How can men today balance modern masculinity with their inner primal warrior?

In the 1950s, there were rigid ideas of masculinity and what it meant to truly be a man. Over the next several decades culture shifted to a vision of manhood that was soft, gentle and passive.

The story of Iron John is an ancient legend about a young prince who becomes a man by separating himself from his parents to retrieve his golden ball from a caged wild man. Freeing the wild man symbolizes discovering masculine energy by pursuing youthful vitality.

There is an important distinction between a wild man and a savage. A savage exemplifies the lowest form of masculinity, by causing destruction to his surroundings and others due to his inner hatred and desperation.

Iron John’s wild man is the highest form of masculinity. This is a man who embraces his primal instincts and is fully open to all of life’s challenges, blood, sweat and tears in pursuit of a singular quest or “one precious thing”.

By denying their inner warrior, the instinctual energy will be expressed, but often in negative forms such as gang violence, domestic abuse and deep inner unhappiness or shame.

If properly honed, the wild energy can be admirable traits as seen in celebrated knights, high ranking military officials and men who protect what is rightfully their own.

Embracing pain and sorrow in order to pursue greatness is a critical component of the wild man. It is through suffering or a wound that he finds his true potential.

Initiating young boys into manhood was a custom for generations. Today this is all but lost in most cultures. Teenage boys often prolong their boyhood which can cause outbursts of rudeness and disobedience.

Essentially, men must be open to deep self examination in order to be fully alive and masculine in their highest natural form.

There is a way in which power, force and strength can be utilized for good for all mankind. Though today these concepts can be somewhat vilified when it comes to men, harnessing them can produce a world of good when balanced with self examination and mindfulness.