The Mythic Masculine

Ian MacKenzie
  • 4,8 (80)
  • FILOSOFIA
  • QUINZENAL
The Mythic Masculine

Explorations on mythology, culture and the emerging masculinities. Hosted by visionary filmmaker Ian MacKenzie. themythicmasculine.substack.com

  1. 15 DE OUT.

    #70 | The Rites of Elderhood - Ned Abenroth

    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. Get full access to The Mythic Masculine at themythicmasculine.substack.com/subscribe

    1h4min
  2. Legacy and Renewal: Marking the 40th Anniversary Of The Minnesota Men's Conference

    11 DE SET.

    Legacy and Renewal: Marking the 40th Anniversary Of The Minnesota Men's Conference

    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! Get full access to The Mythic Masculine at themythicmasculine.substack.com/subscribe

    33min

  3. 27 DE AGO.

    The next cohort of The Deep Masculine begins Sept 26

    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. Get full access to The Mythic Masculine at themythicmasculine.substack.com/subscribe

    32min

  4. 2 DE AGO.

    #69 | From Mother Earth to Lover Earth - Charles Eisenstein [ENCORE]

    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. Get full access to The Mythic Masculine at themythicmasculine.substack.com/subscribe

    1h1min

  5. 16 DE JUL.

    What does sex mean to me? An inquiry in five parts.

    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 MD

    14min

  6. 25 DE JUN.

    #68 | Healing Soul Through Men’s Work - Dr. Stephen Faulkner

    “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. Get full access to The Mythic Masculine at themythicmasculine.substack.com/subscribe

    1h2min

  7. 22 DE MAI.

    #67 | Illuminating The Symphony of Self - Trevor Yelich

    My guest today is Trevor Yelich, an alternative therapist specializing in breathwork, somatic psychotherapeutics and trauma work. He is the founder of Numa Somatics and the Numa Mystery School. This episode was recorded immediately after I completed an in-person training with Trevor in psychotherapeutics, which I very much enjoyed. Many of the principles and practices I found quite complementary to my existing experience facilitating groups, and I found Trevor to be highly intelligent, warm and compassionate. In this episode, Trevor shares his take on navigating a transformative phase of life, characterized by shifts in work, relationships, and self-awareness. He delves into the concept of the Chiron return, its significance in astrology, and how it has impacted his journey as a healer.  Trevor also explores the therapeutic potential of psychedelic experiences, the dynamics of embodying both masculine and feminine energies, and the Hakomi principle of organicity - emphasizing the natural, self-organizing processes that guide personal and collective healing through deep, empathetic connections. The Mythic Masculine is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. LINKS * Trevor’s Official Website & Upcoming Events * Trevor in IG ALSO, DON’T MISS: I’m hosting my next in-person men’s retreat Awakening The Wild Erotic July 26-28 on Vancouver Island. This is a very powerful ritual weekend not to miss. Get the full details & apply here. As well, Iron John: A Mythic Story About Men is my re-released 7 week online course now available for all genders. If you’re a man and want to work with me directly, Book A Discovery Call here. SHOW NOTES * Trevor's Transition: Trevor describes being in a liminal period in Calgary, Alberta, experiencing significant changes and many unknowns in his life, from relationships to work. * Sense of Possibility: Despite the uncertainties, Trevor feels a strong sense of possibility and potential unfolding, trusting the process even without complete clarity. * Chiron Return: Trevor is approaching his 51st birthday, marking his Chiron return, a significant astrological event related to the wounded healer archetype, bringing energetic shifts and introspection. * Therapy as Exploration: Trevor and Ian discuss the nature of therapy, emphasizing it as a process of creating a safe and brave container to explore underlying frameworks of perception and reality, rather than just seeking to fix or soothe symptoms. * Therapy Metaphor: Trevor uses the metaphor of a house to explain therapy, involving both significant renovations and ongoing maintenance tasks to continually adjust and improve one's relationship with life. * Social Perceptions of Therapy: They discuss societal perceptions of therapy, highlighting how it is often seen as a weakness or a sign of being broken, and the importance of shifting this view towards understanding therapy as a skill for being human. * Impact of Childhood Experiences: Trevor reflects on how his upbringing, particularly the lack of emotional support and reconciliation after punishment, influenced his path into therapy and his approach to helping others build healthier relationships. * Emergence and Mindfulness: Trevor explains the concept of emergence in therapy, where by shifting focus and creating space around experiences, new possibilities and ways of relating can spontaneously arise. * Psychedelic Therapy: The discussion touches on the rise of psychedelic therapy, with Trevor highlighting the benefits of non-ordinary states of consciousness in creating deeper therapeutic relationships and transformative experiences. * Shape-shifting in Therapy: Trevor talks about the role of the therapist as a shape-shifter, adapting to the needs of the client and resonating with their experiences to facilitate deeper healing and transformation. * Unity and Differentiation: The concept of unity in therapy is explo

    1h22min

  8. 20 DE MAI.

    Iron John - A Mythic Story About Men

    Access The Iron John course here. A few years ago, I was invited to steward an online offering for the Rowe Center, based in Massachusetts. With the passing of Robert Bly, esteemed poet, activist, and father of the mythopoetic men's movement, I opted to weave a 7 week journey revisiting his seminal book Iron John, inviting an array of special guests to join me. The roster includes Stephen Jenksinon, Sophie Strand, Ramon Parish, Michael Gay, Philip Folsom, Shay Au Lait & Stefanos Sifandos. The course was a big success, and since then, I’ve always wanted to re-release it for more folk of all genders to access the insights & experience. I’m pleased to announce the course is now available. A few more words about Robert Bly & the story: As named, he is perhaps most well known for his retelling of the classic German fairy tale, which illuminated the inner world of men in such a way that seemed long absent from modern Western culture. This longing to be gathered into the mysteries of men and manhood, of a mythic masculinity, drew much contention upon its release in the early 90's, and has reverberated to this day. It wasn't until I watched the documentary '1000 Years of Joy' that I grasped the larger portrait of a man who had already amassed a respectful body of work before he turned to culture and gender. My love for Mr. Bly grew tremendously, as a blazing example of what could lie ahead in the later half of life, a glimpse of elderhood to a troubled time. Note: I also interviewed the films director Hayden Reiss which I’ve included at the bottom. Whether or not you’ve seen the documentary, it’s delightful to hear his stories of meeting & collaborating with Bly. In 2022, the spiral has come around as a new generation discovers Iron John alongside an urgent crisis of masculinity. What might Iron John offer in the wake of #metoo, Artificial Intelligence, post-truth, multi-generational trauma, and biospheric breakdown?Despite some contemporary references that are dated, the book holds up as a vital to the conversation of manhood as it did in its day. At the time, Bly was criticized by some feminists for "blaming women" for men’s troubles - and yet, that has never been accurate. He writes "This doesn't mean that the women are doing something wrong: I think the problem is more that the older men are not really doing their job." That's not to say there aren't blindspots (there are), and thankfully a number of additional perspectives have added to the polyphony of emerging masculinities.Here’s my interview with Hadyn Reiss, the director of the Bly documentary 1000 Years of Joy. I highly recommend viewing the full film. Get full access to The Mythic Masculine at themythicmasculine.substack.com/subscribe

    3min
Ver tudo (94)

4,8
de 5
80 avaliações

Sobre

Explorations on mythology, culture and the emerging masculinities. Hosted by visionary filmmaker Ian MacKenzie. themythicmasculine.substack.com

Informações

  • Criado por
    Ian MacKenzie
  • Anos de atividade
    2019 - 2024
  • Episódios
    94
  • Classificação
    Explícito
  • Copyright
    © Ian MacKenzie
  • Site do podcast
    The Mythic Masculine

Você também pode gostar de

Para ouvir episódios explícitos, inicie sessão.

Fique por dentro deste podcast

Inicie sessão ou crie uma conta para seguir podcasts, salvar episódios e receber as atualizações mais recentes.
Selecionar um país ou região

África, Oriente Médio e Índia

Ásia‑Pacífico

Europa

América Latina e Caribe

Estados Unidos e Canadá