I am sure many of us are struck by the overwhelming worldwide response and hope that is being generated by the new presidency of Barack Obama.  From our own male archetype background, I cannot but help read this phenomenon in the light of our understanding of the king, the warrior, the lover, and the wise man.  I think this man holds all four archetypes, and to an amazing degree!   We usually say you cannot be a king before 50, but Obama is clearly a young king and far ahead of his time. 

Obama is commanding a respect in the whole world (87%!) by his intelligence, his calmness, and his non-dualistic thinking.  One cannot help but think that Obama is a gift of the Spirit to us at a very low point in American history.  Finally, someone is serious about real political reform and radical change of attitude.  Let's pray he can achieve it.

    If one reads Obama's autobiography, DREAMS FROM MY FATHER, one sees that he had to make meaning of his father wound.  Yet he made it into a truly sacred wound that has led him to compassion, wisdom, humility, and breadth of vision. This is what the world is seeing and what the world needs and wants from America. It is also at the core of our own MALEs work and message.

     Even his bi-racial identity is a symbol of what almost all Americans are, and leads to a passion for harmonizing of opposites and a "team of rivals".  He is a living example of what I can only talk about.  Even if he does not achieve quick victory against all of the problems created by our greed and arrogance, his presence is already healing and hopeful. ("Each time he leans down to kiss his little daughters and his wife, a thousand single women and fatherless girls are healed")  How can one pay or give thanks for such life energy?

    Let's pray for him, for his guidance, and for a United States that can again be a positive force in the world.  May we also come to know in a new way why our men’s work is so important!  God is giving us a hopeful king, warrior, lover, and wise man.  Now let's back him up, and continue doing our own work too.  We know he is not the Messiah, and surely has clay feet too, and that is also part of the message.