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TheWarriorArchetype|TheArtofManliness

October23,2011

AMan'sLife,OnManhood

TheFourArchetypesoftheMatureMasculine:TheWarrior

ThisisthefourthpartofaseriesonthearchetypesofmaturemasculinitybasedonthebookKing,
Warrior,Magician,LoverbyRobertMooreandDouglasGillette.Ifyouhaventalready,Ihighly
recommendreadingtheintroductiontotheseriesfirst.Also,keepinmindthatthesepostsarealittle
moreesotericthanournormalfare,andaremeanttobecontemplatedandthoughtfullyreflected
upon.
Everygreatcivilizationhasagreatwarriortraditionandaccompanyingwarriormyths.TheOld
TestamentrecountsthestoriesofawarriorpeopleandawarriorGod.IntheancientMediterranean,
theSpartanshadperhapsthemostlegendarywarriortradition.Frombirth,Spartansociety
nurturedandtrainedtheirboystobecomewarriors,andthatrigoroustrainingcreatedmen
likeLeonidasandhis300menofunconquerablespirit.Japanhadtheirfearlesssamuraiwarriors
whoseundauntedcouragecamefromlivinglifeasiftheywerealreadydead.
TodaytheWarriorarchetypelivesoninourreverenceforthosewhoserveinthearmedforcesandin
modernbooksandmovies.WilliamWallacefromBraveheartandGeneralMaximusfromGladiator
embodytheWarriorarchetype.
Butingeneral,moderncultureisnotcomfortablewithWarriorenergy.Theadventofmechanized
warfareduringthefirsthalfofthe20thcenturydampenedtheromanticidealofmartialcourage.Since
thesocialandculturalrevolutionsofthe60sand70s,wevegenerallytaughtboysandmentoavoid
confrontationandconflictandtoinsteadnurturetheirfeminineside.TheresultistheNiceGuythe
manwhowillavoidconfrontationandaggressionevenwhenconfrontationandaggressionare
justified.
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Societypushesmentobesweetandsensitive,becausetheyfearthembecomingcoldlystoic,abusive,
anddestructivelyangry.ButsocietysperceptionoftheWarriorarchetypeisnotbasedontheWarrior
energyinitsfull,healthymanifestation,butonthearchetypesshadows.TheproblemisnotWarrior
energyitself,butWarriorenergythatisnotusedinharmonywiththeothermasculinearchetypesand
directedbyempathy,contemplation,andorder.Fightingitselfisnotbad,thequestionissimply:What
isamanfightingfor?TheWarriorsenergyisneedednotonlyintimesofwar,butonallthe
battlefieldsoflife.
ProperlytappingintotheWarriorsenergyprovidesamanwithanunsurpassablepowersourcewhich
willfuelhimtoreachhisgoals,fightforworthycauses,achievegreatness,andleavealastinglegacy.

TheWarriorinHisFullness
MooresaysthatThecharacteristicsoftheWarriorinhisfullnessamounttoatotalwayoflife,what
thesamuraicalledado(pronounceddo).ThesecharacteristicsconstitutetheWarriorDharma,
Maat,orTao,aspiritualorpsychologicalpaththroughlife.
Whatarethesecharacteristics?Letstakealook.
Note:Whilehereweusethelanguageofthemartialwarrior,thecharacteristicscanbeappliedtoany
manslifemission,whethercivilianortruesolider.
Aggressive
Ifyoulookupthewordaggressiveinthedictionary,thesearethedefinitionsyoullfind:
1.characterizedbyortendingtowardunprovokedoffensives,attacks,invasions,orthe
likemilitantlyforwardormenacing
2.makinganalloutefforttowinorsucceedcompetitive
3.vigorouslyenergetic,especiallyintheuseofinitiativeandforcefulness
Ofthethreedefinitions,thefirstismostpopularinmodernculture.Somethingunprovoked,outof
line.Noticehowoftenoverlyprecedesaggressiveincommonparlance.Aggressionmayalso
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bringtomindmilitarypoliciesapersondoesnotagreewith.Ingeneralithasanegativeconnotation.
Buttrueaggressionshouldbethoughtofinthecontextofthesecondtwodictionaryentries.Effort.
Energy.Initiative.Force.Aggressionisaneutraltoolthatcanbeharnessedforeitherillorgood.
Howitischanneledmakesallthedifference.Amanwhodoesnotharnesshisaggressionatallpicksa
fightwitheveryoneandabouteverythinghisrelationshipsfailandheisstuntedinhispersonal
development.ThemanwhoreinsinhisaggressiontoomuchbecomesthestereotypicalweenieNice
Guyproperaggressionturnsintopassiveaggression.Heistoopolitetogoafterwhathewants,and
hesseethinginsidebecauseofit.AmanwhohassuccessfullyintegratedtheWarriorarchetype
harnesseshisaggressionastheforcethatpusheshimtocompetetobethebestandmoveshimever
forwardtowardshisgoals.
Purpose
Ofcoursethatproperuseofaggressionpresupposesthatamanhasgoalsthathesstrivingtowardsin
thefirstplace.Amanhastohaveaclearanddefinitepurposeinlife,orhewillfeellostandrestless,
likeheisdriftingalonginsteadofmarchingahead.
Mindful
ThemindfulnessoftheWarrioristwofold.First,heisalwaysalertandawake,evervigilant.Hehas
keensituationalawareness.Heneverletscomplacencylullhimtosleepinstead,heisalways
watching,observing,studying,andplanning.Secondly,theWarriorismindfulofthefinitenessoflife
andtheinevitablyofdeath,andhepurposefullycontemplatesthatdeath.Hiscourageisrootedinthe
factthatheisnotafraidtodie.Lifesshortnessbringsclaritytohismind.Heknowsthatanyminute
couldbehislastsohemakeseverydayanddecisioncount.Carpediem!becomeshisbattlecry.
Adaptable
DuringtheRevolutionaryWar,theContinentalArmyknewthatitcouldnotmatchthemanandfire
poweroftheBritish.Soinsteadoffacingthemdownonafieldforatraditionalbattle,theminutemen
tooktothewoodsandlaunchedsurprisehitandrunattacksontheenemy.Thisisthewayofthe
Warriorheisaguerrillafighter.Whenhesupagainstgreatodds,hebucksconventionanduseshis
clevernessandhisstrategicintelligencetofindcreativewaystoturnthetideinhisfavor.Heisan
efficientfighterhestudiestheweaknessesofhisopponentsandconcentrateshisstrikesthere.Heis
flexibleandabletorespondtochangebyshiftingtacticsonthefly.
Minimalist
Thekeytosuccessfulguerrillawarfareisthefightersabilitytotravellight.Whilethetraditional
forcehaspowerinitssuperiorresources,thoseresourcesalsoweighandslowthemdown.The
guerrillafighterstripsawayallsuperfluitiesandexcessbaggagehecarriesonlywhatheneedsandis
thusquickandnimble,abletobetwostepsaheadoftheenemy.
Decisive
Intimesofpeaceorcrisis,whetherforbigthingsorsmall,theWarriorisabletoboldlymake
decisions.Hedoesntstandthereshillyshally,wonderingwhatheshoulddo,scaredofchoosingthe
wrongoption.Heiscalmandcoolunderpressure.Oncehemakesadecision,heunhesitatinglymoves
onitbecausehedoesnotliveinregret.TheWarriorisabletobesodecisivebecausehetrainsso
thoroughlyforthesemomentsheisprepared.Hethinksaboutallpossiblecontingenciesandwhathe
woulddoineachsituationbeforethecrisisarrives.Whenthecrisisdoescome,hismindandbody
alreadyinstinctivelyknowwhattodo.
Skillful
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PartoftheWarriorsconfidenceinhisdecisionsisrootedinhissupremecompetence.Accordinglyto
Moore,TheWarriorsenergyisconcernedwithskill,power,andaccuracy.TheWarriorhas
absolutemasteryofthetechnologyofhistradethetechnologythatenableshimtoreachhisgoal.He
hasdevelopedskillwiththeweaponsheusestoimplementhisdecisions.
Loyal
Ifyouremember,theHeroistheboyhoodarchetypewhichmaturesintotheWarriorarchetype.Part
ofthismaturationprocesscentersonashiftinamansloyalties.MoorearguesthatTheHeros
loyaltyisreallytohimselftoimpressinghimselfwithhimselfandtoimpressingothers.The
Warriorsloyalties,ontheotherhand,aretosomethingbeyondandotherthanhimselfandhisown
concerns.TheWarriorsloyaltycentersonacause,agod,apeople,atask,anationlargerthan
individuals.TheWarriorhasacentralcommitmentaroundwhichheorganizeshislife.Hislifes
purposeisrootedinidealsandprinciples,whichnaturallystripsawaysuperfluitiesandpettinessand
bringshislifegreatmeaning.
Disciplined
TheWarriorhasmasteredhimselfinbodyandmind.Hispowerisrootedinselfcontrol.Heknows
whentobeaggressiveandhowaggressivetobe.Heisthemasterofhisenergies,releasingthemand
pullingthembackashechooses.Hedecidestheattitudehewilltakeinacertainsituation,insteadof
lettingthesituationdictatehowhefeels.UnliketheboyhoodHeroarchetype,theWarriorunderstands
hislimitshetakescalculatedinsteadofunnecessaryrisks.Hisdisciplinealsofreeshimofafearof
pain.Feeble,mediocremenbelieveallpainisbad.TheWarriorknowsthereisbadpainandgood
pain.Heiswilling,eveneagertowithstandpsychologicalandphysicalpainonthepathtohisgoals.
Hesthekindofmanwhosubscribestothepainisjustweaknessleavingthebodyphilosophyhe
relishesdifficultybecauseitmakeshimstronger.
EmotionallyDetached
Notallthetime,butwhenheisinWarriormode.Tocompletehismission,theWarriormustbe
emotionallydetachedfromthefearanddoubtgeneratedbyhisownfeelings,fromtheintimidation
emanatingfromhisenemy,andfromtheshouldsanddemandsputonhimbyfriendsandfamily.
TheWarriorneedsthekindofmentalclaritythatonlycomesfromsinglemindedpurpose,oras
Mooreputsit,TheWarriorneedsroomtoswinghissword.
Switchingoffthatemotionaldetachmentwhenawayfromthemissionrepresentsthegreatchallenge
fortheWarrior.TheinabilitytodosocanresultinoneoftheWarriorsshadows.
CreativeDestroyer
TheWarrioristhearchetypeofdestruction.However,theWarriorinhisfullnessonlydestroysin
ordertomakeroomforsomethingnewandfreshandmorealive.Hisisanactofcreative
destructionhedoesnttearthingsdownsimplyforthepleasureofdoingso.WecallupontheWarrior
archetypewhenwequitbadhabitsandreplacethemwithbetteronesorwhenwegetridofpeoplein
ourliveswhobringusdownandsurroundourselveswithpeoplewhoedify.

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TheShadows
TheSadist.Asjustdiscussed,menintouchwiththeWarriorarchetypehavetheabilitytodetach
themselvesfromemotionsandhumanrelationships.Whiledetachmentprovidesamanwithmuch
neededfocusonimportanttasks,whenitbecomesamanspermanentstate,theSadistshadow
controlsamanspsyche.
Thisiswhysoldiers,whohaveamissionmindedattitudewhileondeployment,canfinditvery
difficulttoadjusttolifebackhomeandfindtheirplaceintheirfamilies,whicharebasedon
emotionalneedsandcurrentsthestuffthesoliderhasbeenusedtosettingaside.Themissionfocused
lifefreedhimfromhumanpettinessandreturningtoitcanbegrating.Thisisalsotrueoflawyers,
ministers,doctors,politicians,andothermenwhomaybemarriedtotheirjobshiftingfrommission
modetodomesticmodecanbedifficultforthem.
Asthenameimplies,theSadistcanbecruel,eventothosemostvulnerable.Hedisdainstheweak.A
commandingofficerintheArmymaytrytorigidlyrunhisfamilyinthesamewaythatheledhis
troops.TheSadistcreatesunattainablyhighstandardsforhimselfandthosearoundhim.Whenachild
comeshomewithalessthanperfectgrade,afatherinfluencedbytheSadistwillputherdownand
beratehermercilessly.AmanwithpositiveWarriorenergywouldhavekindlyshowndisappointment,
butthenofferedtohelphisdaughterstudyforthenextexamsoshecouldaceit.
TheSadistsdisgustatweaknessislinkedtotheboyhoodHeroarchetype.TheHerotriestobreak
awayfromhismotherandfromfeminineenergyingeneralasheseekstobecomehisownman.But
adultmenwhoarestillinsecureaboutbeingmanenoughprojectthisinsecurityontoothers.He
hateswhathefearsiswithinhimself.
AccordingtoMoore,menpossessedbytheSadistalsotendtobeworkaholics.Theyrethemenwho
takeprideinworkingallnightattheofficeandcominghomeat7AM,onlytoleavefortheoffice
againanhourlater.Theyllchooseworkattheexpenseofhealthandevenfamily.Theytakethe
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Warriorscomfortwithpaintoanextremeandgrinditouttogettothetop.Buttheyredoingit
becausetheyreallydontknowwhattheywantoutoflife,andconstantlyworkingdistractsthemfrom
thisfact.Oncetheydoreachthetop,theyoftenfeelempty,lost,andbitter.ButmanySadistssimply
burnoutbeforetheyevengetthere.
TheMasochist.TheMasochististhepassiveshadowinthetripartiteWarriorarchetype,andits
attributescloselyparallelthoseoftheboyhoodHeroarchetypescowardlyshadow.Amanpossessed
bytheMasochistfeelsheispowerless.Heisapushoverwhohasnopersonalboundariesandwilllet
otherswalkalloverhim.Hemayhatehisjobortherelationshiphesinandcomplainaboutit,but
insteadofquitting,cuttinghislossesandmovingon,hedigsinandtrieshardertobewhohisbossor
girlfriendwantshimtobeandtakesevenmoreabuse.Becausewhilehemightcomplainaboutthe
pain,hereallylikesit.Thisisthemanwhoenjoysbeingthemartyr.
Anarchetypesbipolarshadowsoftenworktogetheragainstaman.MenundertheMasochists
influencewilltakethedisrespectothersdishoutwithoutfightingbackorassertingthemselves.Then
onedaysomething,maybeacriticismfromhiswife,pusheshimovertheedgeandheexplodeswith
sadisticverbal[andsometimeseven]physicalabuse.

HowtoAccesstheWarriorArchetype
ManymentodaylackWarriorenergy.Theyvebeentoldalltheirlivesthataggressionisbadandthey
shouldjustworkonbeingbeniceguys.Butiftheresanythingtheworldneedstoday,itsmenin
touchwiththeWarriorarchetype.Itstheenergythatpropelsmentodaregreatlyandtofightfora
worthycause.SowhatcanwedotoaccessthispositiveWarriorenergy?
Watchmoviesaboutgreatwarriors.Yeah,itscliche,butitworks.Theydontnecessarilyhaveto
bewarmovies.Anyfilmthatshowcasesmenwiththewarriorspiritwilldo.Hereareafewofmy
favoritewarriormovies.Idlovetoreadyours:
Braveheart
Gladiator
TheSevenSamurai
LastoftheMohicans
Shane
Glory
Patton
Readbiographiesaboutgreatwarriors.Also,digintowritingslikethoseofMarcusAurelius(the
ultimatephilosopherwarrior).
Takeupboxingoranothermartialart.
Dosomethingthatscaresyou.
Workonbecomingmoredecisive.
Meditate.Especiallyondeath.
Quitshouldingonyourself.TheWarriorisabletodetachhimselffromtheopinionsofothersin
ordertocarryouthismission.
Findyourcorevalues.
Haveaplanandpurposeforyourlife.
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Boostyouradaptabilitybystrengtheningyourresilience.
Studyandpracticetheskillsnecessaryforcompletingyourgoals.Whetherthatsmarksmanship,
computerprogramming,orbeingcharismatic,becomeamasterofyourtrade.
Findtheprinciplesthatyoureloyalto.
Establishsomenonnegotiable,unalterableterms(orN.U.Ts)andlivebythem.
CompeteinaraceliketheWarriorDash.Itsgotthewordwarriorrightinthename!
Strengthenyourdisciplinebyestablishinghabitsanddailyroutines.
Adoptaminimalistphilosophy.Declutteryourlife.Simplifyyourdiet.Getoutofdebt.
TheFourArchetypesoftheMatureMasculine:
Introduction
TheBoyhoodArchetypesPartI
TheBoyhoodArchetypesPartII
TheLover
TheWarrior
TheMagician
TheKing
Brett&KateMcKay
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