Mandalas take on countless sizes, shapes and forms and are a tool for gaining perspective, expanding thought and relaxing the mind.
Excerpt from the Power of Myth:
CAMPBELL: “Mandala” is the Sanskrit word for “circle,” but a circle that is coordinated or symbolically designed so that it has the meaning of a cosmic order. When composing mandalas, you are trying to coordinate your personal circle with the universal circle. In a very elaborate Buddhist mandala, for example, you have the deity in the center as the power source, the illumination source. The peripheral images would be manifestations or aspects of the deity’s radiance.
In working out a mandala for yourself, you draw a circle and then think of the different impulse systems and value systems in your life. Then you compose them and try to find out where your center is. Making a mandala is a discipline for pulling all those scattered aspects of your life together, for finding a center and ordering yourself to it. You try to coordinate your circle with the universal circle.
MOYERS: To be at the center?
CAMPBELL: At the center, yes….
My personal mandala has been evolving over the past few years. It is the place I can go at any time to pause and reflect, to pray, to meditate, or just sit in quiet contemplation in an empty space between the lines for a while. – Clay Boykin
The Myth Salon recently hosted Clay Boykin and his producer, Dennis Tardan, who are in search of the new compassionate male. It is no secret that centuries of patriarchy and a skewed sense of masculinity bear much of the responsibility for steering humanity away from the nature and the deep feminine. Male empowerment has formed the foundation upon which our current cultural and political conditions rest. Clay Boykin and Dennis Tardan believe that amidst the turmoil in the world the new compassionate male is emerging as the new archetype. While much of their work may focus on transforming males and the masculine, the core values and principles evoke the relational qualities of the deep feminine. Based in Austin, Texas, they are engaging thought leaders who have developed conversations with enlightened people of all stripes and we are deeply privileged to have had them at The Myth Salon this month to explore this new paradigm.
The Myth Salon recently hosted Clay Boykin and his producer, Dennis Tardan, who are in search of the new compassionate male. It is no secret that centuries of patriarchy and a skewed sense of masculinity bear much of the responsibility for steering humanity away from the nature and the deep feminine. Male empowerment has formed the foundation upon which our current cultural and political conditions rest. Clay Boykin and Dennis Tardan believe that amidst the turmoil in the world the new compassionate male is emerging as the new archetype. While much of their work may focus on transforming males and the masculine, the core values and principles evoke the relational qualities of the deep feminine. Based in Austin, Texas, they are engaging thought leaders who have developed conversations with enlightened people of all stripes and we are deeply privileged to have had them at The Myth Salon this month to explore this new paradigm.
The Myth Salon recently hosted Clay Boykin and his producer, Dennis Tardan, who are in search of the new compassionate male. It is no secret that centuries of patriarchy and a skewed sense of masculinity bear much of the responsibility for steering humanity away from the nature and the deep feminine. Male empowerment has formed the foundation upon which our current cultural and political conditions rest. Clay Boykin and Dennis Tardan believe that amidst the turmoil in the world the new compassionate male is emerging as the new archetype. While much of their work may focus on transforming males and the masculine, the core values and principles evoke the relational qualities of the deep feminine. Based in Austin, Texas, they are engaging thought leaders who have developed conversations with enlightened people of all stripes and we are deeply privileged to have had them at The Myth Salon this month to explore this new paradigm.
The last fifteen years of Carl Jung’s life were lived against the backdrop of the Cold War—that time in our global history when most of the nations of the world were aligned either with the “West” or with the “Communist bloc.” Intermittently throughout this time the people of the world held their breath as they watched confrontations between the United States and the Soviet Union heat up. During one such tense time members of the Psychological Club in Zurich asked Jung if he thought there would be an atomic war. Barbara Hannah recalled his reply:
“I think it depends on how many people can stand the tension of the opposites in themselves. If enough can do so, I think the situation will just hold, and we shall be able to creep around innumerable threats and thus avoid the worst catastrophe of all: the final clash of opposites in an atomic war. But if there are not enough and such a war should break out, I am afraid it would inevitably mean the end of our civilization as so many civilizations have ended in the past but on a smaller scale.”
“…I had learned that all the greatest and most important problems of life are fundamentally insoluble…. They can never be solved, but only outgrown.”
Charles Barker MD, MPH is founder and president of Compassionate Dallas/Fort Worth, a non-profit organization that promotes the Charter for Compassion, the value of compassion and compassionate action in the Dallas/Fort Worth metroplex, using the Golden Rule as operating principle.
He is currently president of Compassionate DFW and moderator of the Board of Directors, a board representing all twelve sectors of the international Charter and encourages and coordinates the Community Campaigns, as well as partnerships in the DFW area. His background and experience is in the field of medicine, with emphasis in preventive medicine and biomedical ethics, frequently facilitating medical school ethics sessions at University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center. He is currently authoring a book centered on being and becoming excellent, a series of reflections.
Dana C. White, PhD – A graduate of Occidental College and the University of Southern California, Dana White received his PhD in Mythological Studies from Pacifica Graduate Institute in 2003. His dissertation is titled “Re-Imagining Work: Awakening the Call of Right Livelihood.” He currently serves as a contributing faculty member at Pacifica and as a reader on numerous doctoral dissertation committees.
He is the father of two sons, Michael and Andrew. He and his wife Michele live in Santa Monica with Odys – their 4-month old Whoodle (Wheaton Terrier and Poodle). He is a published poet, runs marathons, cooks and gardens.
Over the course of his career, Dana has worked in radio and industrial television, as a vice president of marketing for Merrill Lynch, and as an academic department chair at an art college. He edits and designs books, produces films and motion media for universities, corporations and non-profits, and is a professional photographer with more than 40 books to his credit.
He currently produces and hosts the Myth Salon, a venture he co-founded in 2016 with Dr. Will Linn, who serves as the moderator of the Myth Salon, which used to meet monthly in Dana’s home but now, because of the pandemic, convenes every other week in an online Zoom Webinar session that features a well-known presenter, a group of scholar-educator panelists, and an online audience.
Dana C. White, PhD – A graduate of Occidental College and the University of Southern California, Dana White received his PhD in Mythological Studies from Pacifica Graduate Institute in 2003. His dissertation is titled “Re-Imagining Work: Awakening the Call of Right Livelihood.” He currently serves as a contributing faculty member at Pacifica and as a reader on numerous doctoral dissertation committees.
He is the father of two sons, Michael and Andrew. He and his wife Michele live in Santa Monica with Odys – their 4-month old Whoodle (Wheaton Terrier and Poodle). He is a published poet, runs marathons, cooks and gardens.
Over the course of his career, Dana has worked in radio and industrial television, as a vice president of marketing for Merrill Lynch, and as an academic department chair at an art college. He edits and designs books, produces films and motion media for universities, corporations and non-profits, and is a professional photographer with more than 40 books to his credit.
He currently produces and hosts the Myth Salon, a venture he co-founded in 2016 with Dr. Will Linn, who serves as the moderator of the Myth Salon, which used to meet monthly in Dana’s home but now, because of the pandemic, convenes every other week in an online Zoom Webinar session that features a well-known presenter, a group of scholar-educator panelists, and an online audience.
Contact me at: [email protected]
Free 20 minute get acquainted conversation
I am glad you decided to explore the possibility of working together. My approach is anything but formulaic.
Yes, I am a Life Coach, but unlike the multitudes of life coaches in the world, I take a counterintuitive approach to compassionately explore with you where you are and where you would like to be, whether that is physically, mentally, spiritually and/or emotionally. We journey together to discover your path. My compassionate and counterintuitive approach, along with my unique tools and processes, will enable you to quickly learn how to help yourself along your life journey.
My Personal Story: As a child, I could not learn the way others learned. Other children would make fun of me and I withdrew socially. It was during this time that I was preyed upon and left with a burden of unresolved shame. I stopped trusting others and passed on many offers of support by classmates, teachers, family and potential mentors. Counseling was not an option back then and I told myself that I could find my way on my own if I just worked harder. Sound familiar? This was a mistake that would cost me down the road.
As a result, I lost confidence and grew frustrated and less than which led to cycles of depression I carried into adulthood. In spite of this, I eventually became successful in business, but something was always gnawing at me. I was not on purpose. In my early fifties things came to a head when I developed severe life threatening health issues that led to a mystical experience. I later, when the market crashed in 2008, I lost my job and almost lost my marriag
Like me, many people have suffered by not asking for help soon enough or when they needed it most. I eventually go help and support, and found my purpose and meaning in life. I found my “why” and pledged to extend myself to others by sharing what I have learned along my journey, my unique tools and my counterintuitive approach that enables them to help themselves. I have found my purpose and am doing what is in my heart to do.
If you would like to meet, I offer a complementary 20-minute get acquainted ZOOM call, and working sessions beyond that; all aimed at exploring various tools to enable you to find your path and guide you along your journey.
Contact me at: [email protected]
– Free 20 minute get acquainted conversation
– Mentoring/Coaching/Life-mapping Sessions: $150/hr (Sliding scale during pandemic)
– All sessions are presently conducted via ZOOM and recorded for your future reference
– Payments made at time of scheduling via PayPal Link: paypal.me/clayboykin
Testimonials:
Clays big heart and warm humor were present right from the beginning, which made it easy for me to trust him. Like the eagle he is a master of expansion (seeing the bigger picture) as well as of precision (seeing those “details“, which play a key role in the process). He listens deeply and captures the content as well as the information between the lines. In the right moments he shows his persistence – a persistence, which is rooted in compassion. And last but not least: His ability to life-map in real time is legendary – and the completed life-maps are a great support in the time after the consultation! Thank you for your help, compassionate man named Clay. – Andreas Pellegrini – Switzerland
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My work with Clay and his process of life-mapping/mandala was a beautiful vision board. I have deep appreciation of his intuitive guidance that created this session. This process allowed me to really see where I can take action. I am deeply grateful to Clay and his work. – Jan Blevins – Austin, Texas
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We called Clay Boykin for help in organizing our new foundation. It is based on a complex subject not easily understood by people who are not spiritually oriented. Clay came to us and led us into a seemingly simple discussion about our subject matter, Kundalini, and what we wanted to accomplish with our new foundation. Finally Clay stood up before a white board and starting adding words and lines and then as we talked he made the lines come together and explained the meaning of each issue. We were stunned. Right before our eyes, Clay not only understood what we were about, but how to communicate it in simple and powerful terms. He also helped us organize a simple and usable business plan to get from where we were to where we want to be. Here’s the deal. Clay is a Marketing Genius capable of taking a group of almost novices to a high level of marketing understanding in a brief amount of time and in a way that feels and seems totally empowering. – Chuck Robison – Director – Kundalini Research Foundation
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Over the past eight years Clay has helped me tremendously, both personally and professionally, with his reframing and life-mapping expertise. His intuitive and creative approach has helped me gain a fresh and unique perspective with which to navigate through difficult and challenging life AND BUSINESS situations. The time he has spent mentoring along side me has been invaluable. I wholeheartedly recommend Clay for both individual and organizational coaching and consulting. – Kirby Hiscox – VP Corporate Development – Austin, Texas
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Clay is energetic, creative and results-focused. He’s a great colleague to have, because he views your issues as his issues, and will focus his energy and creativity towards helping you. A fine team player, he’d be an asset to any organization. – Brian Bedford – Corporate Human Resources Executive
Clay is full of wisdom and authenticity in guiding and supporting the MFN, Men’s Fellowship Network. His dedication and passion in being conscious of what men (and women) seek to know under the broad umbrella of Male Spirituality is uncanny. Clay is compassionate and has his finger on the pulse of what is making a difference in this world. I am honored to know Clay and can honestly say he has changed my life in the most fantastic ways. – Martin Dowmen
Clay is a great conceptual thinker and planner that effectively incorporates fine detail in his plan. He is a superb motivator withan altruistic soul. I recommend him highly for all kinds of programs. – Rich Pendergraph
I was priviledged to work with Clay at Motorola on several business group and corporate initiatives. Clay is one of those unique individuals that combines incredible interpersonal skills, business acumen and a special gift of creativity to bring a variety of solutions to any problem or situation. He is truly an amazing individual and would bring value to any challenging environment. I highly recommend Clay. – Pete Pichette
Clay provides leadership that is transparent, inspiring, and totally open to fellow members of our men’s group. His spiritual grounding and continued self-exploration in exactly what a group of mature men welcome and embrace. Clay constantly searches for items of inspiration, self-exploration, and service to humanity. I respect his leadership and camaraderie. – Art Carter
Clay has taken certain of his “life lessons learned” and helpedcreate a powerful and profound men’s spirituality movement. I can give no higher recommendation as a spiritual leader, pilgrim, friend and brother. – Jim Jameson
Clay combines sensitivity to people and sensibility for situationsremarkably. Clay applies his creative, intuitive perceptions tomake complex problems simple and solvable. He folds into this a powerful consideration for people and for ever-strengthening their relationships. – Tim Wright
I have known Clay for over 15 years. I have worked with Clay on Community Projects as well as work projects. Clay is an extremely creative, organized, amiable and excellent communicator. Clay is an awesome addition to any organization he is a part of. Excellent leadership skills and always follows through. A wonderful person to work with. – Sylvia Stern
Clay is one of those rare individuals who can be focused, pragmatic, and innovative at the same time. I know of only a handful of people capable of doing such a good job at both the business end and the human side of work. He is a natural leader who infuses his environment and those around him with integrity, drive, and tenacity. – Cisalee Morris
Clay is terrific to work with. He understands the true meaning of leadership as it relates to mobilizing and energizing an organization. His creative and sometimes “off the wall” solutions to business challenges brings out the best in everyone and adds some fun to the work environment. Clay is an excellent communicator and was able to gain mind-share, build trust and engage our global sales force. This helped enable us add hundreds of millions of dollars in profitable sales to the company. – Mike Chaddock
Jeremy Solomons joins us again from Rwanda. What could you be doing that would provide more satisfaction? This time he shares about self-compassion and aligning with your purpose, not someone else’s idea of what your purpose should be. Jeremy has a fascinating world view and worth pausing for.
Jeremy is an independent global leadership consultant and writer, who was born in the UK, who was naturalized in the USA and who is now based in Kigali, Rwanda.
In the areas of Gender, Gender Identity and Sexual Orientation, he is a passionate ally, advocate and activist for universal human rights, dignity, respect, inclusion and equity for all people of all genders.
On a personal level, Jeremy wants fair and just treatment for his beloved daughter, who has recently entered the world of work. On a professional level, he truly believes that an equitable workplace is the most creative and productive one for everyone. And as a highly educated, highly privileged and highly empowered man, he has the platform and access to work with other male leaders help bring about meaningful and sustainable systemic change.
Jeremy’s model for this is the high level of women’s education and empowerment that has actually happened here in his new home of Rwanda in the 26 years since the Genocide against the Tutsis. Women now represent two thirds of Rwanda’s parliament – the highest in the world. He coaches and mentors at the Akilah Institute for Women in Kigali and actively supports HERO, Rwanda’s independent new Health and Equal Rights Organisation.
In the past, Jeremy co-designed and –led many training workshops and dialogues on these topics, especially at Royal Dutch Shell in the Netherlands, UK and USA. He also co-facilitated special sessions on “Women and Power” for Leadership Texas; “Gender Dynamics” for Communities in Schools; “Cultural Competence” for young women leaders at GEN Austin; “Gays, God and the Workplace” for the American Cancer Society; and “LGBT and Allies” for the Society for Intercultural Education, Training and Research (SIETAR) USA.
Jeremy was a co-founder and member of the Austin Men’s Group for seven years.
About Search of the New Compassionate Male with Clay Boykin. I am convinced that amidst all the turmoil in the world a New Compassionate Male is emerging, and this New Compassionate Male is emerging as the New Archetype. ~ I am on a journey to every corner of the planet. I am on a journey within; a journey of self discovery to learn what it means to be a compassionate male. ~ I do not have the answer, but I know there is a spark of compassion emerging within every man and within every woman. Regardless of sexual orientation, nationality or religious tradition I invite you to join me. Let’s travel together and find answers to questions like: Who is this man? What makes him compassionate? Is he born this way, or how is compassion learned? Is there a place or time where compassion is not relevant? How many ways does the compassionate male show up in the world Together, we can find him. Together, we can hold a mirror up for one another and find the compassion within ourselves. ~ The more adversity there is in the world, the hotter the ember of compassion burns within. It may be smoldering and unrecognizable at the moment, or burning brightly lighting and warming others. ~ Who is the New Compassionate Male? Join me in our search.
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Twitter: @ccboykin Write me at: [email protected]
Free On Amazon: Circles of Men: A Counter-Intuitive Approach to Creating Men’s Groups – Compassionate men gather differently. – “With this book, Clay Boykin has created a spiritual blueprint for men around the world. Not only does this book provide a detailed guide for starting and maintaining a men’s group, but it also contains rich insight into the struggles and challenges of being a spiritual male in today’s western culture.” – Review on Amazon
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