|
The Men's Center of Los Angeles
Beverly Hills/Woodland Hills
in Association with
Sacred Path Productions
Newsletter for July 2005
Voicemail: (818) 348-9302
Web Site: www.menscenterlosangeles.com
Contact: info@menscenterlosangeles.com
Our Mission:
"Bringing good men together and bringing out the best in
them"
Our Approach:
Helping develop a greater sense of purpose and fulfillment for
men by fostering vision, passion, authenticity and intimate connection
to self and others
Our Services:
Psychotherapy for individuals, families, and groups, as well as
our Sacred Path and Call to Adventure Retreats,
Workshops, Seminars, and Monthly Men's Gatherings
SACRED
PATH PARK CITY WEEKEND EVENT AUGUST 5-6!
IN THIS ISSUE:
A Message from the Director
Upcoming Events - Mark Your Calendar
- Ed Munter: Soul Journey
- Larry Starr-Karlin: Dream Workshop #2
- Park City Weekend Event August 5-6
- Fall Retreat October 20-23, 2005
- Ongoing Men's Groups
Read "Walter's Journey Into the Wilderness," an
Excerpt from Stephen Johnson's Book-in-Progress
Blessing Ceremony at Gindling Hilltop Camp
A New Store for Native American Spiritual Artifacts
Men's Teams
Important Web Links
Sacred Path Alumni Yahoo Group
Contribute to the Newsletter
A Message from the Director - Dr. Stephen Johnson
 Greetings,
I'm sure that most, if not all, of you are aware that there
was an unfortunate incident that took place at Gindling Hilltop
Camp. It was reported to me that a fire broke out in the dumpster
adjacent to the kitchen. It swept through the kitchen and burned
into the dining and community area, requiring the building to
be demolished. Plans are underway to rebuild the entire structure.
In the interim, a temporary kitchen, dining hall, and separate
meeting area have been erected on the upper parking lot.
A group of us met a couple of weeks ago to relocate our materials
from the closet where they had been secured to a new location
down the hill at camp Hess Kramer. We are grateful that the
fire did not damage our container and other items that we use
for our ceremonies. We gathered to perform a ritual blessing
of the damaged building, including a pipe ceremony as well as
smudging and placing tobacco at all corners.
We had initially considered whether to hold another combined
retreat for men with a Call to Adventure rites-of-passage retreat.
Upon some reflection and discerning discussion we have considered
that it might be best to wait until April of 2006 to host another
combined retreat. With the changes taking place on the mountain,
we thought it might make more sense to circle the men to convene
for an Out of the Ashes Retreat.
As Robert Bly suggests, "ashes" and "cinders"
in fairy tales are code words for the ashy, sooty, depressed,
"out of it" time in a man's life. The word "ashes"
contains in it a dark feeling for death, and what we know is
that some men around thirty-five or forty will begin to experience
ashes privately, without ritual, even without old men. Bly states,
"They begin to notice how many of their dreams have turned
to ashes". When it's time for something to die, it signals
a time for rebirth. It is foretold that out of the ashes of
destruction the Phoenix will rise.
I see the October retreat as an opportunity to meet and lay
to rest anything that needs to be set aside, burned, or buried,
so that something else may be born of the Sacred and find its
rightful place in one's new life. We considered finding another
location for the retreat, but when we met on the mountain two
weeks ago, we sensed that the spirit of renewal could be found
in the transitional process that the camp is experiencing. The
same beautiful views are there, the great food will be there,
the sweat lodge will be there, and all the rest of the camp
is intact. With you men there, the magic will be there as well.
The camp has supported us through the many phases of transition
that we have experienced as individuals and as a community.
I believe that we can support the camp during its time of change.
We'll be sending out the registration materials later this
month, and we'll place the information on the web site also.
One other item: even though we won't have a ropes course for
this retreat, we will have workshops that should be of interest
to men of all ages. We invite young men to attend and encourage
fathers and sons or other family members to take the opportunity
to utilize this event as a time to deepen their bond.
On another note, you will read below the invitation from Richard
Bizzaro to come to Utah in August for a truly exciting event
for men and women. Rich is hosting this event on his incredible
ranch. I'm excited about it because we get to include our mates
in the ceremonies that we hold so sacred. Rich is delighted
to be able to unite people from the Sacred Path and Andrew's
Sacred Ways organizations with his friends and neighbors who
reside in Utah. I know that some of you have already registered
and I hope to see many more of you signing up. Space is limited.
One final thought: I just watched the first segment of Steven
Spielberg's production, Into the West. One of the scenes
focused on the Sacred Sundance Ceremony. I would like to request
that all of us hold our brother Andrew Soliz in our prayers,
for he is going to be Sundancing on the Pine Ridge Reservation
commencing tomorrow for 4 days. He and I spoke last Thursday
prior to his departure. He will be praying for all of us. May
I recommend that, if you haven't tuned in as yet, you observe
this well-crafted TNT series. It displays an accurate portrayal
of the early days of the West and the travails of the Lakota
people. Reflect on Andrew, a good man. He has dedicated his
life to keeping the Sacred Ritual Ceremonies of our traditional
people alive.
Namaste,
Stephen
Upcoming Events - Mark Your Calendar
Ed Munter: Soul
Journey
Find the Love You've Been Looking For... Look Inside!
Can art save the world? A Christian, A Muslim, and a Jew
performing in a revolutionary new musical seem to believe
it just might be possible. In this critical time, when mankind
seems to be divided into warring factions and we seem to be
balanced on the brink of a Holy War, Soul Journey
presents a completely different perspective that is inspiring
and universally accessible. Soul Journey, currently playing
at the Earth & Sky Performing Arts Center, plays like
a funny and touching spiritual fable of the soul's adventure
through the human experience.
As an audience, we are led through a soul-discovery process
to the moment of enlightenment that opens up to a joyful celebration
of our commonality. This collective discovery cuts through
global politics, religious beliefs, doctrine, dogma, spiritual
rhetoric and current world conflicts to arrive at a deeper
connection within us all.
Join Ed Munter, Christo Pellani, and Rashid Lanie
in this revolutionary theatrical experience.
Saturday, July 30th, 8PM; Continuing
on the last Saturday of Each Month
Earth & Sky Performing Arts Center
5521 Grosvenor, Playa Vista
(310) 281-6601
405 to 90 freeway / Centinela exit /
left on Centinela to Jefferson / right on Jefferson
Tickets are $20.00 in advance, $25.00
at the door
Larry Starr-Karlin:
Dream Workshop #2
An Experiential Workshop Utilizing a Gestalt Approach
to Understanding Your Dreams
Make Your Dreams a Meaningful Part of Your
Life
Understand Dream Symbols
Tap the Wisdom of Your Unconscious
Use Dream Symbols to Highlight and Resolve Inner Conflict
Recognize the Power of Projections in Your Working Life
WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 3, 2005
6:30-9:30 PM
$45.00 - Enrollment limited to 6 participants
West Los Angeles Location to Be Supplied
Call (310)948-3301
Led by: Larry Starr-Karlin, JD, MA, a
registered MFT Intern, with clinical internships with Stephen
Johnson, Ph.D., MFT (Men's Center of Los Angeles) in Woodland
Hills and Beverly Hills; Gary Yontef, Ph.D. (cofounder of
Pacific Gestalt Institute) in Santa Monica and Open Paths
Counseling Center in Culver City. He has completed two years
of advanced training at the Pacific Gestalt Institute.
With: Penelope Starr-Karlin, MA, MFT,
a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist practicing in West
Los Angeles. Her practice is informed by her studies at the
Jung Institute in Los Angeles and her ongoing studies in Psychoanalytic
Psychotherapy at the Institute of Contemporary Psychoanalysis.
Park City Weekend
Event August 5-6
Stephen Johnson and Andrew Soliz will be leading an event
in Park City, Utah on August 5-6. Space will be limited, and
interested Sacred Path members should call now for a reservation,
either with or without their significant others. There will
also be invitations going out to men and women living in the
Park City area. We are expanding the Sacred Path and Sacred
Ways movements to others outside California who are seeking
a more spiritual way of life.
HIGHLIGHTS OF THE EVENT
- Two sweat lodges on Saturday - Men's in the morning,
and a special men's and women's in the afternoon
- Drumming, story telling by Matthew Burke, talking stick
and ceremony on Friday and Saturday nights
- Located on a horse ranch overlooking 1,000 acres of nature
preserve facing a 10,000 foot peak of the Wasatch Range of
the Rockies
- Dinner on Friday; Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner on Saturday
- Park City Arts Festival on Main Street on Saturday and
Sunday
- Free transportation from the airport
Fee - $100 per person includes all activities
and meals. SPACE IS LIMITED TO 40 or 50 PEOPLE
Event Location: Gray Barron Ranch, an
8-acre horse ranch owned by Rich Bizzaro, a member of the
Sacred Path Wisdom Council.
Lodging: Holiday Inn Express and Best
Western Motel, both very close to the property, will offer
rooms at a group rate of $75-$100 per room. Although there
is space for camping on the property, we would like to keep
it to a minimum out of respect for the neighbors. Power will
be available for motor homes, and there will be two rent-a-potties.
There are no showers on the property, but there is plenty
of fresh water.
Transportation: People can drive to Park
City from Southern California (approximately 600 miles). Although
it's possible to make the drive in one day, most people prefer
to stop for the night in Las Vegas or St. George. If you choose
to fly, the airfare is quite reasonable due to Southwest Airlines
servicing Salt Lake City. Airfare runs about $150 per person
with advance notice. Free transportation from the airport
to the ranch will be provided by All Resort Express.
Friday Agenda: We begin on Friday evening
at 6PM with a dinner for all those attending. At 7:30, ceremonies
will begin, including welcoming remarks from Stephen and Andrew,
the beginning of a story by Matthew, talking stick, and plenty
of drumming.
Saturday Agenda: Two sweat lodges will
be run by Andrew Soliz, one for men only in the morning, and
one for men and women in the afternoon. Andrew will also perform
the ceremony of Stones and Wood for both groups before the
first sweat. Matthew will continue his story in spine-chilling
segments throughout the day.
Park City Art Festival: Over 200 artists
of all sorts offer their work for sale for two days in small
stalls up and down the streets of Park City. This year the
festival is concurrent with our event. People will be able
to attend the fair on Sunday or when they are not participating
in one of our events on Saturday.
Other attractions: Hiking, mountain biking,
and sailing are available for those wishing to take advantage
of this beautiful time of the year in Northern Utah.
For reservations, call Rich Bizzaro ASAP
at 435-655-9993, or e-mail him at: richbizzaro@aol.com
Fall Retreat on
the Mountain, October 20-23: Out of the Ashes
Join in a gathering of men dedicated to making a positive
difference in their lives. Let go of the old and welcome the
new as you consecrate your positive intentions for your future.
As Robert Bly suggests, "Ashes and cinders are code words
for the ashy, sooty, depressed, 'out of it' time in a man's
life. The word 'ashes' contains in it a dark feeling for death,
and what we know is that some men around thirty-five or forty
will begin to experience ashes provately, without ritual,
even without old men." Bly states, "They begin to
notice how many of their dreams have turned to ashes."
When it's time for something to die, it signals a time for
rebirth. It is foretold that out of the ashes of destruction
the Phoenix will rise and fly again. I see the October retreat
as an opportunity to meet and lay to rest anything that needs
to be set aside, burned or buried, so that something else
may be born of the Sacred and find its rightful place in one's
new life.
We are offering a limited number of discounted half-price
registration fees for first time participants. We will also
be rewarding scholarships to those in need. Additionally,
for each new first-time registrant you enroll, you can reduce
the cost of your own enrollment by $100. The Early Bird discount
of $25 is presently in effect until Thusday, September 15th.
Returning participants will also receive an additional $25
off your fee. Those of you who receive this newsletter and
act soon have the opportunity to take advantage of all the
discounts prior to the mailing, later this month, to the community
at large.
If you wish to register now or to enroll a new participant,
you can e-mail us at info@menscenterlosangeles.com
and we will expedite your enrollment process. A deposit of
$175 will reserve a spot. Any first-time participant enrolling
for this event can take advantage of the half-price discount
and pay a total fee of only $250. Remember, these spots are
available through a limited offering.
During this retreat we will have workshops that should be
of interest to men of all ages. We invite young men to attend
and we encourage fathers and sons or other family members
to take the opportunity to utilize this event as a time to
deepen their bond.
We continue to focus on the Way of the Spiritual Warrior.
We are empowering men to live their lives as Good Men by bringing
good men together and bringing out the best in them. We have
witnessed the remarkable transformations that occurred on
the mountain this spring, and know that the Fall Retreat holds
more in store. Be a part of the magic!
Weekly Men's Groups
are available in Woodland Hills and Beverly Hills. Please call
for information.
Read "Walter's Journey Into the Wilderness,"
an Excerpt from Stephen Johnson's Book-in-Progress
As a tribute to Walter Atkinson, who passed away last July
28th, we will be including a segment from Stephen Johnson's
book which deals with Walter, his devotion to the Sacred Path
and Call to Adventure programs, and his illness and eventual
transition. Check the Call to Adventure Newsletter under "News"
on the web site and you'll find the segment there in the very
near future.
Blessing Ceremony at Gindling Hilltop Camp
Because of the fire and imminent destruction of the building
where so many of us have shared our deepest thoughts and feelings,
the leaders of Sacred Path thought it only appropriate that
we give our blessing and farewell to this structure that has
resonated to the sounds of our laughter, cries of anguish,
and the throb of our drums and dancing feet.
 On
June 18th, several men made the journey to Hilltop Camp to
gather and form a healing circle around the walls that had
held us in safety for so many years. It was a group comprising
veterans and newcomers, Wisdom Council members, Sacred Path
participants, and a representative from Call to Adventure.
Timothy Whispering Eagle purified and blessed the building
with sage, while Christo Pellani, Stephen Johnson, and Larry
Williams provided a solemn drum accompaniment that echoed
through the silent chambers. Stephen then prepared and passed
the Sacred Pipe, which was received by each man in turn. Tom
Couper supplied a gift of tobacco, which each man and boy
present spread at a corner of the building while they shared
their favorite memories of Hilltop Camp. Tears were shed as
thoughts turned to the ashes
of the old generating the new energy of the Phoenix, and the
cocoon of the old building crumbling to reveal the shining
glory of the new.
As the participants walked to their cars, they saw the new
temporary facility already under construction on the basketball
courts and parking lot that would house the kitchen, community
hall, and dining room where the members of Sacred Path will
be meeting in October.
-Dan Stanton
A New Store for Native American
Spiritual Artifacts
Ivor Weiner has discovered a new store in the West Valley which
offers Native American spiritual artifacts for sale. The info
is:
Native Spirit Stones - Greywolf's Spirit Stones
21523 Sherman Way
Canoga Park, CA 91303
(818)703-7046
Open Wednesday through Sunday, 12 Noon to 6 PM
Closed Monday and Tuesday
The owner, Greywolf, has a gift for any man identifying himself
as being from the LA Men's Center. The prices are reasonable,
and you can avoid having to turn to the web or higher-priced
dealers for spiritual artifacts.
Men's Teams
The ongoing eight-man San Fernando Valley team will meet again
on Monday, June 6, at 7:30 PM, at our regular meeting room at
CSUN. We are now up to eight men, and membership is closed for
the present. If you'd like to get on the waiting list, call
Ivor Weiner at (818) 268-1589, or e-mail him at:
ivor.weiner@csun.edu.
The West Side/West LA team held their first meeting on Thursday,
May 19, and the response, though small in number, was enthusiastic.
Five men attended out of a core of seven. The next meeting will
be held on Thursday, June 23rd, from 7:30 to 9:30 PM, at Mark
Kreher's home, 155 Ocean Park Blvd. in Santa Monica. The meeting
may be held on the beach, which is only steps away from Mark's
door! For more information, call Mark at (310)581-6616 or e-mail
him at: mark.kreher@verizon.net.
You can also call David Sacks at (323) 650-8239, or e-mail him
at: dasacks@yahoo.com.
There is still room for interested members, so call or e-mail
ASAP.
Matthew Burke's group is full and going great guns in Thousand
Oaks/Malibu. To get on the waiting list, contact Matthew at
(818)774-1000, or e-mail him at: matthewburke@singerburke.com.
David "Stongbear" Myers is heading up a team in the
San Gabriel Valley. If you're interested in joining, talk to
Strongbear at (818)541-9499, or e-mail him at: dj0814myers@earthlink.net.
Lastly, a new group is forming in the Mountain View area of
Northern California. Check on e-mail with the LA Men's Center
for further info.
Important Web Links
ANCIENT WAYS, Andrew Soliz' organization dedicated to
promoting growth and healing through traditional Native American
teachings and ceremonies. To check on the latest events, ceremonies,
sweatlodges, and other information, log on to www.sacred-ways.org.
To contact Andrew directly, e-mail Andrew@sacred-ways.org.
ALBERT MARREWA, counselor, instructor of martial arts,
consultant, lecturer, and workshop facilitator. Access Albert's
web site at www.albertmarrewa.com
for biographical information, lists of services, and calendar
of events, or e-mail Albert directly at albertmarrewa@aol.com.
HIS SIDE, the weekly radio program on KTIE 940 AM hosted
by Glenn Sacks. Go to www.hisside.com
to find out about future programs, sign up for the weekly newsletter,
listen live via streaming audio at 5 PM every Sunday, and contact
Glenn directly.
MEN ALIVE, the web site hosted by Jed Diamond, psychologist,
author, and speaker. Jed spoke at our first monthly gathering
and again last November, outlining his new book, "The Irritable
Male Syndrome: Managing the 4 Key Causes of Male Depression
and Aggression". Go to: menalive-on@lists.mcn.org
to receive Jed's weekly newsletter online, and contact Jed directly
at: jed@menalive.com.
CHRISTO PELLANI, Sacred Path's Master Percussionist.
Stay current with events featuring Christo and his friends by
logging onto his web site: www.soundformation.com.
ED MUNTER, originator and star performer of Soul
Journey. Find out about the latest performances of this
soul-stirring experience, as well as CD ordering info and more
about Ed himself. Log onto www.innerpathproductions.org
INTERFAITH INVENTIONS, an organization dedicated to
enriching the lives of children and adults through programs
that promote respect and understanding between people of diverse
faiths. They are developing a national network of summer camps
to bring together Buddhist, Christian, Jewish, Muslim, Native
American, and other faiths' children to have fun and to form
lasting relationships. The camp experience includes developing
a relationship with the natural world around them; sharing family
stories, food customs, drumming and music; exploring shared
values of compassion, reconciliation and respect for others
through sacred texts and stories from their traditions as well
as art projects, games, camp fires, and informal play time.
The summer program includes following up activities to help
forge lasting relationships between the children and their communities.
For more info on this highly worthwhile organization, go to:
www.interfaithinventions.org
Sacred Path Alumni Yahoo Group
What does Sacred Path do to support men after they have completed
their retreats? The Sacred Path Alumni Discussion Group is one
answer to that query. It provides a means for our community
of men to have ongoing e-mail contact and discussions with their
fellow Sacred Path Retreat graduates. Membership is restricted
to graduates of a Sacred Path retreat. The simplest way to sign
up is to send an e-mail (its content is irrelevant) to: Sacred_Path_Alumni-subscribe@Yahoo.groups.com.
You can also join from the Sacred Path Alumni's home page:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/sacredpathalumni.
Once you have become a member of the discussion group, you
can begin using our Sacred Path Alumni Yahoo Group immediately.
Members are able to use any or all of the following features:
Contribute to the Newsletter
Does your creativity need an outlet? Here's a chance for your
unique words to appear on the printed page (or at least a computer
screen)! Send us an article, an anecdote, a poem, a joke; whatever
tickles your fancy. Please address your e-mails to Rich Manners
at: jyngleman@sbcglobal.net.
Bribes will be cheerfully accepted!
[return to archives
main page]
|
