September 2011
Greetings, Sacred Path Community,
There are some important changes to announce regarding the upcoming retreat next month. Our special guest presenter, Tolly Burkan, informed us that he would not be able to participate due to a medical condition requiring a surgical procedure. I had been in discussion with Charles Horton of FIRE, and we decided to not bring the fire walk, glass walk and other elements that they facilitate from their home base in Texas at this time. Due to this change of plans we’re reducing the price of the retreat from $495 to $425.
We are bringing Grandfather Soldier Bear back from the Lakota Reservation to officiate some ceremony initiating men into Mindful manhood. Andrew and Thomas will be pouring water for our lodges and doctoring all of the men and offering some formidable teachings and ceremony from the Lakota traditional ways. You will find in this newsletter what Grandfather taught us last year regarding the 7 essential standards for manhood in the Lakota community. We envision that men from Andrew’s Buffalo Warrior Society will join us on the hill. Perhaps some men from the Pine Ridge Reservation in South Dakota will accompany Grandfather.
Please keep in mind that we are first and foremost a community of men. I stress the word “community” because we are not just in the business of putting on retreats. We have been offering our Sacred Path Retreats for the past 24 years. Since that time we have grown into a community of men that gather together for the purpose of putting our lives on track by following a Devotional Path. As we continue to expand our Mindfulness, strengthen our fellowship and recommit to our families, it’s apparent that we’re living the good life. We are in fact examples of our mission statement, “Bringing good men together and bringing out the best in them.”
Our community has thrived for almost 25 years, enjoying easy times and enduring tough times. Many of our men have handled their own troubles in large part because they have had this community to lean on and have experienced the support and love of brothers that understand and care. We are witnessing more young men come into our ranks now. They need what we have to offer and we are learning from them. They’re finding their own places with us.
The theme of this retreat is A Time of Ashes: Initiation into Mindful Manhood on the Path of the Spiritual Warrior. You can read about “ashes work” in a separate piece included in this newsletter. On the hill we’ll unite to create ritual ceremony to commemorate rites of passage for all of the men spanning the ages from youth to Elder. We can create ceremony for the young men that are finding their way in the world. We can create ceremony for the men in the middle of their lives that are traversing the tricky passage through midlife. We know how important the community can be when one is journeying through the dark part of the forest. Older men have much to offer to the men in the middle. That time of the dark night of the soul can be harrowing, and not having to go it alone can certainly bolster one’s spirits when the light at the end is hard to see.
As older men cross over into Elderhood we need to recognize accomplishments. We need to welcome our older men into the generational kingdom of the Elders. Grandfather Soldier Bear is the perfect Elder to initiate us into this higher realm of devotion. As a community we have witnessed many trials and tribulations and have been learning the lessons taught by each of the three levels of manhood.
I will facilitate a process that will bring into focus the significance of life’s lessons. It should clarify the timeframe that we have for accomplishing our destinies. There will be a variety of breakout sessions and a couple of surprises. Men have told me that they’re bringing new men with them. Our numbers were down for the April retreat because we had 14 men who needed to drop out due to the flu. Let’s boost our numbers in October. Invite one or more men to accompany you. Forward this newsletter and print out the PDF of the flier to hand out. Let’s join together to create the best retreat ever.
In brotherhood,
Stephen
To download the flyer for the Fall 2011 Sacred Path Retreat, click HERE
To download the fill-in application for the Fall 2011 Sacred Path Retreat, click HERE
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