Jeremy Crow asked on twitter, “Do you believe we each have a Higher Self? If so, what are the qualities of yours?” Since I like to explain away spiritual things with rationality, I answered, “I think people create fictional characters that, in their subconscious, take on a life of their own. A higher self would be one.” But that doesn’t really answer the question. A higher self is part of a multiple-selves model of the psyche such as Freud’s Superego-Ego-Id. I haven’t really subscribed to such a model, but later on I dreamed one up that I think corresponds more to my own psyche. So here are some fictional characters that I just made up.
Dragon
The Dragon represents the innermost layer. This is the deepest drive, the reason for being. When harnessed, the Dragon layer is a source of unlimited power. “Harness” is a bad word, because it does not take kindly to being restrained. But one can come to an understanding with it, learn to flow with it, and maybe it will take you for a ride. The Dragon seeks to acquire a hoard, and protect it territorially. Once it has that hoard, its impulse is to curl up on top of it and sleep for a millenium or two. What is it hoarding? Assuming this model applies to other people, it’s whatever you are most driven to acquire. Traditionally, gold. For me, knowledge (or some conglomerate of knowledge-experience-novelty). Perhaps there’s more than one dragon with more than one kind of hoard.
Wizard
The Dragon hoards its treasure but is not very discerning. It just wants what it wants, and acquires it if it’s within view. The Wizard on the other hand studies the treasure’s secrets. Some of this treasure is enchanted (or is made, itself, of enchantment). This enchanted nature is tricky. Treating some treasure in the right way can increase the hoard or make it disappear. The Wizard’s job is to manage this enchantment. Inner discipline.
Footsoldier
There is a lot more to the realm than the highest ideal. That is where the Footsoldier comes in. He suffers the grunt work and enjoys the day-to-day pleasures of life. But in terms of the good of the realm, he is pretty much a conscript, doing what is necessary and no more. That’s where the Knight comes in.
Knight
The Knight has a sense of duty and honor, and he would gladly take on the daily grunt work and more if necessary. But there are few Knights and many Footsoldiers, so his job is to train and manage the Footsoldiers, and hopefully inspire them. In real terms this corresponds to setting up good habits or procedures while in this higher-energy consciousness so that in the lower energy consciousness of the Footsoldier, things run smoothly. Outer discipline.
Ego
The ego, or subjective self, moves among these archetypes, usually inhabiting one at a time. Initially, most of the time is spent in Footsoldier consciousness, with occasional spikes of Dragon acquisitiveness. As the psyche becomes more developed, Knight and Wizard consciousnesses become more common.
Corresponding to Freud’s system, Dragon and Footsoldier make up the Id, while Knight and Wizard make up the Superego. In the Rao-McCleod heirarchy, the Footsoldiers are Losers, Knights are Clueless, and Dragons and Wizards are Sociopaths. Going back to Jeremy’s question, Dragon would be the “highest” self in terms of an organizational hierarchy, but these archetypes make more sense as inner vs. outer. Higher as pure and good doesn’t really apply. Dragon is at the core, with Wizard, then Knight, then Footsoldier forming concentric rings. They might shift, but this is their lowest energy state (at least for me).