The Mirror & The Mystic For The Midlife Reset

While writing a recent article on Midlife Identity Shift, I drew two cards from The Wild Unknown Archetypes deck. I’m looking to go deeper into myth and metaphor as I support myself and the women in my community navigating the second half century of life.

I thought it would be interesting to see what archetypes would inform the topic of this midlife reset. It’s often referred to as a “crisis” but is really a threshold.

The first card I drew was The Mirror. This tool in the guidebook is described as a portal into another realm. Apt. The creator of this incredible deck, Kim Krans, wrote, “The energy of The Mirror is all about self-perception.” This is what identity is - the stories we tell ourselves about who we are. 

“The Mirror contains trickster energy. Put the phone down, stop with the comparisons, and let The Mirror stand empty for a while. Rest with the one inside.” 

~from Kim Krans Wild Unknown Archetypes deck

Do you have goose bumps too? I’m intentionally seeking and being open to synchronicities, prompts, hunches, deja vu - all communication from the non-physical. It’s there. And, it’s funny to see how incredibly accurate and relevant it is when we choose to tune in. Drawing The Mirror card with the intention of informing an article I was writing on identity is a great example of the humor, wit and laser truth of The Divine - or however you want to name Source Energy. 

The Mirror invites us to take an unflinching look at who we are when the masks come off. You may even want to look into a mirror and hold this question, “Who am I, really?” When we truly see ourselves, we’re changed. And as I wrote in the previous article, we can’t change until our identity changes. Outer shifts are only sustainable when they’re rooted in inner transformation. It’s not enough to change the behavior, the job, the habits, or even the environment—unless those changes are anchored in a deeper identity shift. The Mirror can show us who we are becoming at this deeper level. 

The second card I drew to spark insight for my article on Midlife Identity Shift was The Mystic. This one beautifully speaks to the topic as well. The guidebook that accompanies this deck uses words like “visionary”, “ageless”, and “dedicated to the path of transformation”. The author adds, “They are patient and prudent changemakers, seeking growth above all else.” Sounds like midlife to me. 

I think of The Crone as the classic archetype for the elder wise woman. Though this term has been distorted to conjure the image of an old hag, the root of this word is “corona” or, crown. It indicates a well-resourced woman who has experienced it all.

The Crone and The Mystic do share sacred territory. But I feel like The Crone is the more established version and The Mystic is in the liminal space of becoming The Crone. Again, so perfect for the process of midlife identity shift. 

If you’ve got a teen in your life, they may also benefit from exploring The Mystic archetype as they spend an uncomfortably long time in the liminal space between adolescence and adulthood. 

There’s an alchemical process in shedding one way of being and becoming another version of you. I also find a bit of playfulness with The Mystic. This card gives permission to dive into dream work and live in a deeper relationship with spirit, truth and mystery. 

The Mystic walks the line between worlds and that’s what it can feel like for an aging woman living in a society that’s obsessed with youth. This is a time when structures you’ve built may no longer serve, and yet what’s next is not fully formed. Who better as a guide than The Mystic?

The images on these archetype cards, along with tarot cards and other oracle decks, meet an image, memory, or belief in our own psyche, pulling it forth for understanding, insight and transformation. I don’t see them as fortune telling. They open doorways but do not predict the future. I’ve been using these types of decks since I was a teenager and it feels good to be engaging with them more consistently again.

Drawing this type of a card to inspire creative writing is one of many case uses in business. I’ve also used them to get greater insight on a potential collaborator, to help get clarity on a big decision and to get a prompt for the focus of that day’s work. 

Do you have a deck in your home? Something you bought or were gifted, perhaps a long time ago? When was the last time you used it? Pull it out if you feel inspired. Let a question form gently in your heart, shuffle and see what wants to reveal itself. There’s no right or wrong way to do it. Let the archetypal images pull forth insights and ahh has as you develop or re-connect with your own inner wisdom.