House 1 - Storyteller

"Sisters of Mercy" - by Emily Balivet

House 1 - Ego & Personality

When Storyteller made itself known in House 1, I was pretty surprised. I didn't consider Storyteller to be the primary energy guiding my ego and personality. I'm sure most people in my life don't consider me a Storyteller first and foremost; they probably think of me as an artist or introvert of some sort. 

Had I picked Hermit as one of my personal 8 archetypes, I bet it would've landed here. I thought long and hard about Hermit, and whether to include it as one of my primary energies... but it was difficult. I'll be 21 in a few months - I'm still figuring out who I am, and it seems parts of me are changing. 

I'll always be an introvert, but I don't think I'll always necessarily be a Hermit, which Caroline Myss describes as someone who pursues a solitary life (though not always for spiritual purposes). While it's true I thought I'd be living a solitary life, recent events have shown me that this might not actually be. These events have made me open to the idea of not living a solitary life... so I couldn't really bring myself to pick Hermit as one of my personal 8. 

House 1 describes your identity, self-esteem, awareness of ego, and how you conduct yourself with others. It also indicates whether you have the strength to make your own way without the permission of others. 

After doing some thinking, I actually felt Storyteller was a good fit for this house. My identity revolves around my love for stories in all forms - my ability to weave interesting tales, and to make the "story of my life" the best it can be. Storyteller pushes me toward a life worthy of legend - one filled with experiences others can learn from. When it comes to others, I often feel insignificant or boring if I don't have an interesting/astounding experience or story to share in that moment. I find I often speak of my past experiences, rather than future dreams. 

In the Shadow aspect, I tend to lie or come up with another story when faced with matters of low self-esteem. In other words, if someone asks me something personal that I don't feel comfortable with, I'll lie. I also tend to exaggerate my stories for better or worse - so long as it makes a great story, I'm satisfied. 

Storyteller will probably give me the strength to pave my own way once I heal my insecurities and issues of low self-esteem.