FROM MKPODCAST 7-14-25

7-22-25

King, Warrior, magician, lover

Excerpts from the MKPodcast.

(intro; VO-that's why I'm so excited about giving you access to a special 7-part audio series featuring Douglas Gillette. He is the co-author of the best selling "King, Warrior, Magician, Lover: Rediscovering the Archetypes of the Mature Masculine” book.)

(ME SPEAKING now) My experience in MKP’s “I” Group continues to grow. The business aspect of the meeting was boring. One man did a lot of work; Now, sober tonight I’m listening to this really great lecture on the archetypes—the four above.

I so wish I could share this gold with you but the lectures are within an email….sent to me by the Mankind Project (Central)…

The Lover’s shadow=boundary issues and possibility of being possessed by the Lover

The Lover’s strength is accessing sensuality, creativity being an artist, poet, musician, etc.

There’s the addicted lover (loves too much) versus the impotent lover (loves not enough); that is the bi-polar shadow of the (Gold) Lover

“It’s amazing to witness a man feeling that rekindling of (his) inner Lover, herein this archetype can heal; the gift of renewal, rebirth…is present.”

Limits and discipline are more about the Warrior

Gut work gets to the root of the wound (addiction, impotency) this is the beginning of getting to our Gold…one technique is focusing ; ) (keep reading)

You need to access all of the archetypes (4); the Lover in it’s fullness is always present. 

What is the journey back to fullness? Get in touch with the journey, the mess, the work (inner work). The Generative Man really feels good to the self. A cup without a bottom is a Lover insight. Whatever is down there is infinite. 

Nature is an expression of something deeper than nature; that’s what makes it empowering and exciting, an unlimited resource; that is why it’s refreshing…

Reparenting the inner child is a conscious process (don’t try this at home—needs to be done with a therapist--or try it at home if you dare : ))…

Eugene Gendling’s focusing…speaking and talking to your inner child (who’s next to you on the couch); child inside the crystal pyramid and the dark waves (dread) of human nature passes but the child remains innocent and untouched...

2. Re-parenting is vital to the process of (Men's Work and) moving out of the shadow stuff (help the inner child move out of or heal from his wounds)

and re-building all the four archetypes is essential. Keep one foot in the middle and the other to the Magician, then the other to the Warrior, King, etc. (Axis Mundi is the rabbit hole, the center of every psyche)…

the man in the mirror has many levels. W.H. Auden says “History is made by the criminal in us; goodness lasts forever; and this is made by the Lover.” I love that; soooo deep. 

*More about Focusing...

Eugene Gendlin's Focusing principle centers around a process of bringing awareness to a felt sense in the body, connecting it with a word or phrase, and then using that connection to facilitate personal growth and change.. It's a technique for accessing inner wisdom and promoting self-awareness by paying attention to bodily sensations related to a problem or situation. 

Here's a more detailed explanation:

1. The Felt Sense: Focusing emphasizes the "felt sense," a bodily awareness of a situation or problem that is more than just an emotion or thought. It's a holistic, pre-verbal understanding held in the body. 

2. Clearing a Space: The initial step involves creating a calm and receptive state of mind, often by taking a few moments to relax and breathe. 

3. Finding the Felt Sense: This step involves bringing attention to the body and noticing any vague, unclear, or uncomfortable feelings related to the issue at hand. 

4. Finding a Focusing Symbol: The next step is to find a word, phrase, or image that resonates with the felt sense. This symbol should accurately capture the quality of the feeling. 

5. Resonating: The focus then involves comparing the symbol with the felt sense, allowing them to interact and deepen the understanding of the problem. 

6. Asking Questions: Questions are asked to further explore the felt sense and the symbol, such as "What about this problem makes me feel this way?" or "What's the most important part of this?”. 

7. Receiving: The answers to these questions are received from the body, often as new insights or shifts in the felt sense.

8. Ending: The process concludes with a sense of resolution or clarity regarding the problem. 

Key Concepts:

• Holistic Approach:

  Focusing emphasizes the interconnectedness of mind, body, and emotions. 

  
  

  Self-Awareness:

• The technique aims to enhance self-understanding and promote personal growth by tapping into the body's wisdom.

  
  

  Process-Oriented:

• Focusing is not about finding a specific answer, but rather about engaging in a process of self-discovery.

  
  

  Relational:

• While often done individually, focusing can also be enhanced through interaction with another person (e.g., a therapist or focusing partner). 

  
  

  Focusing is a versatile tool that can be applied to various situations, including therapy, personal decision-making, and creative pursuits. It's a way to access deeper levels of knowing and understanding that reside within the body. 

  
  

  Focusing (psychotherapy) - Wikipedia

• Focusing is an internally oriented psychotherapeutic process developed by psychotherapist Eugene Gendlin. It can be used in any ki...

  Focusing by Eugene T. Gendlin - Goodreads

  So, spoilers, here is their methodology: *Calm down**: Sit down, calm down, breathe for a bit. Then list the things that feel …

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• What is focusing by Eugene Gendlin? - Quora

  Apr 4, 2011 — Focusing is a remarkable process of self-awareness and life change that was developed by Eugene Gendlin from his resear...