Menspedition | Festival Crew Edition

THE INTENTION

A pilgrimage, a rites of passage, a journey both onward and inward, and a walk into the depths and magnificence of our collective and individual masculinity.

A space to truly galvanise what it really means to be a man, to question the masculine persona that modern western society projects onto us and embeds so deeply into our psyche, and our personal situations and circumstances have further perpetuated, to reconsider how we treat one another, how we treat women and how we treat ourselves.

To love and nurture our inner child that was taught to be tough and told to swallow their emotions - to ‘man up’ and ‘grow some balls’. To explore the masculine archetypes and how they manifest in our individual lives, not as an attempt be a perfect man, but to take a pure quality, and use it as an ideal to follow.

Learning to be in touch with one's emotions can change lives, and the way men are traditionally taught to hold them in can be connected to an avalanche of unhealthy outcomes. In a society that traditionally views masculine traits as strength, courage, independence, leadership, and assertiveness, there is no greater gift than the space and opportunity to call in the opposite, and to rather embrace the compassionate, sensitive, supportive, empathetic, tender part that resides deep within all of us, but that we are often afraid to connect with. 

The current socio-political landscape is attempting to rewrite masculinity, to step away from the tyrannical patriarchy and to honour the feminine, as women lead a new stage of evolution: the shift from achievement to self-actualisation.

Our culture is lacking a rites of passage, a ritual that marks the change in status from boyhood to manhood, from girlhood to womanhood, or a process that marks a major milestone or change in a person’s life. They exist in cultures around the world, but in the UK today, a rites of passage has been belittled to drinking too much on your 18th birthday or losing your virginity, with no real lessons, no growth, no real catalyst for change. We need to reintegrate these rituals in western culture, to provide a sacred space, to evoke sense of renewal and belonging, a connection with our past, and to help us make sense of change by overcoming fears.

Lawrence and Ben will be our specialist facilitators. 

SPECIAL EDITION

Welcome to Menspedition: Festival Crew special edition. While Menspedition is ususally an open invitation affair, this series is invitation-only to those who are connected to this line of work. There is a specific intention behind this. If you are here, welcome :) Please contact us first if you would like us to extend an invitation to someone in your circle (connect@menspedition.com). 

Places are limited to 20 men.

Arrivals welcome from 1pm on Wednesday 20th. Please aim to arrive by 5pm for a welcome circle, followed by supper. 

THE LAND AND VENUE

Robin's Realm is a delightful, vegetarian, rustic wilderness retreat in West Wales. The 18th century thatched cottage has been lovingly restored to fine detail inside and out. The surrounding countryside is breathtaking - the perfect landscape to explore on foot during our expedition day. 

The ticket includes 3 meals a day (Wednesday supper to Monday breakfast) prepared by our fantastic chef, tea + coffee and some snacks. Accomodation is provided in unfurnished bell tents or in ones own van (hook-ups provided). Bring your own snacks.  

Program sessions will be hosted in the cottage, a 7m yurt and various spots in the grounds. Meals will be served in the farmhouse or outside, weather dependent. 

Further details including what to (and not to) bring, will be sent out via email. 

FACILITATORS

Lawrence Toye

Menspedition Co-Founder + Facilitator

Lawrence is a Menspedition lead facilitator and retreat curator. He finds deep fulfilment in his work supporting men, in groups and individually, to meet themselves, and to cultivate more trust, joy and reverence for life. ​

Lawrence is also co-founder and facilitator at Kingly Stag: Contemporary Rites of Passage and Conscious Living. He lives with his family at Cae Mabon in Gwynedd, where he hosts and co-facilitates various retreats and events exploring land-based living, ancestral life-ways, deep ecology, men's work and celtic/druidic spirituality.

Ben Stopford

Menspedition Co-Founder + Facilitator

Ben is a facilitator, gardener and gatherer, whose mission is pollinating deeper connections to both the inner and outer landscapes.​

His group facilitation stems from contemporary Rites of Passage (vision quest) and The Work that Reconnects, having trained under Rupert Marques and Molly Young Brown.

Ben is the founder of Conscious Roots and co-creator of Deepen Your Roots, a year-long transformational journey into connection and belonging. He lives at Cae Mabon where he co-facilitates retreats, and teaches foraging and permaculture.

We look forward to welcoming you :)