Warmest Greetings!

 My name is Jason Schroeder and I AM a man. This might appear obvious from my photo but what does it mean to be a 'Western man' living in twenty first century? Nothing seems to be straight forward in our new world of role reversals in the work place, single parent families being the norm in the Western world, men working away from home for a few weeks, then home for a few weeks and then away again. What does this do to us and our families? Difficult times indeed. Do we have a meeting place outside of the local pub to meet and discuss our feelings, fears and dreams with men we look up to? Men we trust, who will share with us hard earned wisdom and insights from their own lives. Would you discuss this in a pub environment? I wouldn't and what if you don't have that type of lifestyle.

WHERE WILL YOU MEET THESE MEN?

My answer to that living for the past fourteen years in NE Scotland was I didn't know where to make these friendships or meet these men. However my 'gut' told me they were out there. They had to be.

I needed to be able to discuss my fears, concerns, ambitions and dreams with other men and hopefully them with me. So after a few years of 'waiting' and 'gathering' myself the time had come to put it out there (August 2009). A gathering for men to discuss, support and share without judgment what is it, that 'real men in the 21st century' are meant to be and want to be. A place that is non racial, non religious, non political in Aberdeenshire. A place where men can share as men without alcohol, drugs or the other human species on the planet, women. Please sisters don't take this the wrong way. The dynamic in a group changes immediately these 3 constituents are added to the recipe.

I feel that we also needed to create a gathering space together. See the photos below of a great meeting place in the NE of Scotland I recently visited looking for ideas and inspiration (Kiva). Lets come together as men, creating this space, for us. As a child growing up in South Africa I recollect the fantastic experiences with my other 12 year old mates in our little fort made of branches, making fires, toasting bread and feeling like we were on the wild frontier and we belonged. So nothing has changed there, except time. I felt we needed to make a 'fort' for our fires and a place for gathering and sharing. Of course on a grander scale now we are men. The land is here, the materials are being gathered and so what is needed is you and other men who would like to share equally in this experience!
 
We have started creating this amazing space for storytelling, contemplation, ceremonies, comraderie, mentoring, skills sharing and much laughter. So all types of skills are needed to make this a wonderful creative place for us men.

Life is NOT about the destination but about the JOURNEY!

I hope that this will inspire you to join us or a group near you in the world or you might step forward and start your own group. I am so glad that I have. If you need any guidance or help setting up your group please feel free to contact me. Watch the video clip above that we have made, to give a you a taste of our gatherings and hopefully inspire you.

Remember that time waits for no man and apathy and action are different sides of the same coin.

The choice is yours!

May your dreams come true easily and spontaneously!

Jason

My mission : I am a man amongst men who heals his wounds into scars. I create a world in every moment of freedom by 'being' present in my open healing heart consciousness.