How to be a man: Masculinity, warriorship & honour - Arthur Haines

Be Mythical

This week’s show is with Arthur Haines. Arthur is a Maine hunting, fishing, and recreation guide, forager, ancestral skills mentor, author, public speaker, and botanical researcher. He grew up in the western mountains of Maine, a rural area that was home to swift streams known for their trout fishing. He spent most of his childhood in the Sandy River Valley hiking, tracking, and foraging.

Arthur now runs the Delta Institute of Natural History in Canton, Maine, where he teaches human ecology, focusing on the values of foraging, wildcrafting medicine, and primitive living skills. He continues to spend a great deal of his free time practicing his skills as a modern hunter-gatherer.

In 2017, he authored “A New Path”, a comprehensive work on nature connection and rewilding, detailing how to incorporate ancestral practices into modern living.

As a research botanist for the Native Plant Trust, he completed an inclusive flora of the New England region titled “Flora Novae Angliae” and has authored over twenty publications in peer-reviewed journals and books, including naming species of plants new to science. His series of YouTube videos has inspired thousands of people interested in foraging wild edible and medicinal plants.

In this show, Arthur and Lian explore the profound and often misunderstood concepts of masculinity. Together, they delve into the divine masculine as an archetype, contrasting it with the modern discourse around toxic masculinity and what these perspectives mean for identity and society.

Arthur shares his motivations for championing conversations about masculinity, discussing the importance of role models, honour, and self-preservation in embodying true masculine energy. He offers insights into the warrior archetype and its relevance in today’s world, where resilience and protection are often dismissed but perhaps are more crucial than ever.

They reflect on cultural narratives and the historical significance of egalitarian societies, shedding light on how traditional gender roles have evolved and the ways they continue to shape us. Through this exchange, Lian and Arthur explore how embracing divine masculinity can create balance and transformation in a changing world.

Together, they challenge reductive ideas of masculinity, highlighting the need for mastery, responsibility, and open dialogue to honour the archetypes and roles we embody as humans.

We’d love to know what YOU think about this week’s show. Let’s carry on the conversation… please leave a comment wherever you are listening or in any of our other spaces to engage.

What you’ll learn from this episode:

• The divine masculine is an essential archetype, embodying honour, protection, and resilience. Celebrating it requires moving beyond oversimplified notions of toxic masculinity to understand its role in community and identity.

• Egalitarian societies historically celebrated gender differences, recognising the unique contributions of both men and women. Revisiting these perspectives can help modern society reframe the evolving dynamics of gender roles to meet the needs of the world today.

• The warrior archetype remains vital in today's world, symbolising preparation, mastery, honour, and collective responsibility. In embracing this role, men can navigate crises with honour, ensuring the protection and provision essential for communities to thrive.

Resources and stuff spoken about:

• Visit Arthur’s Website

• See Arthur’s books

• Find out more about Arthur’s Apprenticeship Program - for people excited to pursue a rewilding lifestyle

• Join Arthur on Facebook

• Join UNIO, the Academy of Sacred Union. This is for the old souls in this new world… Discover your kin & unite with your soul’s calling to truly live your myth.

Be Mythical

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