GROOMING ARCHETYPE

The Sage

SIGN: THE LANTERN

“Why is this happening?”

You can't let a question go. Why is this coat matting so fast? Why does this dog flinch at the dryer but not the clippers? You'll hold the light up close until you understand, and you'll still be thinking about it in the shower tonight.

You’re great at

Spotting the pattern between visits that everyone else missed
Being the one everyone asks “what do you reckon this is?”
Reading the ingredients on every shampoo bottle. For fun.

WATCH OUT FOR

Researching long after it's time to act, with more browser tabs open than you'd care to admit. Also, keeping what you know to yourself until you're absolutely, completely certain.

WHEN YOU’RE STUCK, ASK YOURSELF

Do I need more information, or do I need to act?

The nitty gritty

Your moment: the pause

Mid-groom, something doesn't add up. Most people push on. You stop, look and think. That pause is where your best work happens. To anyone watching, you're just staring very hard at an ear.

Solo or Crew

Solo Sages love a deep dive, cracking the case in their own time.

Crew Sages are the one everyone brings the strange cases to, usually right on closing time.

What you can borrow from the Mentor

The confidence to act on what you know, and to pass it on. You don’t need every answer before you move. You know more than you think, and sharing it makes you a force. Go on, hit send on that comment.

Your BFF: the Explorer

You share the problem lens. You find the cause, and the Explorer finds another way. One narrows down and the other opens up, and between you, no problem stays unsolved for long.

When you get stuck, remember

You don't need every answer to take the next step.
Some mysteries take a few visits to solve. Write it down and come back to it.
Ask someone. A puzzle shared is often a puzzle solved faster.

You and the other archetypes

Alchemist: you'll explain why the coat won't do what they want. They'll make something of it anyway.
Architect: kindred spirits who love getting it right.
Guardian: you find the cause of the fear, and they help the dog through it.
Mentor: they'll share what you found. Let them, once you've finished checking.
Sage and Sage: fascinating conversations. Someone please start the groom.