The Dangerous Men's Journey

Dangerous Path

Men are often attracted to what is dangerous, to what requires some achievement and to what provides a difficult challenge for them. If there is no challenge, it is not worthy to them. It would be seen as something insignificant and does not bring Real Motivation. The life-driven energy we (men) are so attracted to.

The term ‘hazardous journey’ belongs to Ernest Shackleton. In 1914 he embarked on a journey to the South Pole with his crew. “To assemble his crew, Shackleton had placed an ad in London newspaper:

‘Men wanted for hazardous journey. Small wages, bitter cold, long months of complete darkness, constant danger, safe return doubtful. Honour and recognition in case of success’.

Five hundred men applied for twenty-eight crew positions despite the promised ordeals and the phrase “safe return doubtful” (Plotkin, 2003, p.328).

I believe you may have gotten the hang of what I am talking about with this heroic and amazing real life example. It shows how much men (and women) long for a meaningful, deep and dangerous adventure in their lives. 28 positions and 500 men applied to journey toward darkness, death and maybe 'honour and recognition'.

The Most Dangerous Enemy

The conclusion from my research on Deep Psychology and Real Spirituality is that the journey towards the unconsciousness is the most dangerous and worthiest one to take. It is dangerous because you are your Biggest Enemy. You are your own problem. Nobody enjoys facing their own reality. Fear always take control. The ego will fight to the death against this Path. The ‘hazardous journey’ means the journey to face one’s own death of the ego (or at least lowered his position of power). The mystics said true religion is the one which is teaching you how to die. It is the one which is teaching you how to let go.

Physical Death X Idea of Death

Yalom (a philosopher and existential therapist) once said: “While physical death destroys us, the idea of death saves us”(1980/2003, cited in Corey, 2005, p. 144). I could not agree more with this statement. Every time I talk with anyone about suicide, death and darkness, a great sense of Truth and Life comes with the conversation. Paradoxically, it is in talking about death that one learns about Life. It brings one to the present moment. It brings one to Here and Now, and the people involved in the conversation can see each other as they are, not as they would like to be seen or perceived. The outcome is a living feeling of Real Acceptance.

Both/AND Counselling

The Authentic Male Journey is counselling for men toward the Truth as it is. It is toward the Self that it is, and not as one would like to be. You are, AND I am. AND that is enough Here and Now. That is what the Journey is about. It is about Real Acceptance as WE ARE.

Reference:

Corey, G. (2005). Theory and practice of counseling and psychotherapy (7 ^th ed) place of publication: Thomson Books/Cole.

Plotkin, B. (2003) Soulcraft – Crossing into the Mysteries of Nature and Psyche. New World Library Publishers.

Felipe Oliveira provides counselling for men seeking an Authentic life. Click here to know more about his work . Or, please, continue reading about the Authentic Male Journey that has to be dangerous and full of challenges.

Felipe Oliveira provides counselling for men seeking an Authentic LIfe™.