The Mythic Masculine

To brood is to wander through a grovewhere one sheep straysand a hundred wolves follow.Why did I make brooding my vocationwhen AWE was an option?Thought spinner, mull the wine of wonder.- RUMIThree years ago, my colleague Deus and I joined forces to craft an experiment. We invited 12 men out to the forest. He brought his years of training in breathwork, transformational art, and psychedelic facilitation. I wove my love of archetypes, fairy tales, and the lineage of mythopoetics.The result: a cauldron of mystery that we named AWE - Awakening the Wild Erotic. Since that time, we’ve ran the 3 day weekend over 7 times, supporting over 90 men through the journey. Deus and I still have a difficult time describing what happens during these ritual gatherings. What feels most true: it is the rite of passage that most men never received as we entered into our erotic birthright. It is the beginning of coming into right relationship with sexual energy, responsibility, and self leadership. Plus, it’s a lot of fun. Here’s what some of the men have said: "I really got to know men in this time—more so in three days than in the 49 years I've been alive. And through that, I got to know so much more of me. I feel more open to vitality, to passion, to pleasure and joy... to the juice of life... the nectar of the Gods.""I arrived at the retreat seeking to heal shame carried in my body... What I discovered was an inner fire. Beyond healing, I left the weekend ablaze with energy and purpose, ready to fully embody my life as a father, a son, a husband, a brother, and a friend.""Upon returning home from AWE, my wife said to me: ‘The pilot light of our love was going out. You came back with the flame to relight us.’ If feeling what it means to be alive, to love and be loved, to breathe in the air of erotic life-force resonates within, you owe it to yourself to work with these men."The terrain of sex, eros, and intimacy is edgy territory.Especially these days, when the shadow of men is running rampant, as we’re confronted with the Epstein files, endless wars and abuses of power. On the personal front, there’s the continual seduction of numbing out with substances, pornography and now AI “girlfriends” that promise pseudo intimacy without any real-world risk or rejection, or reward of being truly seen.In the face of all that, over and over, I’m astounded by the men who choose to attend AWE. These are men who want to access a deeper vitality in their being, who wish to connect with the current of life, and show up as more grounded, integrated and passionate lovers.UPCOMING WEEKEND - APRIL 24-26Once again, we return to Black Creek on Vancouver Island. This is likely to be the only AWE we are offering in the region this year.If you feel the pull - or if you know a man who needs this kind of medicine - you can find the application and full details below.We have 4 spots left. Begin the Descent - Apply for the April 24-26 AWE ImmersionP.S. For those of you who can’t make it to the island, the next cohort of our 12-week online journey, The Deep Masculine, begins in mid-May. 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 is International Transgender Day of Visibility and right moment to kick off this new series on The Mythic Masculine.It didn’t grow out of a plan; it grew out of a message from a trans man named Emmanuel H. Brown.Emmanuel was looking to join an in-person gathering of mine—a ritual space he discovered was not open to trans men. It was an intentional choice made with my collaborator Deus Fortier, rooted in cultivating a container for men whose maps of masculinity have always (at least on the surface) lined up to how they were culturally assigned at birth.But I’d left a note in the invitation for anyone to reach out if they wanted to talk about it. Emmanuel reached out. He invited me into a circle with several other trans men to hear about their lives and their perspectives on men’s work and masculinity.This series is the result of that invitation.You can find the full participant bios series page here.Subscribe to get the full series in your inbox.In Part One we look at the collective cultural moment. We look at how trans folk represent a ‘trickster’ figure, troubling the psychic architecture of the binary many of us were raised with. We talk about the urge to ‘monster’ the other, but we also look at the history of how gender has been used as a tool of social control.We explore the tension: How do we hold space for genuine confusion and curiosity without defaulting to a label of ‘transphobia’ if someone doesn’t immediately adopt the progressive position? How do we reckon with the real violence trans folk experience while creating more acceptance and room for their perspectives? And how do we navigate the certainty of ‘biological essentialism’ and the expansive possibilities of gender that are an invitation for us all?Now, it’s worth saying up front: there is a lot of volatility around this subject. Emotions run high and it can feel like there’s a lot at stake.Wherever you currently find yourself, whatever you might already believe, this is an invitation into a beginner’s mind.My intention with this series isn’t about preaching indoctrination.It’s about seeing how the tapestry of masculinity might be troubled, re-woven, and made more beautiful for us all.You’re welcome to leave your respectful & nuanced thoughts in the comments below. Any aggressive, dismissive or mean-spirited posts will be deleted.Let’s see if we can craft an approach filled with mutual respect and wonder. 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 David Sutcliffe, a somatic psychotherapist and former actor who has stepped off the red carpets of Hollywood to venture into the deeper landscapes of the masculine soul.David is something of an enigma to me. He’s a therapist who champions the necessity of men getting in touch with their feelings and expressing their rage and grief. Yet, he is also an ardent Trump supporter and has interviewed uber-masculine figures like Andrew Tate.In this conversation, we certainly don’t align on everything, but we remain willing to lean in and see what the friction reveals.It’s worth saying: this conversation was recorded in September 2025, before the wake of the Epstein files released December 2025. This would have come up in our conversation if we had recorded this afterwards.A little more about David. For years, he was an archetypal “cute guy” or “bad boyfriend” on television - but behind the scenes he eventually found himself on his own road of ashes - where the trappings of fame and success turned to dust, inviting him into a more rigorous descent.Together, we explore the cost of the “nice guy” mask and the disorientation of a fatherless upbringing. We speak of the “devouring mother,” the search for authentic masculine role models, and his own views on “masculine leadership” and traditional gender roles.And finally, David reminds us that maturity demands the courage to face or darkness, tame the flames of our inner dragon, and take up the seat of our own sovereignty.A brief aside: for men who wish to work with me, you’re invited to my upcoming immersion & online cohorts:* Awakening the Wild Erotic, Vancouver Island (April 24-26)* The Deep Masculine, Online (next cohort begins May 3)As well, don’t miss the inaugural Cascadia Men’s Conference, happening just north of Vancouver Aug 6-9th, 2026.For those drawn to David’s style and offerings, check out the links below:SHOW LINKS* David Sutcliffe School for Kings* David Sutcliffe on IG * Poem - How to Tame A DragonSHOW NOTESHere are the show note highlights with the updated timecode format, tightened for impact:* 03:55 — The Geographic and Spiritual Check-in: David shares his current life in Mexico and how his relationship with God has become the anchor point of his life and marriage.* 05:40 — The Interviewer’s Tightrope: Reflecting on David’s interviews with polarizing figures like Andrew Tate and the “art of the interview” when navigating high-defense mechanisms.* 07:18 — From the Red Carpet to the Road of Ashes: David recounts his twenty-year acting career and the mid-life collapse that led him to trade Hollywood fame for the rigors of somatic healing.* 09:51 — The Alchemy of the Mat: An exploration of Core Energetics and the necessity of physical expression—hitting, kicking, and shouting—to move repressed “sob and rage.”* 13:10 — The Missing Father and the Devouring Mother: Discussing the psychic consequences of an absent father and how the resulting “devouring mother” energy can lead men to self-abandonment.* 26:45 — The War of the Sexes: A look at the “bitterness and vitriol” in modern gender relations and the cultural propaganda of the “bumbling father” in media.* 28:26 — Feminism and the Manosphere: David offers his take on how radicalized social movements can lead to a reactive “manosphere” and the collective struggle to truly see one another.* 39:15 — The Politics of Polarity: David addresses his shift from Hollywood progressive to a supporter of traditional values and Donald Trump, framing it as a return to “reality.”* 53:12 — The Strongman Archetype: Exploring the qualities of figures like Trump and Tate, and why men are gravitating toward “strongmen” in a landscape of cultural chaos.* 1:11:15 — Taming the Inner Dragon: A concluding reminder that our inner shadows are not to be slain, but looked in the eye until they recognize their master. 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

Friends, it’s been a minute. I’m deeply troubled by the times - yet, I’m honoured to share this conversation with Nisha Moodley, an integrative leadership coach, community builder, and founder of the Center for Devotional Leadership.We have been in mutual orbit for years, including sharing a number of mutual friends and an appreciation for each other’s work in the realms of cultural healing. While much of our current collective attention is fixed on the horrific revelations of the Epstein files, Nisha and I sit on either side of this inquiry to ask: What is the deeper work required of us now?Nisha shares her perspective on the “holy wail” currently rising from women and mothers—a fierce refusal to continue normalizing a culture of domination and extraction. We explore the “social codes” that keep men silent and the “alpha” masks used to hide deep-seated anxiety. Together, we look at the necessity of moving beyond the trap of being a “good man” to instead take a clear-eyed look at the shadow we all carry.Central to our talk is the exploration of matriarchy- not as a mirror of patriarchal power, but a return to the sacred circle, where our societies are reorganized around kinship, service, and a “soft-bellied” freedom that makes the world safer for all our children.Subscribe to The Mythic Masculine for new episodes in your inbox.For men who wish to do this inner work, you are invited to my upcoming immersion & online cohorts: * Awakening the Wild Erotic, Vancouver Island (April 24-26) * The Deep Masculine, Online (next cohort begins May 3) As well, don’t miss the innaugural Cascadia Men’s Conference, happening just north of Vancouver Aug 6-9th, 2026. LINKS* Nisha Moodley Official Website* Nisha Moodley on IG* Nisha’s post An Open Letter to MenSHOW NOTES* The collective “quiet heaviness” and nervous system exhaustion felt in the wake of the Epstein files and global revelations of exploitation.* Why Nisha feels a “holy wail” of rage rather than shock, as these headlines mirror patterns women have navigated for a lifetime.* The danger of distancing ourselves from “bad actors” and how that prevents us from seeing the micro-ways domination exists in our own communities.* Ian’s reflection on moving from being a “good man” who points fingers to a man who stands with others to say, “Brother, we can do better.”* A story from Nisha’s youth about the “parking lot code” and how social pressure often forces men to choose status over the truth.* An analysis of the “alpha” performance—using figures like Andrew Tate—as a mask for deep-seated anxiety and a desperate need for control.* How we have all internalized systems of domination and extraction, even in our most personal relationships and parenting.* Why we often use outrage as a “safe” way to avoid the deeper, more transformative vulnerability of collective grief.* The unique healing and “dropping of the guard” that happens in single-gender spaces when the performance for the other is removed.* Exploring “matriarchy” as the fundamental antidote to patriarchy—shifting from a culture of domination to one that centers the protection of life.* The shift from “power over” to “power with,” moving from ego-driven heroism to leadership rooted in service to the whole.* A closing vision of “soft-bellied” freedom—the ability to live without armor and build a world that prioritizes the well-being of all children.ALSO 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

My guest today is once again Stephen Jenkinson, a culture activist, teacher and author, and principal instructor of The Orphan Wisdom School, co-founded with his wife Nathalie Roy. He has Master’s degrees from Harvard University (Theology) and the University of Toronto (Social Work).The School, though now formally closed, has made an incredibly significant mark on my life and Stephen continues to tour and teach all over the world. I’ve had the wild good fortune to have collaborated with Stephen in numerous ways, including producing the short film Lost Nation Road, as well as being part of the team architecting The Scriptorium - an Orphan Wisdom online archive.His most recent book Matrimony: Ritual, Culture and the Heart’s Work, is the subject of our conversation today.In a time when many couples are opting out of marriage altogether, sensing that the modern wedding has often become a hollow performance, Stephen offers a different perspective. He suggests that “wedding” and “matrimony” are not interchangeable at all. One is largely engineered so that nothing really happens; the other, when approached as a deity, can be an alchemical ritual, where vows are enactments and blessings might bind all who attend with real consequence.Through personal stories from the trenches, Stephen reminds us that matrimony, at its core, is a radical act of citizenship: a cultural undertaking where love is asked to nourish more than the couple themselves, and where village emerges from the willingness to place life at the center.LINKS* Stephen Jenkinson Official Website* The Scriptorium* Matrimony - Ritual, Culture and the Heart’s WorkSHOW NOTES* 00:01 — Ian introduces Stephen Jenkinson and frames the conversation around his new book Matrimony: Ritual, Culture, and the Heart’s Work.* 00:02 — Stephen names the modern wedding as a hollow performance engineered so that “nothing really happens.”* 00:03 — Ian describes matrimony as a radical act of citizenship where love is asked to serve culture, not just the couple.* 00:05 — Stephen recounts learning to understand death as a deity, a presence requiring etiquette and literacy.* 00:06 — He draws the parallel: matrimony, too, is a neglected deity — an ancestral presence asking something of us.* 00:07 — Ian speaks about how witnessing Stephen’s ceremonies reshaped his understanding of what a wedding can be.* 00:08 — Discussion of village-making: thresholds like death and matrimony as visitations where culture has a chance to appear.* 00:15 — Stephen distinguishes ritual from celebration and explains why most weddings are not rituals at all.* 00:16 — He clarifies the differences between weddings, marriage, and matrimony — three undertakings often collapsed into one.* 00:17 — Exploration of the etymology: matrimony rooted in mother — the repertoire of mothering culture.* 00:18 — Matrimony as a repertoire of culture-mothering, not dependent on having biological children.* 00:41 — Stephen describes “the sacraments of trade” and how ancestral presence is elevated in a true matrimonial exchange.* 00:42 — Ian reflects on death and matrimony as moments when life, not the individual, is placed at the center.* 00:51 — Ian describes how village-mindedness appears through threshold events: birth, death, love, and the guidance of community.* 01:04 — Stephen shares what it meant to be a “spirit lawyer” for matrimony, serving the deity rather than the couple.ADDITIONAL EPISODES 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 Miki Dedijer, a writer, ecologist, and mentor devoted to the ancestral arts of belonging, fatherhood, and grassroots initiation.In our conversation, Miki invites us to look at the crisis facing young men and the absence of meaningful adulthood in our time. He speaks to the ecological and emotional consequences of failing to initiate the young, how untempered fire in boys becomes turmoil in families, and how communities have lost their memory of what it means to guide the next generation.Together we explore initiation not as an event, but a cultural responsibility. Miki shares how rites of passage serve life itself, how they awaken responsibility in parents and mentors, and how inviting others to help mature a child becomes its own act of initiation. We touch on the longing that erupts when boys are unmet, the loneliness of a culture without elders, and the courage required to guide a child into a larger story.Miki reminds us that initiation is not about control. It is about stewarding a young man’s genius back into the world. It is a return to the village, a remembering of our place in the weave of life, and an invitation to rebuild the cultural vessels that once shaped humans capable of serving a cosmos greater than ourselves.Register for an upcoming webinar: FROM SCREENS TO SOUL: Raising Embodied Young Men (Dec 2)You’ll learn how to help steward your sons toward this deeper connection — how to anchor them in their bodies, nurture their love of the living world, and prepare them for future relationships that are grounded, heartfelt, and capable of holding real intimacy. This webinar offers parents and mentors a way to guide boys toward a young manhood shaped not by algorithms, but by aliveness.LINKS * Miki’s Official WebsiteSHOW NOTES* 00:09 Miki describes where he is and the seasonal mood on the west coast of Sweden.* 02:52 His early work as an environmental journalist and the shift toward quieter, place-based stories.* 04:38 Moving from grand narratives of saving the world into intimate, relational, land-rooted life.* 12:28 The pine tree story and how tending the land taught him the meaning of belonging.* 17:04 Entering fatherhood later in life and wanting his sons to grow up rooted in place.* 18:24 Burnout as a turning point that reopened childhood vitality and led to cultural mentorship.* 21:39 The guiding question: how do we steward children well through life’s stages?* 24:07 Recognizing and honoring childhood stages long before adolescence arrives.* 26:32 Why initiating teenagers may be the most ecologically responsible act we can take.* 27:15 How asking others to help mature a child initiates the adults themselves.* 31:05 What happens when a culture fails to initiate its boys.* 37:15 The tensions Miki encountered guiding his own sons and how conflict became tempering.* 54:04 Why integration after a rite of passage is essential for families and community.ADDITIONAL EPISODES 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

I’m pleased to share this #mini episode with Maria Souza, a Comparative Mythologist, Poet, and Educator, and founder of Women & Mythology. As we name in the conversation, we’ve known about each other for some time and appreciated each others’ work from afar. Just as Robert Bly’s ‘Iron John’ is the book that ignited the mythopoetic men’s movement, so too, does Clarissa Pinkola Estés’s book ‘Women Who Run With The Wolves’ occupy that position for women.Maria shares how her journey with myth began has evolved into her podcast, along with courses that bring mythopoetic depth into the lived experience of women today. We touch on iconic stories like La Loba, Seal Skin/Soul Skin, and La Llorona—each a mirror of feminine initiation, creativity, and soul recovery. In this tradition, myth isn’t escape - it’s a way of waking up, a path to gather the scattered bones of the psyche (and culture) and sing them back to life. LINKS* Women & Mythology Website* Women & Mythology on InstagramTo receive new posts and support The Mythic Masculine, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.SHOW NOTES* 0:00 — Ian welcomes Maria and introduces a dialogue on Women Who Run With the Wolves as a counterpart to Iron John in the mythopoetic tradition.* 1:17 — Maria recalls her studies with Martin Shaw and her search for stories that speak directly to women’s initiatory paths.* 2:41 — Early book study circles evolved into her first myth-based teaching course.* 4:46 — Contextualizing Clarissa Pinkola Estés’ book: a 30-year creation published in 1990, still resonant due to its timeless archetypal themes.* 7:13 — The book quickly became a global bestseller, sparking women’s groups and soulful discussion circles.* 10:01 — Myth gives women a language to “wake up” to their inner and outer experiences, offering deep recognition and practical insight.* 11:49 — Stories like Seal Skin/Soul Skin, Baba Yaga, and La Llorona reveal key initiations around creativity, intuition, and integration.* 21:15 — Ian reflects on the power of La Loba’s “singing over the bones” as a metaphor for enlivening the psyche.* 29:48 — Maria describes her “Year of Myths” immersion—one myth a month as a practice of ongoing maturation.* 34:36 — She shares her next creative focus: introducing Brazilian myths and under-told folktales to her community. 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

Victor Warring, a somatic educator and founder of Rewilding Eros, dives deep into the idea of reclaiming our natural erotic intelligence. He discusses how modern men suffer from domestication, affecting intimacy and desire. Warring emphasizes that Eros is not just about sex but rather about aliveness itself. He critiques the individualistic norms of couple-centric living and highlights the importance of community for emotional resilience. Additionally, Warring shares practical ways to reconnect with one's erotic ecosystem, advocating for a more vibrant, communal masculinity.

Dive into a heartfelt exploration of the Minnesota Men's Conference as it celebrates 40 years of the mythopoetic tradition. Hear about unique rituals, the significance of storytelling, and the communal power of poetry and song. Ian shares his encounters with legends like Robert Bly and reflects on the importance of nature and solitude. Discussions emerge around the evolving role of masculinity, sexuality, and the legacy of these gatherings. Join a journey that combines myth, community, and introspection, culminating in powerful rituals and profound insights.

My guest today is Jonathan Stensland, a poet and long-time collaborator and friend of Robert Bly.This conversation was recorded in 2024 at the 40th anniversary of the Minnesota Men's Conference. Speaking from the banks of the Saint Croix River, Jonathan offers a unique insider's perspective on four decades of men's work.In his early 20s, Jonathan was involved with Bly as he worked on his seminal book ‘Iron John’, through typing-up handwritten pages, revisions, and countless conversations- a process he describes as practically like quilt making. His relationship was deeper than professional collaboration, as akin to a godson to Bly and his wife Ruth.In our conversation today, we explore the origins and evolution of the mythopoetic men's movement, from its roots in Robert Bly's poetry about fathers and grief. We delve into the power of men gathering around the goodness that exists in the marrow of masculinity. He speaks to the movement's influence on broader culture, and the morphogenetic field that made new ways of being available to men everywhere.We ask: What does it mean for a 40-year tradition to cross from the wilderness into culture? How can we broaden the spaces where men can do the necessary soul work of maturation? And what mythic stories might guide the next chapter of this work?You’re invited to join the 41st Fall Conference Oct 7-12, 2025 “Men Who Stand Atop the Old Mound of Miracles”Catch the companion conversations to this episode: 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