Iron John, or the Wild Man archetype, refers to a cultural motif that has appeared in European literature since the Middle Ages. He is an archetypally wild figure, often associated with the natural world and he represents an emblem of masculine initiation. He is a spirit teacher, standing at the threshold between the world of civilization and the wilderness, inviting us to reclaim our innate wildness and reconnect our humanity back to nature. He also symbolizes the power of transformation, reminding us that it is always possible to journey through the forest and return with greater self-knowledge and insight.

See also: sacred masculine, divine feminine, mythic masculine, myth, trauma, men's work