Masculinity Today

For 2 years straight I spend most waking hours trying to change men. My business was called Revolutionary Man. I wanted to inspired a million men to step up and be great men. I wanted us men to move beyond patriarchy,  predatory corporate capitalism, and the other hurtful behavior we seem to employ.

I visioned an Evolving Men’s Conference that brought over 40 leaders from the US, UK and Canada together in Boulder. The goal? For me it was to evolve masculinity.

Shortly after that conference, and after two years of solid work, I let it go. The outcomes of the EMC were not satisfying to me, yet it was freeing in a strange way.  I let go of the need or desire to change men. Ahhhhh.

And, now, over nine months later, Christopher Kyle’s idea (which stemmed in part from the EMC) is coming to fruition—The Ultimate Men’s Summit. And, not surprisingly, there are two more tele-summits on masculinity around the same time.

http://awakenedmansummit.com/

http://integralenlightenment.com/evolutionaryman/

It’s in the field I guess.

A while back, I was invited to speak at the UMS which starts June 10. My call will be on June 16th at 230 PST.

What’s strange is that over a year ago, I would have been foaming at the mouth to speak at this.  Four of the men who I cited in my master’s paper  in grad school (Sam Keen, Robert Bly, Michael Gurian, and Michael Kimmel) are going to be speaking!!! And, I’m listed along side them? It is indeed a huge honor and one I am grateful for. Yet, I’m not foaming at the mouth.

Instead of talking about evolving masculinity, which is what I was so passionate about for the past few years, I am going to speak about how both men and women can use relationship as a vehicle for personal transformation and, how through this, we can also have more of what most of us claim we want—love.

The cool thing about the UMS is you have a wide range of speakers and subjects to choose from. There seems to be something for everyone.

I am VERY intrigued about some of the speakers. I’m personally most excited about Gabor Mate’s call since he supports the use of Ayahuasca in addiction treatment and recently wrote a brilliant book called “In the realm of hungry Ghosts” in which he claims that addiction is a relationship issue, not a biological one. BOLD. I love it!!!

I’m also fired up to hear Warren Farrel talk because the guy used to be a hard core feminist and now has some keen insights on masculinity from an Integral perspective.

So, who knows where this will go? Perhaps it will be a call to change more men, to inspire more dads, husbands, brothers, sons, etc.  Perhaps it will accomplish what I set out to do and failed to do. Whatever the case, it will be worthwhile to check it out.

8 Comments

  • Lion Goodman

    Reply Reply June 7, 2011

    Thanks for pointing to all three summits – it's clear that something is in the air.  It's time for men to clear the past and set out on a new path — one we define ourselves – not one designed for us by those in power – so we can bring our full, heart-felt authenticity to the issues of the world, and change the world for the better.  Or, toilet train the world so it doesn't need changing anymore…

  • Sepia Prince

    Reply Reply June 7, 2011

    The conference is packed with names that are coming together to push along their ideas for evolving masculinity TODAY, not tomorrow. I am truly looking forward to hearing you share your thoughts, experiences,and ideas on how we, men and women, can evolve together in balance. As I say, a relationship is about what we can create, not what we can GET from one another.

  • Owen Marcus

    Reply Reply June 7, 2011

    Jayson,

    You were one of the men behind all this happening – thank you.

  • edwardmills

    Reply Reply June 8, 2011

    Jayson. Thanks so much for mentioning the Awakened Man Summit along with the others. The field is ripe for this work! It's been an honor connecting with these incredible men and feeling the excitement as we come together – host, speakers and participants – to co-create a new model for men in this world. I'm sorry that our paths hadn't crossed when I was putting together the speaker lineup for the summit. Look forward to connecting with you more.

  • Kensolin

    Reply Reply June 8, 2011

    Good work Jayson.

  • Owen Marcus

    Reply Reply June 11, 2011

    Jayson,

    It is heart warming to see the men's movement is taking off. You have been a big part of that – thank you.

  • Max Ikbal

    Reply Reply June 21, 2011

    Thank God…tis about time that men are starting to become men again in the post-feminist world.

  • Max Ikbal

    Reply Reply June 21, 2011

    Thank God…tis about time that men are starting to become men again in the post-feminist world.

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