How do men describe their experience?
Here's what several Sword and Scepter participants had to say:
"As a man, I am often in conflict between 'what is true for me' and 'what I am willing to express.' Sometimes, that conflict is so great that I suppress my truth entirely. When I do that, I remain unaware... unconscious. Sword & Scepter helped me to connect to my deeper truths, and afforded me a safe and supportive environment in which to push the boundaries of expressing my truth. I came away feeling more trust and more dedication to expressing myself fully. Through that transformation, I became more powerful. I could not recommend this workshop more highly to men who share a similar experience of life."- Mark Voorsanger
"The workshop provided me with a profound deepening of my masculine power and expression and both the possibility and the challenge of applying this to all aspects of my life. It also provided many sourceful methods, images, symbols, experiences that will allow me to continue to work in this domain and to support all of the men around me to be as conscious as they want to be."
- Bill Stevens
"The Sword and Scepter is a profound and challenging experience that I'd recommend to anyone who's ready to take a next step in their personal growth."
- Rob M.
"I used to read about men of old who served God, or rode off on quests seeking to fulfill some great purpose. I read feeling broken, pissed off at myself, believing that all of that gallantry belonged to 'olden' times... That is, until my own heart broke open, swelling with power over realizing my own purpose, a purpose right for me and perfectly designed for these times. If you too are a man either in discovery of your purpose, or seeking to fulfill it, the Sword and Scepter workshop is all about summoning the strength in you to do so.
"I've listened to women complain about 'men' all my life. But here, in the company of other men, and with the help of a bunch of brilliantly conceived processes, I stretched out, allowing my power to express without constraint. I cut loose and felt what women really want from me. Hell, what I want from me...
"Plus, I received reflections from other men, all kinds of men. I listened to their wisdom, let it mix with mine, and felt the clarifying power that just being with the male soul can bring. I walk away with a resurgence of inspiration and focus - a deeper appreciation for how I really feel, and a greater freedom to express those feelings, even the rage and anger that sometimes surge through. Rather than suppress it, it feels great to welcome my power, however it shows up, and to skillfully transform the force of it into what my heart and mind want to do. I'm glad I didn't miss out on this opportunity."
- Lawrence W. Furman
"This workshop took me to a higher level of self-awareness and consciousness around my masculinity, power and leadership. There were several opportunities to experience myself among powerful men and have my depth of character reflected back to me. The workshop processes did a great job of transcending my own, limiting self image."
- P.K. Stevens, Information Technology & Business Consultant
"Working with an amazing group of men I came to understand many things about how I brought out my power and understood how to use it more effectively."
- D.B.
"It is a rare chance to share time and space with other men while learning and experiencing what it means to be a man. I loved how much variety of experiences there are. The exploration of what male power is and can be is a great learning experience."
- R.M.
"It both confirmed how much I have grown as a leader and who I am as a visionary and some great direction of what the next steps are for me to operationalize the vision into reality. I look forward to being received much better by speaking my passionate visions in a more heart and body felt way with less of a booming voice and large body that is not inducive to enrolling others."
- Cole, "Buffalo Heart"
"Sword and Scepter helped me access my power more, by being a bootcamp for the masculine soul, and giving me a soul reboot."
- Ishmael A. Mc Intosh
"As one of the staff facilitators, I was honored to have served the men who came to the workshop. Witnessing them grappling, sometimes struggling, in the exploration of their relationship to male power, my heart was warmed. Because all the participants had a goodly amount of growth work under their belts, we were able to hit the ground running, and we held ourselves with grace. And, I had my own workshop within the workshop, which can happen when being on staff -- another growth experience."
- Cal
"The work, and the commitment to keep “working it”, held solid and expanded during the week following the workshop. While I remind myself that workshop “highs” generally have a half-life, this somehow feels a little different. Here’s why:
1) I’ve had some post workshop breakthroughs and continue to play with fundamental shifts deep within.
2) I sense there’s a cohesive group to continue beyond the workshop, and I have already met with three different men from the group last week.
3) I’m holding the possibility that this work sticks longer and is more “viral” in creating ongoing awareness within me."
- Michael L., Management Consultant & Investment Banker
"You do the world a great service, penetrating the fog of projection, anger and blaming and the resulting violence so common among men in our culture…. I feel stronger, clearer, and am already doing more today to put myself and my work out into the world."
- Jack G., Professional Photographer
"I just wanted to thank you both again for an incredible program. It was a privilege to witness and experience two master facilitators at work. I still have lots stirring."
- Steven K., Management Consultant
"I feel stronger and more confident, comfortably in command. I am more aware of myself, my power, and where I consciously and subconsciously distribute it. I remember my vision and I stay my course. It was a powerful workshop! Thank you for bringing yourselves as fully as you did this weekend. Your gifts are extraordinary. I am hard pressed to find a better use of my time, energy and money. I would have gladly paid double or triple for the return on this investment."
- Ari P., Construction Contractor
"I am very pleased to find myself practicing and expressing male power. I find this practice a much more satisfying approach to my life, which remains challenging to me. I'm the same guy as before, it’s just that now I feel that it is time to step into my adult self."
- Todd K., Cartoonist
"You did an outstanding job:
* creating a safe ground for sharing
* creating exercises to pry open our hearts and souls
* adapting on-the-fly, gracefully
* providing empathy and straight-talk during BIG shares
And most of all, you added something that's really hard to achieve in workshops and retreats: Magic!
Magic makes anything possible. It helped bond the group together. Thanks to you both, I've peeled away a few layers and feel lighter and stronger as a result. Ah, but there is no finish line…"
- Ward F., VP of Sales, High-Tech Media Company
"After the workshop, I felt great, and very integrated in my power. The day after the workshop, I spoke in front of 100 investors, pitching my company as a potential investment for them. I felt confident, and that I belonged there, which was a huge shift for me. Before the workshop, I would have felt like an impostor standing among very successful business people and wealthy investors. The following week, I spent 8½ hours coaching three partners in a small business through some very difficult terrain. I had never done this before, but entered it confidently. In the past, I would have been extremely nervous walking into a project with this much at stake. I feel like I can handle just about anything right now, and that feels great!"
- Lion G., Entrepreneur and CEO
Next, learn more about who leads the Sword and Scepter workshop.
