Men’s Workshops
The ancient ones knew that both boys and girls needed an initiatory rite of passage to consciously transition to manhood and womanhood, so that they could take their rightful place in the tribe or village. One of the important learnings for the boys was how to treat women with respect, how to be good to the earth (mother), and how to use his sexual body in a good way. Our postmodern culture has been void of this essential rite for many hundreds of years.
The result of this is that uninitiated and unconscious men/boys have claimed positions of power in the world, and we are precipitously close to the edge of destruction. We have poisoned the earth, we have disrespected and abused women, and we have misused our power in countless ways. And the abuse continues unabated.
TheMenSchool is an educational institution for men to get one-on-one and small group training, and a more personal experience to awaken the deep masculine within each man. As men take the long journey … from head to heart, from sex to heart, from ears to heart … his life changes and his relationship with others shifts profoundly. From power over, to empowered with, where we are all one, all connected, we transform and transcend.
The ManKind Project has consciously reclaimed an initiatory rite of passage for men across the globe, through education, training, and action in the world. Through looking deeply at ourselves, we find a healing and a conscious alignment with the principles and values of Mature Masculinity.
In the immortal words of Hafiz:
“I have come into this world to see this: the sword drop from men’s hands even at the height of their arc of anger. Because we have finally realized there is just one flesh to wound, our Beloved’s.”
“First, I want to thank you Dene, and acknowledge the grace and power which you have modeled for me as a leader on our trainings. Especially these past few years, I have seen in you a quiet yet fierce way of leading that I do not see in other men. I’ve seen you expand the perimeter and deepen the context for the men on staff many times. I believe the impact still has a rippling effect here in our local community. I am remembering the times when you read from the Tao of Leadership, or The Rag & Bone Shop of the Heart. Great stuff and it was so different from the forceful leadership that is often seen in the world. Well done … and your fierceness was right there when you wanted to wake the staff up and focus the energy in a different way.”
Francis B. – Landscaper