Center for Symbolic Studies
Joseph Campbell RoundTable
Father’s Day and Solstice Men’s Event:
June 21, 2-7PM with Dr. Stephen Larsen
Stephen Larsen would like to announce “Hobbit’s Father’s Day” in offering a Men’s group, including storytelling about fathers and mentoring, an experience of martial arts and fitness training, concluded by a sauna—and a cookout for those who wish to stay into the evening. The event is open to men—affiliated with Stone Mountain Farm, 10 years and older, father and son dyads, or mentoring relationships. The “Hobbit” part means there is no cost (unless people wish to make a tax-deductible contribution to CSS). Topics covered will be the male mythos—with traditional stories on how to parent and mentor,
The sequence is as follows:
- 2:00 Meet at CSS for introductions and Storytelling
- 3:00 An introduction to the Martial Arts and Physical Fitness in the New Age: Karate, Qi Gong, Climbing and Fitness (Location: moving from Movement Space to Outdoor Activities all over Stone Mountain Farm.)
- 5:00 Old Fashioned Finnish Sauna with jump into pond (Location Owlcliff House and Meadow)
- 7:00 Barbecue and re-uniting with the feminine element in which the Men cook and serve the Women (Location: Owlcliff House)—social time and play.
(Apologies for last-minute announcement. If this is successful, there will be future events in including regular Martial Arts and Mentoring classes for men.
Stephen Larsen, Ph.D. has both attended and led men’s groups over many decades, including with Robert Bly, Michael Meade and James Hillman, Ed Tick and Joseph Jastrab. His personal mentors include Joseph Campbell, Dr. Edward Whitmont, Hiroshi Orito, and Hisashi Omichi in the martial arts, and T.K Shih in Qi Gong. In addition to experience as a rock climber and gymnast, Stephen holds a Ni Dan (second-degree black belt) rank in So Ryu Karate Do, and is certified as a Chinese Qi Gong Therapist. He has both climbed and led groups with his Son Merlin, a climbing guide and theatrical producer. (While his daughter Gwyneth, a marvelous athlete and performer, and his wife Robin, a genuine wise woman have helped him to understand women’s initiations.)