Montréal Men's Circle Group

Men’s Circle - Masculine Archetypes with "King, Warrior, Magician, Lover"

Tue, Aug 11 · 7:00 PM EDT

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Online

Online

King - Warrior - Magician - Lover
"Every man carries within him four powerful energies: the King, the Warrior, the Magician, and the Lover. The question isn't whether they exist—but which ones are leading your life and are they in balance?"

This special introductory session explores the core ideas behind Robert Moore and Douglas Gillette's influential book King, Warrior, Magician, Lover. (Amazon link here).

This classic book is a personal favourite that I like to revisit every few years when I feel like I need to regain perspective and reassess where I am as a man and you may find it helpful as well.

The four archetypes are not personality types or rigid definitions of masculinity. Instead, they represent universal patterns of mature masculine energy that can help us better understand ourselves, our relationships, our leadership, and our purpose.

We'll introduce each archetype, discuss its strengths and shadow expressions, and explore how these energies show up in our everyday lives. This meeting is designed to provide a foundation for the four deeper sessions that will follow—one dedicated to each archetype—but it also stands on its own for anyone simply curious about the model.

Whether you've read the book or are hearing about these ideas for the first time, you're welcome to join the conversation.

Reflect Before We Meet

• What does "healthy masculinity" mean to you?
• Which men have most shaped your understanding of what it means to be a man?
• When have you felt most authentic and confident in your life?
• What qualities do you admire most in other men?
• Which qualities do you find most difficult to embody yourself?
• Do you think modern society gives men a healthy model for masculinity? Why or why not?

Discussion Topics

• What is an archetype, and why do they resonate across cultures?
• Carl Jung's influence and the psychology behind archetypes.
• The difference between mature masculine energy and its shadow expressions.
• An overview of the King, Warrior, Magician, and Lover.
• Why balance matters more than identifying with a single archetype.
• How these archetypes appear in our work, relationships, fatherhood, friendships, and personal growth.
• Common misconceptions and critiques of the archetype model.
• What practical value can these ideas offer in modern life?

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Optional Reading

Primary Reading

• King, Warrior, Magician, Lover by Robert Moore & Douglas Gillette (Introduction and first few chapters are sufficient)

Additional Reading

• Man and His Symbols by Carl Jung
• Iron John by Robert Bly
• The Hero with a Thousand Faces by Joseph Campbell

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Looking ahead

If there is enough interest, over the following four months we'll explore each archetype in depth:

• The King — Leadership, responsibility, vision, and creating order.
• The Warrior — Courage, discipline, boundaries, and purposeful action.
• The Magician — Wisdom, self-awareness, knowledge, and transformation.
• The Lover — Connection, passion, empathy, creativity, and presence.

Each session will focus on understanding the mature expression of that archetype, recognizing its shadow forms, and discussing practical ways to cultivate greater balance in our own lives.

Looking forward to a fruitful conversation!
Mayar

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Join us for a friendly gathering of men (all ages welcome) where we’ll have an open discussion on anything and everything related to the experiences and challenges we as men face in the modern age.

The topics of discussion will vary from meeting to meeting, covering a wide range that could include work and money, relationships and intimacy, parenthood and family, loss and grief, travel and relocation, fitness and health, etc. The format is flexible and we may also leverage articles or excerpts from books in the area to guide the discussion.

Please note that this isn’t meant to be therapy or coaching.

We’ll provide a safe and confidential space and require the same from all our attendees. If you’re not the type to enjoy deeper discussion, this group is probably not the right one for you. The group will be kept on the smaller side to foster an intimate setting and allow everyone enough time to share.

This group is for men only. We understand women also face many of these challenges and we encourage you to join one of the many women’s-only meet-ups available in Montreal. This group will be held in English.

There is a small fee for in-person events to cover the space costs, online events will be free.

PLEASE NOTE: This group strives to create a safe and respectful space for open dialogue that aims to heal rather than exacerbate the divisions in society. While we agree that a lot of men are struggling in the modern world, we do not condone much of the unsavoury takes found in "the manosphere". However, we do extend a warm invite to men who may have been drawn to certain ideologies but are eager to transcend them. So if you're seeking to move beyond divisive perspectives and instead choose to focus on personal growth and positive transformation to become a well-rounded active member of society (including as a partner and father, if you choose), this group is for you!