Greetings all - I’m excited to extend a special invitation for men who wish to dive into the cauldron of mythopoetic masculinity and eros.

But before I get to that, I want to acknowledge a milestone: it’s been over five years since I began The Mythic Masculine podcast.

Time, as always, passes like a blink.

This journey began after my previous film project, Amplify Her, which explored feminine archetypes through the lives of DJs and producers. That collaboration had me seek out writers like Marion Woodman (Dancing in the Flames) and Clarissa Pinkola Estés (Women Who Run With Wolves) and opened my path into mythopoetics.

In the wake of Amplify Her, I realized I knew little about the masculine archetypal realm. When audiences asked if I’d do a similar project for men, the idea for a podcast took root.

I was inspired by Iron John by Robert Bly—a book I found in my grandfather’s study after his passing. That encounter was a doorway to the lineage of the mythopoetic men’s movement, a movement that once sparked men’s circles across the country.

As I interviewed guests like storyteller Martin Shaw, Bill Kauth (Co-founder ManKind Project), and storyteller Michael Meade, the podcast became a space to weave voices from past and present, exploring shifting understandings of gender, myth, and archetypes.

If you're curious about the history and insights from these five years, you can access my webinar An Introduction to Mythopoetic Masculinity here.

In the last year and a half, The Mythic Masculine evolved.

A pivotal moment came in the summer of 2023, when my longtime friend Deus Fortier and I hosted MXM—an event exploring masculinity, eros, and myth. We combined Deus’ somatic and breathwork practices with my mythopoetic flavourings. The experience affirmed that men need spaces to explore these “forbidden” topics, reclaim vulnerability, and awaken their noble, erotic essence.

This offering evolved into Awakening the Wild Erotic, which we've now held multiple times over the last year. For those unable to attend in person, we created The Deep Masculine, an online cohort blending ritual, somatics, and myth.

Now, Deus and I rre thrilled to announce the next stage: an ongoing online men’s circle, The Satyr’s Den.

Satyrs—wild, primal beings of Greek myth—embody the uninhibited joy of nature and erotic vitality. The Satyr’s Den is a space for men to reclaim this energy in a way that honors life. Too often, men either misuse this power or suppress it altogether. This circle offers a path to mature, embodied Eros and relational mastery.

The Satyr’s Den includes:

* Monthly Live Group Calls

* Exclusive Podcast Conversations

* Transformative practices and rituals

* Webinars and community support

This is for men with prior experience in men’s work, shadow work, or similar transformational spaces. If you're new to this terrain, consider attending Awakening the Wild Erotic or Deep Masculine first.

Special Offer: Join by the end of December to lock in a founding member rate of $49/month

You’ll also gain immediate access to an my conversation with Deus about his journey through the ISTA (International School of Temple Arts) series.

If you feel called, apply here and see if the Satyr’s Den is right for you.

Thank you for walking this mythic path with me.

More offerings are on the horizon—webinars, guest teachers, and courses in 2025. The journey continues, and I’m excited for what’s to come.

In gratitude,IM

My guest today is Gabriel Meyer Halevy is a "radical flexitarian minstrel," musician, poet, and spiritual activist, born and raised in Argentina.

I first met Gabriel at the Tamera research project in Portugal, where we both attended the Global Love School. We stayed in touch over the years, and this past fall, I hosted Gabriel for a few shows in the Pacific Northwest where he brought this ‘prayerformance’ to the people.

During our time, we sat together to record this conversation that delves into Gabriel's personal journey, highlighting his wild adventures as youth, to his life as a poet and musician, to his interfaith reconciliation efforts in Israel and Palestine.

We also touch on Gabriel's creative process, including his his forthcoming book ‘On The Verge of The Verb’ that blends mythic fiction with true stories, and his belief that resilient peace involves recognizing the diverse ‘medicines' of different cultures and individuals.

One more thing: he is an active core member of the global alliance of spiritual activists "Defend the Sacred," which was inspired by Standing Rock.

The Mythic Masculine is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

LINKS

* Pre-Order “On The Verge of the Verb” - Bookshop or Amazon

* Gabriel’s Music on Bandcamp

* Gabriel on Facebook & Instagram

SHOW NOTES

01:39 Introducing Gabriel Meyer

02:12 Gabrielle's Early Life and Influences

04:01 First Encounters with Tamera

06:49 Gabrielle's Activism and Personal Struggles

16:17 Journey to Greece and Self-Discovery

24:17 Life in Sinai and the Path to Sacred Activism

32:43 Return to Israel and the Rainbow Family

35:49 Interfaith Connections and Cultural Exchange

36:21 The Celestial Wedding and Global Artistic Collaboration

36:57 Rekindling Jewish Rituals and Interfacing with Native Cultures

37:47 The Second Intifada and Palestinian-Israeli Relations

39:33 Sulha: Reconciliation and Peacebuilding Efforts

42:24 The Role of Creativity and Compassion in Peacebuilding

45:09 Sacred Activism and Global Solidarity

50:13 The Power of Music and Storytelling in Healing

58:36 Writing and Prophecy: Blending Truth and Vision

01:10:31 The Spiritual Stance of the Peacemaker

01:16:44 Concluding Thoughts on Peace and Unity

Recently I sat down with Matt Sturm (author of The Organic Masculine) alongside my collaborator Deus Fortier to do a post-event harvest from our immersion Eating the Shadow.

This men’s gathering was the first 5 day offering that Deus and I had put together, and we were beautifully affirmed by what happened in the container. Matt flew up from California to join us and experience the magic of what we created.

He has facilitated numerous men’s gatherings and been steeping in realms of archetypes & myth for many years - therefore, it’s a delight to unpack our time together with his keen eye and thoughtful heart.

This conversation is of particular interest to anyone facilitating transformational spaces for men, especially around the question of eros & sensuality.

“Masculinity is this amazing doorway into transformation. If we can shift our relationship away from something that's competitive into something that's collaborative, it actually illuminates possibilities in a way that supports all of us.”

We outline the state of men’s work today, along with the various permutations that have bloomed, from the mythic to the therapeutic. Matt shares his experiences and insights about crafting transformational spaces and the invocation of archetypes and ritual. We also discuss safety, trust, and collaboration in facilitation, and highlighting how these factors contribute to deeper connections and personal insight.

P.S. If you’re in the Vancouver region, catch Deus on Dec 8th at Resonance and Renewal: A Breathwork & Sound day for men.

The Mythic Masculine is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

SHOW NOTES

00:00 Introduction and Overview of Eating the Shadow

01:21 Background of the Guests

03:11 The Concept of Men's Work

08:45 The State of Men's Work Today

15:29 Exploring Eros and Intimacy

22:07 Creating Safe Spaces for Vulnerability

40:30 Facilitation and Collaboration

48:57 Future of Men's Work and Inviting A Peer Support Circle

52:55 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

On today’s episode, we delve into the layers of myth and meaning surrounding same-sex love in mythology, exploring the fascinating tale of Ganymede—a myth that stands apart from other tragic tales of ancient love. 

Here, we uncover a story of enduring affection that doesn't end in loss, but in ascension, as Ganymede is welcomed to Olympus by Zeus and granted immortality. What does this myth offer modern queer men and the evolving dialogue around masculinity?

My guest, who goes by Gregory Ganymedes, joins me to explore these questions, along with his own journey through Jungian psychology, and the creation of The Ganymede Project. Together, we unravel themes of queer archetypes, dream analysis, the healing potential of myth and the imaginal possibilities for a future that honors all of who we are.

The Mythic Masculine is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

LINKS

* Official Website - The Ganymede Project

* Greg on Instagram

SHOW NOTES

* Queer Representation in Myth: Exploration of Ganymede as a rare myth with a positive outcome for same-sex love, offering a mythic "happily ever after" for modern queer men.

* Archetypes Beyond the Mainstream: Discussing both traditional and queer archetypes, including Apollo and Dionysus, and the transformative impact of expanding archetypal representations for men.

* Dissolution of Boundaries: Examining how the current era, symbolized by the Age of Aquarius, is challenging rigid boundaries in gender and identity, and inspiring new understandings of self and eros.

* Cultural Impact of Queer Archetypes: How symbols like the "diva" and mythic figures like Ganymede foster imagination and self-acceptance within queer communities.

* Dream Analysis in Jungian Psychology: The power of dreams to reveal unconscious material, aiding personal integration and healing, especially through communal dream sharing.

* Compensatory Nature of Dreams: Jung’s idea that dreams bring up what’s missing or ignored in our conscious lives, offering guidance and insight through symbolic language.

* Alchemy as Psychological Transformation: Jung’s later work on alchemy and individuation as a process of turning the raw “materials” of the psyche into a cohesive, integrated whole.

* The Healing Power of Myth: How myths and symbols can be tools for understanding the self, especially in contexts where mainstream representations lack inclusivity.

* The Ganymede Project’s Vision: Greg’s vision for The Ganymede Project as a catalyst for a wider acceptance and exploration of queer-focused depth psychology, art, and myth in mainstream culture.

My guest today is Ned Abenroth, a creative entrepreneur and wilderness guide who has spent much of his adult life tending to transformational spaces.

For the last 10 years, he’s worked with Illuman, a global spiritual community that was birthed out of Richard Rohr’s work with male spirituality and rites of passage. 

In this episode, we explore the distinction between merely growing older and becoming an elder, as well as the cultural gap that has left many adrift without guidance in traversing this threshold. Ned reflect on his personal experiences with grief and illness, having survived an encounter with cancer that reoriented death as a teacher.

And finally, he shares insights from creating the Illuman Elder Rites of Passage program, and the role of myth in orienting elderhood not a solitary journey, but one rooted in community, relationality, and service to future generations.

The Mythic Masculine is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

LINKS

* Ned’s Official Website

* Illuman Elder Rites of Passage

SHOW NOTES

* Defining Elderhood: Exploration of the distinction between merely aging and truly becoming an elder, with elderhood seen as a relational and community-rooted journey, not simply a function of age.

* Rites of Passage for Elders: Discussion on the Elder Rites of Passage program, emphasizing the process of transition from adulthood to elderhood through rituals, ceremony, and community support.

* Cultural Gaps in Elderhood: Reflection on the modern cultural gap that has left many adrift without guidance in the transition to elderhood, especially in Western societies that often lack healthy rites of passage.

* Elder as a Verb, Not a Noun: Insight into the idea that eldering is not just an identity, but a function—an ongoing role of service, wisdom, and presence that must be actively embodied.

* Grief and Illness as Teachers: Ned shares personal experiences with grief and surviving cancer, which reoriented his relationship to death and positioned it as a profound teacher.

* Death and Diminishment: The role of death work in elderhood, helping elders embrace physical diminishment as a sacred process, and learning to hallow one's aging body.

* Myth and Elderhood: The importance of myth, particularly the story of Elijah, as a guiding narrative for elders, symbolizing the journey into the unknown, surrender, and transformation.

* Impact of Elders on Community: How the presence of true elders strengthens communities, bringing a sense of wisdom, calm, and relational leadership to younger generations.

* Ritual Spaces and Eldering: How the role of elders in ritual spaces creates a sense of safety and presence, often serving as the ballast during moments of collective vulnerability.

* Elders as Truth Tellers: Elders not only offer comfort and grace but are also responsible for being prophetic voices, unafraid to speak hard truths to their communities.

* The Future Vision for Elders: Ned discusses the broader vision of creating rites of passage and eldering programs across diverse communities to reclaim the essential role of elders in modern society.

It wasn’t long after my entry into “mythopoetic masculinity” back in 2015 that I came across the Minnesota Men’s Gathering, a yearly event that began in 1984 by Robert Bly, author of Iron John.

The organization has released a trove of stories & lectures on their Youtube channel from celebrated teachers such as Bly, Lewis Hyde, Martin Prechtel, Martin Shaw, Daniel Deardorff, Malidome Some and many more.

I have been tracking their yearly conference with a desire to attend - and when I heard it was the 40th anniversary, I heeded the call. I reached out and confirmed I my attendance, with the aim to produce a podcast episode afterward to share my experience.

You’re also welcome to join me at the Minnesota Men’s Conference Oct 1-6, 2024. Get full details on their website.

From the official announcement:

The conferences were built around the notion that the souls of men were atrophying in a culture that was essentially in the process of colonizing its own people and of de-animating the living world.

As an antidote to a culture of emptiness, of shallowness, and of disconnection from the web of being, men came together to work with mythic story, with images, with poetry, We placed ourselves into the mythic, into stories that contain traces of the old pathways to becoming a fully developed human being.

The work has continued for 40 years. At this conference, we will look at what has been done, where we have failed, where there have been sweet deepenings, and where the trail may lead.

In my pre-gathering podcast conversation today, I speak with conference organizers & storytellers Walton Stanley and Ben Dennis to discuss this moment of legacy and renewal.

Both guests share their experiences from the conference, noting its evolution from a focus on Jungian psychology to including broader elements like ritual and influences from indigenous wisdom. They address cultural shifts, the importance of multi-generational participation, and the necessity of a greater narrative for men in today's world.

More about my guests:

Ben Dennis is a mythologist and writer with a love of story, myth, psychology, psychodrama, and storytelling. His mythic interests include Greek mythology, Native American story, European fairy tale, and Hindu epic literature. Ben holds his PhD in Mythological Studies with an Emphasis in Depth Psychology from Pacifica Graduate Institute. Ben retired from the Seattle Fire Department after 28 years as a fire fighter and training coordinator for the Critical Incident Stress Management (CISM) and Peer Support Team. He leads retreats for Veterans and First Responders, and has been adjunct faculty at Antioch University Seattle.

Walton Stanley is a writer and storyteller. He has held a life-long interest in myth, story, and in the power of story to transform the paradigms and frames in which we live. Walton is currently working, with Ben Dennis, on an anthology of selected tales and myths that have been shared in the past 40 years of the Minnesota Men’s Conference He has also completed a book, Following the Wrong God Home, Gilgamesh: The Foundational Myth of Civilization and the Roots of Ecological Collapse exploring th mythic roots of human exceptionalism, and our disconnection from the web of being as expressed in one of humankind’s oldest extant written stories, Gilgamesh.

I’d love to hear your comments. Please share below!

We’re now a month out from our next cohort of The Deep Masculine, a 3 month online journey for men that weaves together mythology, somatics, ritual & brotherhood.

I invited my collaborator Deus Fortier to reflect on our initial journey which we launched earlier this year and completed in June.

At its core, The Deep Masculine seeks to repattern men's relationships with eros - the primal force of life. Drawing from the mythopoetic men's movement and texts like Robert Bly's "Iron John" and "King, Warrior, Magician, Lover" by Douglas Gillette and Robert Moore, we offer a framework to help men rediscover a more intimate sense of aliveness.

In "Iron John," Bly speaks about the Wild Man, the undomesticated male energy that holds the key to a man's soul. This archetype is deeply connected to the wisdom of the earth. Reconnecting with this energy is a recurring theme in our work.

It’s important to make a critical distinction between the "wild" and "savage" man. The former is deeply attuned and rightfully placed within the natural order, while the latter is dangerously disconnected. A savage man is willing to shoot up a shopping mall out of their own self-hatred poured forth as rage against others. This understanding is pivotal in redefining what it means to rewild in a positive, life-affirming way.

Central to our inquiry is the archetype of The Lover. Modern men’s work often prizes the King and the Warrior while neglecting the Lover, whose sensitivity and emotional depth are essential for integrated masculinity.

“The Lover keeps the other masculine energies humane, loving and related to each other.” - Robert Moore & Douglas Gilette

Shadow work is also a significant part of the journey. Often, aspects of ourselves deemed unacceptable are relegated to the shadow. By integrating these parts, men can reclaim lost vitality and unlock deeper wisdom. This process includes exploring sexual shadow, addiction, and infidelity, and forging a pathway for healthier relationships.

In the words of indigenous grandmother Pat McCabe, our ultimate vision is to “realign masculinity with thriving life.” This means developing the Lover's qualities such as courtship and appreciative consciousness, and fostering solidarity among men.

If you are drawn to these themes, we invite you to apply for the next cohort beginning in late September. The application process itself is a valuable reflective journey. We’re inviting a global brotherhood to gather around this fire.

p.s. On Sept 4, I’m also hosting a free webinar An Introduction to Mythopoetic Masculinity. Open to all genders.

I’ve had the good fortune to collaborate with Charles on numerous films, including Sacred Economics and The Revolution Is Love, as well as spent time at Tamera’s Love School and other gatherings.

Our conversation for the Mythic Masculine (originally released as episode #8) touches on his own interview series on the “new story of masculinity” and what he learned along the way.

The major theme, as named in the title, is the archetypal shift of seeing earth primarily as Mother to meeting her as a Lover.

This perspective is influenced by the “ecosexual movement”, as Charles writes in his essay featured in the ecosexual anthology:

If we have not received Earth’s gifts with gratitude, if we have become so used to them that we keep taking more, obliviously, perhaps we might excuse ourselves by saying that we didn’t know any better. There is a kind of innocence about the belief that Earth has no limit to what she can give. It is the innocence of a child, taking from its mother.

[…] It is clear that we are finally hitting some limits. Our childlike innocence is coming, painfully, to an end, as we face the consequences of our despoliation of the earth and the necessity of no longer taking at will.

The ecosexual awakening is a direct response to hitting these limits, the waning age of abundance and the ending of our civilization’s childlike relationship to the Earth. We face the necessity of treating Earth not as a mother – a boundless provider of all we need and want – but as a lover, with whom we give and receive in equal measure.

This perspective has particular urgency for masculinity, as modern society (based in domination culture) has abandoned proper rites of passage & mentorship for men to cultivate the skills of the archetypal Lover.

This is one reason my focus over the last year has been offering exactly this, through Awakening the Wild Erotic (AWE) and The Deep Masculine online cohort.

By gathering together as men, my collaborator Deus and I invite men to expand their understanding of Eros - the primary life force of the world - and surrender to its deep intelligence.

When attuned to a lover, we can understand their desires, longings, and pleasure pathways. We can co-create a tapestry of beauty beyond our individual efforts. And perhaps this is what Earth is waiting for…

As Charles continues in his essay:

Like it or not, resist it or not, we are already ecosexual and even cosmosexual beings. We are in life, and life is in us. We are in the universe, and the universe is in us.

Enjoy this listen. And I’d love to hear your comments & reflections below.

A few years ago I read Terry Real’s book “Us: Getting Past You & Me to Build a More Loving Relationship.” He is a well established couple’s therapist and friends with a fair number of celebrities, with the forward written by Bruce Springsteen.

In one chapter he shares the story of two men, a “strikingly handsome couple” that were “killing each other (as they put it) over sex.” One man wanted it all the time, and the other virtually none of the time.He writes “as any good therapist would do, I draw from each of them not just their respective positions but also their interpretation, their narrative, of what sex means to each of them.”I asked myself the same question: what does sex mean to me?And I reflected on my previous and current relationships, and how my narrative may have shifted (or not) over time.

I released my inquiry on Instagram over five parts, which you can find (with pictures!) here: One, Two, Three, Four, Five.

And I decided to compile them all together in this post and release as a podcast episode.

It was a fascinating experience to reflect on, and may stir many things for you. But before you read on…

UPCOMING EVENTS & TRAININGS

In two weeks July 26-28 I’m holding my next in-person men’s immersion Awakening the Wild Erotic. We have four spots left, so if this calls to you: Apply Now.

In September we’re launching the next cohort of The Deep Masculine, a 12 week online archetypal exploration into the realms of eros, sex & masculinity. Men can an join from anywhere the world. Apply Here.

PART ONE

My first sexual experience with a woman was not intentional. I was 15, we were both intoxicated and she lead me into the bathroom at her friends house and proceeded before I knew what was happening. The encounter lasted seconds and I left confused and desiring to strike it from my memory.My first intentional sexual experience was with a middle school girlfriend. She was not a 'virgin' (a terrible construct fyi), and she had more experience. The encounter also lasted a short time before I ejaculated and reacted in a shame spiral that motivated me to literally leave the room, jump in my car and drive away.When I was able to calm down (or ‘auto-regulate’ as Jessica Fern details in her book Polysecure) I returned to my girlfriend's house to reconnect.Over time I began to enjoy sex, even though for the rest of my high school years it had to remain secret from our parents.The only “sex talk” I received from my father was about how many semen live in a teaspoon of sperm - and the likelihood of getting an STD (now of course, we call them STI’s). The sum total of the message being that sex would either 1) get a girl pregnant or 2) give me a disease.I don’t judge him for this, as it’s the story for so many youth. And I’m sure he received that much or even less as he crossed into puberty and his erotic life.What is the consequence of so many of us entering our sexual awakening with experiences of confusion, shame and trauma? And how might it be different?

PART TWO

At 26 I was married.Looking back it was a ludicrous decision to believe I was experienced enough to understand this massive lifelong commitment. This is a fate shared by most modern newlyweds bereft of true mentorship in love & relationships.In marriage, sex morphed into many things: the cultivation of pleasure, a way to co-regulate, and sometimes an expectation and a chore.Yet, if we went too long without sex, I would sometimes play a passive aggressive game: I would stop initiating entirely and wait to see if she would. This would show me whether she was “actually into it” and ideally show her how much I was carrying our sex life.It was easy to translate her lack of initiation or openness to my advances as rejection. Sex became more sparse and formulaic, as it often does into long term domestic relationships.Six years into the marriage, we shipwrecked on fertility challenges.This was also the time we discovered MDMA, Burning Man, orgy domes, and non-monogamy. For me, it was like landing on a remote island and living my whole life on the beach, thinking that was the entirety of the region to explore. Then suddenly discovering there was a vast archipelago of possibility that I hadn’t known existed.We began tentatively exploring the terrain.I’ll never forget when my wife kissed another man in front of me. It was exhilarating and terrifying at the same time. It was as if some fundamental truth about love & relationships had been shattered - that it was possible for my partner and I to share intimacy with others and remain in relationship.For me, there was no turning back. Yet for my wife, I was already racing too far ahead - and it was beyond her desire to follow me to the edges I wanted to explore.Erotic agreements were bent & broken on both sides.And a year later, we separated.

PART THREE

Heartbroken at the end of my marriage, I dove head long into the erotic underworld.I had lost the dream of the life I had, and I could see no merit in playing the role of “good boy” any longer.I committed to a polyamorous partnership with a woman who was the gateway to all the fantasies I longed to explore. BDSM & kink became the playground, and I revelled in the sensual freedom it represented.Sex became a way to push the edges of sensation, boundaries & convention. We exchanged the roles of domination & submission. It was a game we played continually, within our partnership & with lovers.If she had a sexual encounter with another, I would find my own to 'balance' the scales.Occasionally when either of us felt chosen over, feelings would be hurt and we weren’t very good and speaking vulnerably to each other about this.Still, I sought the edges of my desire with unrestrained attachment to "liberation."I realize now that too often my seeking of sex became about escaping feeling.If I felt rejected by my partner, I would find a lover that would open to me to reclaim an inner validation. I could “win” over the Feminine, animated by the legacy of grief that lingered from the feeling of betrayal at the end of my marriage.I'm proud of what we did accomplish - we co-created a plethora of beauty, yet I believe I was not able to provide the ongoing secure anchor that she desired - one reason why she took on another partner during our time together.Eventually, I stepped back, realizing I needed to excavate my own unconscious patterns around sex & intimacy.Running parallel to this reality was my experience of Tamera, the radical “free love” research project in Portugal.My time there would change me utterly.

PART FOUR

In 2015, I first landed in Tamera, the radical community in Portugal, to make a film on their insights in liberating love.For almost 40 years, they have lived on the premise “there can be no peace on earth as long as there is war in love.”It was there, alongside my collaborators John Wolfstone & Julia Maryanska, that we experienced a social field unlike any other. Their members are dedicated to unearthing the generational trauma that burdens so many love relationships within modern society, and work in deep solidarity amongst the genders to regenerate trust.I learned that they consider “eros” the primal life-force of the natural world, and while humans partake in this energy through sex, this force is far vaster than such a narrow channel permits.Eros lives through the burst of molten lava from the raging mountaintop and the grace of the rain that nourishes the soil. Co-founder Sabine Lichtenfels has said “All the universe is an erotic encounter” and I began to understand her.At Tamera, they cultivate the landscape as well as the “lovescape” of their community, creating ritual spaces for the exploration of 'contact' amongst each other. They even have a Temple of Love, held by the village wise women, who mentor Temple Priests & Priestesses in the art of the sexual healing for community members.In group processes like Forum, the deepest personal challenges & insights are brought to the light of the collective, as they understand every participant does the work for the entire social organism.During my time, I was blessed with multiple experiences of releasing sexual shame & conditioning I had inherited from a society that I now recognized to be dysfunctional in the extreme.I wept an ocean of tears.I danced for hours in the sacred grove.I offered my pleasure to the luminous Goddess.And I witnessed the intelligence of eros again and again.We titled our film The Village of Lovers.The hardest part was leaving the community and attempting to live the possibility at home.

PART FIVE

There’s a saying: If you want to make God laugh, tell Him about your plans.In 2017, I made a grand declaration on Facebook that for my next chapter I would become “solo-poly”: which means open to dating others but not seeking a committed partnership.Weeks later I met Asha, a woman whose radiant beauty & sparkling spirit enthralled me so completely, I must have been brushed by the tip of Eros’ arrow. I was compelled to explore our connection.The attraction was mutual and the passion immediate. Sex became a gateway to the purest realms of pleasure I had ever experienced. It wasn’t long before I was declaring my love and soon after that I wished for partnership.A reading from the Osho Zen tarot deck appeared to announce we would have a child together. As we sensed into the wild mystery of that path, it felt true. The current of life pulsed through our beings & we surrendered to the divine intelligence. Sex became our participation in the cosmic dance of existence.Three months later, she was pregnant.Suddenly, the sobering possibility of this life-altering consequence became apparent. We barely knew each other and inviting a child into our midst seemed a reckless proposition. In our high stakes contemplation we toggled between ending the pregnancy or proceeding with the birth, knowing there was grief in either decision.Ultimately, spirit moved us to say 'yes' and we were entrusted with our blessed boy.For my partner and I, stepping into this responsibility without the prerequisite time to build a foundation of trust was costly. Amidst the joy & connection, so have our ancestral, familial, and personal wounds triggered each other so effectively.And yet, I can now see the wisdom at work.Eros has the power to attract polarizing forces together for the function of healing. When two people are willing to hold each other with compassion & commitment within a foundation of trust - transformation is possible.Our sex becomes a sacred temple of alchemy.

Such a union of souls can light up the whole world.And we continue to listen for what's next...

Thanks for reading. I would love to hear your comments & reflections below.

And you’re welcome to explore The Mythic Masculine eco-system of podcasts, online courses, and upcoming events here.

“The first half of my career was spent putting people to sleep, and after my midlife crisis, I realized I had to start waking people up, including myself.”

My guest today is Dr. Stephen Faulkner, a former medical doctor, pilot, and one of my key mentors on the path of mythopoetic masculinity.

In this episode, Stephen reflects on his nearly 70 years of life and shares his profound emotional and spiritual contentment despite facing chronic health issues. He emphasizes the critical importance of engaging in inner spiritual work to avoid the bitterness and regret that often accompany aging.

The Mythic Masculine is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

Stephen recounts his spiritual awakening at age 35, guided by the mythic maps found in "Iron John," and highlights the healing significance of connecting with nature and ritual. We speak on the transformative power of men's circles and the profound influence of Robert Bly on his journey, who also kindled a love of the great poet and artist William Blake.

He shares the tale of Gilgamesh & Endiku which was part of how we first met.

And finally, Stephen speaks of his recent near-death experience that brought him an unexpected sense of peace. He concludes with a heartfelt call for older men to mentor and support younger men, ensuring the continuity of wisdom and tending the fire across generations.

LINKS

* The enduring presence and power of William Blake (featuring Stephen Faulkner)

UPCOMING OFFERINGS

Next month, Deus and I are holding our next AWE (Awakening the Wild Erotic) Men’s Weekend July 26-28 in Black Creek, about 3 hours north of Victoria on Vancouver Island. It’s a ritual immersion in the archetype of the Lover, and if this calls to you, come join us. We’re 60% full already.

In September we’re also launching our next cohort of The Deep Masculine, a 12-week online expedition into the alluring, seductive force that animates all of life - Eros and beyond. It’s the most comprehensive container I’ve co-crafted to condenses almost a decade worth of men’s work, myth, and somatics into a powerful journey. Book a Discovery Call now and see if it’s right for you.

And finally, for all genders, you’re invited to take my online course Iron John: A Mythic Story About Men, which is a fantastic introduction to the book & a great way to integrate the chapters alongside my special guests like Stephen Jenkinson, Michael Gay, Sophie Strand and more.

What do you think of this episode? I’d love to hear your comments below.