The Prostitute archetype is one that people usually feel uncomfortable with because of its negative sexual association. The prostitute as an archetype has nothing to do with sex per se but has to do with power. Both sex and money are seen as sources of power so the association becomes obvious. But this archetype centers its power in worthiness and self-respect.
All archetypes are expressions of power but the prostitute trades in power. I will give you this, for that. It is mostly unspoken and sometimes it is hard to see that there is a trade off at all. The goal is to examine what you might be trading in principles for some kind of security.
Some common forms of security are acceptance, belonging, keeping the peace, a job, a marriage, maintaining an image, a friendship and so forth.
What are you selling for that security? Most commonly, honesty, transparency, kindness, freedom, discernment, clarity, respect, and personal accountability.
One way to see if you the prostitute archetype is operating in the unconscious is to imagine losing the means of security. Would you behave the same, regardless?
The archetype of the prostitute has a powerful light side: The Incorruptible. To be incorruptible means to understand that the source of your power is not derived from others but by living up to your own values and standards. That means first discovering what those values are, even writing them down. No one can decide what your values are but you. You are the author of your own integrity. Your principles are not bound by your religion, or by technology and science, or by any other organizational expectation but they come from within.
The Incorruptible represents your inner compass, the guiding force inside of each person. It is pure and unbreakable. Acting unconsciously will cause you to sell off your self-respect for the immediate gratification of security. Creating your own value system and living within it, is the core work of this archetype.
When you operate through the archetype of the Incorruptible, you are always in alignment with your values. Your actions always line up with your integrity. The incorruptible cannot be tainted or damaged. It is blind to temptation, deaf to bribery, and can stand alone in the face of criticism and judgment. Your payoff is the peace of mind and heart that comes with living a life of integrity.
