Men Who Take Baths

Odysseus was bathed by a goddess after war.

Circe is a goddess known for her ability to strip away illusions and reveal a person’s true nature. She embodies both danger and wisdom, destruction and healing.

She tests men but also teaches them.

Circe doesn’t just challenge Odysseus, she prepares him for the journey home.

When Odysseus arrives on Circe’s island, weary from war and hardship, she does something powerful—she bathes him.

More than just washing away dirt and blood, this act symbolizes renewal, surrender, and transformation.

It marks a shift from warrior to guest, from battle-scarred survivor to a man momentarily at rest.

Unlike many Greek heroes who dominate or destroy those who stand in their way, Odysseus forms an alliance with Circe.

He doesn’t kill her, and she doesn’t enslave him.

Their relationship is one of mutual respect—he earns her trust, and she, in turn, aids him.

In an age of myths often filled with brute force and conquest, Odysseus’ approach with Circe is an example of power met with wisdom instead of war.

Strength isn’t about resisting each other; it’s about meeting each other where we are and helping one another grow. 

Masculinity isn’t diminished by receiving wisdom, rest, or even tenderness. 

And femininity isn’t just soft—it’s also the force that challenges, awakens, and instigates change.

When men and women come together in mutual respect, using their strengths to elevate rather than control, growth happens.

Evolution happens.

The bath is a place of transformation. It is a truce.

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What we love about is that he showed up ready to say some things he had never said before.

Without passing up the opportunity for a pun, he was ready to “go deep.”

Bringing attention to his experience as a firefighter—the brotherhood and the trauma—was not easy to do, and not without hesitancy. He really, REALLY didn’t want to seem like he didn’t hold immense love for the men and women he worked with.

And yet —

As he spoke about the fear and shame of being judged, tears welled up in his eyes.

It was a powerful moment when he looked to the camera and spoke to others, specifically First Responders, about the importance of shattering the stigma that they have to suppress when they’ve been impacted by something on the job.

This conversation touches on the complexity of vulnerability, as in, when to release emotion and when to hold it together. The difference for men being that they feel they have a choice and won’t be seen as weak if they ask for help.

You’ll find Adam’s full interview on YouTube through the link in our bio. Or DM “ADAM” and the link will come directly to you.

🛁💬🫧

Photography by

People say “be vulnerable,” we hear it all the time, but what does that word actually mean to you?

: Vulnerability, to me, means being comfortable with oneself and your emotions and being able to dive into and step into your emotions and your strengths and your weaknesses. Being comfortable enough to share it with those around you. 

Share it with your community, share it with strangers, share it with anyone, and really be able to tap into how you feel inside and be able to release it when you need to. 

Of course, every moment is different. Some moments, you need to hold onto that strength and you need to be strong for others. 

But when you have the ability to, and when the opportunity arises, or where you need to personally release those emotions, then I think the beauty and the real strength comes in actually doing so. 

: And the point is to have access to the knowledge that you can express your emotions in a safe way, which I think the construct of masculinity, for so long, has actually been that you shouldn’t?

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How about sending a quick message to a friend to check in? 🛁🫧