Artisans are the ordinal expression Role, specializing in creativity. They are the great innovators, always seeking or inventing something new, fresh, unique. Fascinated by structure, they can shape and manipulate the material world with impressive dexterity. Their creativity is also applied to their own style and personality, as their individuality is vital to them. They are constantly reinventing themselves in an attempt to stand out from the crowd, to be different or special. Whether or not they achieve fame and fortune, they bring beauty, style and originality into the world – and also useful inventions. Most would agree with the great Artisan architect Frank Lloyd Wright that ‘Form and function should be one, joined in a spiritual union.’

Since the term ‘Artisan’ has such strong associations with arts and crafts, it is important to understand that most Artisans are not artists, although art is the ultimate expression of this Role. So don’t dismiss this identity for yourself if you are not artistic. It is the broader concept and energy of creativity rather than art in particular that are the essence of the Artisan personality. Conversely, any Role can be an artist, so don’t assume all artists are Artisans, although most of the best ones are. Artisans predominate in the arts and media, and these worlds both reflect and shape the Artisan personality. However, Artisans are as likely to work in the skilled trades as the fine arts. They can and do apply their creative talents to any medium, including ideas. Albert Einstein was an Artisan scientist who said of himself: ‘I am enough of an artist to draw freely upon my imagination.’ Typically, they have several different careers, sometimes simultaneously, and a diverse range of leisure pursuits.

Creativity is the positive pole of the Artisan Role and comes naturally to them. All Artisans are creator gods, refashioning the world out of clay, paint, fabric, music, whatever is their chosen medium. Artisans see the world as a blank canvas, and an empty surface or space is the most appealing thing to them. If nothing else is available, they might cover a wall with graffiti, doodle in a book or decorate their skin with tattoos. Even without any special training, they ‘have it in their hands’. Male Artisans often enjoy carpentry and woodworking; they might build and fix computers, set up a furniture refinishing shop in the basement or restore classic cars in their garage. Women often enjoy making and embellishing clothes and soft furnishings, jewellery and other crafts.

The paradox of this Role is that it has two quite different though related facets or modes of expression: wit and wisdom. Humour is a Sage’s lifeblood. Everything that happens to them, however unlikely or unpromising, can be turned into a joke or amusing story. They are great improvisers who can invent new jokes or embellish old ones on the spot and never fluff the punchline. However, they also have a more serious, philosophical side. ‘Sage’ literally means ‘wise one’, as in ‘sagacious’, which the dictionary defines as ‘mentally penetrating, gifted with discernment, having practical wisdom’. So Sages can have gravitas, particularly at the relationship or philosophical Perspectives, and may turn their excellent minds to writing, teaching and exploring the human condition. They value knowledge not for its own sake but as a means to wisdom. Most would agree with the biblical proverb that ‘The price of wisdom is above rubies.’

There is an integral connection between these apparent opposites, which come together when Sages are operating from their positive pole: communication. Everybody communicates, but for Sages it is their speciality and one which they can develop to the highest degree. Whether telling a story, declaiming from a soapbox, acting on stage, making an after-dinner speech, teaching a class, selling a used car or defending a client in court, they have the gift of the gab. It is not just about talking but sharing and disseminating their wit and wisdom, getting from ‘me’ to ‘we’. They delight in charming, swaying and enlightening their audience, winning their love and applause.

Servers are the ordinal inspiration Role, bringing inspiration into every aspect of daily life. They have excellent relationship skills and can motivate other people through their cheerfulness and tireless support. This ability is invaluable in keeping projects going when difficulties are encountered or enthusiasm is waning. It seems almost like magic – hard to define, but wonderful to see. Just as other Roles get inspiration from Servers, so they in turn love to give it out in any way they can, particularly in the forms of practical service, comfort and nurturing. They are enablers who put others’ needs before their own, working behind the scenes to take care of everyone and everything. Servers have the widest range of opportunities in life to find personal fulfilment; in the process they make the world a happier place and are much loved.

The term ‘server’ originally meant someone who assisted a priest. It is appropriate to this personality system, as Servers are often happiest working with and supporting Priests in both religious and secular contexts. In the modern world they are found wherever service and support are needed – which means everywhere. Their strongest connection is with the helping professions, particularly social work and medicine. The Role and job are not identical and other Roles also contribute greatly, but Servers are in their element and predominate in these areas. They are naturally Good Samaritans. ‘How may I help you?’ is their favourite question.

Service is the positive pole of the Server Role. Servers have the best emotional intelligence and strongest interpersonal skills of all the Roles. They can handle difficult people better than anyone else and are able to alert others when they see something devious or unpleasant in a stranger. Nevertheless, they like to treat strangers as their honoured guests, at least until they show they don’t deserve this (and sometimes even then). They are extremely insightful and shrewd when assessing someone and alert to small changes in mood and behaviour that other Roles would miss. They notice when you’re tired, offer to help or bring you an aspirin and glass of water and tell you to go and lie down, without being prompted. Their motto is often ‘Life is other people.’ They are wired up to be helpful and supportive, so will volunteer for the unpopular job without being asked, offer to do overtime or cover for a sick colleague, give you a lift to the airport and feed your cat while you’re away. However, being on the inspiration axis, their motivation needs to be voluntary and come from their heart.

Priests are the cardinal inspiration Role, responsible for values, morals and ethics in society. They are visionaries who provide charismatic leadership to groups of people, uniting them in an enterprise, cause or belief system. Wherever they work, they want to make a difference. They are adept at converting confusion into clarity, fear into faith. Their own faith is boundless. They believe in miracles and understand the power of love and positive thinking in making dreams come true. Priests see your best possibilities and can inspire, goad and motivate you to achieve your goals. Their sights are set on a better world and they can see what needs to be done to achieve that mission. Whatever their political beliefs, most would agree with the message of (Priest) President Barack Obama: ‘It’s only when you hitch your wagon to something larger than yourself that you will realize your true potential.’

Since the word ‘priest’ has such strong religious associations, it’s important to understand that the Role is not identical with the spiritual function. There is an archetypal connection, because Priests founded and led most of the world’s religions as well as the institution of priesthood, and they naturally possess the qualities and skills for this work. But all the Roles can be good priests and ministers. Conversely, most Priests nowadays do not work in a religious context, especially in the West, where the scientific worldview is dominant. Psychiatry has taken over from religion as the authority for mental and spiritual health, with Freud and Jung as its ‘High Priests’, and many Priests work as psychotherapists and counsellors. They can be equally inspirational as political and military leaders, motivational coaches, community activists, healers, musicians or in any walk of life.

The goal of this system is to live from the positive pole of your Role, which for Priests is compassion. They are filled with compassion for suffering humanity and want to take care of all the sad, lonely, troubled and hungry people in the world. They feel your pain, have a fine instinct for seeing where you’re stuck in your life and want to help you grow to become your best self. People often spontaneously unburden their souls and pour out their most intimate problems to them, treating them like counsellors or confessors.

Since the word ‘warrior’ has such strong associations with war, it is important to understand that the Role is not identical with the job function. While many soldiers are Warriors, all the Roles are represented in the military forces. However, there is an archetypal connection in that Warriors are the protectors of the tribe, guarding the population and their territory against threats, including invasion. Most Warriors would defend their family fiercely, even to the death, but in daily life they are not necessarily violent or aggressive. In fact, they handle violence better than most other Roles and avoid it where possible, understanding that the outcome of a fight is always unpredictable. The paradox of this Role is that while Warriors can be extremely pugnacious when the occasion demands or they lose control, they are generally good-natured, even gentle people. Which side you see depends on whether they see you as a friend or an enemy, and also on how you behave with them.

The goal of this system is to operate from the positive pole of your Role, which for Warriors is persuasion. Full of drive, focused and dynamic, they have a great ability to motivate people to get up and move. Extremely hardworking and productive themselves, they expect the same of others. This means that a project gets not only started but finished rather than remaining in the mind or on the drawing board. Their persuasive abilities are particularly useful in any situation where people are stuck on account of laziness, stubbornness or the fear of trying out an idea in case it fails. Warriors also make excellent salespeople and they pride themselves on being able to sell anything to anyone.

Kings are the cardinal action Role, which makes them natural leaders. When a King is in charge of any project or organization, everyone feels motivated and confident of success. Even without a high position, they stand out from the crowd with their imposing presence, and their charisma is felt by everyone who comes into contact with them. When they rule well, the enterprise will thrive, but if they become autocratic, everyone suffers. Many people like the idea of being a King, but few are ready to take on the responsibilities that accompany this Role. As (King) Queen Elizabeth I said: ‘To be a king and wear a crown is more glorious to them that see it than it is a pleasure to them that bear it.’

Some of the world’s greatest political and military leaders, past and present, have been Kings, a few examples being Alexander the Great, Genghis Khan, Charles de Gaulle, Mao Zedong, Indira Gandhi, John F. Kennedy, Fidel Castro and Benazir Bhutto. However, many Kings do not hold a high public position, preferring to live normal lives as regular folk.

The goal of this personality system is to operate from the positive pole of your Role. For Kings this is mastery. They are driven to excel in everything they do, great or small. They are perfectionists who will do a job over and over, driving everyone nuts, but the results will be breathtaking. They demand the same standards from others, along with loyalty, their highest virtue, but will reward those who deliver with true royal largesse.

Scholars are the integration Role, who stand alone on their axis as seekers after truth. In the process they gather, interpret and store knowledge, which they are well equipped to do, being thoughtful, curious and objective. They can be found on the cutting edge of science, technology and any branch of learning, possessing an astonishing capacity to get their heads round the toughest intellectual problems and come up with solutions. A recent example is the discovery and recording of the light that shone from the first stars in the universe. All Scholars love to share and communicate their ideas, whether as writers, teachers or trainers. The eighteenth-century Scholar Dr Samuel Johnson exemplified the Role, being a poet and wit as well as compiler of the first dictionary: ‘To talk in public, to think in solitude, to read and to hear, to inquire and to answer inquiries, is the business of the Scholar.’

The term ‘Scholar’ is strongly associated with the professional function of scholarship, but the Role is not identical with it. Scholars have developed and mainly run the education system, science and the learned professions, but other Roles have also made valuable contributions. The archetype of the Scholar at ease with solitary intellectual labour still holds true, though nowadays with a computer in the place of the quill and parchment of the medieval monastery. Yet eventually Scholars’ curiosity and adventurous spirit do lead them out of their studies, since they like to experience a wide diversity in their lives. As a result, they are likely to follow several different careers and have a number of hobbies and interests.

Scholars value knowledge, which is the positive pole of their Role. Any true Scholar will disobey the command not to eat the fruit of the tree of knowledge; it is their favourite food. The world is their school or lab, full of opportunities to study and experiment.