Coming Events
The 29th Annual Redwood Men’s Conference:
The Next Step —Finding Wholeness in a Broken World
May 24-27, Memorial Day Weekend, Mendocino Woodlands Camp
These days we hear the word “broken” everywhere – broken hearts, broken promises, broken treaties, broken vows and broken rules. We know what it means to be breaking up, breaking down or breaking out. We lament that the political system, democracy itself, even the environment is broken beyond repair. In this wealthy nation many are too broke to afford a roof over their heads.
We ask each man, young, middle and older aged: How are you broken? How do you hide your brokenness? How has your brokenness helped you? How have you broken through?
Each generation is challenged to confront, perhaps facilitate, the breakdown of old systems that no longer serve, to find or create something new and more relevant. In doing so, we speak of breaking through; breaking the curse; breaking the spell; and breaking the silence.
There’s a crack in everything; that’s how the light gets in. – Leonard Cohen
Men are now called to acknowledge that “going it alone” no longer works and that our narratives of heroic isolation have led directly to our broken condition. Indigenous wisdom offers some comfort in realizing that we’ve been here before. Consider the Ojibwey chant:
Grandfathers, Grandmothers: look at our brokenness.
This is not only an urge to be seen but also a sign of our willingness, as Greg Kimura says, to:
Sit with the pain in your heart. Hold it there like a sacred wine in a golden cup.
Conference Leaders:
Gregory Guss: LCSW, Psychotherapist and Community Organizer
Jay Jackson: mountain biker, solar guru, drummer, artist, father.
Conrad Larkin: LCSW, Psychotherapist for Elders and their families
Hari Meyers: Author, Teacher, Storyteller, and Literary-Mentor
Richard Naegle: Therapist, teacher, leader of the Noah Project
Gordon Pugh: Craftsman, Improv Artist and Life Coach
Barry Spector: Author, member of Rumi’s Caravan
Rumi’s Caravan (www.rumiscaravan.com)
Final performance of 2019:
Oakland, July 13
