Basecamp for Men E162: Basecamp Classics

E162: Basecamp Classics

 

E162 Introduction

Hello Basecampers. Today is a Basecamp Classics day. We are nearing the end of season number four with next weeks interview, a good one to finish with, coming next Tuesday.

We will be taking a short hiatus for the Holidays as we did last year. Chris and I will catch our breath and spend time with family and friends. I will make some final announcements next week as we get set to rest before 2023 and season five.

Today’s episode is one of my favorites from way back in season number one. The title is Into the Mystic. The guest is author Paul Dunion. Enjoy!

Basecamp for Men E115: Elderhood and the Legacy of Men

E115: Elderhood and the Legacy of Men with Special Guest Paul Dunion

 

E115 Introduction

I was thinking yesterday about the Journey of the Soul. The DESCENDED path, as it is often referred to. My guest today speaks and writes beautifully about this road.

The Descended path runs counter to everything about our Western culture. Collectively, we tend to push forward with technological progress and quest for more, more, more. More speed, more improvement, fast results, fast information, fast internet speed and blah blah blah. Everything has to happen 5 minutes ago.

The Soul doesn’t care about any of this. Not one damn bit. The Soul wants to marinate, to meander, to get lost, and to slowly figure things out. All the people I know who have a largeness of Soul carry this expression with them. It is such an attractive quality in people. Those that speak from the Soul.

It’s interesting to me that all of the New Age talk and books are about Ascension. The Ascending Spirit. It is easy to see why. The dynamic of Ascension has an escaping quality to it. As in I am tired of all this suffering and I want to help lift us (and myself) out of this place. I think both dynamics are probably important. At least that is my hunch. The spirit and lightness of ascension and the earthy, authenticity, and truthfulness of the Soul.

I think again and again of the Grail myth here. The Grail speaks wonderfully of the descended path. Remember, Parcival (the Hero of the story) was unable to heal the Fisher King‘s wound and restore the Kingdom until he did his inner work in this descending path. He needed to become humble, which is a derivative of humus, which means earthy, feminine, unsophisticated. In short, Parzival needed more Soul. Or I should say, he needed to do the work to contact and express the largesse of his own inner experience.

How many of us are at this point in the Grail story? We took whatever tools we had and arrived at a place to heal the ailing King. But none of us knew what to do. The story shows us that Parzival (ourselves) had more inner work to do. The DESCENDING path of the Soul. This is where we start to meander. To notice the depths in ourselves and those around us. Nature starts to have an incredible beauty and interconnectedness. The Descended path starts to awaken our inner mystic. The part of us that needs to feel a bit lost and confused in order to properly arrive at our destiny.

If we are to grow into elderhood and properly mentor the good men that are younger than us, as well as awaken the archetypal King, then this path of the Soul will need to be walked and brought into clear focus for future generations. Remember, there are mystics and teachers that will arrive at our shores who have not yet been born.

It is important for men to do this inner work, as my guest today speaks about so eloquently. Let’s go talk to him about the path of the Soul, meandering, and the importance of mentorship and elderhood.

 

 

Basecamp for Men E46: Wisdom for Uncertain Times

E46: Wisdom for Uncertain Times with

Special Guest Paul Dunion

 

E46 Introduction

Whenever we find ourselves in uncertain times, it’s important to listen for voices of wisdom. This has always been true. Hearing truths that resonate and touch the human heart is a very good way to navigate confusion. Whenever we find ourselves amongst old structures and narratives that are no longer vibrant and alive, the Soul is indicating that it is time initiation into something new.  Together, we are travelling the faint path, you and I.  Right now, there is no sure, safe way. This much, I think, is clear.

Sometimes one simple conversation can make a difference in your perspective and trajectory. It’s interactions that carry depth that reaffirm our humanity. These conversations can help us back onto our true path or hero’s journey. It is clear to me more now than ever that we are here to help one another in these challenging times. My guest today is one such voice of wisdom.

Paul Dunion Bio-

Paul Dunion is a co-founder of the Connecticut’s Mens’ Gathering, a biannual retreat for men that began in 1992. He is the founder of Boys To Men, a mentoring community for teenage boys. He’s been in private practice as a Psychotherapist for 37 years and is presently a faculty member for Mobius Executive Training. Paul is the author of several books including my favorite, Path of the Novice Mystic. His blogs can be accessed at the Hufington Post as well as Medium.com. 

E46 Final Thoughts

To find out more about Paul and his work and writing, go to www.pauldunion.com

I always enjoy talking with Paul. I come away feeling better, more connected to my truth and to what is REALLY happening, as opposed to what all the media noise is trying to convince me about what is happening.

I love what Paul said about when we are in a paradigm shift, as we so clearly are now, our willingness to get shamelessly lost is something that can serve us well. It’s an interesting notion and it runs completely counter to how we have been cultured as men.

And what he said about cultivating tenderness is so powerful. In mythic terms, this is activating and strengthening the archetypal Lover.

What if, as men, we take on being more tender and caring? Would this make us less manly? Would it make us less courageous? What if this was the direction that our collective courage was taking us right now?

 

 

Basecamp for Men E29: Into the Mystic

E29: Into the Mystic with Special Guest Paul Dunion

 

E29 Introduction

I have long been attracted to teachers who aren’t afraid to explore psychological truths. Whether the teacher is considered a spiritual master, a mystic, a therapist,  or someone who can speak from the Soul, my heart has gravitated towards learning that feels deep and timeless.

And anything that runs counter to the shallow, banal, and distracting nature of our culture is like food for the soul. I want to feel that we are all on an adventure together, a collective Hero’s Journey that we all play an important part in.

In all of the wisdom traditions, there has been the talk of an awakening in the human Spirit.

A quickening in our learning. Consciousness seems to be entering a new phase and let’s be thankful for that. As a tribe, we are ripe for new information, new models for problem-solving, and new methods for transcending our habit of creating a sense of separation in the world.

My guest today is a gifted writer and teacher and someone I am excited to introduce to you.

Paul Dunion Bio-

Paul Dunion is the co-founder of Connecticut’s Men’s’ Gathering, a biannual Retreat for men that began in 1992. He is the founder of Boys To Men, a mentoring community for teenage boys. He’s been in private practice as a Psychotherapist for 37 years and is presently a faculty member for Mobius Executive Training.  His blogs can be accessed at the Huffington Post as well as Medium.com.

His next book: Wisdom – Apprenticing To The Unknown & Befriending Fate is due to be released in the summer of 2020.