Updated with Jan 20th email:
1) Remember to arrive in San Rafael by 4:20 p.m. on Thursday at the remote parking location, Buck’s Launching. Given the rain, lightning and high winds in the weather forecast, it would be prudent to add to your usual driving time. The road from Buck’s is a dirt road and could be muddy, so wear appropriate boots or shoes that can get muddy. Remove shoes before entering Lion’s house.
2) We are at Lion’s house – no venue change, so the directions still apply
3) If you lost the prior email that contained full instructions or want to reference it from another computer, the checklist is also posted on the sword and scepter website. Here is the link to make it easy for you: http://www.swordandscepter.com/2010/01/workshop-preparation-checklist.html. (Of course, you are here, so no need to click the link!)
4) Email Steve Tennant at steve AT tennant.net or call (925) 788-1092 (mobile) if you become ill or you need to cancel so that he may notify the next person on the waitlist.
5) Attached is a Waiver (PDF) I mentioned in the prior email, so you can review in advance if you like. It is standard (such as promising me 10% of all future earnings in perpetuity : )) and I will need a signed copy before we start the workshop.
See you all tomorrow.
Keith
* * * * * Jan 13 email follows * * * *
Dear Sword and Scepter Participants:
We are excited that you will be joining us for the Sword and the Scepter™ workshop. We are in the process of putting the finishing touches on the workshop and are confident it will be a richly rewarding experience for all. This will be the final email going out to participants so please read carefully and prepare accordingly. The workshop will be held at the house of Lion Goodman, at 400 Upper Road in San Rafael. (See below for directions.) Carpooling is requested but not required.
Right now, 34 men have confirmed their participation so, unless we get an alternative location, there is no more room for others to join us. If you know of others who are interested, please have them sign up and wait list themselves and depending on the numbers on the wait list, we may go for an alternate venue. For now and unless you hear from us otherwise, we are sticking with the current location.
For the workshop, please bring the following:
1. On Thursday, bring $20 cash. Be prepared to lose whatever you bring. If this is a financial hardship, bring as much as you would like.
2. A drum or other percussion instrument;
3. Clothes you don’t mind getting dirty for Friday night.
4. A separate and extra pair of blue jeans and white t-shirt or undershirt on Thursday.
5. At least one set of clothes (shorts and a shirt) which you will not mind getting paint on (grungy is good).
6. Loose fitting clothing. There will be a lot of movement and activity for different parts of the workshop, so be sure to wear clothing that is comfortable and that will allow for flexibility.
7. A warm set of clothes for Saturday, that can bear 25 degree weather in case we take a trip up Mt. Tamalpais.
8. An object that represents or reminds you of male power in some way for our altar, and a larger symbol of male power to help us adorn our workshop space (such as a hanging, poster, or large object).
9. A backjack of some kind (low to the ground), especially if you need the back support. Pillows will be provided. If you are travelling to the workshop by plane, we recognize that bringing a chair is difficult. There will be a chair provided for you. If you have any back problems sitting low to the ground, please bring a backjack or similar chair nonetheless and you can exchange it for one of the chairs.
10. A water bottle for use throughout the workshop.
11. A writing utensil of some kind. A journal will be provided for you.
It will be helpful, although not required, to come to the workshop with a deep life question related to the focus of the workshop and/or a yearning for something to shift. Many men have already begun the workshop by being in a deep question for themselves. This serves the process although it is not required. Some men like to come and simply move with what stirs them. That will serve as well for those that prefer this way of orienting toward a workshop.
Directions to Lion’s house are below. Please be sure to park at Buck’s and walk up to the house. It is about a 10-minute walk uphill, so be prepared.
Your workshop fee includes lunch, and dinner on Friday and Saturday, and lunch on Sunday. Breakfasts are not included. If you have any dietary restrictions, please let us know immediately by emailing Lion Goodman (lion AT everydayawakening.com) and let him know. You may be asked to participate in preparing and serving meals.
The workshop is non-residential, so you will need to commute, make hotel reservations for yourself in the area, or sleep over at someone’s house. If you have a place that can accommodate some men from out of town, please email John McNally (mcnally44 AT gmail.com) immediately so we can plan accordingly. We still need a few spaces for men coming from out of town and your support of the workshop and these men would be greatly appreciated.
You will be asked to sign a waiver at the beginning of the workshop stating that you will take responsibility for yourself and for any damage you may cause to the property. We are using a person’s home and there are valuables therein. We need everyone to respect that property as well as not make liable the workshop facilitators or anyone else relative to your own participation.
The timing for the workshop is as follows:
1. Thursday, January 21, 5PM, sharp. Dinner will not be served so please come having already eaten. Be sure to arrive AT THE REMOTE PARKING AREA no later than 4:20 to give you time to get from there to the house and register, sign a waiver and get settled. We will end somewhere between 10 and 11pm.
2. Friday, January 22, begin at 8:00am (having already eaten breakfast). We will end somewhere between 9 and 10:30pm.
3. Saturday, January 23, begin at 8:00am (having already eaten breakfast). We will end somewhere between 9 and 10:30pm.
4. Sunday, January 24, begin at 8:00am and end 5:00pm
As you can see, all evenings with the exception of Sunday will go until between 9 and 11pm, so plan accordingly. We will aim for the earlier hours but do not want to be tied down to that aim if going later serves the collective.
We reserve the right to alter these times if it is in the service of the group as a whole so please allow for a bit of flexibility. We will not start earlier than 8:00am however. We do ask for a bit of flexibility on Sunday. If that is a hardship for you and you already made firm commitments based on an assumption of a 5:00pm ending, we will honor that and do our best to keep to that time. It is highly unlikely we will want to go beyond 5:30. We just want a little flex room as it is difficult to time the ending precisely.
In order to stay fully present for the workshop experience, we ask that you restrict any alcohol and drug use to casual. No drugs and alcohol is preferred, and yet we do not want to make it a requirement. We are simply asking men to honor the process and take responsibility for their well-being.
For those men who have not completed payment for the workshop, please do so immediately and or bring a check with you made out to Keith Merron.
If you would like to do some reading to prepare for the weekend, we recommend King, Warrior, Magician, Lover by Robert Moore and Douglas Gillette, or Iron John by Robert Bly.
Directions to Parking and to Lion’s House:
From North of San Rafael: Come south on 101 to the N. San Pedro exit, also called the Civic Center exit. Turn East (left), underneath the freeway, onto N. San Pedro. Then * below
From San Francisco and South: Drive to Marin via the Golden Gate Bridge, continuing North on 101. After the Central San Rafael exit, take the next exit, N. San Pedro / Civic Center, and continue East (toward the right) on N. San Pedro. Then * below
From the East Bay: Take the Richmond/San Rafael bridge to Marin, following the signs to 101 North. The exit after Central San Rafael is N. San Pedro. Follow N. San Pedro East (toward the right). Then *
* After getting onto N San Pedro from 101: drive 2.3 miles (about 7 minutes) toward the East. You will be going past the Civic Center and toward China Camp State Park. You will pass one stop sign near a 7-11. [Make a full stop - the police sometimes hang out there.] Continue on N.S.P. After you pass Pt. Gallinas Ave. on your left, you’ll begin to climb a small hill. Near the crest of the hill, you will see Upper Road on your left.
CONTINUE just past Upper Road and take a careful Left into Buck’s, a boat storage and launch area. (see video below for details). Drive down the driveway and forward all the way toward the main building until you see a long fence leading to the right where there is a large open space, facing the power towers. Turn right (the fence is now on your left) into the parking area and drive as far forward as possible toward the power tower. Park and lock your car.
Then: Walk back up Buck’s driveway (the way you came in) to N. San Pedro and then up the hill and turn right on Upper Road. Walk two mintues more to 400 Upper Road.
Please do not attempt to drive or park on Upper Road. (If you have stuff or people to drop off, that’s okay. After dropping off, turn around and park at Buck’s.) There is no parking available except at Buck’s. Our neighbors get touchy and tow cars. We look forward to seeing you! Call Lion at 415-472-6500 or 415-686-5805 (cell) if you have any questions.
Where to Park at Buck's
