A while ago I wrote a post titled How To Be A Modern Warrior Poet and while it wasn’t a very popular post it was (and is to an extent) one of my favorite posts and one that I’d like to revisit here. The idea of the warrior poet and what it means to be a man, a man in full. Not a man as a voting unit, an economic cog, nor as simply a collection of cells and matter but something deeper, stronger, and fuller.
One book that I’ve never read but heard good things about is the book King, Warrior, Magician, Lover by Robert Moore and while I don’t subscribe to the whole Iron John neutered masculinity that I imagine that the authors subscribe to I think they were really getting at something with the archetypes in that book, even if their interpretations leave a lot to be desired (again I don’t know haven’t read it yet).
In another way this warrior poet represents an archetype of sorts, or rather perhaps the blending and/or balancing of archetypes. The mixing of fire and water of earth and air of body, mind, and spirit and so on and so forth. I think when man was created he was created to develop both of these aspects to become a man in full, a phrase that I’m liking more and more and think has deep meaning to.
What Does It Mean To Be A Warrior Poet?
It doesn’t literally mean you have to be a soldier who writes poetry (though obviously nothing wrong with that) rather it symbolizes an idea and a balance to work towards and understand. To develops ones mind and body where the sum is greater than the parts. We’ve all known those that could throw a ball or lift a weight yet couldn’t think beyond what was directly in front of them.
Likewise we’ve all known those who are constantly stuck in their head and are feeble and weak to engage the world around them. These both represent two dead ends of man. The nerd and the jock to use modern oversimplified vernacular. To truly be a man one must take the good parts of each and meld them together to become something more. To be strong of body and spirit as well as sharp of mind.
To be able to be sensitive and understanding when needed but at the same time to never lose one’s edge or strength while doing so. Obviously this goes beyond just the whole “nerd/jock” dichotomy but that’s a useful example to help you get what I’m talking about here. A balance, developing all aspects of oneself to the utmost of your ability. Naturally the next question is “How can this be done?”
How To Become A Warrior Poet
There are many different ways to seek this path. In the last article I probably said something about lifting weights and reading books. Which are good starts. Personally now doing combat sports and writing fiction I’m seeing more and more parallels between the two as well as other crafts (anything that has both an art and a science to it, like writing fiction or fighting).
But essentially it boils down to this. Do something that is physically hard and that will require courage of some sort. Something that will test yourself, strengthen your spirit, while hardening your body at the same time. Then on the flip side do that which expands your mind and broadens your thought. Read books, create art, meditate, and so on and so forth.
Sorry if that’s not very concrete but that’s the general path to take. It’ll be unique for you what you end up doing. The point is to strengthen and integrate all parts of yourself. The fire and water, the king, warrior, magician, lover, (and some would say builder), and so on and so forth to become a complete man.
The Warrior Poet As Ideal
Ideal is a tricky word but it is certainly something to strive for. I think there is a lot of power in this idea and it’s something I think I’ll do a deeper dive into in the future. But for now search for something that’s going to grow your courage and harden your body as well as something that will expand your mind while sharpening it. That’s a good place as any to start.
If anything I said here interests you I’d highly recommend you check out The Ultimate Alpha Collection which is a compilation of 16 of my books for the price of 5. It covers everything from being a man to making money to getting the right mindset to getting girls to fighting and more and is a resource no man should be without. Pick up your copy today!
-Charles Sledge
