When we think of heroes, we often picture Warriors. These Warriors leave a place where they feel stuck and go on a journey to find something important. On their way, they have to face and defeat many challenges, like dragons. They are brave, believe in doing what's right, and are willing to risk their lives to protect their home, their honor, or those who need help.
Goal: Win, get own way, make a difference through struggle
Fear: Weakness, powerlessness, impotence, ineptitude
Response to Dragon/Problem: Slay, defeat, or convert it
Task: High-level assertiveness; fighting for what really matters
Gift: Courage, discipline, skill
Everyone has a Warrior inside them that pushes us to be brave, strong, and honest. It helps us set goals and keep going until we reach them. It also gives us the strength to stand up for ourselves or others when we need to. This Warrior part makes us promise to always be true to ourselves. Warriors stick to their own beliefs and values, even if it means losing money or friends. When they compete, they try their best to win, but they also make sure to play fair.
Being a Warrior means taking control of our lives, finding where we fit in the world, and trying to make the world better. Warriors look at what’s wrong in their lives or the world and try to fix it, either by being strong or by convincing others. They’re tough enough to not let people push them around and to get what they want.
Having a strong inner Warrior is super important to protect ourselves. Just like a kingdom needs brave and skilled warriors to keep out enemies, we need our inner Warrior to stop others from taking advantage of us or crossing our personal lines. Our society is full of competition—like in sports, politics, law, business, and school—which all need Warrior traits.
Even though war isn’t a good way for countries to solve problems, the Warrior idea isn’t bad. We just need to use it smarter. We still need to protect ourselves and our communities, but instead of fighting with weapons, we can use our brains, the law, or get others to help us. This way, we can stop harmful people without being like them.
Overcoming the Enemy
The Warrior story shows how brave people can beat evil. It’s in all the tales of great Warriors who faced dragons, mean rulers, or tough times, and by doing so, saved themselves and others, especially those who couldn’t fight back. These stories always have a hero, a bad guy, and someone who needs saving.
Sometimes the winner is a wise leader, like Alexander the Great, Napoleon, or George Washington. Other times, it’s a young, small person, like David beating Goliath, who takes down a bigger bully.
People often see Warriors as a guy thing. There’s confusion between being “macho” and being a Warrior. A real Warrior fights to help and lift up others and treats people with respect. A macho person just wants to feel better than others and might keep them down, even if they’re protecting them from someone else.
In the past, people thought men should be Warriors and women should take care of others. But there have always been awesome women Warriors, like the Amazons in stories, and real ones like Susan B. Anthony, Elizabeth Cady Stanton, and Sojourner Truth, who fought for equal rights. Any woman who wants fairness or her own identity needs her inner Warrior.
Whenever we stand up to someone unfair—like a boss or teacher—or protect someone from harm, we’re being Warriors. Every time we risk something big for what’s right, we’re living the good part of the Warrior story. It’s what pushes people everywhere to fight for freedom.
The Warrior story says evil, unfairness, and lies are real. But if we’re smart, brave, and get help, we can beat them. It also says we should look out for those who can’t protect themselves, not just ourselves. We shouldn’t hurt others more than needed with weapons, words, or actions. We should use the least force possible to keep everyone safe.
Anytime we stand up to unfair power or protect someone, we’re being Warriors.
The Negative Warrior
For every Warrior fighting unfairness, there’s one trying to keep it. But not all bad Warriors are evil.
The Warrior gets a bad name because some act rude or mean. We know people who make everything a fight or push others to join their cause. That’s when the Warrior controls them instead of them controlling it.
Some new Warriors aren’t good at it yet. They get mad and fight over every little thing they don’t like, like it’s life or death.
Some Warriors only see winners, losers, and people to save. They think you’re one or the other. Like teachers who say competition is the only way to learn, doctors who fight sickness so hard patients feel worse, or businesspeople who ignore their family to win big deals.
This one-track mind can cause trouble. Seeing everything as heroes, villains, and victims means there’s always bad guys and people needing help, just so heroes feel big. The bad Warrior thinks it’s not okay to be normal—you have to be better than others. If you’re the best, others aren’t, and that’s not okay to them.
When it’s really bad, Warriors don’t care about others or what’s right. They just want to be on top. Today, lots of people in business or politics compete, but not for good reasons. They want money, fame, or power and will cheat or lie to get it. They’re villains, not heroes.
Warriors choose between helping the world or controlling it. Bad ones, like Hitler or Darth Vader, think anyone in their way should be crushed or controlled. They might protect some, but only if they obey completely. This happens when a country takes over another, a boss is mean to workers, or a husband bosses his wife.
Power can be risky and lead to bad choices. Many so-called Warriors today aren’t real ones. They’re scared people trying to feel strong by controlling others. They’re fake Warriors.
Bad Warriors need to feel for others and believe in good again to become real, strong Warriors.
The Making of a Warrior
The Warrior is big today but not always liked because we need a better version. Good Warriors fight for big things, not just themselves—like saving the planet. They fight in ways that help everyone, seeing all people as teammates, not just their group. The real enemies are ignorance, poverty, greed, and small thinking.
We start by learning to protect ourselves and get what we want. Being a Warrior or a caregiver helps us grow up. Without one, we stay like kids inside.
The dreamer in us has big ideas. The hurt part sees the problems. But without the Warrior, those dreams don’t happen unless we’re lucky. The Warrior makes a plan and sticks to it or steps back if needed.
Warriors with a strong dreamer part don’t fight over everything—just what matters, like their values, not stuff. If they’re okay with their hurt side, they don’t need to be tough all the time or make others tough. They can work as equals. If they’re good caregivers too, they fight for others, not just themselves.
When all parts of us are strong, the Warrior fights only when it’s needed. But if other parts are weak, the Warrior gets selfish and just wants to survive.
If you only think like a Warrior, every problem looks huge, and you think you must fight or run. That’s a hard way to live. It’s about bravery, and we learn it there, even if we don’t stay long.
Scared people can’t protect themselves and need others to do it, even if it costs their freedom. Long ago, men were the Warriors, and women gave up control for safety. Some men were good protectors, but others hurt those they saw as weak. Women stayed because they couldn’t imagine being on their own.
In old times, moms cared, dads fought, and kids obeyed. If dad was the only fighter and turned bad, or left, the family was stuck. If mom was the only carer and got sick, it fell apart. Today, we think everyone should grow all parts so no one depends too much on one person.
Even now, men often find fighting easier, and women find caring easier. That’s from old habits and maybe nature. It’s tricky when women work in competitive jobs and men want to be close to family.
The Warrior helps us find who we are, not what others say. Without it, we can’t know ourselves. It guards us from others’ demands.
The dreamer feels connected to all. The hurt part feels alone and weak. The Warrior sets our lines and keeps them safe.
The Warrior’s Journey
Wanna-be Warriors start feeling weak, trapped by others’ rules. In fairy tales, heroes are stuck with mean witches or stepparents. Many feel trapped not just as kids but all their lives. The trick is not turning into the bad guys.
Until we set our own rules, others do it for us. We might feel held back but can’t break free yet. Parents and schools set limits. As kids inside, that feels safe if it’s not too harsh. But when we want to be free, those rules feel like jail, and we push back.
Best case, parents and schools give more freedom as we grow. By the time we leave home or a job, we can make our own rules. But if they treat us like kids forever, or punish us for not obeying, or give no rules, we act out or leave too soon.
Levels of the Warrior
Shadow: Ruthlessness, unprincipled and obsessive need to win, use of power for conquest, a view of all difference as a threat
Call: Confrontation of a great challenge or obstacle
Level One: Fight for self or others to win or prevail (anything goes)
Level Two: Principled fight for self or others; abiding by rules of a fair fight or competition; altruistic intent
Level Three: Forthright assertiveness; fighting or competition for what really matters (not simply personal gain); little or no need for violence; preference for win/win solutions; conflict honestly aired; increased communication, honesty
Until we know our limits, we feel trapped. When we try to be ourselves, we think everyone will hate us. At first, we might attack others’ ideas, making them mad. Later, we see it was our fighting, not our strength, that caused trouble.
It’s extra hard for women told strong girls scare guys. Everyone hears “don’t make waves.” When we speak up, it’s weak or loud because we’ve been quiet so long. Women often fight for others first, then themselves. Men might care to reach goals like family.
New Warriors hide or step back to stay safe. Hiding means no one can attack our ideas. We wait to fight until we’re ready and strong.
Stepping back makes sense. If someone’s too strong, we wait and get tougher. Kids, teens, or adults might retreat if others are too mean. Some never try again if it hurts too much.
Usually, people step back and plan. Kids wait till school’s done. Adults stay in bad jobs till they learn more. Don’t feel bad for waiting—you’re getting ready.
Smart Warriors pick their fights and train first. We learn to control ourselves. But we all need courage to act.
Some fight from the start—siblings, parents, teachers. They get good but learn to pick battles.
Good Warriors know what they want and fight for it. Being clear and nice about it is key.
You don’t always have to tell everyone. Just know what you want, do it, and stay focused. Later, tweak plans with advice, not your goal.
Some rarely lose. If praised, they keep going. But no challenge can make them selfish. A loss can break them.
If winning’s too easy, you can’t tell what’s important. The selfish winner and the scared quiet one both don’t know themselves. Struggle helps us find what matters.
Becoming a High-Level Warrior
Top Warriors fight their own laziness, negativity, or denial first. Facing those makes them wise for outside fights.
The world’s tough, so be strong and pick fights wisely. Skilled Warriors don’t fight everything—just what counts.
Top Warriors fight inside stuff like laziness or despair.
Warriors plan goals and how to beat problems or people in their way. Low-level ones see enemies to crush, even kill, without guilt.
High-level Warriors get others to help. They know how groups work and wait for support. Fighting’s last—they try tricks or talks first. They can lose and learn.
Winning isn’t always fighting—it’s the goal. Good Warriors wait, plan, and move when ready. One woman left a fight she couldn’t win and won bigger later.
The best Warriors win quietly, with no hurt feelings. Peace comes when all feel fair.
Top Warriors earn respect for being tough and smart. They fight when needed or find peace. They like a challenge but avoid it if smart.
Warriors shape ideas by knocking others down, feeling better than them.
They like simple right and wrong. Today’s world isn’t simple, so they need honesty in confusion.
Now, Warriors decide when nothing’s clear. They ask, “What’s right for me, us, everyone?”
Knowing we all see differently helps them find wins for all. If I’m right for me and you’re right for you, we don’t have to clash.
But good Warriors stop bad acts. They balance respecting differences with fixing harm.
Low Warriors fight dirty to destroy. Better ones play fair to win, not hurt. Top ones aim for everyone’s good.
When it’s just about ego, they compete to be best. When it’s deeper, their wins help all, especially if they listen.
Great Warriors win by giving what they’re meant to. Everyone wins then.
Widening Spirals
Warriors guard society and nature. If forests die or drugs spread, they’re not helping all. If we can’t stop bad habits, our Warrior’s weak.
Society works when Warriors care for all kids and the good of everyone. Some fight for nature, food, homes, rules, or fairness.
Some can’t help others; some won’t help themselves. Strong Warriors protect more—self, family, society, planet.
True bravery, says Chogyam Trungpa, is never giving up on anyone. Top Warriors save the world with courage and kindness next.
Exercises
Think about how the Warrior shows up in your life.
- How much or how little is the Warrior expressed in your life? Has it been expressed more in the past or present? Do you see it emerging more in your future? Is it expressed more at work, at home, with friends, in dreams or fantasies?
- Who are some friends, relatives, co-workers, and others who seem influenced by the archetype of the Warrior?
- Is there anything you wish were different about the expression of the Warrior in your life?
- Since each archetype expresses itself in many different ways, take some time to describe or otherwise portray (e.g., draw, make a collage, use a picture of yourself in a particular costume or pose) the Warrior as it is expressed or could be expressed in your life.
What does or would it look like? How does or would it act? In what setting does or would it feel most at home?
Daydreams
Picture something you really want—a thing, person, honor, or fixing something wrong. Imagine fighting hard to get it with all you’ve got—guns or words or guilt trips. Fight as long as it takes. If that feels wrong, it’s just a dream. When you win, enjoy it and feel what comes up.
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