Letter from a man who staffed a women's "HER" intensive

Joyce,

I just returned from staffing HerWeekend; as you might imagine it was quite an experience for my second rookie position in two months. This workshop was created by women's desire to have a weekend more like the NWTA. There have been 16 such events and is in an ongoing process of development.

Anchored in Archetypes and ritual, there are many similarities to our weekend; a two day schedule from Friday evening to Sunday afternoon, a major process on Saturday, and deep connection to feelings and release. There are also many different processes that are more suited to woman's needs. And the BIG difference is that there are men and women on staff. Half of the staff were men and concurrently just about half the staff were committed couples.

To describe the container, the women staff hold the container safe for the participants. The men create an exterior framework creating safety around that interior container. The men had many circles where we confronted our shadows and really kept the energy clean; it’s quite a process.

We men were in essential silence around the participants until SUnday p.m. At that point I connected with a participant and her very first words to me were "I am so happy there were men here for me". So what’s good for the gander may not be good for the goose.

I have heard from a few women who had gone through The Woman WIthin that they were not satisfied having so much lover energy and also wanted a more tribal experience. This probably would have satisfied that need.

The organization took some time off and have now regrouped with a vision to create a broader circle of trainers and geographic area. Many staffers expressed to me a desire to bring this work here and would be willing to fly. My thoughts for the first step would be to have a pod of women go to the next training in June; at least four to have the experience and carry the word as well as being available to staff. [Actually one participant is the wife of a brother on Maui who went through our last training.]... My partner Shakti told me that if she were to go she would want to go with some of the women she is now about to be in circle with.

After these women come back we could then move towards have a training here if there is demand. More info can be found on herweekend.net.

You can print a flyer for HerWeekend:
(http://herweekend.net/2008Brochure.pdf

Please pass this on to your new circle of women and also refer any one interested and I will create an email group to keep everyone up to date.

Lorn
Inspiring Pelican