Inviting a nourishing and reciprocal relationship with the Healthy Feminine
Explore masculine archetypes, and their shadow sides
Be seen & offer witnessing to the masculine aspects of being human
Improve positive presence in families, friendships & communities
Contribute to balancing the masculine consciousness
Short on time? Here are the 90-second basics…
WHAT: A 5-part live experiential online course for all Genders where “masculine” qualities are explored and embodied with movement. This all-genders sacred council is rooted in sharing, deep listening, and reflection based on participants’ own experiences and heart-centered explorations, held in a format inviting vulnerability and trust. By exploring and understanding how the immature/adolescent masculine (the shadow sides) show up in ourselves, we can bring a balanced awareness to practice and integrate the healthy/mature sides of the various masculine archetypes.
The 5-Part Healthy Masculine Series is not simply serving the “masculine;” it is supporting and inviting a reciprocal and nourishing relationship with the healthy feminine — harnessing a positive presence in our families, friendships, and communities.
WHEN: Sessions will take place on:
- The next offering of this course is planned for Fall, 2021
See below for more detailed session descriptions.
WHERE: Live online via Zoom, a free video conferencing software (like Skype for groups). All classes will be recorded and available for you to watch on replay for up to 1 year.
WHO: This course is for all Genders. It is for anyone seeking a healing relationship with the masculine, aiming to re-learn and co-mentor a balanced way of being, with an intention to contribute to a cultural shift away from “right/wrong”, “good/bad” ways of ‘acting’ masculine, and moving into a more authentic, emotionally-connected and life-affirming masculine consciousness.
It is for those who are willing to participate with fierce loving kindness for yourself and others. It is not for offering advice, nor intended to be therapy. These circles are held to provide an opportunity to come together in community to witness, appreciate, and explore with one another the Healthy Masculine.
This course will be held and facilitated by James Wood, a trained Council facilitator (Levels I & II) with 20 years of international Community Development experience, where he has witnessed the immature masculine causing severe disruption to healthy community progress. With years of experiences holding this sacred council in various communities, while learning himself along the way, James does not ‘teach.’ Instead, he holds and participates in this scared space for all genders.
WHY: By joining this sacred space and learning the 4 Masculine archetypes and their shadow sides, you will learn how to actively transform old patterns by tapping into your inner wisdom at the levels of thinking (magician), feeling (lover), doing (warrior), and being (sovereign). You will also:
*Be seen and offer witnessing to the masculine aspects of being human – in community.
* Gain deep connection through sharing life stories & experiences.
* Listen to and learn from each other’s joys & challenges.
* Playfully address and honour your adolescent self.
* Notice the moments when you slide into your shadow sides.
* Become more aware of when you are living in your highest self.
* Improve positive presence in families, friendships & communities.
* Access joy and compassion by working deeply within yourself and with others.
* Co-learn with fellow participants how to contribute to balancing the masculine consciousness
* Begin a reciprocal nourishing relationship with the Healthy Feminine — within a rare all-gender circle experience
COURSE INVESTMENT: $297. Includes 4 archetype summaries of preparatory readings and handouts, along with invitational guided internal preparations to anchor your participation by tuning in to your own personal explorations, to support your journey.
Registration Coming Soon
Questions about the course?
Email James: James@CultureGarden.org
Want more information? Read on…
It is time to call in, remember, and co-mentor what the Healthy Masculine provides in our society.
As an international Community Development practitioner, I have worked and lived in Northern Canada in remote First Nation villages, urban United States, rural Mexico, remote island in the South Pacific, and in Scotland and the United Kingdom. Over these 20 years, and in my youth growing up with a single mother of 5 children in a middle-class western city, I have witnessed plenty of destructive immature masculine energy in my life, in international politics, and my community development career.
In this context of “power-over”, control, dominance, bullying, emotional shutdown and toxic masculinity behaviours, I have felt my own shame, deep grief, and a longing for healthy mentorship. I believe, the time has come where we are being asked to co-mentor each other in order to transform and transition into a new cultural narrative that defines what it is to be living in our Healthy Masculine fullness – offering a renewed story of the sacred masculine in a post-patriarchal world.
“This is an important time in human history:
In order to address major social, environmental and political crisis, we are again being called to re-member,
re-skill and co-mentor each other in our communities, by practicing how to live into our Healthy Masculine,
supporting a reciprocal and nourishing relationship with the Healthy Feminine.”
~James Wood
In this coming vision, many are hungry for the masculine to no longer dominate nor abuse the feminine – in themselves or in others. There is a hope – a
re-memberance – to protect, treasure, pleasure, and be unshakable for her; to make her laugh, bring her gifts, and ultimately to listen, sense and respond to where she wants to go, inviting her there, allowing her space to be – with clarity and confidence.
In this time of global human transformation – the Great Turning as Joanna Macy calls it – with increased awareness of the frustration and grieving for old patterns that do not serve (#MeToo, Toxic Masculinity), these sacred spaces are held to provide an opportunity to come together in community to witness, appreciate, learn, grow and explore with one another the Healthy Masculine. Once there, a deeper dive begins, as we contemplate what the Healthy Masculine awakens in the Healthy Feminine.
These circles are not simply serving the masculine, they are supporting
a reciprocal and nourishing relationship with the feminine.
In balancing the fullness of the Lover, Magician and Warrior, the Sovereign positions these qualities of linearity, decisiveness, humor, calmness, solidity, directness, strength, persistence, generosity, mobility, and assertiveness in service to life.
This 5-Part Series, Awakening the Healthy Masculine, is a rare all gender space, to re-learn & co-mentor a balanced way of being, moving into a more authentic, emotionally-connected and life-affirming masculine consciousness.
Are you ready, willing and able to participate with fierce loving kindness for yourself and for others,
to accelerate the coming transformation of the Great Turning?
What People Are Saying About This Course
James is an extraordinary facilitator. Not only does he appreciate the fluid nature of gender, but he is committed to the continuing emergence of a healthier human community. Using archetypes that have been crafted across his/herstories, James’ course weaves models of humanity and ritual in careful balance to help participants honour their own experience and ritualize ”becoming” wholly human. This is no simple task!
And I, a lifelong lesbian feminist, would never have registered for a program called “Healthy Masculine” (or “Healthy Feminine”, for that matter). Yet, James’ approach honoured all of my borders, concerns and considerations. It invited me into a sacred space where listening and being witnessed mattered more than any stereotype.
I highly recommend this course for those of you who are lesbian and feminist, particularly for those of us who have nephews, brothers and others in our lives for whom our understanding of “healthy” may inform the evolution of “masculine” in a new & non-gendered society.
Catherine ~ Canada
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I had some serious doubts and fears going in to the Awakening Healthy Masculine course given that it was going to be Co-ed. I had preconceived opinions about “this is men’s work, and it should be men only”, but then I found myself signing up. I am so glad I followed through and got to experience both genders in the work. We all have masculine and feminine in us, no matter what gender we are.
The exploration of the material and each other was rich, honest and deep, and I would encourage anyone drawn to the material, to jump in and find your own value, and your own place in the Circle. it is a great 5 weeks of safe container and honest unpacking and inquiry / exploration individually and as a group. James does a beautiful job as facilitator / lead and participant.
Peter ~ United States
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Awakening The Healthy Masculine is completely brilliant and has given me a sharp and reliable compass with which I can direct my personal development.
I feel so lucky to have been in circle with such a beautiful bunch of beings. So much interesting and illuminating contribution. I’ve never witnessed anything like it in my life. Very special.
I would urge anyone who is in two minds to let down their guard and open up to the healing power of vulnerability. The course so carefully allows for this. It’s been a beautiful lesson and such a bountiful experience. I will not let it end at week 5. It’s a lifelong learning and adherence to maturity.
Ben ~ England
Course Curriculum
- This course will feature 5 weekly x 2.5 hour online classes.
- The sessions will happen live so that you can interact and engage with all participants
- All sessions will be recorded and available (for participants only) to watch on replay for 1 year.
- The 5 archetype summaries of preparatory readings and handouts are included with tuition, along with gentle invitational guided internal preparations to anchor your participation by tuning in to your own personal explorations, to support your journey.
Session 1: Introduction – The Overview of the 4 Archetypes
Session Guide: James Wood
The session begins with an introduction to the 4 Archetypes of the Mature Masculine and its foundational structures. You will share about your call to being here, and your desired outcomes for these group sessions.
During this first Introduction session, James will discuss the overview of the programme which will include:
- Why he holds these circles, while offering a brief background
- How he structures his facilitation in order to create safely while opening up our vulnerable hearts through:
- Use of Council – outlining the process, and the intention
- Group Agreements – to ensure everyone feels safe
- Outlines the opening of each circle’s Scared Space
- Use of Poems and Prayer
- Inviting Dreamwork
- Ensuring the space is listening & reflecting, not advice or therapy
- Outline’s the purpose of the weekly readings, and the gentle invitational practices
James will then Introduce the 4 Archetypes and their shadow Sides, and hold a brief experiential Council to share and reflect with each other in order to establish the group context and intentions for the programme to make best use of our time together.
In each of the sessions, James will hold Council for the group to share and listen each other’s:
- Objects that represent the 4 Archetypes to each of you;
- Dreams that are arising in each participant;
- How the Archetypes are showing up in its Fullness and when they are supporting you
- How the Archetypes are showing up in their shadows within you, and when you notice they are sabotaging
Session 2: The Lover
Session Guide: James Wood
In this session, we begin by reviewing the Lover Archetype in more depth. The Lover is crucial in keeping the other archetypes energized, humane, and in touch with the ultimate purpose of love. The Lover keeps them from turning dark.
The Lover – East:
- Usually the 1st archetype to develop
- Filled with youthful idealism and excitement, marked by an acute intensity.
- Ruled by the passion, looking for new and exciting endeavours
- Develops intense romantic and sexual relationships
- Sensate experiences
Session 3: The Magician
Session Guide: James Wood
In this session, we begin by reviewing the Magician Archetype in more depth. The Magician is the energy that powers healthy introspection; intellectually curious, the Holder off Hidden Knowledge.
The Magician – West:
- The Knower – realm of secret power
- Mastery takes great effort and diligence
- Trickester, Coyote
Session 4: The Warrior
Session Guide: James Wood
In this session, we begin by reviewing the Warrior Archetype in more depth – The Warrior provides an unsurpassable power source which fuels us to reach our goals, fight for worthy causes, achieve greatness, and leave a lasting legacy.
The Warrior – South:
- The protector and the fighter
- Acting and doing
- Assessing risk & Setting boundaries
Session 5: The Sovereign
Session Guide: James Wood
In this session, we begin by reviewing the Sovereign Archetype in more depth – The Sovereign incorporates the other three mature masculine archetypes in perfect harmony.
The Sovereign – North:
- Most important of the four mature masculine archetypes
- Incorporates the other 3 mature masculine archetypes in perfect harmony.
- Typically the last of the mature masculine archetypes to power up
- Energy that gives us a sense of our full, godlike potential
In this final session, James offers an “inventory” to feel into which archetype each participant resonates most with, and which s/he does not.
Course Guide
James Wood, MA – Community Development
As a Community Development specialist and a gifted partnership-builder with 20 years of international and multi-cultural experience with governments, charities, and community groups, James holds space for and leads strength-based processes to support common-ground solutions to local, regional, and global challenges.
He holds an Interdisciplinary Master’s Degree in Sustainability and Public Policy and a Bachelor’s Degree in Social Anthropology and Community Economic Development (CED) from Simon Fraser University. James believes that collaboration and co-mentorship are powerful keys to creating healthy local & global cultures, while he facilitates Healthy Masculine circles for all genders: CultureGarden.org
He lives in Findhorn, Scotland, with his wife Madelanne.
Course Investment
The investment for this course is $297.
Your investment includes:
- 5 x 2.5 hour classes
- 5 archetype summaries of preparatory readings and handouts (sent weekly)
- Invitational guided internal preparations to anchor your participation by tuning in to your own personal explorations, to support your journey.
Registration Coming Soon
Partial scholarships are available if needed. Email Jason at MLA to receive the scholarship form: jgeoffrion@mensleadershipalliance.org
Questions about the Course?
Email James: James@CultureGarden.org
