King, Warrior, Magician, Lover: Rediscovering the Archetypes of the Mature Masculine

The classic guide to the four essential male archetypes.

Masculinity is on trial, leaving many men feeling lost, threatened, or unable to clearly express themselves. Instead of leading to internal growth and maturity, paradigms like “toxic masculinity” and “man up!” ultimately lead to men and boys feeling isolated, angry, and unable to hold steady and healthy relationships—with themselves and others. King, Warrior, Magician, Lover dispels these and other common myths and stereotypes and offers a new framework from the field of masculine psychology for understanding men and their many facets—and the societal and emotional factors that make us who we are.

In this classic guide, Jungian analysts Robert Moore and Douglas Gillette make the argument that mature masculinity is not abusive or domineering, but generative, creative, and empowering of the self and others. Through a psychological lens, they clearly define the four mature male archetypes that stand out through myth and literature across history:

· The King—the energy of just and creative ordering;

· The Warrior—the energy of aggressive but nonviolent action;

· The Magician—the energy of initiation and transformation;

· The Lover—the energy that connects one to others and the world.