The Mythic Masculine

This is an an excerpt from the full episode A Psychedelic Guide to Healing Trauma. My guest Deus Fortier delivers a powerful spoken word transmission that begs to be listened to multiple times over.  Enjoy! Connect more with Deus http://deusfortier.comSupport this podcast http://themythicmasculine.com/supporter 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 Deus Fortier, a multi-faceted artist, men’s coach, and ceremonial facilitator.He is a fire-keeper and drummer for the Blackfoot sundance in southern Alberta, as well as an initiate of Kriya Yoga, a comprehensive spiritual science, founded by Paramahansa Yogananda of the ancient Swami order.Since 2007, Deus has been working intimately with entheogens and plant medicines, which is how I had the opportunity to experience the psychedelic 5 MEO DMT.I’m grateful to call Deus one of my closest friends, and this interview follows a powerful one on one ceremony he offered me with the medicine. I can say without hesitation, it was...the most intense experience of my life.Our conversation here is recorded in the late afternoon, with the spirit of the journey still with me. We cover potent ground, including Deus’ journey as a spiritual seeker with a deep yearning to understand consciousness.  We talk about the power of liberating the intelligence of emotions and the nature of healing trauma.And finally, we cover the dangers and possibilities of intentional psychedelic ceremony, ending with a fierce original spoken-word piece from Deus called “Are You Okay?”Support the Podcast http://themythicmasculine.com/supportJoin the Network http://themythicmasculine.com/network 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 Zhenevere Sophia Dao, founder of the philosophy of Post-Daoism and the MogaDao practice tradition.She has been a teacher and innovator of mythosomatic practices for nearly 30 years, and writes on wide variety of spiritual, philosophical, and cultural subjects. Zhenevere is also the founder of the organization, The Transgender Necessity, a platform to help educate individuals and institutions with regard to the cultural necessity of transgender people.In our fantastic conversation today, we discuss how to weave the fabric of one’s mythopoetic life.  We explore a post-Daoist gender theory, and the recognition and implication of recognizing masculinity as a theatrical spirit.  We touch upon Robert Bly and the limited legacy of Iron John, and come to a surprising revelation of the ghost in the machine of Patriarchy.And finally, Zhenevere touches upon the transgender experience as a necessary medicine for these times of traversing uncertainty as we collectively reimagine culture.Support this podcast http://patreon.com/ianmackJoin the network http://themythicmasculine.com/network 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

Today I'm happy to speak with Karen Lee Downes, co-founder of FemmeQ, who are holding their next event in Costa Rica as well as online July 24-31st. We are producing the next A Gathering of Stories livestream event in collaboration with their conference. In our conversation, we discuss the journey to come.  Get tickets for FemmeQ http://femmeq.orgGet tickets for A Gathering of Stories II http://agatheringofstories.comLearn more about Karen https://karenleedownes.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 is Maya Luna, a poet and creator of the Deep Feminine Mystery School.She has also authored a book of poetry, OMEGA: Feral Secrets of the Deep Feminine and released a spoken word album, Holy Darkness: A Tantric Opus.In our conversation today, we discuss how to tune into the frequency of the Deep Feminine, through the gateways of the senses.  We speak of the historical consequence of literacy on the cultures that venerated the Goddess and the subsequent rise of distorted masculinity.  We wonder on the original trauma that may illuminate the gender conflict still unfolding today, and the Madonna/Whore split that many women (and men) are seeking to integrate.And finally, Maya shares one of her powerful poems on the truth of Feminine power.Join the Network http://themythicmasculine.com/networkSupport this Podcast http://patreon.com/ianmack 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 Bill Plotkin, PhD, a depth psychologist, wilderness guide, and founder of western Colorado’s Animas Valley Institute.Bill has led thousands of women and men through nature-based initiatory passages, and is the author of number books, including Soulcraft, Nature and the Human Soul, and Wild Mind.In our conversation today, we discuss his recent book The Journey of Soul Initiation, which distills decades of his insights into human development and the mythopoetic relationship between humanity and ecology.We explore the Five Phases of what he calls The Descent to Soul, including PreparationDissolution, Soul Encounter, Metamorphosis, Enactment. We compare his model and the significant differences between Joseph Campbell’s Hero’s Journey, along the challenges of navigating through each stage of development.And finally, Bill names the blessing and burden it is to take on one’s own unique ecological niche, and how this invites us to become visionary artisans of cultural evolution.Support this podcast http://patreon.com/ianmackJoin the Network http://themythicmasculine.com/network 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 Allan B. Chinen, a psychiatrist in private practice in San Francisco and Clinical Professor Psychiatry at the University of California, San Francisco.He has lectured extensively and presented numerous workshops on the role of myths, fairy tales and legends on our life stories. He the author numerous books, including In the Ever After: Fairy Tales and the Second Half of Life, and Beyond the Hero: Classic Stories of Men in Search of Soul.In our conversation today, we explore the relationship between the Hero and the Patriarch, and men’s initial fear and fascination with the Feminine. We unpack the tales that may guide men’s roles at mid-life, after the Hero has come home. And finally, we reach further back into the time before civilization, wherein lies the deep masculine wisdom of the Trickster.Support this podcast http://patreon.com/ianmackJoin the Network http://themythicmasculine.com/network 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 Matthew Stillman, a dear friend who has been obsessed with how modern humans fit into an ancient world since, forever.He has a wildly eclectic background, from highlighting the connection between food and culture as a programming executive on the Food Network. He co-produced an acclaimed documentary on The End of Poverty.  He even created a traditional skincare company, called Primal Derma, delivered from his home in Harlem, New York.I first met Matthew as a scholar in the Orphan Wisdom School with Stephen Jenkinson, and we have spent many hours wondering about many things, from love, to poetry, and beyond.In our conversation today however, he shares about his upbringing in the world’s most mystical bookstore. He tells the tale of sitting at the feet of Robert Bly in the time just before his book Iron John would ignite the mythopoetic men’s movement. Matthew also speaks of the divine presence in the art of improv comedy, and the rules that govern finite and infinite games.And finally, he shares the ancient myth of Phaethon and being undone by his own awakening into fatherhood.Support this podcast http://patreon.com/ianmackJoin the network http://themythicmasculine.com/network 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

Happy Beltane! In this bonus episode, Ian MacKenzie and Zamir Dhanji reflect on the inaugural 'A Gathering of Stories' held during Imbolc 2012. This magical weekend brought together a global feast of storytellers, musicians and poets to explore The Soul of Masculinity.  The entire journey is has just been released as a self-directed course on The Mythic Masculine Network, available to all members.  As well, Ian & Zamir hint at the future event to come.  Stay tuned. Music: Naad https://naad.bandcamp.comAccess the Journey as a Course http://themythicmasculine.com/networkLearn more about A Gathering of Stories http://agatheringofstories.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 is Ramon Parish, an assistant professor in Naropa University’s department of Interdisciplinary Studies.Ramon has been synthesizing mindfulness, embodiment, social justice, the environment, and ritual & ceremony for over a decade, and has helped usher hundreds of young people through contemporary threshold experiences.In our conversation today, we explore a dazzling array of themes, including: the impact of comics as modern mythologies, the power of healing personal and ancestral trauma through movement, the spiral dynamics of emergence, and how these uncertain times ask that we become riders of chaos.Support this podcast http://patreon.com/ianmackJoin the Conversation http://themythicmasculine.com/network 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