Masculine and Feminine
ELDER WISDOM
Re-Inventing the Male Archetypes
A Message From Thunder Strikes
Nagual Elder and Medicine Chief of the Deer Tribe Metis Medicine Society
There are five major archetypes that have traditionally served as image makers for men, giving them a sense of maturity and helping to define what it meant to be a man. The average man today is experiencing a major identity crisis because these archetypes are being eroded by upheaval in our societal structures, the drastic shift in gender roles, and the disappearance of strong role models. Never before have we faced the kind of conflict that meets the male today. Men are being forced to redefine themselves. Let's walk around the Male Wheel of Archetypes and take a look at the primary battles men are facing.
North: THE HUNTER / WORKER
Traditionally, a man's self-esteem and value to his family was defined by his ability to hunt, work and provide for the needs of his family. Young boys grew up knowing that they could find honorable labor, and hard work and diligence would reward them with a higher standard of living than their fathers and the appreciation of their families. Now, however, a man cannot have any expectation that his investment in that work or hunting will be able to sustain even the simple survival needs for himself and his family. The exodus of large corporations, particularly American corporations, to Third World countries to exploit cheap labor and materials has prompted massive downsizing or closing of facilities. Many who were earning good wages in highly skilled jobs have been laid off and are faced with trying to provide for their families at a fraction of their former income. There is an alarming increase in suicides, alcoholism and drug use, physical violence in the home, and child abuse, much of which can be traced to this fracturing of the hunter/worker archetype. Most men are not happy. Happiness is predicated upon your self-identity, and all of this makes a man lose his very source of identity which, right or wrong, has always been wrapped up in being a good provider for the family. Add to that the fact that now he is competing with women for his job, and he experiences growing anger which manifests as "womb resentment". (I'm not suggesting here that women should not be seeking jobs in the workplace. In many cases both parents must work in order to keep the family afloat.)
The hunter/worker archetype today looks more like a computer programmer and the corporate V-P. Many men are seeking to re-establish their identity through self-employment. A man's pursuit of meaning and purpose, his desire to create his own domain of power, are necessary to redefine this archetype.
South: THE HERO
The hero is gone. Here in the south where we should have intimate relationships we have womb resentment, which is a major factor of the gender war today according to the Elders. Men are particularly attracted to feminine beauty. Now, however, if a man expresses that attraction with a look or a comment, he is accused of harrassment. If we express our appreciation for feminine beauty with a touch, we are in danger of being accused of sexual molestation. Men are being chastised for expressing one of our most natural characteristics.
Another arena where resentment plays out is with regard to the proper rules for parenting and even the basic issue of whether to parent at all. An increasing number of men are expressing this resentment by adamantly refusing to take responsibility for pregnancy and leaving the scene. Women also experience womb resentment and have expressed that for years by deliberately getting pregnant to force the man into marriage and providing security. The number of absent fathers who also do not contribute child support is staggering. Even though it is man's nature to be more flexible, adventurous and exploring, the threat of AIDS, resentment at having to use a condom because it diminishes sensitivity and spontaneity, and other factors in his socialization process are fostering the hope that he can take care of all these issues at once if he settles down with the "right one". Ironically, many women now are providing for themselves and don't want to be tied down. Note the growing number who are deliberately opting for single parenthood. The message is men are dispensable and not necessary as parents, which further damages men's trust of the feminine. This conflict fosters a great deal of anger.
It is in your heart and the way in which you give into the world regardless of external environmental and economic realities that will help to define who you are as the hero. No matter what your circumstances, no matter how financially tight you are, you can say "I love you", you can touch and share that love in many ways. If you are unemployed, spend more time with your children. Don't just sit there and wallow in self-pity. Get out and do something. Men must re-establish compassion in their world and in their give-away. Give and share with others to develop the hero inside yourself.
West: THE WARRIOR
The warrior is out of balance. Men have historically not only provided for their families, they have defended them as well. It is truly sad today that we have very few warrior archetypes for a man to look up to and model himself after. A warrior is not someone armed to the teeth perpetrating violence on others; that is a terrorist, a west tyrant. Rather the warrior is trained, ready and willing to use force to regulate violence and meet any threat to his safety and well-being and that of his loved ones. He lives as one with his inner priest, committed to uphold his individual values and the principles that guide and define his life. Warrior skills - physical excellence not only in defense skills, but also in activities such as mountain climbing, cross country skiing, swimming, martial arts, archery, etc.; mental acuity; command of reconnaisance, strategies and tactics; and more - serve every aspect of our lives, not just in physical confrontation. The warrior today is considered to be politically incorrect and downright dangerous. As a result, many men have "wimped out" and rejected this archetype.
It is important, however, for the modern man to understand that warrior skills are critical ingredients in his ability to produce results in his life. They generate good health and vitality, longevity, and the strength and stamina to combat stress, deal with economic setbacks, career shifts, upheaval in family and relationships, etc. Stress grinds us down daily with its boot heel. A recent issue of the journal of the American Medical Association states that the health standard of men and women ages 24-45 is the worst ever. Warriorship is not only about physical training and preparedness; it is an attitude and a stance one takes in life, in every arena of experience. Embrace the warrior. Take pride in the warrior. We will need him more than ever in the future.
East: THE PRIEST
The father is no longer the major image maker looked up to by his sons especially. Therefore, there is very little opportunity to provide spiritual guidance, so the priest is gone. Lack of time, money, and most importantly, lack of hope block your spiritual natural self. No matter where you are in your evolutionary self-growth, the priest is the part of you that never sacrifices principle under any circumstances. We usually think of spiritual determination in a religious sense. I am not talking about religion here, but rather where you stand in relation to your people, your community, and your country. Spiritual determination depends on lineage, legacy, geography, and the culture and traditions of a people defined within a country or nation. Spirit is how you maintain the integrity of the principles of your culture. Many wars and conflicts in the world today are occurring because artificial boundaries drawn by conquerors and colonists disrupted natural boundaries and split cultures, societies and tribes. So I think the priest is the part of us that examines the history and legacy of our respective countries. In the United States, it is examining how this country became a republic and what the Bill of Rights represents. It means embracing the concept "of the people, by the people and for the people" and defending the right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. That to me is the priest. That is spiritual determination. When we look into our collective spiritual energy, there is a huge dark void that is now being filled by corporate conglomerates worldwide. Corporate control and manipulation of wealth in the world has literally destroyed the concept of indivualization within a social and cultural structure and identity. We lost the concept of tribes and clans and now we are rapidly losing the nuclear family and the concept of state and country.
A new world order is a one-world government in which all identity is blurred or erased; a world in which corporate economists will become the new gods. Much of the struggles and strife worldwide are exacerbated by the United Nations, which is really doing the opposite of bringing peoples together. Instead of a United Nations, we should have an international SunDance every year in which every country sends two representatives, a man and a woman, to dance for beauty and restoration of the Earth. Some of my best experiences have been in my travels throughout the world. Everywhere I found people who cared and who were proud of who they were. This is a reflection of their individuality and the uniqueness of their tribal cultures, their myths, their songs and stories, their heart and their connection to their ancestors. Increasingly we have spiritual mediocrity instead of spiritual determination.
Center: THE KING
Based on what we have seen in this review of the archetypes, it is obvious the man is no longer the king in his own castle. He is sexually unhappy and not catalyzing with his sexual soul force energy. There's not much humor in that! I am not suggesting that the old forms of the archetypes should be reinstated. What is apparent, however, is that men must resculpt these archetypes into image makers and role models that can successfully navigate the shifting course of society's stream. We can no longer rely on the images offered up by our forefathers and foremothers. It is now our turn to recreate ourselves in our own image. We are at the most pivotal time in the history of mankind as we enter the time of purification and transformation. We are the pioneers at the edge of the new millenium, which is not just a calendar leap, but a major shift in consciousness and evolutionary development. The Hopi prophecies say we are entering the Fifth World, and we are blessed with the divine opportunity to redefine that world. Do we have the commitment, the courage, and the imagination to step up to the line and enlist in this most auspicious of opportunities? When there is a lack of a good image maker, you must create in yourself the best example of a benevolent patriarchal image maker possible. I think we are trying to re-establish what that will look like in the next millenium. If we do not, the only image makers we will have will be harsh, malevolent and predatory. The image of the high-powered corporate executive focused on the profit bottom line, for example, is definitely not benevolent. Men must take the inner vision quest to find their inner truth; to find the passion, fire and desire that defines who they are as individuals; and then to find the courage, and yes, it takes a lot of courage, to express that in the world. Don't continue to define yourself by society's standards. It is the old story of needing to break the mold, de-armor, and shatter the mirror. It is only through our willingness to take that internal journey, discover our true nature within, and shine the light of day on it that we can then redefine the archetypes as powerful image makers for this new day. At every man's center is his Elder Shield. There resides a wise benevolent Grandfather patriarchal guide. Go into deep introspection, find him and express what that Grandfather says in your give-away. That is the hope. Then follow a path with heart and work together with others who have and will do the same. Men, I encourage you to sweat together, SunDance and dream together. We need tight circles of co-empowerment where men will come together to share, care, love and teach each other. These qualities are often mistakenly interpreted as exclusively female qualities. They are not. They are the expression of the best in both men and women.
Then teach your sons, your grandsons, your nephews, the boys in your neighborhood. Bring your empowerment as a gift to your family, your community, your country, and always, to Grandmother Earth.