The Mythic Masculine

As lovers, can we move beyond the need to get it right - and instead be absolutely captivated with the desire to be real with each other? My guest today is Melissa Maya, a writer & artist who works as a feminine leadership and somatic intimacy guide. She is devoted to midwifing a culture that is rooted in the resurgence & remembrance of feminine intelligence & intuition, and in her own words, “in service to women becoming obedient to their true nature.” This conversation was sparked by a post from Melissa where she shared about her former experience as a domina - a female dominatrix - and what she discovered was most effective in inviting her male clients into a deeper surrender.I hear her story, as well as her explorations of isogeny - the capacity to shift between an integrated masculine and feminine polarity, as well as the intimacy that can develop through the path of radical transparency in relationship.  LINKS:* Melissa Maya on IG* Wildly Devotional WebsiteALSO RECOMMENDED: This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit themythicmasculine.substack.com/subscribe

The ability to slow down and self-regulate is a very important act of self-love and self-care that is accessible to anyone. - Robin ClementsMy guest today is Robin Clements, an international leader in the field of conscious connected breathing. He is the founder of Breathwave, as well as a surfer, yogi and father.Robin also happens to be my neighbour.  As well, my partner has trained with Robin for many years and so it was inevitable that one day that I would dive deeper into breathwork. This episode was recorded during Robin’s introductory 7 day training, in the beautiful Highlands area on Vancouver Island. Each day we gathered in circle to connect with each other, learn the science and way of breath, and dive deep into our practice.In our conversation, Robin shares his own journey into breathwork, the foundational capacity to self-regulate one’s nervous system, and what patterns he often recognizes in men.  We touch on partnership and fatherhood, and how his own relationship to breath has evolved over the years. We begin this episode with a 10 minute breathwave journey for you.  Feel free to listen on high quality headphones, find a comfortable place, and surrender to the breath of life.LINKS* Robin Clements on IG* Breathwave Official Website This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit themythicmasculine.substack.com/subscribe

Dear listeners, My guest today is Muhammad Ali Sardar, aka The Alichemist, a satirist who speaks to the themes of money, power, sex, race and religion. In particular, he caught my eye through his various Instagram reels that depict a wry critique of men’s work tropes, blind spots, and the dangers of spiritual materialism. Our conversation today is a hybrid experience. First, we open with his alter ego Patrick Dragon Lotus Flying Jaguar, where he speaks to his path of becoming a sacred men’s work facilitator, and how to succeed in this burgeoning industry.From there, we shift gears and release the character -  and I speak with Ali about his personal journey through transformational spaces, as well as the power of satire to bring a sacred mirror and upend dogma wherever it manifests.LINKS* The Alichemist on Instagram This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit themythicmasculine.substack.com/subscribe

Greetings friends, Happy to share this recent interview with my pal Eamon Armstrong where he interviews me on his podcast exploring mythopoetic masculinity. The conversation also highlights my active curated series Restorying Masculinity. You’re welcome to join now and receive the recording from last week to get up to speed. Use the code MYTHICrm20 and get 20% off when you register here.From the show notes: “Our conversation begins with a history of the Mythopoetic Men's Movement and its splinter, Men’s Rights activism. We talk about how mainstream culture is really an anti-culture that eats culture, including mens work. Ian shares the value of myth vs fact in exploring truth and some of the lessons from three years of interviews about masculinity on his podcast. Ian also shares the story of his four year cycle of fasting in the wilderness for a four day “sit.”Enjoy our conversation!IM This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit themythicmasculine.substack.com/subscribe

Welcome to The Mythic Masculine, now hosted on Substack! You’re welcome to continue connected as a free subscriber, or please consider upgrading to a paid subscriber to support all the effort that goes into this show. “The way you treat and view women represents the way you treat your own feminine qualities and unconscious mind.” - Connor BeatonMy guest today is Connor Beaton, a writer, speaker, and founder of Mantalks, a platform dedicated to offering healing and brotherhood to men around the world. Using a combination of Jungian psychology, somatic therapy, transformative breathwork and meditative practices, Connor has produced an effective approach to working with shadow and integrating the hidden parts of the self.In our conversation today, we speak about fatherhood and the release of his new book Men’s Work. In particular, we focus on the relationship between men and women, including a tactical guide to navigating conflict.  He shares why the cliche of “happy wife, happy life” is a trap, and why it’s better to seek to understand than be right. Connor shares how infidelity and porn can lead to surprising revelations, and finally, we both respond with our own perspective on the age-old question “what might men really want?” LINKS* ManTalks Official Website* Relationship Mastery Course* Men’s Work - The Book This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit themythicmasculine.substack.com/subscribe

This is the full recording of the latest Solar Session, a live conversation via The School of Mythopoetics. Join the School http://schoolofmythopoetics.comCharles Sue-Wah-Sing is a leadership and whole life coach, facilitator and guide with a focus on conscious leadership, and practicing safe conversations. He works with people from all walks of life who are longing for or in the midst of major shifts in their personal lives, careers, relationships and families. He's a self-described seeker for divine wisdom. His curiosities include art, music, religion, cultural traditions and ceremonies, mythology, science, psychology and social justice issues. He's an avid blogger and has a couple of book projects on the go. In 2022, he started a virtual men's group for men of color. They gather weekly for his Open Jam sessions where they talk about life as Black, Brown and mixed race men living in a White-dominant culture. Charles is also a long-time scholar at the Orphan Wisdom School with Stephen Jenkinson. Learn more about Charles https://www.suewahsing.com/ This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit themythicmasculine.substack.com/subscribe

My guest today Ke’oni Hanalei, founder of Pōhala, purveyor of Esoteric Hawaiian Fern Medicine.Ke’oni caught my attention through his Instagram, where he shares profound perspectives rooted in the Mū teachings of ancient Hawaii.In our conversation today, we speak about his own upbringing under the guidance of his grandmother and his rediscovery and cultivation of fern medicine. Ke’oni shares his understanding of gender and right relationship, advocating for the cultivation of intimacy within and without. And finally, he speaks of teachings that have bolstered his courage to participate in this time of great change with authenticity and beauty.LINKS Ke’oni Instagram PoHALA Website This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit themythicmasculine.substack.com/subscribe

What if hidden in the soil below the monumental myth of patriarchal masculinity there was a rhizomatic biodiversity of alternative masculinities? What does it mean to create an ecosystem of narratives, rather than uplift a singular story? Looking to the past for ingredients to compost into better stories for the future, Ian and Sophie bring their personal experiences and mythic mycelial systems into a conversation about their own exploration into the myths of the masculine.Register for Sophie's new course Rewilding Mythology https://www.rewilding-mythology.com Use the code RewildMYTHPOFull the full transcript here https://advaya.co/read/2022/10/19/ian-mackenzie-sophie-strand-rewilding-mythology This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit themythicmasculine.substack.com/subscribe

This bonus episode is actually a conversation recorded for another podcast The End Of Tourism.  The host is my good friend Chris Christou, who I initially met through Stephen Jenkinson’s Orphan Wisdom School.We have spent many a time gathering on the farm in Ontario where the School is held, and have woven threads of companionship over the years.A few months back, he invited me on his show to discuss subjects of which I’ve rarely spoken publicly, including my former years working for an online travel magazine, my own self-created initiatory adventures to Australia, the paradox of being a traveller in the modern age, and more.Listen to more episodes of The End of Tourism https://www.theendoftourism.comSupport on Patreon http://patreon.com/theendoftourism This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit themythicmasculine.substack.com/subscribe

My guest today is Jason MacKenzie, co-founder of Sacred Sons, a men’s organization whose self-professed aim is to “steward the return of the father archetype through men's relational and physical training.”I first met Jason in 2019 at the Sacred Sons Convergence in San Diego, a powerful gathering of 300 other men. I experienced firsthand the container that he, alongside his core collaborators Aubert Bastiat and Adam Jackson crafted together.In our conversation today, Jason and I dive into his own experience with drug and alcohol abuse early in life. He speaks of finding his way into men’s work and committing himself to the ManKind Project, before ultimately departing to follow his own path. We talk about the deep longing for elders in a largely elderless time. And finally, he speaks of his learnings from the ending of a partnership, and coming into a new relationship with his own feminine spirit.Before we begin, you might consider listening to episode #51, which is my interview with Bill Kauth, the co-founder of the ManKind Project. This sets up the lineage that connects to my conversation with Jason. You might also wish to read the essay I wrote after my participation at the Sacred Sons Convergence, titled “The Rise of the Embodied Masculine.” I’ve linked to it in the show notes.Explore Sacred Sons http://sacredsons.comRead my essay https://ianmack.medium.com/sacredsons-5cf03070b28dListen to more episodes http://themythicmasculine.com This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit themythicmasculine.substack.com/subscribe