Meet the four forces inside you running the show

Welcome

Quite unbelievably, it is the second week of March already. The MOAR! launch was almost two weeks ago and the dust is now beginning to settle. Holding the finished book in my hands after years of living and writing it was one of the most surreal and beautiful moments of my life. Signing copy after copy of MOAR! and ROAR! for my guests filled my heart with deep pride and gratitude. To everyone who held my hand over recent months -- thank you, from the bottom of my heart. If you have not yet picked up your copy, it is available now. See In Other News below for the link.

Here in Jamestown, there are signs of autumn approaching. Cooler mornings. Leaves on the trees and vineyards turning copper. There is something about the shift in seasons that always draws me inward -- and that is exactly where this month's newsletter takes us.

This issue introduces you to four inner forces that have the power to transform you from the inside out. These forces are Carl Jung's four archetypes of inner mastery: the King/Queen, the Warrior, the Lover and the Magician. I introduce them in MOAR! Chapter 2: The Wellbeing Trio.

Consider this edition your guided tour of the four archetypes and what you can expect when reading MOAR!. And to bring this conversation to life, I asked Petra Velzeboer to interview me on the ROAR for MOAR podcast. Petra is one of the world's leading voices on workplace mental health and digital wellbeing, tWe talk about why I wrote MOAR!, who it is for, and a little more of my personal story.

See In Other News below for the podcast link.

I hope you enjoy! Let me know your thoughts please.

With much love and deep gratitude,

Marilise

PART ONE: THE CALL

Why must leaders, individuals and culture all have skin in the game?

Think of three dancers on stage, each moving to their own rhythm, The three dancers are: leaders, individuals and culture. The magic happens when all three move in harmony. When one dancer stumbles, the entire performance suffers. And right now, most wellbeing programmes are asking one dancer to carry the whole show.

Most wellbeing programmes have as much impact as a Band-Aid on a broken leg. They look good on paper, sound great in town halls, but never quite create real change. Leaders champion thriving cultures while running on fumes themselves. And individuals are expected to self-manage their wellbeing in cultures that reward the opposite.

How long will you keep pulling people out of the river before you go upstream to find out why they are falling in? This is exactly why I wrote about the burnout epidemic a few weeks ago. If you missed it, you can read it here: 'When exactly did burning out become the status quo?' https://www.marilise-de-villiers.com/blog/when-exactly-did-burning-out-become-the-status-quo

This is about lasting change and helping people come to work as their whole, authentic selves and treating energy as the greatest currency we have.

And that is what makes MOAR! different from every other work wellbeing book you’ll read. It views cultural and work wellbeing challenges as archetypal patterns to navigate. It gives you access to ancient wisdom through four powerful inner forces. Because Jung's four archetypes for inner mastery are practical guides for navigating the most complex challenges of modern work.

Next, we'll dive deeper into the role each archetype plays in winning your inner and outer game.

PART TWO: THE QUEST

What role is each inner force playing in your life?

Each archetype holds both light and shadow. Light operates from your authentic self. Shadow operates from ego. Here is a quick summary.

1. The King/Queen: Vision and stability

The courage to claim your authentic purpose and stand in your innate worth. Your King/Queen sees the bigger picture, makes decisions aligned with your deepest values and creates conditions where others can thrive. Its most important task? To be open, not attached, to outcome. Its shadow sides: the Tyrant and the Weakling.

2. The Warrior: Action and strength

The capacity to take bold action even when the path is uncertain. Your Warrior protects your boundaries, maintains discipline and shows up fully, even when it is hard. Its most important task? To be fully present. Its shadow sides: the Savage and the Victim.

3. The Lover: Connection and heart

The archetype that reminds you to actually feel your life; to build authentic connection, nurture joy and listen to what genuinely has heart and meaning for you. Its most important task? To listen deeply. Its shadow sides: the Addict and the Stoic.

4. The Magician: Wisdom and intuition

The Magician sees possibilities where others see only walls. It helps you shift perspective, navigate complexity and turn old stories into new wisdom. Its most important task? To transform perspective. Its shadow sides: the Manipulator and the Dummy.

How they work together

None of these archetypes is designed to work alone. Together, they form your inner council: always available, never depleted, uniquely yours to access. Here is an exercise you can do to understand how your inner council currently works together.

PART THREE: THE RETURN

My mirror moment: when I realised I had nothing left to give

In December 2023, I stood on the stoep of our dream home in Jamestown. The barn-style house we had designed ourselves, surrounded by mountains, bordered by the Blaauwklippen River. My heart knew this was right. And I was absolutely shattered.

Everything I had dreamt about was becoming reality. And I was heading towards burnout again. Different circumstances. Same pattern.

This time I could not blame a toxic workplace or a difficult boss. I was the only constant factor.

When I looked honestly at what was happening, the grinding pattern was everywhere. I had taken on too many projects. I was saying yes to everything. Even my morning weights sessions at gym, the one thing meant to centre me, had become another form of grind. I was using exercise to push through exhaustion rather than restore energy. I was forcing myself to look strong instead of actually being strong.

Mostly doing. Very little being. Distracting myself from doing the real work by piling more and more onto my plate.

With the stress, grief and uncertainty of an international move my Warrior had taken over completely while my Lover took a backseat.

That was my mirror moment. Not a dramatic revelation, but a quiet, uncomfortable recognition that I was still playing by the old playbook.

The shift did not happen overnight. It started with ten minutes each morning, invoking my inner Lover, feeling genuinely competent, worthy and present, rather than reaching immediately for the next task. Slowly, that small practice began shifting everything.

I see the same dynamic in the organisations I work with. Teams full of Warriors, but starved of Lovers. A culture that rewards relentless doing. The pattern is everywhere, and it costs organisations far more than any engagement survey will ever capture.

Which inner force has gone quiet in your life? The answer,  and the path back, can be found in MOAR! 

See In Other News below for the link.

IN OTHER NEWS

MOAR! launch on 26.02.2026, in case you missed it

The week of 26 February was one I will never forget. If you missed my launch week reflections blog: the books arriving, the pricing glitch, the launch evening with fifty people in our home, the Kapula candles and Stellenbosch mountain putting on a show, you can read the full story here. https://www.marilise-de-villiers.com/blog/MOAR-launch-week-reflections

MOAR! is available now in print and e-copy. If you have already read it, I would love to hear what landed for you: the archetypes tend to hit people differently. Message me and let me know which inner force surprised you most. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0GN98TJ1P

Petra Velzeboer interviewed me on the ROAR for MOAR podcast

I flipped the script and asked Petra to put me in the hot seat. We talked about why I wrote MOAR!, who it is for and a little more of my personal story. If you have ever wondered what is really behind the MOAR Paradox, this is the episode for you.

Listen here: https://www.marilise-de-villiers.com/podcasts/roar-for-moar-marilise-de-villiers/episodes/2149176373

The Lekker Network Inaugural Summit is this week

This week I am at The Lekker Network's First Year Summit at Lourensford Wine Estate in Somerset West.  Two days of insight, impact and connection bringing together 300 extraordinary South Africans from 32 countries. One year in, 480+ members, and the community just keeps growing.

Day one features world-class speakers including John Sanei and a fireside chat with Christo Wiese. Day two is all about play and impact: padel, hiking in the Helderberg, clay pigeon shooting, yoga, small-group conversations and a spit braai to close it out. If you are curious about The Lekker Network, you can find out more at thelekkernetwork.com. I will share highlights in next month's newsletter.

Until then, own your magic. Your inner navigation team awaits.

Marilise