Comments on: The Four Archetypes of the Mature Masculine: Introduction

By: Kris

Kris — Sun, 10 Mar 2013 15:08:17 +0000

It’s important to reference Jung or Freud because they’re are the quintessential example of the magician. Freud created modern day psychology which has been expanded upon for over a decade now. Jung is simply the predecessor who worked closely with one of the greatest minds in history. It is contrasting Freud with any person who has made a breakthrough. I would see Freud as a man because he took a chosen field, dedicated his life to it, and because of it human kind has bettered significantly. This includes right now since a majority of this book’s work is referenced from Jung and Freud.

By: J Wilson

J Wilson — Mon, 22 Oct 2012 21:39:17 +0000

KMWL, is an amazing book, as is Iron John, but If you really want to know more about the four archetypes and becoming more balanced and mature in your masculinity, and your ready then check out mkp.org and do the New Warrior Training Adventure. Hurry up, the world is waiting!!

By: Dan

Dan — Sat, 27 Aug 2011 03:13:17 +0000

I’m quite interested in reading this series. Thank you for writing this! Also, it seems to me that several posters in this comment section fall into one of the KWML poles and some are more difficult to place in a pole (I’d say those are more balanced). This is my novice interpretation of the very little I’ve read so far and I’m excited to read more!

By: danny dailey

danny dailey — Thu, 18 Aug 2011 19:01:12 +0000

It is easy to ignore unfamiliar theories as hogwash and woowoo. Perhaps they are hogwash and woowoo, but the fact is, many of these theories sculpt the foundations and substance of peoples’ beliefs. Perhaps one day, a reader of this article series will strike up a philosophical conversation with a man who believes in Jungian psychology or the tenets of the KWML view of manliness. If that reader happens to be me, I will happily take a well-informed position and be able to discuss our beliefs logically using knowledge gained from reading the Art of Manliness.

By: Erick The Lost

Erick The Lost — Sun, 07 Aug 2011 02:57:06 +0000

Woah…I can’t wait to read the articles! I am extremely fascinated by nearly everything I read on this website. I just can’t stop coming back, I feel like I have so much to learn. I’m still a kid but I want to know everything. I’ve never in my entire life had an appetite for knowledge like I do now. I feel like this is partly due to the author of this handsome website. I got a lotta knowledge to devour, A big Thank You to Brett for whetting my appetite.

By: Carter B

Carter B — Sat, 06 Aug 2011 15:36:21 +0000

While I think that there is something to these writings, my main problem with it is the overly mystical and impractical presentation of it. I have a hard time giving credit to anything that uses words like “divine child” and approaches the narrative script of lord of the rings. But it seems to me that Brett has hit the nail on the head in saying that you need to sort through the silly phrases and names in order to find the value in it. What struck me as insightful were the triangles with the complete aspect (king etc.) at the top and the the two lesser polars that make up that. Get rid of the over dramatic names and you have something that applies to every man.

For example, in my opinion the king at its most basic level is referring to the leadership qualities in a man, and a true leader finds his place in between a tyrant and weakling. Sometimes the right thing to do is to push people into doing what needs to be done, but a leader also has to understand and serve the needs of those he is leading.

The psychology that this is based off of maybe be impractical and off base, but there is some merit here. You can’t just read what confirms your biases ignore everything else. Even if you completely disagree with the ideas, this has influenced masculine culture and its important to understand it simply for that reason alone.

By: Russ

Russ — Fri, 05 Aug 2011 06:51:37 +0000

For the negative commenters, if you enjoyed Star Wars on any level, you’ve been affected by the power of archetypes. George Lucas explicitly formulated the story (sometimes simplistically) on Joseph Campbell’s description of the hero’s journey found in world mythology, which has its origin in the work of Jung.

Has Jung been discredited by modern psychiatry? One could argue yes, to the extent that modern psychiatry has rejected attempts to understand our psychological makeup in favor of numbing patients with prescription drugs. Not much of a tradeoff, if you ask me.

In any case, Moore would really be better described as post-Jungian, since he incorporates Jung but does not rigidly stick with him. There’s good and bad in both Jung and Campbell, like anyone else. For Christians nervous about Jung, consider reading Brian Godawa’s _Hollywood Worldviews_, which describes the power of that hero’s journey myth, or J. R. R. Tolkien’s “On Fairy Stories,” which can be found online.

Part of being a man is thinking and discernment, and these are only exercised when we are willing to peer out beyond outside of the narrow confines of what others tell us is true.

By: Max

Max — Thu, 04 Aug 2011 12:27:36 +0000

Awesome, cannot wait!

By: Greg

Greg — Wed, 03 Aug 2011 19:48:34 +0000

Really excited for this. Keep up the good work, Brett.

By: Jeremie

Jeremie — Wed, 03 Aug 2011 18:55:48 +0000

@ dannyb278
I believe every person has an outlet for growth. Being in college, a group of us found a Men’s Group and met other guys who were looking for a different way to be a man than what is normally considered ‘manly’ on a college campus. I take offense to you criticizing something that was a stable platform for me to achieve those things that you are talking about. Next time, take into consideration that not everyone is going to become a man by reading a book while kayaking out in the wilderness.