Whirl- winding

I have been whirl-winding for the past several weeks and not able to enter anything in the blog. Now I have landed and am reflecting on where I have been, and what I have done. Two weekends ago I was invited to Mentone Alabama as a workshop leader for one hundred and ten men. There has been a men’s gathering meeting there for the past fourteen years. Author and men’s group leader John Lee is the primary organizer, Robert Bly the poet, and Robert Moore the Jungian scholar we were there to reflect on Robert Mores book The King, The Warrior, The Magician, The Lover. Robert’s book is referring to male psychological archetypes. I was obviously there to speak from the warrior perspective.

It was fantastic to be in the presents of so many open hearted men. Robert Bly spent time with me looking over my poetry and was very supportive. John Lee a long time friend presented some of his current new work which focuses on the topic of passivity. His new book will be outstanding; he is addressing a topic that is relevant to all of us.

What is left of the men’s movement is small but strong and potent. To be around men who are looking beyond their own egos is so unusual that I left being affected for several days. There were many men who brought their son’s. It was really nice to see these young men working on their issues.

War is on these men’s minds, several vets came to my workshop and we discussed Vietnam as well as the current wars. I was asked several times “What can I do to help support the vets?” The answer I most often gave was, “Be there, listen, witness, don’t turn off or turn away, offer your presents.”

Things to come on this blog will be some talk about the Grand Rounds I gave at Four Winds Hospital on the topic of PTSD. I will also report on my trip to Tallmadge Ohio where I was the key note speaker and workshop leader for the The Warrior's Journey Home. Stay tuned.

Be Well

Larry

Veterans Day

Veterans Day

A day to remember my War.

A day to feel in my heart, Marines I once knew.

A day to pray for lost peace.

A day to remember that I was not welcomed home.

A day to remember my old war prayer

to commit to life with the same intensity that I feared death.

A day to see that many people do not honor veterans.

A day to hear the flag snapping at the wind.

A day for my soul to shed its uniform and stand naked in the mirror.