Born Free Method: The Podcast Edmund Knighton, PhD (Part 4) - Sacred Polarities: The Ra Material, Steiner, and a Man’s Work in Conception, Childbirth and Beyond
Edmund Knighton, Ph.D., is a seasoned educator, clinical psychologist, and somatic movement practitioner whose multidisciplinary career spans more than three decades. He has engaged through various capacities with Waldorf education for over 35 years, once even serving as the president of Rudolf Steiner College. Drawing on the teachings of Rudolf Steiner, the channeled material of “Ra” from the The Law of One, and somatic/transpersonal psychology, Edmund offers consulting for individuals, organizations, and families (including my own) committed to holistic growth.
You won’t find Edmund on social media, but you can reach out to him by email: Fifthwanderer@gmail.com if you ‘d like to have his support in your home.
In Part 1 of this series with Edmund, we discussed some of the basics around Steiner’s philosophy, the Waldorf pedagogy, a 3- and 4-fold approach to human wellbeing, and we started our venture into autism.
In Part 2, we dove deeper into “autism” but also offered an invitation to consider the extrasensory gifts displayed by many “autistic” children. We also covered vaccines.
In Part 3, we discussed the significance of the Holy Nights, a time of spiritual reflection and preparation leading up to Christmas as well as the days that follow.
In Part 4, we focus on men. What is men’s work? What does it mean to embrace your feminine? What is meant by femininity and masculinity? What does this have to do with sex, childbirth, and love-making?
00:11:15 - A rebirth experience in a men’s circle for a man to feel welcomed into the world (by other men) as his full, integral self can be a very expansive yet confronting experience. Men’s work can reveal challenging parts within us, and the work of a men’s circle is also to help integrate and synthesize these experiences rather than suppress them.
00:21:00 - Each of us carries a multitude of masculine and feminine energetics. How does your masculinity invite the feminine to dance? (within yourself, with your partner, etc.) To create a clear binary between the masculine and feminine is to dismiss the beautiful complexities of how they dance with one another.
00:34:45 - The role of a woman’s body is “containing” the blood and body of her baby is a masculine activity. Perhaps children pull their mother into motherhood, not the other way around. Men has a co-creative role from being to end in bringing a baby Earthside.
00:46:25 - By getting in touch with our feminine, us men can logarithmically augment our power. How powerful are you really if you can’t hold a man’s hand and make eye contact for 60 seconds without losing connection to your self? Hug-by as a replacement for rubgy among children (and men).
00:59:55 - A true, embodied warrior knows that their sword without a dagger is sharp and dangerous. This is a metaphor for what is called “toxic masculinity”. This is also an apt metaphor for how a man wields his penis within his expression of the lover archetype. This metaphor comes through the story of Sir Lancelot and Lady Guinevere along with Mary Magdelene and Christ.
01:04:17 - If a man can’t enjoying giving himself pleasure, how can he possibly expect to provide pleasure to others? Men spend very little time touching themselves apart from masturbation. Edmund describes simple self-care exercises that can help us nourish our own pleasure centers, starting with self-touch.
Edmund’s email: fifthwanderer@gmail.com
To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.
References from the conversation:
* A Return to Eros: The Radical Experience of Being Fully Alive, by Marc Gafni
* Letters to a Young Poet, by Rainer Maria Rilke
* Iron John: A Book about Men, by Robert Bly
Related episodes:
* Edmund Kinghton, PhD (Part 3): - The Holy Nights, Advent, and the Pursuit of Spiritual Freedom
* John Wineland: Embracing the Liberation Paradigm from Sacred Masculinity to Conscious Parenting
This episode was sponsored by Born Free Method.
The Born Free Method digital playground includes over 60 hrs of pre-recorded lessons (w/ slides) spread out over 180+ lessons when you enroll. You will also be invited to a Zoom call (recorded) every other week hosted by me, Sara, and both. We also often have guest speakers, and you will have access to recordings for all 100+ of our past calls/interviews. All of this for just $200 per month.
Work with Nathan:Support for Midwives | Private Consultation | Born Free Method | Clear & Free Medical Disclaimer: Born Free Method: The Podcast is an educational program. No information conveyed through this podcast should be construed as medical advice. These conversations are available to the public for educational and entertainment purposes only.Music provided by RealMovieScores / Pond5
Get full access to Born Free Method: The Podcast at nathanrileyobgyn.substack.com/subscribe