The Old English word "god" comes from Old norse guph/gud, from proto-Germanic gudan (german is "Gott" which actually originates from an indo-european word also for "god" [*gHuto]), and many other words.
A god is a deity or supernatural being worshipped by people for their power and influence over the world or a particular aspect of it. Gods have been worshipped throughout human history, often as part of organized religions or belief systems. Different cultures and religions have their own unique pantheons of gods, each with their own attributes, personalities, and mythologies.
An archetype is a universally recognized symbol, character, or pattern of behavior that appears across cultures and is used to represent a particular set of personality traits, emotions, or values. In psychology, archetypes are often used to describe patterns of personality that are common to humanity as a whole. The concept was introduced by Swiss psychologist Carl Jung, who believed that archetypes were inherited from our ancestors and that they exist in the collective unconscious of all humans.
“The theory of Animism was ever-present in the minds of the medieval masters. Any natural object possessed not only its material characteristics but was also a manifestation of a tangible idea upon which it depended. A pool was indeed a pool, but it was also home to a nymph. She, in turn, answered to a higher nymph who oversaw pools in general rather than any specific one. This hierarchy extended upward to the supreme Lady of Water, who maintained dominion over her entire watery realm. She herself answered to the General Ruler of all Four Elements. This structure mirrors that of modern authority—like a police constable reporting to his sergeant, then inspector, superintendent, and commissioner, becoming increasingly remote until reaching the shadowy Home Secretary, who himself serves that intangible and mysterious force called "The Will of the People."
While we might question how literally the ancients viewed these personifications, their theory held that though anyone could see a pool with their eyes, only by accident might they glimpse its nymph. They believed that exceptional individuals, through dedicated study and experimentation, could develop the ability to perceive these beings. Those even more advanced in this science might establish genuine connections with these subtle forms of Life, perhaps even compelling them to take physical form.” - Alistair Crowely - The Book of THOTH
The connection between gods and archetypes lies in their shared role as representations of fundamental human experiences, emotions, and patterns of behavior. Just as Jung's archetypes exist in our collective unconscious, ancient gods and mythological beings can be seen as personifications of these same universal patterns.
When we examine various pantheons across different cultures, we often find similar divine figures representing common themes - the mother goddess, the wise elder, the trickster, the warrior. These divine figures align closely with Jungian archetypes, suggesting that both gods and archetypes emerge from humanity's shared psychological experience.
Crowley's description of medieval animism provides a bridge between these concepts. The hierarchical structure he describes - from specific manifestations (like a pool's nymph) to general overseeing deities - mirrors how archetypal patterns manifest in our lives, from specific instances to universal principles. This suggests that ancient peoples may have been articulating their understanding of archetypal forces through the language of deities and spirits.
In this light, gods can be understood as culturally specific expressions of universal archetypal patterns, while archetypes represent the underlying psychological structures that give rise to these divine personifications. Both serve as tools for understanding and relating to fundamental aspects of human experience and the natural world.
Both gods and archetypes communicate through symbols, metaphors, and recurring patterns that resonate with the human psyche. These symbols appear in dreams, art, literature, and religious practices across cultures, serving as a universal language that bridges the conscious and unconscious mind.
Through myths, rituals, and sacred stories, these symbolic representations help humans understand and interact with deeper aspects of reality and consciousness. The symbols associated with gods and archetypes often overlap, suggesting their common origin in human psychological and spiritual experience.