On Male Initiation

A Commentary on the Legend of Herakles

Okay, a little change of scene today.

When I was little, I was entirely captivated by the story of the demigod Herakles, more popularly known as Hercules.

Today I’m going to try my hand at offering some thoughts on male development through his story.

I’ve been thinking about how different male and female initiation is. And how as women, we’ve often been exposed to tales of male initiation as though they apply to us as well. They simply don’t.

For those of us in heterosexual relationships, or with sons, fathers, brothers, or male friends, knowing the stages of men’s development can help restore more harmony and balance into our relationships. To know our men.

If you identify as a woman, instead of rejecting stories of the hero’s journey because we see them as excluding us, I think it’s far more interesting to approach them as ways to better understand the male psyche.