Power Dynamics, Archetypes in Power Relationships – How to Recognize Them
- Enrico Fonte
- Oct 31
- 6 min read
Understanding and untangling power archetypes in everyday life
What is power – and how does it show up in the body? Power has been studied in sociology for over a century. Max Weber distinguished between traditional, charismatic, and legal-rational forms of power.
Later, French & Raven described differentiated types such as reward power, legitimate power, expert power, and informational power. Michel Foucault emphasized that power does not simply flow from the top down – it is present in every relationship, every gaze, every movement.
Pierre Bourdieu also highlighted the role of the body as a “carrier” of social capital – and thus of visible or silent power.
In BodyMind Therapy, power is not just a concept but an embodied reality. Archetypal energies shape how we take up space, form relationships, experience dominance, or avoid responsibility.
Below you'll find an overview of how power dynamics can be recognized in everyday life – when certain archetypes are activated in yourself or others. The perspective is consciously body-based, relational, and oriented toward both inner and outer dynamics.
Inner Animal (Beige – Biological Survival Power)
Recognizable by:
sudden tension or withdrawal in the body under intense stress or danger
reflex actions like protection, hitting, biting
even with words – or complete shutdown
focus on basic needs: protection, safety, defense, rage
frequent states of hyperarousal – the body is trapped in sympathetic stress mode
In power dynamics:
When this energy dominates, it's about raw survival. Power is expressed through control over basic needs. Whoever controls the “resources” holds the power.
Shadow in relationships:
The body remains stuck in survival mode (instincts and drives). Nuanced communication or social connection becomes impossible. Others are unconsciously perceived as threats – power becomes a matter of access or retreat. The world turns into a fight-or-flight arena.
Everyday example:
Black Friday violence, toilet paper panic during COVID, looting during natural disasters – instinctive, not strategic.
Shaman (Purple – Spiritual-Traditional Power)
Recognizable by:
recurring rituals, authority through ancestral or "old" knowledge
use of stories, symbols, or secrecy
strong bonding through "we-feeling" or group codes
In power dynamics:
This energy exerts influence through belonging. Whoever knows the tribe’s “rules” or leads the ritual holds power. Inclusion or exclusion regulates group membership.
Shadow in relationships:
The attitude “I’m in contact with spiritual truth – you’re not” creates subtle separation. It generates a mystical hierarchy: initiated vs. outsiders. One’s own experience becomes the sole reference – criticism or other perspectives are dismissed as “not evolved.”
Everyday example:
Phrases like “Only through me are you protected and truly seen!” build spiritual authority – tarot, clairvoyance, exorcism, ghost-chasing or spirit interventions.
Warrior (Red – Coercive and Dominance Power)
Recognizable by:
louder voice, assertive body language, claiming space
impulsiveness, dominating conversations, frequent interruptions
use of threat or intimidation through presence or words
In power dynamics:
The rule is “Me first.” Power is based on strength or intimidation. The louder or more assertive person prevails.
Shadow in relationships:
Others are steamrolled or diminished. Emotional expression becomes a weapon (bullying, mafia logic, corruption, sexual violence). Connection is replaced by pressure. Vulnerability is masked while control is maintained through confrontation.
Everyday example:
Someone dominates meetings, makes decisions alone, overrides needs – driven by impulse or self-importance. Domestic violence, child abuse, bar fights.
Sovereign (Blue – Systemic Power)
Recognizable by:
posture marked by structure, clarity, order
emphasis on “what is right,” “rules,” “duty”
power through reference to external structures (law, roles)
In power dynamics:
Power functions through systems. Those who refer to rules or hold formal roles receive obedience.
Shadow in relationships:
Rules replace relationship. Structures no longer offer orientation but serve as control. Self-responsibility is suppressed – deviation is labeled “wrong.” Bureaucratic language: “I was just following orders.”
Everyday example:
A team member asserts authority because they are “formally responsible” – even when their idea is weak. Bureaucracy blocks innovation. Laws “for everyone” protect clever criminals with good lawyers.
Champion (Orange – Achievement and Expert Power)
Recognizable by:
goal-focused posture, forward-moving energy
emphasis on performance, strategy, competition
evaluation by “what do you contribute?”
In power dynamics:
Performance defines influence – often without scruples. Those who perform better, know more, or act more cleverly dominate – regardless of consequences for community or environment. Power is tied to present success.
Shadow in relationships:
People are reduced to their function, logic, or efficiency. Relationships only matter if useful. The “faster, better, more” mindset leads to burnout. Emotional intelligence, fairness, harmony are seen as weaknesses.
Everyday example:
In a group, the one who delivers quickest and most efficiently counts most – regardless of whether it’s sustainable for themselves, the group, or nature. Group dynamics break down. Everyone becomes a lone “winner” while others are left behind. Elites or oligarchies emerge; the rest are labeled lazy or failures.
Visionary (Green – Values-Based and Relational Power)
Recognizable by:
soft voice, open gestures, eye contact
moral arguments, focus on inclusion
“we” language, emphasis on needs
In power dynamics:
This energy influences through moral authority and emotional resonance. Those seen as “valuable to the group” gain influence.
Shadow in relationships:
An anti-authority stance can form, rejecting all hierarchy – even natural ones. There's no distinction between toxic dominance and functional leadership. Influence is not reflected upon (ACAB, toxic feminism, eco-authoritarian visions). The ideal of equality prevents clear responsibility – power is exercised subtly through emotional belonging and groupthink.
Everyday example:
A group refuses clear leadership, yet certain people have more influence, skill, or experience – unacknowledged because it’s "horizontal". Children get no structure or guidance because adults reject authority. Talented individuals must not stand out – so others don’t feel small. Blind egalitarianism demands that everyone get and do exactly the same, even if some are capable of more.
Wise Thinker (Yellow – Informational Power)
Recognizable by:
calm presence, little emotional reactivity
integration of seemingly opposing viewpoints
focus on meta-perspective, analysis, systems
In power dynamics:
Power arises from systemic thinking, overview, and integrative problem-solving. Those who recognize patterns and communicate them become quiet influencers.
Shadow in relationships:
Complexity becomes a shield. Questions are dissected rather than answered. Others feel excluded or dependent on someone’s “brilliance.” Thinking creates distance and blocks real participation.
Everyday example:
Rare – around 1% of the global population. Someone explains things so complexly that others withdraw – even when essential questions remain unresolved. Elites understand and manipulate systems like markets or public opinion via science and tech. They sponsor studies, universities, or intellectuals to steer discourse.
Guru / Inner Master (Turquoise – Integrative Power)
Recognizable by:
silent authority, present openness, deep calm
attunement to the space, little neediness, enlightened presence
focus on the whole, transpersonal logic, not individual agendas
In power dynamics:
Influence emerges through integrity, presence, and service-oriented leadership. Control is unnecessary – coherence arises from alignment with a greater system.
Shadow in relationships:
The phrase “everything is just as it should be” can lead to passivity. Responsibility is spiritually reinterpreted. Transformation does not occur – even when action is needed. Retreat into mysticism, poetry, or meditation replaces real-world engagement.
Everyday example:
Very rare – estimated under 0.1% globally. Someone avoids taking a clear stance in crisis, citing “universal order,” even when action would help. Spiritual withdrawal may appear as indifference to suffering. Rejection of structure can lead to avoidance of intimacy. Retreat into a spiritual field without visible action can be a form of resignation.
How You Can Work with These Shadows
Body-based. Trauma-informed. Relationally aware.
Notice instead of judge: Start by sensing the signs in your body: When do certain patterns activate? When do you retreat? Get loud? Seek control?
Slow down: Power dynamics often escalate through speed. Pause to create space for conscious response instead of impulsive reaction. Time-outs, de-escalation, space changes.
Seek connection instead of control: In tense moments, ask: What connection is missing – to myself, to others, to the situation? What fear is present?
Strengthen embodiment: Grounding, breath, and tonus regulation help shift out of power patterns – without repressing them.
Reflect in community: Power often shows up in interaction. Feedback, honest resonance, and group transparency are powerful tools for awareness.
Power is not inherently bad – but unconscious power is dangerous.
Cultivate your power archetypes with intention through our Life Potential Coaching. By recognizing them in your body, naming them, and giving them space, you transform them: from control to connection, from shadow to leadership, from defense to creative force.