Wild and Sacred Talk

issue #3

 

In this issue:

  • Report: Rise a Knight

  • Upcoming events

    • MAN // BEAST

    • Rising in Brotherhood

    • Sacred Union

  • Knighthood

  • Wild and Sacred Men Community

  • Wild and Sacred Men on national television

Rise a Knight

 

 At the seventh of January, eight men gathered to rise with pride, sword in hand. The Rise a Knight event was facilitated by me, Oskar, and Justin Junier.

 

After connecting with one another, we went on an inner journey to find out what pieces of armour we had donned throughout our lives that had become rusty and preventing us from feeling deeply or showing our true face. We then put the pieces of armour that we no longer needed on the altar in gratitude, realising that these ways have served us in the past.

 

After that, we went outside and lit a fire. We expressed our strength - the power that was under the rusty scraps. Some of the men bellowed powerfully, while others proudly displayed their silent force.

 

After eating a hearty soup, we went to the beach, where we were fully exposed to the wind and rain. Here, I told the famous story of Gawain and the Green Knight.

Then all of fought through all that was between us and what we wanted in our lives, and we were harshly challenged by our brothers.

We yelled at the struggling brother: "Pathetic!", "You suck!", "You're not good enough!" - all of us aware that we doing so out of love for our brother, just representing the things they might say to themselves. Until finally everyone in turn was symbolically freed.

 

At the end of the day, we went back to the hearth and shared our stories. We took on a miniature vigil, contemplating the oath we would pledge to ourselves.

 

 

February 18th - MAN // BEAST

Wageningen

 

Often masculinity and what is expected of men is debated. Should men cry? Should men be tough or not? Are men virtuous or just pigs?

Especially aggression of often under scrutinity. Aggression is often misunderstood, rejected and denied. But this will not solve the problems it might cause.

 

During this event we will visit the topic of aggression and look the beast within in his maw. In a dojo, we will #beastmode workout and feel tough without shame.

Followed by some exercises to better understand aggression - or the lack of it. By recognising it, we will be able to harness it in a healthy way, instead by being led by it, or trying to suppress it.

 

We'll do so in connection with one another and in a safe way. And yet we may roar, stomp and hit things.

 

"It is permissible for me to be powerful and show my strength.

I will use my power for the right cause."

Click here for more information and sign up.

 

March 4-5th - Rising in Brotherhood 

The first edition of the Rising in Brotherhood retreat was very successful: the second edition is upon us this spring!

 

During this retreat, we will forge brotherhood, in which we'll feel that we are not alone. And in which we'll be able to find strength and connection.

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We will challenge one another to be more than we were before we came. We'll grow together by letting go of old pain and breaking patterns of the past, so we can discover who we truly are.

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We will dive into sacred masculinity: what is it to embody our masculinity in a healthy and wholesome way.

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There will be fire, sacred combat, dancing and deep work.

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 Click here for more information and sign up.

 

"I felt quite terrible when I arrived, for personal reasons, but when I left I felt a lot better.

It was a lot of fun, very intense, very informative.

Made new friends, found some brothers, managed to get more in contact with myself.

A great experience"

- Michel Bakker

 

"I was deeply moved by the openness, connection and support of the group. I found doorways through the exercises we did, that released a lot of suppressed emotion, but at the same time it felt safe to be vulnerable. I'm very grateful for this experience."

-Fred Wouters

 

April 28th - May 1st - Sacred Union

 

This event will focus on the masculine and the feminine. Both within ourselves as their manifestations in the world. And the healing of both.

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It is in collaboration with Wild and Sacred Women. There will be a group of men and a group of women. We will start of together, then go our separate ways and finally bring the groups together.

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Location: Glastonbury

Glastonbury is often associated with the mystical island of Avalon known from the legends of King Arthur. The island behind the mists where the King was taken to either die or heal.

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The landscape around Glastonbury is very special and full places that are sacred to people from different traditions and religions. Among them, the Glastonbury Tor, which towers over the Somerset plains and at its foot the White and the Red spring; two sources of red and white water, associated with the feminine and the masculine.

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Time: Beltane

In many parts of the UK, May Day, the first of May is publicly celebrated. This day is tied to the Celtic festival of Beltane, which is a fertility festival about uniting the masculine and the feminine.

 

For more information, click here.

 

 

Knighthood

 

The following text is also published on my personal blog Samhildánach. I wrote it after the Rise a Knight event. I was planning to write a general piece on chivalry, but it turned out to be a personal sharing about how knighthood is embedded in my own life.

 

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Eight years ago, I wrote a piece on knighthood; on the underappreciated value of chivalry. Today I would like to revisit the topic, because last weekend I hosted the Wild and Sacred Men Rise a Knight event in which the men rose with dignity, sword in hand.

 

Before I start writing, I will acknowledge that I will use ‘knight’ as an archetypal figure; not so much as a historical figure. I have acquired some skill in medieval swordplay and also got some experience in reenactment on me, so I am well aware that the medieval feudal knight and the inner knight are two different things.

To me, knighthood is the synergy of a set of values: bravery, honesty, integrity, noblesse, grace, purpose and service. A knight is a person who has dedicated themselves to something beyond himself.

 

Knighthood is a value so important to me that I had actually included in on my resume. And this got me my first paid job as a teacher, despite not having been graduated at the time. That was a risk I took, because knights are a thing out of the ordinary to most grown-ups. But then again, I reasoned, isn’t being brave and taking risks part of being a knight?

 

Being of service

For me it is clear that I want to help to heal the world. When I was about half my age, I found myself standing on the earth, realising how all life emerged from earth and how all life is sustained and carried by earth. The whole concept of mother earth made a whole lot of sense and it humbled me so that I knelt down and whispered the words: “Mother, I will protect you.”

 

Around that time, I also had to choose a study. I chose Law & Management, a combination study that would yield two degrees and would – in my imagination – grant be the best shot at becoming world leader of any kind. It was not the power or status that lured me, but the possibility honor the promise I mentioned above.
In my view, leadership should never go without humility and the realisation that it is ultimately a form of service.

 

But wanting to serve the greater good is not always easy, as it is not always clear what the right thing to do is. Should I donate all my money to all the charities? Should I never board an airplane? Should I shout at people who carelessly throw their cigarette buds on the floor?
My perception of what the right course of action is has changed over the years, and because of that, I have been able to become less stern in my morality. Still, I feel that my actions should always be beneficial to the good of all.

 

My job as highschool teacher is a very serviceable one. Teaching is an incredibly tough and important job, but it doesn’t pay a lot. Most of the teachers I know experience some sort of vocation. They really want to be there for their students and many of them are. Often at the expense of themselves.

 

After my experience at the Sacred Sons Immersion last summer, I realised that men’s work is is very beneficial to the world. That it heals the men involved and consequently their environment. And that is why I wanted to dedicate myself to sharing this with the world.

 

Integrity

Truth is very important to me. There are a lot of things I am good at, but lying is not one of them.


I vividly remember one lie I told and how this backfired: when my Law & Management study failed, I had to cancel my study grant and hand in my public transportation student’s pass. Because I traveled a lot, I went to the police and reported the pass to be stolen. I didn’t feel right; not just because false declaration is a felony, but mostly because it simply wasn’t true and I was telling a blatant lie to the officer. One week later, my wallet was actually lost, possibly picked from my pocket. The practical consequences were huge for me at the time, but I also felt a sense of relief that my lie turned out to be truth.

 

As a person I also try to be as truthful as I possibly can. I usually present myself as I am without any masks. Holding back parts of myself strategically was something I had to learn over the years. Sometimes diplomacy requires that, but I am aware of doing it when I do.
When I was studying for my educational degree, it was constantly mentioned that a teacher had to play a set of roles, such as the didactic expert, the pedagogue or the professional. While I could see that there are different domains in this work, the terminology of ‘playing roles’ never sat well met me: I can only be a teacher in the way I am human. Luckily there was some thought going on through the academic world about ‘normative professionalism’ which is about finding a wholesome way of being a professional without compromising your personal values and norms, which turned out to play a key role in my graduation process.

I believe that in my job as teacher, being true is a very important. You cannot pretend, as teenagers will see right through it and chances of an authentic relation are gone. In their work, the students notably often write down that they value honesty and do not like fake people.


I wouldn’t know how to fake. I can adapt to situations and settings, but I always bring who I am.

 

I speak my truth, even when it is at odds with what the other – or the majority – believes. Some tell me this requires courage, and maybe it does, but I just have to do it; I cannot just remain quiet. Especially when freedom is threatened. I guess I wouldn’t last long under a dictatorial regime.

 

Do I always succeed in turning this value into an actual virtue? I’m afraid not. I mean, sometimes I can be a little hypocrite too sometimes. For instance when I say my children cannot have screen time or candy, while when they are looking away, I play a computer game longer than I should while at the same time stuffing my mouth full with chocolate… Seems like knights are human too.

 

Noblesse

Though claiming knighthood is not without obligation and thus brings responsibility, it also comes with potency. I believe taking up knighthood comes from a place of strength.

For me, there is a lot of gratitude involved. I feel so thankful for my healthy, strong and flexible body; my keen mind, the amazing people around me, the opportunities given to me and the overwhelming beauty of life on earth – that I want to protect it all. Not to control all of it, but to honour it.

 

I think donning the mantle of knighthood entitles one to a sense of pride. No superficial ego-flattery, but a self-aware grace. Knowing who you are and what you may serve.

 

Rise a Knight

At the closing of the Rise a Knight event, I too contemplated a vow during our miniature vigil in the dark. The first thing that came to me was serving and protecting my children. What they especially need from me is that I accept them as they are. Especially when they deviate from the ideal image in my head.


And then, all domains in my life where I am serving came along: being a teacher, being a men’s work facilitator and being human. I vowed to be brave, honest and doing my best to serve. I spoke these words, rose and drew my sword, symbolising the power I have within to take on these acts.

 

Link to original post


 

 

Wild and Sacred Men Community

 

For every man who would like to be more actively involved with Wild and Sacred Men; there is the possibility to join the WhatsApp-community.

 

The group can be used for sharing personal stories or asking questions to brothers / fellow men.

 

The group will also be used to share new events and dates. And a weekly share of content: written text, an exercise, discussion prompts, etc. 

Wild and Sacred Men Community

 

For every man who would like to be more actively involved with Wild and Sacred Men; there is the possibility to join the WhatsApp-community.

 

The group can be used for sharing personal stories or asking questions to brothers / fellow men.

 

The group will also be used to share new events and dates. And a weekly share of content: written text, an exercise, discussion prompts, etc.

 

This is the link for joining.

Wild and Sacred Men on national television

 

The program Zin in Morgen has expressed interest in creating an item on men's work; especially sacred combat.

It is very good that men's work is receiving more attention and thus being more normalised, making it accessible to more men.

 

As soon a date has been confirmed, an special event will be hosted (Dutch spoken) and the date will be communicated.

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