The archetypal cave is the womb of Mother Earth. It is a place of incubation, birth, death, and rebirth. It represents refuge, hibernation, and rest.

In a journey, it is the liminal space between the surface world and the underworld. Seekers can become lost amongst the many chambers and winding paths of the cave, trapped under the heaviness of stone and limited perspectives that no longer serve them. But this experience can become an initiation to alchemize those perspectives and emerge from the spiritual quest transformed.

How do you experience the cave archetype? I’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments below.

New to archetypes? Check out the Introduction to Archetypes post which goes into greater depth on what archetypes are and how to use them.