As we approach midsummer and listen closely, an ancient song can be heard within the verdant heart of the season. The sun is at its peak, working in cosmic collaboration with our fertile Earth, and we find ourselves deep in sustenance with abundant crops and gardens, long-shadowed afternoons and carefree barefoot hours. Our ancient ancestors held lavish celebrations on the summer solstice that included greeting the sunrise and lighting bonfires after dark.

During this sun-dappled hour, it is easy to evoke the leafy-crowned magic of the Green Man mythos and honor the concept of the sacred masculine. The activating principle of yang within the feminine receptive yin, the divine masculine runs through many cultures—from the Hindu trinity of Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva embodying cosmic creation, preservation and destruction to the Aboriginal Rainbow Serpent, the powerful, symbolic essence of creation, transformation and renewal.

The sacred masculine can also be glimpsed in our everyday heroes—the men in our lives. Whenever a father passes on the legacy of compassion to his children, protects his own or creates something from nothing, he is mirroring this multicultural, timeless energy. In its purity, the animating masculine force is free of aggression, capable of deep creativity and resplendent with the spark of new ideas. He is a passionate and gentle lover, a strong guardian and an inspired innovator. Saint Francis of Assisi, the Italian Catholic friar, mystic and poet, embodied the sacred masculine, seeing God in the human flesh of our neighbors. His timeless Canticle of the Sun acknowledged the life force and consciousness of the heavenly bodies, the animals and the elements—earth, air, fire and water. 

Like the divine feminine, the sacred masculine is, in essence, an archetype that exists in all people, regardless of gender. Taking positive, humble action when needed, healing our father wounds, tapping into the fire of our innate creativity and uniting logic with intuition are all ways to awaken this vital energy that is sorely needed in the world today.

Marlaina Donato is an author, painter and composer. Connect at BluefireStudio.art.

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