The Bohemian Doll
In this entry of the Doll Diaries archetype series, we will be discussing the Bohemian Doll!
The Bohemian archetype is known for their ethereal aura. Bohemian Dolls are the free spirits of the archetypes. The avoidant nature of a Bohemian Doll yet welcoming outreach is fascinating to everyone around them.
For this archetype, we will be using none other than SZA, one of the most relatable free spirits in the industry.
Doll Archetype: The Bohemian Doll
aka “The Spiritual”, “The Free Spirit”, “The Hippie”
Solána Imani Rowe
Traits of the Bohemian Doll and what we can learn from each:
Hermit Crab
SZA - SOS cover animated
Spiritual Dolls are often in isolation, reflecting on life’s challenges. They find more safety and pleasure in their own company, than with others. Being around other people is particularly draining and bears the risk of being misunderstood.
Sometimes, they may go ghost. This isn’t a reflection on anyone else, but more so a reflection on their mental state. Recharging alone is the way that they present themselves in the most healthy way to everyone around them. This is the personality type that you can’t always seem to get a hold of. If there is even the slightest thing that throws them off of their routine, they retreat back into their shell.
SZA is known for being a bit elusive in the public eye. Even when she is publicly making statements, she still enjoys disappearing and keeping to herself.
Positive of this trait:
finding comfort in one’s company which builds confidence in self identity
Negative of this trait:
can alienate people who require more attention in their dynamic
when I realized I needed to healthily set boundaries while being open to human interaction because individuality doesn’t mean compromising community
What we can learn:
Sometimes the best wisdom is found in your own company.
Isolation builds foundation, but community builds a home.
2. Expressive Genius
Much like Vixens, Bohemian Dolls are known for their unrestricted views on expression. However, Bohemians reach the peak of free flowing and otherworldly with a youthful twist while Vixens are edgy and confined to the bold and grown.
SZA in GAP
A Bohemian’s fashion sense is more free flowing than anything. This is literally why they're lovingly called the Free Spirit. Bohemians will put together odd, old school patterns, pops of color, layered necklaces, natural and protective hairstyles.
Bohemians are lovers of comfort, and find a way to make a boundless take on glamour. SZA is what I’d call Hippie, and an honorable mention to Jhené who would be Boho Glam.
This is also shown in music. In SZA’s music, she uses a variety of inflections that are outside of the norm. In the past, she has gotten made fun of for how she pronounces things or her tone. Over time, it has become refined and a signature of hers in comparison to other artists. When you hear SZA, you know it’s SZA. It’s unmistakably clear and expressive.
Your signature isn’t something for others to approve of. Your vibe isn’t something that you need other people to approve of. What makes you you isn’t up for discussion. Let people discuss amongst themselves. You get the last laugh by being built different while they stay the same.
Get the look:
Bohemians are the artistic, vibey type individuals that you know it's them walking down the street. SZA was known for her "natural hair" and red/orange hair color. SZA is also known for her lip shape that has now been altered into the shape, but it's still a distinct feature.
Jhené is known for her tattoos. Erykah Badu is known for her headwraps, odd hats, and big afro. Lisa Bonet is known for her hair.
SZA in sustainable tie dye!
What we can learn:
Learn how to mix and match styles. You don’t have to be one thing.
There are no positives or negatives because individuality is something that you have to see as owning for yourself.
Find an aesthetic that makes you feel the most free, whatever it is!
3. Melancholic Neurotic
The Bohemian is known for a melancholic, introspective yet escapist take on life. Sweetheart archetypes idealize like a fairytale, but Bohemians idealize a disjointed, realistic fairytale that takes work. Somehow, Bohemians can keep themselves grounded even in the world they escape to.
You won't catch a Bohemian who is completely unaware of themselves. They're fully aware of what they should or shouldn't be doing, and even if they're being erratic, they take on the repercussions afterwards as seen in SZA's music.
SZA’s breakout hits were Love Galore and The Weekend. She happened to be crooning about a man who couldn’t care less about her in both singles. In the song, The Weekend, she talks about being the side piece and competing with the other girl. These songs display her possessiveness, yet illusion as to who people really are because the emotions would be too difficult to bear.
In SOS, she also sings about her ex getting a new girlfriend and how she “might kill him”. To have written a song like this, you have to be at a peak of turbulence and neuroticism.
Most people will say they would never let themselves get to that point, but a defining feature of this young adulthood to adult stage of life is learning how to rationalize people being out of our reach. She grapples with these emotions that she shoved down for all of this time. SOS gives an even more self aware structure to who she is with “Shirt”.
SZA and her plaques from SOS
Of course, there are ups to this turbulence because it allows her to be a strong, passionate lover in the song “Snooze” for example. It is a classic R&B/pop love song that just glides across the waters of romance.
I can't lose when I'm with you
How can I snooze and miss the moment?
You just too important
Nobody do body like you do
I can't lose when I'm with you
I can't just snooze and miss the moment
You just too important
Nobody do body like you do, you do
In contrast to romantic turbulence in Good Days lyrics:
Tell me I'm not my fears, my limitations
I disappear, if you let me
Feeling like (on your own)
Feeling like Jericho
Feeling like Job when he lost his shit
Gotta hold my own, my cross to bear alone, I
Ooh, paid a deal, way to kill the mood
Know you like that shit, yeah, groovy baby, baby
Heavy on my empty mind shitI gotta keep from losin' the rest of me (losin' the rest of me)
Still worry that I wasted the best of me on you, babe
You don't care
Said, not tryna be a nuisance, it's just urgent (it's urgent)
Tryna make sense of loose change
Got me a war in my mind (my mind)
Gotta let go of weight, can't keep what's holding me
Choose to watch
While the world break up and fall on me
As someone with severe depression and ADHD, sometimes you just gotta let yourself be depressed and take that L. But it's all about learning how to take a W tomorrow. Everything is in perspective. It's okay to not see that perspective right when it hits the fan.
You don't have to constantly ruminate or be introspective every single second. It's okay to allow things to not make sense.
Bohemians can evolve by realizing their strength is in themselves. They are often so lost in themselves that they don’t understand why people are so attached to them, or even the idea of them.
The magnetic hold they have over people around them creates a difficulty in creating concepts of themselves and others, because it’s an automatic focus on that person rather than who they are.
People are automatically intrigued and perplexed by how they oscillate between extraversion and introversion. You feel like you never truly know them, even if you are the closest thing to them. That gives people a rush because there’s always something new to discover. Bohemians get a rush off of this as well, and live through that dynamic. They like the fact that they don’t have to be perceived all of the time… it gives them somewhere to go when everything gets crazy.
There’s no better escape than yourself. Getting lost inside of yourself, peeling back the layers, learning what has yet to be found… everything you want to discover so badly in everyone else has been there within you the entire time.
You’re the one that makes everyone else so special. The way you describe someone you admire is due to your strengths that you already possess.
(my face writing and realizing this)
SZA - Blind
It's so embarrassing
All of the things I need living inside of me
I can't see it
It's so embarrassing
All of the love I seek living inside of me
I can't see, I'm blind
What we can learn:
You are your biggest escape.
All emotions do not require rationalization. It doesn't have to always make sense.
It’s okay to tell yourself a story every now and then to shape your reality. Just be real about it.
Process things little by little in baby steps.
4. Spiritually Gifted
Bohemians are naturally intuitive and have the spiritual trade down to a science. Bohemians take spirituality and parts of religion very seriously, to the point of it being a dealbreaker in their friends and partners. To know if a Bohemian Doll is in a crisis, just ask them when the last time their spiritual routine was done properly. Bohemians lose their mind if they haven’t engaged in their personal favorites.
Examples: tarot, yoga, journaling, essential oils and herbs, gardening, crystals - every Bohemian is different in how they get in touch with their spiritual side!
SZA and her singing bowl
Bohemians are the ones that you go to for advice and it’s almost scary how accurate it is. Their talent comes in being a vessel for their ancestors and guides. They are extremely talented in exploring the art of people.
When you are in tune with yourself, you are able to be in tune with others. When you are woke to the reality of what is going on in this present realm and the spiritual/unknown, you open yourself up for stronger self awareness. Despite the rollercoaster of emotions they may experience as people who are sensitive to environments, this struggle gives them perspective.
What we can learn:
Develop a routine around the self to find spiritual fulfillment.
Having an understanding of something bigger than yourself creates a profound and convicting perspective on life.
Experimenting is the foundation of discovery.
Bohemians are probably one of the more rare archetypes because there aren’t many people in the world that operate through a detached lens of life. A lot of people don’t let themselves be that authentic and blunt, they deny and remain complacent. These traits can open people who aren’t Bohemians up to a more eccentric, free way of living and apply it to their given archetype.
Don’t just read this, go be this.
Hope this helps you find your inner wild child!
