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Annual Minnesota Men's Conference
Teachers
Robert Bly
Martín Prechtel
Humberto Ak’abal
Miguel Rivera
Doug von Koss
and Craig Ng
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.
Robert Bly will give several talks, including one on "Reading Iron John Ten Years Later." He will lead the evening of Sufi singing and poetry, and will read as well from his new book of poems, "The Night Abraham Called to the Stars." Last year he received the McKnight Distinquished Artist Award given by the McKnight Foundation."
Humberto Ak’abal is a fine Guatemalan poet that we are pleased will be here with us this year. His book Poems I brought down from the mountain is an outstanding collection of his work in K'iche' and Spanish with English translations that many of you have heard at previous conferences
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
Download a free poster or e-mail this link to a friend:
MN Mens Conference Poster
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.
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
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!
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?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 MountainAdditional Links for more information:
Robert Bly, John Lee, Malidoma Somé, Martín Prechtel, Doug von Koss
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 MinnesotaPlease bookmark this page and return for
updated program materials and information.
Click here to link to other Hidden Wine events
this year and other online resources