Men and the Water of Life: Initiation and the Tempering of Men

by Michael Meade

"When generativity, creativity, generosity, and the capacity to embrace life dry up, the Water of Life has gone underground. At such times, the earth becomes arid, life becomes devoid of meaning, the ground of culture cracks and splits, and gaps develop among peoples and between people and nature. Only water can bring the piece back together, awaken seeds hidden in the ground, and enliven the parched Tree of Life." One of the most important ways to call forth the water of life is through story. For years Michael Meade has been steeped in stories, some from the ground of his own life, others from the ancient rivers of Celtic, European, and African myth. Still others emerge from years spent as a teacher, listening to the stories that both men and women carry. From these stories he derives medicine for healing individual wounds and uncovers rituals for the remaking of community. Through stories that explore and illuminate the lives of men, Meade examines the wounds that often arise between father and son and the spells that can exist between mother and child. These "troubles" are investigated from psychological and mythological perspectives in order to uncover the layers of meaning embedded in life experiences and to discover the seeds of healing. At the core of the book are stories of initiatory events that mark a man's or a woman's soul over and pull a person deeper into life than he or she would normally choose to go. Seen as tempering through fire and water, these events decide who a person is, cause some power to erupt from inside, or strip everything away until all that remains is one's essential self. Attuned to our modern needs - the wounds of divorce, addiction, and loss, the moral abandonment of children, the gap between the genders - and our mythic inheritance, Men and the Water of Life offers narratives that reflect and resonate with the oldest parts of the human psyche - the place where things began and the place where things can begin again.

Genres: Psychology, Mythology, Nonfiction, Spirituality, Philosophy

442 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1993

Reviews

[Andrew · Rating 5 out of 5]

My wife gave me this book, which could not have come into my life at a better time. It offers the mythological and psychological roadmap of initiation of men - especially relevant to men in western society where initiation is mostly overlooked/forgotten. The way this book brings in stories from different cultures to foster understanding of different aspects of initiation into a man's soul purpose is brilliant. My only criticism would be that Meade loses the momentum of the book to repetition and belaboring the point at times. Then again, this book is less about efficiently getting tips/answers, and more like a long night around the fire with a wise elder. Would highly recommend to men interested in diving into the deeper significance of their journey in life.

[Amy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I started reading this book at first for a book I am writing. However, as I kept reading I found so much applied to me. Some parts were so meaningful that I grabbed my highlighter and made notes. Meade does a wonderful job of first telling a mythological story then taking apart each element of the story. Each part has symbolic value and as very applicable to real life situations, especially those who are followers of Joseph Campbell and The Hero's Journey. I highly recommend this book.

[Ethan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Meade looks at many aspects of mens' psyche through the exploration of myths. It is the type of book that can be read a section at a time. It took me about three years to finally read all of it. There is so much packed into each page. I found it exhilarating and exhausting to read.

[John K. Ross, MD · Rating 5 out of 5]

Somewhat dreamy treatment of initiation and manhood.

[Elizabeth · Rating 3 out of 5]

from the library

been reading this on and off all year

giving it back and getting it again

[John · Rating 4 out of 5]

Essential for those lost in what it truly means to be a man - timeless and grounding!

[Todd Randall · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love this book . Reading it a second time after twenty years .