Thumos Tuesday,
A morning where Jordan and I meet to discuss all things chasing the vapour and bindu and the infinite game. Mostly.
I look forward to these explorations. See Jordan is a writer and a men’s coach. Though the latter he’d probably not have me tout. But he’s a great one. Novel in a saturated sea of self-help-gurus. He stands out. And I’ve come to know other men like him.
Men who breathe the aesthetic of life. Who’ve tussled with the heart of darkness, the chase of love, status, humility and the extraordinary. And who have come to find all things meaningful await on the second mountain. But the road is necessary to come to such a conclusion. And I’ve heard many such stories over open fires.
Tales of the beat in our chest. Tales of the mortality of our flesh and the immortal glint of possibility.
The general understanding of Thumos is that it refers to “spirit” or “spiritedness”.
However, the implications of this term are far more important and far more complicated. Thumos, in the context of ancient Greece, refers to a sense of righteous anger, a need and desire to fight against the perceived injustice of the world.
Plato believed Thumos to be an elemental part of the human soul. And when exercised within reason, it could lead us to a higher form of truth, virtue and wisdom.
https://classicalwisdom.com/culture/traditions/tradition-thumos/
And so most Tuesdays but not all, we sit and discuss our virtues, exploring our truth. Often through the lens of art, but not entirely in focus. Though always poetic. These talks are not designed to inflate our egos. These talks sharpen our aim, inspire action, and carry accountability. It is our pursuit of the good fight.
Over the years I have been fortunate to have met many a men and their Thumos.
Fathers to be, men in circle, men out of breath and into truth, men sobbing, men on pitches with plucks of grass flying and chalk on kneecaps and dirt on jaws, modern arena men, men braving the elements like Thalassa and coming out scathed and smiling, or those simply and imperfectly in devotion to love. ‘Love. The glorious death of us all.’
I wish more men to have Thumos Tuesdays. To discuss works like ‘King, Warrior, Magician, Lover’ or Wong Kar-wai or Rilke or the d*mning difficulty of our existence and its equally interstellar beauty.
To men. May you walk, write, talk, prowl and pursue with Dragon smoke in your spirit. Let your life not be a haze but a blaze that roars. And spreads its wings from your birth to your casket. May it matter. Make it matter.
For tomorrow is Tuesday.
Commentary:
This is an intended jolt to spring me and other men into action. To fuel the fire in our hearts and take on the good fight. Let me know your thoughts. (check out Jordan’s work here)
Lots of food for thought and concepts to research, thank you for sharing! 👏
How did I miss this when you posted it...?
This really speaks to me. I've never heard of the term Thumos before, but I'm familiar with various modes of men's work and, from what I can see so far, it's a very interesting concept to consider. I'll have to dig in a bit. Similar to you, I have a group of men that I sit around the fire with. The type of connection we foster together is something I neve knew I was missing until I discovered it... or it discovered me. Like I didn't know I was starving for it because I'd never tasted it before... true relatedness with unguarded, bravado-less men who are interested in realizing their potential and facing all that holds them back from this aim. It's -in a word- liberating... but also makes me poignantly aware of what young boys are missing in our society.
I'm not an ancient Greek expert, though am I a mythology enthusiast and I adore what the Greeks have in their pantheon. You mention King, Warrior, Magician, Lover. Are you interested in the work of Robert Moore, or just his take on these Jungian ideas? I'm a huge fan of Robert Moore and have spent much time listening to his lectures. That man was a walking blessing for men who were seeking to connect with their inner power. I particularly enjoy the talks he gave at the Minnesota Men's Conferences, many of which are available on YouTube.