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17th Annual Minnesota Mens Conference Sept. 11th-26th, 2001
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| Who is the Friend of the Hidden One?
After ten years, we are returning in our thought to the theme of Enkidu, the Hidden One, and the relation of this energy to our souls and our practical lives. Miguel Rivera will be with us, with his drums and knowledge. It may be possible that Miguel’s friend, the Guatemalan poet Humberto Ak’abal, the translation of whose work began at the Minnesota Men’s Conference four years ago and who has just received a visa to the United States, will be here. Craig Ng will teach the martial arts to young and old. Doug Von Koss will be back for early morning singing. |
Teachers
by the McKnight Foundation." Martín Prechtel will return to the conference this year, telling ancient stories, and share his knowledge learned from his experiences as ritualist and initiator of men among the Tzutujil Maya of Guatemala. Malidoma Somé is a member of the Dagara Tribe of West Africa. He has been fully initiated into the Wisdom Traditions of his culture, and brings his knowledge to share with the West through his writings, workshops and lectures. John Lee has committed 20 years of his life to helping people live richer and fuller lives by teaching them to release the emotions trapped inside their bodies. His insightful wisdom and unique exercises will help you in your relationships, work environment, and life in general. 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 assist Martín in leading rituals and reaching out to new particpants. Doug von Koss returns again this year to lead early morning chanting circles explore the sung and spoken Languages of the Heart from many world cultures and spiritual traditions. Additional Links for more information: Robert Bly , John Lee, Malidoma Somé, Martín Prechtel, Doug von Koss |
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| Conference History The Minnesota Men’s Conference was started by Robert Bly in 1984. This was shortly after the interview between Keith Thompson and Robert Bly called “What do Men Really Want?” This first conference, as well as all the ones following have included the telling of old stories, the gifts of poetry, making music together and opening our hearts to grief, which sometimes appears when men who trust each other gather together for a few days. This conference has been blessed with many fine teachers such as Etheridge Knight, James Hillman, Michael Meade, and Terry Dobson in the 1980’s. Aaron Kipnis, John Lee and Robert Moore joined us in the 1990’s. In 1993 with the addition of Malidoma Somé, Miguel Rivera, Onaje Benjamin and Martín Prechtel, the conference moved towards a richer diversity of thought and a deeper connection to our ancestors. In the last few years we have begun to ask that men who have been given the honey of the old stories and soul teaching give some of this sweetness back to younger men. So again we are inviting 30 young men between the ages of 13 and 20 to attend this years conference. 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. |
Past Themes 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? |
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Conference Site
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! |
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 by sponsoring him to this year’s conference. Please send a check or money order for $10, $25, $50, even a full scholarship |
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Recommended Books:
Malidoma Somé, Of Water and the Spirit Martín Prechtel, Secrets of the Talking Jaguar, Martín Prechtel, Long Life, Honey in the Heart John Lee, Growing Yourself Back Up Robert Bly, Iron John, Robert Bly, The Night Abraham Called to the Stars Humberto Ak’abal, Poems I Brought Down from the Mountain Additional Links for more information: |
These books may be ordered from: Ally Press, 524 Orleans Street St. Paul, 55107 email: pferoe@pclink.com 1-800-729-3002 612-291-2652 in Minnesota Please bookmark this page and return for |