Please join us this year as we address the invisible and unhealed wounds created during past and current wars to both veterans and non-veterans....

At this year's conference we will work together to create a genune homecoming for troops and veterans, rites of passage for all men no matter what our histories,
and reconciliation between veteran and civilian men.

We are pleased to welcome Ed Tick to this conference for the first time. Ed has been working for veterans for over 30 years, pioneering the psycho-spiritual restoration and healing of the warrior. He is director of Soldier's Heart and author of War and the Soul.

READ MORE.....

Robert Bly, internationally recognized and award-winning author and poet, helped found the modern men's movement. He has taught men how to create a home for what is best in them. He inspires both men and women to lead a life of intensity and beauty that brings them together into community.


READ MORE: The Wind Isn't Depressed: Robert Bly Talks With Michael Ventura About Art, Madness, And The Joy Of Loss in the Sun Magazine: download interview with Robert Bly and Michael Ventura in the Sun Magazine 2004

Daniel Deardorff : As a gifted singer, musician, and storyteller, he brings the luminous mythological to the conference. Danny Deardorff carries mysteries into a new place. "Myth is a story that tells a sacred truth without the use of facts."

Miguel Rivera, a musician and drummer, is a man who is in love with the language of sound. A regular teacher at this conference since 1993 it is always an honor to have Miguel teach drumming, read poetry, and in leading rituals and reaching out to new particpants. We are priviledged to have his guidance for our journey together during this conference

Tom Gambell: a 6th Degree Black Belt, is a returning teacher this year. He has taught Aikido for over 30 years, and is the Chief Instructor of East Bay Aikido in Oakland, CA. He teaches that once the principles of Aikido are embodied, they become a source of strength and guidance in everyday living. He will do workshops that will be open to all participants on the art of compassionate self-defense.

This Year's Teachers

Edward Tick: author of the groundbreaking book “War and the Soul” and founder of Soldier’s Heart, is a practicing psychotherapist specializing in veterans with PTSD. Ed received his master’s in psychology from Goddard College, Vermont and his doctorate in communication from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Troy, NY. Ed has been in private psychotherapy practice since 1975 and began focusing on veteran’s issues in 1979. His pioneering work with Post traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) or, in his words, ‘loss of the soul’, is the basis for his recent book “War and the Soul”. He continues his healing work with veterans and other trauma survivors with innovative yet time-honored methods. Ed has extensively studied both classical Greek and Native American traditions and successfully integrates their methods into modern clinical work. A widely published writer, he is also the author of “The Golden Tortoise: Journeys in Viet Nam”, “Sacred Mountain: Encounters of the Vietnam Beast”, and “The Practice of Dream Healing: Bringing Ancient Greek Mysteries into Modern Medicine”.

READ MORE: Interview in SUN magazine
"...How The U.S. Fails Its Returning Soldiers"

John Lee is a leader in raising awareness of men's issues in psychology, psychotherapy, personal growth, and recovery. John's highly innovative work in the fields of emotional intelligence, anger management and emotional regression has made him an in demand consultant, teacher, trainer, coach and speaker. His contributions in the fields of recovery, relationships, men's issues, spirituality, parenting and creativity have put him in the national spotlight for over twenty years.

John is the best-selling author of The Flying Boy: Healing the Wounded Man, which reveals why men run from relationships. He has also published fifteen other books on relationships, recovery, spirituality, creativity and anger. John taught at the universities of Texas and Alabama and maintained a private practice and founded The Austin Men's Center in Austin, Texas.

Malidoma Somé: village elder, author, comes to us from the Dagara Tribe of West Africa. He an astonishing teacher, able to bring in ideas almost unheard of in the West. His first book was Of Water and The Spirit, and his latest book is The Healing Wisdom of Africa.

Malidoma, as a representative of his village in Burkina Faso, West Africa, and an initiated elder, has come to the west to share the ancient wisdom and practices which have supported his people for thousands of years. African wisdom, so long held secret, is being called on to provide tools to enable us to move into a more peaceful and empowered way of being, both within ourselves, and within our communities.

Martin Shaw will be teaching from his brand new book 'A Branch From The Lightning Tree: Ecstatic Myth and the Grace in Wildness'. In it he is claiming we are societally addicted to the act of severance and have replaced Longing with Disappointment. This, in turn, creates a defense against our own beauty.

For a step towards authentic leadership in men he is suggesting the ancient idea of a 'Road of Solitude and Road of Voice'; a cherising of silence, wilderness and interior listening met with the ability to articulate clearly and passionately the desires of our own lives. With a cluster of Initiatory myths, deft commentary and time on the land, Shaw proposes a 'Culture of Wildness' is possible, indeed vital, for a restoration of soul in men's lives.

Thomas R. Smith poet & editor, says of his teaching: "Like many teachers, I teach what I myself would like to learn. Fear causes us to close and shield our hearts. Poetry can be a powerful counterforce to fear, but there is no formula for making it so. Together we explore the way, poem by poem." His books of poetry include: Waking Before Dawn, Winter Hours, The Dark Indigo Current: Poems, Horse of Earth, and he edited the book Walking Swiftly: Writings & Images on the Occasion of Robert Bly's 65th Birthday. Thomas R. Smith is a Master Track instructor at The Loft Literary Center in Minneapolis, Minnesota

Jay Leeming is the author of Dynamite on a China Plate, a book of poems published by The Backwaters Press. His poems have appeared in a variety of magazines including Ploughshares, The Gettysburg Review, Poetry East and Black Warrior Review. He has been a featured reader at Butler University, the Omega Institute, Robert Bly’s Great Mother Conference and the Woodstock Poetry Festival, and is the recipient of a Creative Writing Fellowship from the National Endowment for the Arts. He lives and teaches in Ithaca, New York.

Timothy Young, Timothy Young, poet and teacher, taught at-risk youth in Minnesota before starting The Two Boots Poetry Tour, The Holtby House Concert Series, and Feeding The Story -- ventures which provide live music, poetry and stories in various communities, libraries, and schools. He has been with the Minnesota Men’s Conference in many capacities since its beginning.  In 2003 The Thousands Press and the Minnesota Men’s Conference published his book, Building in Deeper Water.  In 2010 Red Dragonfly Press published his latest book of poems, Herds of Bears Surround Us.

Doug von Koss joyously returns again this year to lead early morning chanting. Many participants return to this conference just to begin each day in “one voice” under his guidance. He teaches the vowel sounds as well as chants from the Near East and the West. He has published two CD's and a songbook, and travels widely to bring the magic of voice to communities worldwide. Join for a special tour of Bali each year! Greet the sunrise with him each day in a whirling circle of song!

For more information call Craig Ungerman
CALL NOW: 860-942-1658 [mobile]
office (860) 923-6987, messages only
email: hiddenwine@earthlink.net

Contact us now via email form

We are asking all the men to reach back toward young men-both the fathered and the fatherless—and to work out rituals and ways of communication in order to offer to the younger men what the culture as whole does not.

At my first conference, I was relieved at how at home I felt amongst these guys of all shapes, personalities. Everybody was fully there and having a great time. Martin Prechtel, Robert Bly, John Lee, Miguel Rivera, and Doug von Koss, five unforgettable, funny, brilliant men, were the conference teachers. From the moment it started, the conference had a good taste. It was a mix of nourishing stuff, a feast of large and small group activities, sharing, story telling, singing, reciting poetry, practicing martial arts, listening... More

At some point during the talks, teaching stories, the poetry, the singing, the activities or just hanging out I found myself relating to others there as if they were all brothers. In this relating there is a type of rest I felt - that the part of me that was always constantly on guard against others, competing at work or for a parking spot, could rest here - and instead of worrying about what could be lost, I found a new strength inside me. ...More...

17 years now after warily going to my first Men's Conference at camp Miller, I have enduring gratitude at the difference it has made in my life. It didn't "fix" me or "solve" my problems. It was simply an amazing glimpse into authentic beauty in the community of men, which has encouraged and strengthened my life ever since. I am especially grateful that my son got to experience that last year. It was the most positive and enduring transformation I've seen in him, at a time when he needed something good the most- something I could not give him by myself. ...More...

I remember what my life was like before I first attended the Minnesota Men’s Conference. I was pretty dependent and was rather insecure. After I went to the Minnesota Men’s Conference, I was a different person. With the guidance of the teachers that were present at the conference and some of the other great men that were attending the conference that year, I began a journey of change. Here I am, nearly a year after the conference and the progress that I have made is astonishing to me. I am fourteen and have two jobs and feel way more independant. I feel so much more comfortable with putting my self out there in the world and much of this is due to the guidance and extraordinary experience at this conference. ...More...

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MINNESOTA MEN'S
CONFERENCE 2011
September 13th- 18th, 2011

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1984—What Do Men Dance About?

1985—Bringing Back the Gold! Men, Failure and Harvest

1986—Men’s Work in World: Leaving the Father’s House

1987—Animal Truths, Imagination and Danger: On the Track of Male Nature

1988—Passion and Purpose in the Male Psyche

1989—Developing the King: Inside and Outside

1990—Men in Community: Men in Ritual

1992—Men in Relationships

1993—The Hostile Brother

1994—The Generous Mothers and the Angry Mothers: Giving Gifts to Both

1995—Shimmering Flowers on the Community Tree: Growing Into Our Ancestor’s Faces

1996—The Adolescent Society and the Way Men Are

1997—Reaching Back to Younger Men

1998—Tracking Our Own Souls: Men in Nature and the Nature of Men

1999—Old Grandmother Growth: Men, boys and the Trickster

2000—Feasting the Mother Bear

2001—Who is the Friend of the Hidden One?

2002—What will Heal the Wounded King?

2003—The Dragon of Grandiosity

2004—The Souls Survival When Things Fall Apart

2005—Three Roots, Three Roads, Three Dances

2006—What Is Stealing the Courage of So Many Men?

2007—Keeping Our Feet on Human Ground

2008—Rekindling the Unselfish Way

2009—Where is Iron John now?

2010—Bringing Back the Fire

 For myself, and for many of the men there, it was a transformative experience.  Something awoke inside of us that had been dormant for a long time. This deep longing that was in our bones all along was being activated. It was as if walking on the earth, in the wilderness, taking the time to be with other men, telling our stories and seeing where it fit in to the BIG Story, crying  and laughing together, drumming and singing together.... somehow, these things combined were the right ingredients to spark our Remembering... You could feel the spark coming up from the earth through our feet. It was there. It was palpable.... nnd now, 27 years later, I hear a similar story over and over again, from men who come to the Conference for the very first time.  ...More...

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This years conference will be held once again at Camp Miller, a beautiful YMCA camp on 100+ acres of woods, fields and waterfront,on Sturgeon Lake 100 miles north of the Twin Cities. The cabins, dining room and main meeting lodge are a combination of rustic and modern. The camp staff are superb the food is excellent and the sauna is always hot!

©2011 Hiddenwine

links to past Mn Men's Conferences

Register on the New Website

Recommended Books:

Dr. Edward Tick: The Golden Tortoise: Journeys in Viet Nam”; “Sacred Mountain: Encounters of the Vietnam Beast”; “The Practice of Dream Healing: Bringing Ancient Greek Mysteries into Modern Medicine”; Wild Beasts and Wondering Souls (Elk Press), deals with shamanism in the treatment of ptsd. His book War and the Soul: Healing Our Nation’s Veterans from Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (Quest Books) is used by combat soldiers in Iraq and Afghanistan, as well as by veterans, military chaplains, social workers, and healing professionals.

Robert Bly: Iron John, A Book About Men, The Insanity of Empire; My Sentence Was a Thousand Years of Joy; The Winged Energy of Delight; The Urge to Travel Long Distances; The Night Abraham Called To The Stars; Morning Poems; Eating the Honey of Words ..and many others...
A new book about the work of Robert Bly titled ROBERT BLY IN THIS WORLD has been released in 2011 by the University of Minnesota Press. See Robert's website for more information.

Daniel Deardorff: The Other Within: The Genius of Deformity in Myth, Culture, & Psyche

Martin Shaw: A Branch From The Lightning Tree, Wilderness, Myth, and the Life Not Yet Lived

John Lee: Growing Yourself Back Up; The Missing Peace;When The Buddha Met Bubba; The Flying Boy: Healing the Wounded Man; Recovery: Plain & Simple; Courting a Woman's Soul ..and many others...

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updated program materials and information.
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Scholarship Fund

The Minnesota Men’s Conference is supported entirely by participant fees and individual donations to the scholarship fund. Help reach out to a young man and veterans of war by sponsoring them to this year’s conference. Please send a check or money order for $10, $25, $50, even a full scholarship!.

This year it is even more important to raise support for those who need financial assistance as income disparity increases.

If you wish to donate directly to support the attendance of men who are veterans of war a special fund will be set up at the Soldier's Heart website soon..

"The only choice left is between non-violence and non-existence.  That is where we are today."

MN MEN'S CONFERENCE 2011
September 13th- 18th, 2011

with Robert Bly, Ed Tick, Malidoma Somé, John Lee, Miguel Rivera, Danny Deardorff, Martin Shaw, Doug von Koss, Tom Gambell, and many other teachers...

September 12th, 2011- A Special Event:

On Monday, September 12th, 2011 at 7-9 pm in the Mayflower Church sanctuary in Minneapolis a special evening open to the public will showcase the talent and vision of many teachers that will be at the Annual Minnesota Men's Conference at Camp Miller in Sturgeon Lake, Minnesota. Come and experience the enchantment of Martin Shaw- Master Storyteller; Miquel Rivera-teacher and musician; Danny Deardorf-mythologist and musician; Doug von Koss-master of chants and songs; Tom Gambell-6th degree Akido teacher, and many other poets and musicians. Please check http://hiddenwine.com for updated information on this special event that continues the pioneering work of Robert Bly with poetry, language and story. $15.00 suggested conrtribution to cover event costs and provide scholarships for young men and war veterans to attend the MN Men's Conference Sept. 13-18th, 2011.