23 Comments
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KT Koonce's avatar

You never cease to amaze me. So brilliant and insightful and fearless. Well you motivated my to write, Love and Pugilism and now I’m sure, in one of your last three posts is another song. Thank you! I haven’t recorded this song yet, but I did record one called. Hello it’s Us and it’s on a compilation called louder than hate. And all the proceeds go towards helping our LGBTQ+ political activism here in Texas! And do we need it!?! They have some great T-shirts. thank you for what you do!

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shaeshaeshae_'s avatar

Beloved Poet, I think this is one of the most important things you’ve every written. It is certainly one of the most important things I have ever read. Your words are a prayer. So mote it be! 🔥

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Thayne's avatar

A father’s progress:

For years, my concept of “manliness” was built around the question, “How can I help the women in my life feel safer?”

It took my having a daughter to realize what I should have asked was, “How can I help the women in my life grow stronger?”

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Janee's avatar

That’s admirable and your next step might be “How can I help the women in my life feel safe to express their amazing strength.”

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Thayne's avatar

It's been the greatest pleasure to see her grow to the point where she doesn't (well, rarely) need my help anymore! "When the student is ready, the teacher appears. But when the student is really ready, no teacher is necessary."

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Melissa Ellen Penn's avatar

Rob, you are a radical genius - always have been. Thank you for writing this - a premier for sacred health for children and all living things! This piece embodies why I love the men of the Pagan Community. Thank you for your courage to lead! Blessed Be! 🦋

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Theano's avatar

Thank you. I love the heck out of this.

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CWillin3's avatar

Thank you so much for the clarity of your commentary. As a mother of sons, grandmother of boys I am grateful. I deeply honor the male principle and my intention for family has been one of nurturing the very qualities you present. Blessed Be!

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Shellie Enteen's avatar

I love your topic. And the forecast for my rising and sun signs. A reason men like my trilogy Revealing the Druid Legacy is that the Muse gives her life story which includes several examples of Divine Masculine. The Druid culture had equality for men and women and both honored both god and goddess as both of their attributes created life on earth. The original trinity wasn't a man his son and a holy ghost. So we see where we lost it...but now is the time to regain it and when I see posts like yours today, I have more confidence that we will.

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Suzanne Jaillet's avatar

Wonderful article and beautiful image of the Green Man. I have 3 hanging in my hone. Thank you for your constant calming articles.

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Anne Elizabeth Hawley's avatar

You know how, in online leftist-progressive discourse these days, people cry, "People will die! Why are they doing this? This makes no sense!"?

Now I have the perfectly stated answer for them: "The language of conquest—whether applied to land or bodies—speaks with a single intent: to assert dominance, to sever relationship, and to transform the living into the dead, the sacred into the profane."

Then I can send them to this brilliant, profound essay.

Thank you, Rob.

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Stardust & Stories's avatar

This was a really beautiful read, thank you for sharing it. I too feel often confronted by 'you're a man who hates other man' sentiment, but how can one not point out the simple fact of where the unbridled corrupt rule of geriatric man-babies narcissists & power-hungry greedy old fucks got us collectively as humanity? It only takes to (the horror!) check the News briefly. I am here for the 'be kind of weird' tier, there is medicine in showing up authentically, regardless the societal expectations - they've been set alarmingly low for men for far too long. Thank you for the zodiac-specific messages. As Libra Rising, I might actually pay that lighthouse a visit.

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Scott Kennedy's avatar

Brilliantly executed! I claim and believe my masculinity as you describe and it has its obvious rewards as I live. Thank you Rob!

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Alice Severin's avatar

Thank you. So clear.

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Jennifer Engrácio's avatar

Thank you for this work you have been doing for decades now, Rob. We need more men like you to join us in feminist movements to dismantle patriarchy. What I appreciate here is that you are outlining the costs of patriarchy and clearly stating the qualities of healthy masculinity. I think more men need to see that there are many expressions of what it means to be a man that don't put men at odds with themselves.

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Jennifer Engrácio's avatar

As part of my graduate work, I have written a lot about the harms of patriarchy. I'd love to include some of the ideas in this post in my graduate work to support men like you who are doing this work. Can I share your 8 pillars and harms list? I would cite you, of course. https://spiraldanceshamanics.com/graduate-work/

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Rob Brezsny's avatar

Yes!

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bee mayhew's avatar

Capricorn proudly consorting with the unseen, I'm just pragmatic about it 😂✨

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Leslie Read's avatar

What a beautiful reclamation… Thank you, Rob ! 🌷

It was the toxic masculinity of patriarchal, radical non-duality that, quite literally, destroyed this life…and ripped apart my family.

Among other things, it has given me a voice to precisely what you describe: the necessary, rebalancing of the inner feminine with the divine masculine.

The Cult of Radical Non-Duality:

https://open.substack.com/pub/leslieread/p/the-cult-of-non-duality?utm_source=app-post-stats-page&r=ze3ip&utm_medium=ios

A Message on Our Core Values: As-Above-So-Below:

https://leslieread.substack.com/p/a-message-on-our-core-values?r=ze3ip

The Existential Danger of Radical Non-Duality:

https://leslieread.substack.com/p/the-existential-danger-of-radical?r=ze3ip

Warmly,

-Leslie@ integrityintruth.com

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XKLM sourcelight's avatar

Balance does not require everything be divided into the false dichotomy of black/white duality thinking. Balance can be multi-dimensional not only dual. And it is healthy for us to explore many dimensions of thought not just approved vs dangerous. In fact the tendency to rigidly push things into an all or nothing b/w ideological framework is part of toxic masculinity! Feminine yin wisdom involves less rigid polarities but more curving, oblique, softer-edged, multi-dimensional expansive and intuitive sense. The full spectrum of colours heals the b/w mind. 🙏 Namaste

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Leslie Read's avatar

“…the tendency to rigidly push things into an all or nothing b/w ideological framework is part of toxic masculinity!”

I completely agree!

It was that toxic patriarchy that I was involved with for well-over two decades. Ultimately, non-dual teachers in that particular rigid dogma made the decision to place the *entire* burden for their lies and deceptions on these shoulders…and the shoulders of my family.

That was the cultic rigidity that I was ensnared in.

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Kris's avatar

Rob what are your views on ADD/ADHD...i know it's not a disease but it's real..and you have shared your thoughts around DSM-IV in your book... But I would love if could share your thoughts specifically on this. Thank you.

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