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About Mike Elliott

Mike is a Relational Leadership Mentor and Men's Initiation Guide, working with men who want to have it all. He guides them to lead with Relational Authority™-anchored in initiation, integration, and inspiration.

Having been adopted twice and walked through the dark night of divorce, he rebuilt his life from the inside out. Now co-host of "The Sacred We," he helps men transform their relationships-starting with themselves-and create legacies of love, presence, and purpose.

Episode Summary

In this episode, Michael Perry sits down with Mike Elliott to explore the deeper purpose and power behind men’s groups and the role they can play in helping men grow, heal, and reconnect with themselves and each other.

Mike shares his personal journey into men’s work and how spaces built on honesty, accountability, and brotherhood can create profound transformation. We talk about why so many men feel isolated despite appearing strong on the outside, and how men’s circles offer something that modern culture rarely provides: a place where men can show up fully, be challenged, and be supported at the same time.

Throughout the conversation we explore the path toward mature masculinity, what it means to integrate both masculine and feminine energies, and why vulnerability is not weakness but one of the foundations of real strength. Mike also discusses mentorship, shadow work, and the importance of community when it comes to doing the deeper work of becoming the man you want to be.

This conversation is about more than men’s groups. It’s about rediscovering brotherhood, stepping into personal responsibility, and creating spaces where men can grow into more grounded, conscious, and authentic versions of themselves.

Whether you're curious about men's work, searching for deeper connection, or simply wondering what actually happens inside a men’s group, this episode offers insight into why these communities are becoming such an important part of many men’s lives.

Key Topics

The four archetypes of mature masculinity: lover, warrior, magician, king

The importance of men's circles and community for emotional health

Shadow work and inner child healing as tools for transformation

Balancing masculine and feminine energies for authentic living

The role of mentorship and vulnerability in personal growth

Keywords

men's work, masculinity, mature masculinity, men's groups, men's circles, brotherhood, men's community, modern masculinity, healthy masculinity, vulnerability, emotional intelligence, shadow work, personal growth, inner healing, self awareness, men's healing, men's mental health, authentic masculinity, personal development, mentorship, male mentorship, accountability, men's support groups, conscious masculinity, men's spirituality, men's empowerment, men's leadership, emotional growth, relationships, men's relationships, self mastery, purpose, men's purpose, integrity, men's development, men's transformation, brotherhood circles, men's coaching, conscious men, masculine energy, feminine energy integration, authentic living, psychological growth, men's wellness, self discovery, men's accountability, men's healing journey, men's self improvement, growth mindset, community building, deep conversations, personal transformation

There are seasons of life where everything feels personal. Your emotions feel like truth. Your thoughts feel absolute. The world feels like it’s happening to you.

And then something shifts.

In this episode, Michael Perry and Justin Gates explore the four stages of consciousness and how awareness evolves over time. This isn’t about spiritual superiority or ranking yourself. It’s about recognizing the shifts you’ve already experienced and learning how to stabilize growth.

Consciousness is developmental. It’s the expanding space between stimulus and response. Between emotion and identity. Between story and truth.

We break down:

• What it means when life feels like it’s happening to you
• How awareness begins when you realize perception shapes experience
• The shift into agency and alignment
• The stage where resistance softens and identity becomes less rigid
• Why shadow work and humility are essential for real growth
• How “spiritual ego” can sneak in during development
• Why stress can pull you backward and why that’s normal

You’ll walk away with practical reflection questions and a clearer understanding of where you’re perceiving from right now.

Because growth doesn’t just change how you behave.
It changes how you experience reality.

Reactive identity. Emotional fusion. Black-and-white thinking.
Powerful conviction, but very little space between trigger and response.

You can observe your thoughts and patterns. Insight grows.
There’s awareness after the reaction, but interruption is still difficult.

You begin choosing alignment over impulse.
Values guide behavior. Agency strengthens.
The pause starts happening before the reaction.

Resistance softens. Identity becomes less rigid.
Curiosity replaces defensiveness.
Peace becomes less conditional.

Important reminder:
These stages are fluid. You might be highly conscious in one area of life and reactive in another. This is a spectrum, not a ladder.

The Four Stages We Discuss

1. Life Is Happening To Me

2. Life Is Happening By Me

3. Life Is Happening Through Me

4. Life Is Happening As Me

• Where does life currently feel like it’s happening to you?
• Where are you aware of your patterns but still repeating them?
• What would it look like to pause once this week before reacting?
• Where have you already integrated growth that once felt impossible?

Take one current challenge and write about it from each stage:

If life is happening to me, how do I interpret this?
If life is happening by me, how might my perception be shaping this?
If life is happening through me, what choice do I have?
If life is happening as me, what integration is emerging?

Notice how the emotional tone shifts as perception shifts.

Consciousness as developmental
Shadow work and ownership
Humility in spiritual growth
The danger of spiritual ego
The expanding space between stimulus and response
Alignment over reaction

Keywords

consciousness, stages of consciousness, self awareness, personal growth, shadow work, ego, spiritual development, emotional intelligence, identity, perception shapes reality, stimulus and response, nervous system awareness, emotional regulation, accountability, humility, spiritual ego, awakening, self mastery, psychological growth, mindset shifts, reactive patterns, values based living, integration, alignment, inner work, self reflection, breaking patterns, healing journey, awareness expansion, mindset development, personal responsibility, growth mindset, masculine development, men’s growth, conscious living, identity work, self observation, transformation, perspective shift, intentional living

Why does real change feel so difficult even when you’re doing the work?

In Season 2, Episode 1 of The New Ashla Podcast, Justin V. Gates and Michael Perry explore why awareness is the true foundation of self-mastery and why most personal growth fails without trained consciousness. Self-discipline without perception becomes repression. Insight without awareness becomes illusion.

This episode examines the difference between thinking and being aware, why unconscious patterns continue to shape behavior, and how perception determines emotional experience. Through grounded psycho-spiritual teaching rooted in the Path of Ashla, they explain how consciousness can be trained in daily life, not just understood intellectually.

If you are seeking emotional healing, inner authority, spiritual discipline, or deeper self-awareness, this episode offers a practical framework for cultivating awareness without ego inflation, spiritual bypassing, or illusion.

Self-mastery does not begin with control.
It begins with seeing clearly.

Train your consciousness.
Strengthen your perception.
Build inner authority from the inside out.

New Ashla Links:

⁠⁠⁠Get the book here!⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠ (New Ashla)⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ (Justin Gates-Author)

⁠⁠⁠TikTok⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

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⁠⁠⁠Website

Keywords

awareness, self mastery, consciousness training, emotional awareness, inner authority, spiritual discipline, personal growth, psycho spiritual development, self awareness practice, emotional intelligence, shadow work, identity transformation, mindfulness training, reaction vs response, conscious living, how to train consciousness, difference between awareness and thinking, how to stop reacting emotionally, how to build inner authority, training awareness in daily life, emotional patterns and self mastery

In this powerful season finale of The New Ashla Podcast, Justin V. Gates and Michael Perry reflect on the journey through Season One, exploring the deepest themes of shadow work, emotional resolve, self-mastery, and spiritual discipline. Together, they revisit the episodes that resonated most, the milestones achieved, and the lessons that refined them personally along the way.

This conversation goes beyond celebration. It examines what real transformation requires: self-trust, honest self-assessment, integration of unconscious patterns, and the courage to let old identities fall away. Justin and Michael share how the work changed them, what surprised them most, and why growth demands both responsibility and compassion.

As they introduce Season Two, Cultivating Consciousness through Inner Work and Self-Mastery, they lay the foundation for a deeper psycho-spiritual path—one that bridges Jungian psychology, spiritual awareness, and embodied behavior. The next season will explore how consciousness works, how it is trained, and how it becomes lived character.

If you are committed to personal transformation, shadow integration, and building inner authority without illusion or shortcuts, this episode marks the turning point.

The work continues.
The depth increases.
The Light becomes practice.

New Ashla Links:

⁠⁠Get the book here!⁠⁠

⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠ (New Ashla)⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ (Justin Gates-Author)

⁠⁠TikTok⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

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⁠⁠Website

Keywords

shadow work, self-mastery, spiritual growth, podcast milestones, authenticity, responsibility, presence, resonance, integration, season two

NewAshla.com

In this episode of the New Ashla Podcast, Justin V. Gates and Michael Perry explore the profound journey of personal transformation. They discuss the necessity of shedding old identities and habits to build a new life, emphasizing that true change requires action, integration, and self-trust. The conversation delves into the challenges of navigating the stages of growth, the importance of community and honest self-assessment, and the role of surrender in the transformation process. Listeners are encouraged to embrace patience and compassion as they embark on their own journeys of self-discovery and change.

Takeaways

You cannot build a new life with an old self.

Transformation requires shedding old identities and habits.

Change is a process that unfolds in stages.

Self-trust is essential for overcoming self-doubt.

Surrendering to the process is a sign of strength, not weakness.

Our environment and relationships significantly influence our growth.

Honest self-assessment is crucial for identifying areas of change.

Community and connection support our transformation journey.

Patience and compassion are vital during the change process.

Resistance to change often leads to suffering.

Keywords

transformation, personal growth, identity shift, reinvention, self-improvement, self-mastery, emotional alchemy, emotional intelligence, self-awareness, inner work, shadow work, self-honesty, mindset shift, breaking patterns, overcoming fear, self-discipline, personal responsibility, ego death, self-trust, resilience, mental strength, self-reflection, conscious living, awakening, surrender, acceptance, growth mindset, habit change, behavior change, life design, sovereignty, authenticity, alignment, courage, letting go, attachment styles, trauma recovery, healing journey, psychological growth, spiritual growth, self-development podcast, philosophy, introspection, life transformation, becoming your best self, discipline over motivation, identity evolution, self-leadership, empowerment

In this episode of the New Ashla Podcast, Justin V. Gates and Michael Perry sit with spiritual researcher and bridge-builder Madhav Nakar (Podcaster and Filmmaker) to explore what unites the world’s major religious and spiritual traditions without flattening their differences. Together, they examine how belief systems shape identity, why personal experience matters more than inherited doctrine, and how suffering often becomes the doorway to deeper spiritual maturity.

Madhav shares his journey of studying multiple faiths and traditions in search of their shared foundations, revealing how ritual, discipline, and devotion appear across cultures as tools for inner transformation. The conversation addresses the dangers of rigid dogma, the limits of intellectual belief, and the temptation to replace lived practice with spiritual shortcuts.

Justin and Michael guide the discussion toward the importance of embodied faith, moral responsibility, and inner authority, emphasizing that spirituality is not about choosing a label, but about cultivating integrity, humility, and alignment with truth. Rather than promoting relativism or “everything is the same” thinking, this episode explores how different paths can point toward similar virtues while still requiring commitment, discernment, and personal accountability.

This conversation is for anyone questioning inherited beliefs, seeking spiritual depth without dogma, or longing to walk a meaningful path rooted in both wisdom and lived experience. It offers a grounded framework for honoring diverse traditions while remaining faithful to one’s own spiritual calling.

Madhav Nakar Links

The Fire of Knowing

Instagram

New Ashla Links:

⁠Get the book here!⁠

⁠Facebook⁠ (New Ashla)⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

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⁠TikTok⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

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⁠Website

Takeaways

There are two camps in spirituality: those who see all religions as the same and those who see them as entirely different.

Personal experiences shape our understanding of God and spirituality.

Suffering can be a pathway to enlightenment and self-discovery.

Rituals can provide grounding in spiritual practices.

Discipline is essential for spiritual growth and connection to God.

Spiritual bypassing can hinder true growth and understanding.

Truth is subjective and can vary from person to person.

The body and mind are interconnected in spiritual practices.

Exploring different faiths can lead to a deeper understanding of one's own beliefs.

Spirituality transcends logic and dogma.

Keywords

spirituality, beliefs, religion, personal experience, truth, suffering, enlightenment, discipline, dogma, rituals

In this episode of the New Ashla Podcast, Michael Perry and Justin V Gates explore the complex nature of trauma, emphasizing that it is not solely defined by significant events but also by the internal responses and adaptations that occur in the aftermath. The conversation delves into the impact of small moments, the role of parenting, and the importance of self-compassion in healing. Listeners are encouraged to recognize their emotional responses, understand the patterns of behavior that arise from trauma, and foster healthy communication in relationships. Ultimately, the episode highlights the journey of integrating the self and creating safety in healing, while reframing self-identity and minimizing the shadow of past experiences.

New Ashla Links:

Get the book here!⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ https://a.co/d/4ADHZyA⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Facebook:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/NewAshla⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Facebook:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/JustinVGates⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

TikTok:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.tiktok.com/@justinvgates?is_from_webapp=1&sender_device=pc⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

YouTube:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.youtube.com/@KnightsofAwakening⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

YouTube:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.youtube.com/@TemplumLumis⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.newashla.com⁠⁠⁠⁠

Takeaways

Trauma is defined by internal responses, not just events.

Minimizing experiences deepens emotional wounds.

Small moments can have significant impacts on our psyche.

Parenting styles can shape our trauma responses.

Self-compassion is crucial in the healing process.

Emotional responses are often automatic and need to be understood.

Connection and communication are vital for healing.

Reframing self-identity can aid in recovery.

Integration of the self is necessary for healing.

Creating safety in the present is essential for overcoming past trauma.

Keywords

trauma, healing, self-compassion, emotional responses, parenting, mental health, integration, relationships, self-identity, shadow work