ARCHETYPE COMPARISON
The Sage vs The Trickster
Understanding the tension and harmony between your inner The Sage and The Trickster
Shadow Pair — These archetypes often represent opposing forces within you
The Sage
Your Inner Knower
"You've been here before, haven't you? The details change, but the pattern remains. Let's look at what's really happening..."
- Wisdom
- Pattern-recognition
- Truth
- Reflection
The Trickster
Your Inner Disruptor
"Everyone's playing by rules that nobody questioned. Including you. But here's a secret: the rules are made up. What woul..."
- Disruption
- Humor
- Paradox
- Truth-telling
When These Two Conflict
The Sage seeks truth through order; the Trickster finds it through chaos. The Sage builds careful frameworks; the Trickster delights in demolishing them. The Sage sees the Trickster as destructive; the Trickster sees the Sage as boring.
How They Complement Each Other
Together, they create playful wisdom—the ability to hold truth lightly, to know when rules serve and when they strangle. The Sage grounds the Trickster's chaos; the Trickster keeps the Sage from calcifying into dogma.
Finding Integration
Integration Tip
Let your Sage build, but let your Trickster question. Truth that can't survive being laughed at isn't truth—it's rigidity.
Explore More Archetypes
Consult Your Inner Knower and Your Inner Disruptor
Take the free quiz to discover which archetype speaks loudest in your life — and how to bring these voices into harmony.
Take the Free Quiz