The Bridge

NEW

July 21 – 25, 2010

DATES JUST ANNOUNCED!

The Bridge - Disintegrating Ego

The Bridge -

Getting To The Truth

NEW DATES JUST ANNOUNCED!

July 21 – 25, 2010

Pescadero, CA – Venture Retreat Center

Organizer: Jay Cradeur

707-540-3595 jay.cradeur@gmail.com

Green Man

Click Here to view a photo album from the June 2009 Bridge event

Click Here to read the words of our brothers who have attended a Bridge event.

Click Here for the Online Application

What is The Bridge?

The Bridge is an event for men. It is a 4-day Initiation for men that takes place in Northern California. Only men participate in the event. The event is facilitated by Don Palmer and Jay Cradeur. The Bridge takes place away from all the reminders and demands of our society.

VR sign

You won’t be getting beeped, faxed, called, fed-ex’d nor asked to pick up the kids after work. Imagine walking toward a circle of light, drums beating, digeridoo calling, and your brothers await the triumphant display of your own very unique power. This gives you a sense of the ritual and mystery surrounding The Bridge.

“There is nothing more wonderful than being sacredly happy, fallible, full and hungover on God in a group of people dedicated to these activities, knowing that by doing so you were helping the world and the village.” Martin Prechtel from Long Life Honey In The Heart

What happens during the event?

All men who attend a Bridge event are sworn to the highest degree of confidentiality. As with all initiation processes throughout history, confidentiality is maintained. In general terms, you will spend your time with men, interacting in-group and one-on-one situations, in ritual and in nature.

“A most astounding phenomenon has happened to us; we have had an experience which makes Love, fame, rank, ambition, wealth, look like thirty cents; and we begin to wonder passionately, “What is truth?” The Universe has tumbled about our ears like a house of cards, and we have tumbled too. Yet this ruin is like the opening of the Gates of Heaven! Here is a tremendous problem, and there is something within us which ravins for its solution.” Aleister Crowley from Book 4

What can I expect?

As you will read on the “Brother’s Words” page, each man has his own varied and unique experience, so it is difficult to predict exactly what to expect. All men experience a breakthrough in the level of power they bring to bear on the world, a breakthrough in their understanding of themselves and their fellow man, and a profound clarity in their relationship to the feminine. It is our intention that the following is transmitted over the 4 day event:

Venture Retreat - Ritual Space

* Right relationship to the Earth and her energies
* New understanding / knowing of the spirit(s) of nature
* Death to the old self / Rebirth to a new self
* Greater perception through exposure to mystery
* Deeper understanding of the practice of ritual.
* Deep exploration into beliefs and the nature of one’s truth
* Greater ease in opening one’s heart and speaking one’s truth
*Greater honoring of woman and understanding of your relationship to the
feminine

Expect to be moved, to be inspired and to be deeply touched. Expect to experience fear, laughter, compassion and ecstasy. But mostly, expect to feel a new level of groundedness or wholeness as a result of more fully integrating the various components of your masculine essence.

And this event, unlike any we have experienced, will work to enhance your subtle energy perception. It will draw out the wizard in you, the magician who can sense with his sixth sense, what is happening in his world and then respond accordingly. There is a mystical nature to the Bridge, and like all mysticism, words cannot express its true nature.

During one remarkable evening, all the men will participate in The Bridge Burial Ritual . It is a process, an experience, in which you will die to your old life and be reborn into a new life. What aspects of yourself you choose to die to and be reborn into are up to you. The Bridge Burial Ritual is a process that will humble you and inspire you and allow you to re-establish your relationship with the life force that is called among other things, The All, Grandfather, Divinity, God, or The Divine Masculine. By getting clear about this core relationship, all your other relationships, particularly with women, will transform instantly. The Bridge event provides an opportunity for each man to more fully integrate all aspects of his masculinity and experience his true nature.

Praying Monk

How is this different than other men’s events I’ve heard of?

One of the foundations of this event is unflinching and compassionate honesty. What that means is that all the men who participate will tell you the truth. And you will tell the truth for all the other men. We are not the best judge about what is or isn’t the right choice for us. Our self perception is usually fairly clouded. By learning to accept another man’s criticism, you will begin to understand your world much more clearly.

6AM Hot tub

Who can attend?

The Bridge is open to any man, aged 21 or older, who has a strong and sincere desire to admit to and confront his issues – head on. This event is not for the faint of heart, the wishy washy, nor the dabbler. The event is physically intense, as many rituals demand your full physical and mental focus. This event is designed to be phystically, mentally, spiritually and emotionally challenging. For most men who have participated, it is one of the seminal experiences of their lives. The Bridge Gathering is to be taken seriously. We are calling upon very powerful energies to facilitate our transformation. When you are ready to commit to the dedicated work that is to be done, we welcome you.

What is required to attend?

Contact the event organizer (Jay Cradeur at 707 540 3595 or email at jay.cradeur@gmail.com), complete your online application, make your deposit or full payment (via Pay Pal), and commit to attend the complete event. The Bridge events takes place in Pescadero, California (one hour south of San Francisco). If you are coming from out of town, you will need to make travel arrangements. You will need to arrive on Wednesday afternoon, as we often begin Wednesday evening. We complete on Sunday evening. All food and beverages and supplies during the event are included in the event fee. There is an additional $150 fee for lodging.

Natural Beauty What does it cost to attend The Bridge?

The fee for The Bridge Gathering is $995. The event is limited to 15 men. The fee covers the 4-day event, all food, beverages. There is an additional mandatory fee of $150 for lodging at Venture Retreat Center in Pescadero. You may confirm your spot with a deposit of $575 with the balance of $570 due 1 month prior to the start date of the event. Partial scholarship funds are available for those in need and with a sincere desire to attend.

Venture Retreat Lodge House

Why is the event called The Bridge?

The Bridge is a symbol. A bridge is a tool which one uses to move from one place to another. Crossing a bridge requires action, direction, and intention. We have called this event The Bridge because it is our purpose to provide an opportunity for each man to experience his mastery of the space between this physical dualistic world and the world of mystery. That in between place, that place that shaman must learn to inhabit, that is the place we call the bridge for it is truly a bridge between worlds. Everyday we have bridges to cross. We have the bridge to cross from a closed heart to an open heart. We have the bridge to cross from shrinking away from fear to marching valiantly through fear. We have the bridge to cross from withholding our truth to unflinchingly speaking our truth. Ultimately, we are all the bridge. Each bridge contains elements of both sides. We are the unification of the light and the dark, the God and the Goddess, the masculine and the feminine, and the yin and the yang. All of these facets live within us. A role of The Bridge is to begin the work to make everything whole again.

Click Here to view a photo album from the June 2009 Bridge event

Click Here to read the words of our brothers who have attended a Bridge event.

Click Here for the Online Application