For young men

One of the most burning questions for many young men today is how to find a meaningful idea of what it means to be a man, and how to break the apparent bond with adolescent mind frames and behaviour, such as, for instance, the excessive use of drugs, gaming or pornography. Since there is an increasing absence of traditional and spiritually grounded initiation rites, and little that aids the preservation of a culture of mature masculinity, this is no easy task.

On a psychological level, Jung saw male initiation as a very old, almost instinctual, part of the striving of society to bring the individual to detach himself from his original condition and to be reborn into a new world with a new sense of purpose and community. It was also an opportunity for society to restore and reinvigorate its general sense of time and meaning and teach and affirm values, not the least regarding healthy masculinity.

These kinds of processes have more or less disappeared from conscious presentation and the modern imitations can not create a spiritual breakthrough. Thus, meaningful life must be struggled for by each individual and the quest must be recast for each generation. Here, the efforts of people who were inspired by the Jungian view on this, like Jordan Peterson, Robert Bly, Michael Gurian and Larry Pesavento stand out as beacons to lead seekers toward manhood.

If you are a young man seeking a sense of meaning in this kind of pursuit, I would recommend you to study some of the writings of these and similar authors before considering entering into Jungian Psychoanalysis. Individual analysis is a great tool, but it cannot wholly replace the collective function of initiation. Once you have familiarised yourself with this extensive area of knowledge you will then be in a better position to know how psychoanalysis can help you pursue your goals.

I would particularly recommend reading Larry Pesavento’s book “Toward Manhood”, which you can buy here.