The Art of Manliness

The Four Archetypes of the Mature Masculine: The Warrior 

What a great read! This falls closely in line with John Eldridge's writing Wild at Heart and our missing rites of passage, societal cues and characteristics. As a woman, we can certainly see the lack of manly men in society and while I cannot even begin to understand that side of it, this offers some fantastic insight. ~j

DO NOT miss the full read, The Mature Masculine Warrior

Every great civilization has a great warrior tradition and accompanying warrior myths.

Today the Warrior archetype lives on in our reverence for those who serve in the armed forces and in modern books and movies. William Wallace from Braveheart and General Maximus from Gladiator embody the Warrior archetype.

But in general, modern culture is not comfortable with Warrior energy. 

hope heALS

Sacramento ALS Walk today with the family and friends.

There are so many heartfelt expressions that can be made in an event like this and I find myself unable to put them into words. It is with so much gratitude that I say thank you.

I am daily striving to find those things that are my invisible barriers and yet they seem to pale in comparison to the struggle that happens inside a person with ALS (PALS), they are constantly moving forward with the spirit of a warrior.

That's YOU mom!

What a great inaugural event for Team hope heALS.  Again, much thanks for the love and support of our friends and family.

Live, Love, Fight! One of the many awesome slogans that I saw today.

Never Give Up on yourself or those that you care about.

We love you~

Compassionate Intensity
Balancing Your Warrior Spirit

When called to explore the way of the warrior, we can exhibit strength without sacrificing tenderness.

The human soul is dynamic, adapting readily to the changing conditions we encounter as time marches unerringly forward. Though we may use a single set of characteristics to define ourselves, we slip easily into contradictory roles when circumstances necessitate doing so. When we feel called to explore the way of the warrior, we may feel a strong sense of dismay because we have no wish to disavow ourselves of our softer side. Yet embracing the warrior spirit is not a matter of denying gentleness or compassion—all human beings embody all traits to some degree, and seemingly contradictory aspects can coexist peacefully within us. We can exhibit strength without sacrificing tenderness precisely because both are elements of the self and both have a role to play in the complexity of existence.

Balance is the key that unlocks the door of peaceable coexistence where opposing characteristics of the self are concerned. The warrior spirit, when allowed free reign, is overpowering and all-consuming. If it is to be an affirmative force in our lives, it must be tempered with wisdom and moderation. Our inner warriors are ready to react instantly to conflict, chaos, and confusion, while nonetheless remaining committed to a path of goodwill and fairness. They lie at the root of our dedication to integrity but do not drive us to use our strength to coerce others into adopting our values. The warrior may be nourished by raw emotions with the potential to cause us to lash out, but it channels that energy into positive and constructive action.


Your inner warrior is one source of strength you can draw upon in times of great need. When you employ your warrior spirit thoughtfully, it manifests itself as clarity, focus, determination, courage, constancy, and an unflappable zest for life. The warrior views roadblocks as evolutionary opportunities and is not afraid to pursue a purpose to its climax. There is more than enough room in the existence of the warrior for softness and benevolence, and the warrior's willingness to stand up for their beliefs can aid you greatly as you strive to incorporate these ideals into your existence. Exploring this unique side of yourself is a means of broadening your reality so you can internalize mindfulness while meeting life's challenges with an intensity of spirit that never wavers.