I have tried to avoid politics in my blog and will continue to do so. However, there is a connection between our current political climate and how we define the best of masculinity. Several individuals in the current administration and their supporters have pointed to a need to inject more male energy in our government in order to make America great again. Which version of male energy are they talking about? In my last blog I highlighted the legacy of Jimmy Carter and how he embodied the best of masculinity using the archetypes of masculinity. Each archetype plays a role in the life of a man. At times a particular archetype may be suppressed or dormant. Furthermore, each archetype when expressed has a light or positive side and a shadow or negative side. The fully evolved male is one who has learned how to consciously access the energy of the four archetypes and to confront the potentially destructive shadow side of each.
The King – reasons, plans, focuses, manages, uses logic, seeks vision.
Light (I am) – empowering leadership, facilitator, generative, value driven
Shadow (I want)– dictatorial, egotistical, amoral, grandiose
Carter was a King in the light. Are there current heads of state and their advisors who clearly function in the Shadow?
The Warrior – takes action, confronts, commands, motivates.
Light ( I do)– change agent, protector, disciplined, assertive, leader
Shadow (I take) – violent, bully, uses aggression as primary strategy,
Carter was a Warrior in the light. Are there current heads of state and their advisors who function in the Shadow?
The Lover – nurtures, sexual, connects, passionate, joyful.
Light (I feel) – intimate, sensual, affiliated, emotionally expressive, compassionate
Shadow (I need) – exploiter, selfish, emotional blackmailer, victimizer
Carter was a Lover in the light. Are there current heads of state and their advisors who function in the Shadow?
The Magician – creates, solves problems, makes it happen, transforms, intuitive.
Light (I fix) – win-win, creative, applies acquired wisdom
Shadow (I con) – manipulator, hustler, cheater, means always justifies ends
Carter was a Magician in the light. Are there current heads of state and their advisors who function in the Shadow?
It appears that the male energy desired by those in power, for the most part, is being expressed in the shadow. Unfortunately, the shadow is the gateway towards patriarchy and toxic masculinity. Additionally, those in power who operate in the shadow encourage men who feel abandoned or uncertain about their masculinity to resort to behaviors and attitudes that reflect inappropriate male stereotypes. We need to educate men and how to be a man in the light and at the same time pressure the media to focus on those men, like Jimmy Carter, who operate in the light and are clearly seen as “Real Men.”