Content about Male Spirituality

The rains did not keep us down. It helped us descend.

In the middle of October 2011 over 100 men converged in the highlands of West Virginia… searching for something. They were not searching for gold, but something golden. They were not searching for a wise man, but for wisdom. And they were not searching new technological ideas, but to be skillful.

A small group for men meets monthly at Our Lady Queen of Peace Roman Catholic Church, 2700 South 19th Street, Arlington, Virginia, 22204. The format includes discussion of reading material, individual sharing, spiritual growth intentions and support for members. The group meets at 8:00-9:30 a.m. on the fourth Saturday morning each month. Group leadership is shared by participants. There is no cost. Contact: Bill Casey (703-568-3438) or Dexter Fox (703-368-5225).

The Wild Man group uses Rohr's book, From Wild Man to Wise Man as a backdrop to the teaching, practical discussion and rituals of each meeting. The group meets from 8:00-10:00 a.m. on the 2nd Saturday of each month at St. Joseph's Catholic School, 11011 Montgomery Road, Beltsville, MD 20705. Contact: Kevin Barwick at 301-768-2344 or KevinBarwick@Anew-Place.com

Dave Norman and Bob Sabath are starting a small group for men who live west of 495 and into West Virginia.  The initial exploratory meeting is scheduled for March 19 from 7-9 p.m. at Dave Norman's home, 20711 Sycolin Road Leesburg, VA 20175. Please RSVP if you plan to attend or to express interest in the group if you cannot attend. There is no cost. Contact: Dave Norman (703-477-7427) dnorman@crossroadsnova.org

"Be anything you want. Be madmen, drunks, and bastards of every shape and form. But at all costs avoid one thing: success."
 - Thomas Merton

Behold, I will now allure her, and bring her into the wilderness
and speak tenderly to her -- Hosea 2:14

So I returned to the river, I returned to the mountains,
and I asked for their hand in marriage.
I begged, I begged to wed every object and every creature.
And when they accepted, God was ever present in my arms. -- Meister Eckhert

"I was afraid because I was naked, so I hid," said Adam. "Who told you that you were naked?" Yahweh said in return. --Genesis 3:9-10

Old Spice, Marlboro's, NOT braiding, hair, extreme sports... all point to trying to define male sexuality. With all the judgements associated with sex and sensuality, it's most confusing for men in the churches of today.

Have you ever wondered what it really means for a man to be living in his full masculine sexuality? No, we're not talking about having sex per se, but the deeper expression of living confident and purposeful in your day to day living. Meets Tuesday evening starting November 8, 2011 for 8 consecutive Tuesdays, 7-8:30 pm. For more information, contact Kevin Barwick or visit www.Anew-Place.com/classes. 

Men gather the first Friday evening of each month around a fire circle and opening ritual. We enter into silence and fasting, camping overnight at Rolling Ridge. The next day is a wilderness wandering as described by Bill Polotkin in Soul Craft -- a day of silence in the wilderness. We gather late Saturday afternoon for a closing meal and sharing around another fire circle.  For more information, contact Bob Sabth at 202-531-7572 or bsabath@rollingridge.net.  We meet at the lower camp of FLOC at Rolling Ridge near Harpers Ferry WV.

Why is it that mystics and saints can forgive enemies, overlook offenses, and trust paradoxical things like Trinity, Incarnation, and many of the Scriptures?  Father Richard Rohr suggests it is because they arrived at an "alternative processing system" that all of the major religions (at the mature levels) have deemed as necessary.