The Men's Movement works to inspire every man to be the man he has always wanted to be. We create a setting where honor, selflessness, commitment, integrity, trust, and learning give men the wisdom and courage to serve all men, women, and children.

The group I am in meets weekly. We meet in a teepee in the back yard of one of the members. We practice several Native American rituals, do differing types of facilitations each week. Pray, talk, laugh, drum, cry, box, check in, process, give support and critisim. We have a code of conduct.

This group is patterned after other Men's groups that sprung up as a result of the Men's Movement, described and concieved by Robert Bly and Michael Meade, authors such as George Taylor, author of Talking With Our Brothers, Bill Kauth's A Circle of Men and Wayne Liebrnan's Tending the Fire: The Ritual Men's Group.

We strive to break down the stereotypical modes of thinking and behaviour that society has told us (trained us) is the norm for men, such as, men dont cry, men are strong and don't show their emotions, men must fix all their problems by themselves, men don't share, men are not vulnerable, our thoughts are bad and should be hidden.

Men are from Mars. Women are from Venus. We meet here on Earth and mix, but when we need help, we need to go home.

Men and women ARE different. We think differently. We are hard wired differently. That is why I need a Men's group to work on issues that are Men's issues. A woman might be able to be sympathetic to men's issues, but not have a real understanding about them, or be able to identify with them. The same is true in reverse.

Why did I want to join a Men's group? The main reason is that I did not have a very good relationship with my father. He worked a lot, and taught me very little while having many expectations of me. I had no good male role models or mentors growing up. In the men's Movement, I have found many positive role models and mentors. And, in turn, I now have become a role model and mentor other men.

What else do you want to know?

I agree,

I think it is a little off-putting to some about meeting in a teepee and crying, screaming, beating a drum. I think the emphasis should be on men being men and fighting against the femininzation of them.

I would agree with much of your post. Most men have no exposure to this kind of thing. I know that some churches or temples try and make this sort of thing happen, but I assume there is a religious component to them. I don't really know.

I have recently found a few online resources that look interesting. I will report on them when I have checked them out more fully.

I think one thing that made the group I belong to possible is that it was made up from guys in recovery. Most of the members through out the history were in recovery. As far as I know, only 2 have not been, but they had attended anay of the retreats.

People in recovery, that are actively working on it, tend to be more enthusiastic about becoming better humans. So they are more likely to want to become involved, and they already share a common ground with the members.

besides all of the known books on men's issues that i read during the official movement, i have recently discovered a wonderful author that has many books on related issues..
Robert A. Johnson
He has at least a dozen titles--i just finished 'HE' and found it to be one of the most profound works i have ever read...