innocent allows themselves to get caught up in the “rat race” they are living out of balance and will burn out quickly.
The attributes of the Innocent are often contagious. When mindful people gather together, if there is an Innocent among them, they’ll all begin taking on aspects of the Innocent’s tendencies. This is a refreshing and necessary thing for our world today. Spend enough time with the Innocent and you will enjoy an abundance of warmth, trust, and intimacy in your relationship with them.
Hobbits in Middle-Earth are the quintessential representations of this archetype. While the other races of Middle-Earth are marked by other attributes that aren’t altogether bad, Tolkien in creating the Hobbits wanted to illustrate how important the Innocents are in keeping the world a safe place. They cultivate, find harmony, and enjoy the simple things wherever they go. Take pride in your being within this archtype.
REMEMBER – The great Innocents of the world are anything but naive. But where others can grow overwhelmed at the chaos of life, the Innocents can see the beauty in it. When they are most at ease, they are stargazers that see silver linings even in the dark. They are a warm blanket by a winter fire providing comfort and all are invited. Don’t lose your spark in a world that looks down upon you, even as they crave what comes naturally to you.
Other Notable Innocents in Fiction: Samwise Gamgee (the Lord of the Rings), Jane Bingley (Pride & Prejudice), Michelangelo (Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles), Luna Lovegood (Harry Potter), Elliot (Mariana the Moon Girl)
To continue to the second part of the ritual . . .