Man to Man

Back in November, one of you sent me a link to an episode of “The Daily” NY Times Podcast. It is called “Man to Man.” I thought it important to share. It is a deep, honest and harrowing exploration of some of the worst aspects of toxic masculinity.

There is so much to heal and transform.

For years, Wil S. Hylton had been drawn to his cousin’s strength and violence. He was pulled in by the archetype that he embodied and was envious of the power he seemed to command.

Wil describes his relative’s violence as “ambient” and “endemic,” but he was sure it wouldn’t turn on him. Until a few years ago, when his cousin tried to kill him.

On today’s Sunday Read, listen to Wil’s wide-ranging exploration of masculinity — that of his cousin’s as well as his own.

“My attraction to my cousin and my detachment as a husband both reside in the pantheon of male tropes,” he wrote. “Masculinity is a religion. It’s a compendium of saints: the vaunted patriarch, the taciturn cowboy, the errant knight, the reluctant hero, the gentle giant and omniscient father.”

Listen with your ears. But also listen with the ears of the men that you know. Those who do not go to men’s groups. There is great suffering in the way we’ve been conditioned. We have important work in front of us. 

I look forward to being with you next week.

Saludos,

Gibrán

PS To clarify, for our study of “King, Magician, Warrior, Lover,” next Monday we will bring our attention just to Chapter 1: The Crisis of Masculine Ritual Process, not to the whole of Part 1. We are going to go slow, taking our steps one at a time.