Monthly Highlight

A Man’s Spirituality

by Tina Marie Jones, January 2007

  Often the spiritual road of a man is one taken alone or in the mind. Few men share of their fears, beliefs, mental and spiritual challenges choosing to seek out answers in their own unique, yet effective manner.

  Over the past 30 years as more and more women have sought our varying forms of feminism, ways to distinguish themselves and areas that they can specialize in, the now termed spiritual movement has been flooded with female energy and a dividing line has been placed where men are thought to be more rugged and the females more feeling. Truth is, we are both the same – both rugged and both feeling – both intellectual and both introspective. As we judge one or the other, we condemn ourselves to see only through that filter and do not leave room for the whole truth.

  In discussions about male spirituality it has become clear that men express their spiritual nature in different terms than females and often get labeled as being non-spiritual. A man’s journey takes turns that has him develop not only his ‘feminine-side’ which is historically connected with feeling – but to the inner work where he discovers his masculinity.

  I ask that we raise our male children and support our husbands, brothers, lovers, male friends to get in touch with their masculine side – that side which connects them to their God figure. Allow them to embrace all that is male and to have faith that they were made in God’s image. As the feminine movement has evolved, males have suffered their own identity crisis. Let us now support our males to embrace their male emotions and to be safe in knowing they too, are spiritual; they too, are strong in their ability to connect with the divine.

  In researching the Man’s Movement as it has been termed by current day scholars discovering the unfolding of the new masculine spiritual identity has become an intriguing topic.

  From birth men operate differently yet for either sex the need for intimacy and assurance from both the female mother figure and the male father figure exists. As a boy child learns to distinguish the male and female energies, he incorporates those identities within himself. Growing up in a world that produces doers and non-feelers, those that seek results and not emphasize the journey, we lose touch with our divine nature. Men suffer the most under this societal paradigm and reach their young adult lives void of connection and realization of their higher powers. Intuitive guidance is termed a hunch or luck; positive thinking and affirmations are replaced with goal setting and time management courses. The drive to succeed and obtain over shadow the need for love, connection and inner peace.

  With many of my clients I have seen them evolve from the young business owner or high powered executive wrought with seemingly unrelated illnesses and lack of energy which is hidden by steady doses of coffee and carbohydrates to the open and genuine man who in opening his heart knows that true success is being able to face himself at the end of the day and say – “well done”.

  I ask my male clients to seek out an understanding of the Man’s Movement, embrace his masculine spirituality, and speak highly of himself and others at all times and to unfold a path that makes him happy. Our lives are not about struggle. Life is not meant to be hard. Your family will love you just as much of you are not pulling in six plus figures, in fact, the more time you spend with them – they will love you more and be able to express it in so many ways. Love the fact that you are male. It is God’s gift to you.

  Inclusion of a Chapter dedicated to the Man’s Movement is included in the upcoming book to be released in July 2007 titled –

A Simple Road to Happiness

by Tina Marie Jones, M.S., C.N.H.P.

Other resources include:

The ManKind Project, www.mkp.org

Men as Learners and Elders, www.malespirituality.org

“Masculine Spirituality”, by Richard Rohr, 1988

“What are they saying about Masculine Spirituality? “by David C. James, 1996

Optimal Health Consulting. All rights reserved. 2006