A Call to the Wild Interior of Mature Masculinity
We gather where the forest meets the river to undertake the shared labor of responsibility, mythic imagination, and generative leadership.
Who we are
The Cascadia Men’s Conference is stewarded by a collective of men inspired by the rich mythopoetic tradition, dedicated to stewarding a culture of emergence, depth, and healthy relationality.
We are fathers, brothers, sons, craftsmen, artists, writers, farmers, therapists, poets, and lovers of the wild. A shared love of story, wisdom, and ancestral remembrance animates our understanding of what it means to be a man today.
Why We Gather
We gather because men need other men—as mirrors, allies, challengers, and companions. We gather because the world is rapidly changing and systems are crumbling, and because we believe that the times ask for men who are capable of depth, discernment, and the right kind of strength.
This is not a retreat from the world, but a preparation for it. We gather to remember what has been lost, to carry forward what is essential, and to practice the kind of culture we long to see in the world.
By undertaking this soul-soaked labour, we return to our families and our lands as men who can be leaned upon. We gather so that we might finally become the cool shade trees our communities require in the heat of these times.
Our Pillars
Healthy Masculinity
Masculinity is noble and good. To unfurl our full potential in service to life, men need mentoring, guidance, and embodied examples of mature leadership.
Relational Diversity & Affinity
We welcome men of all ages, denominations, and identities. We believe diversity is relational, built on time and trust rather than ideology. Our affinity group is simply stated: men, gathered so that we may better serve those outside the circle.
Self-Responsibility
You are responsible for your own engagement and inner work. We expect men to look out for themselves while looking out for each other. Leaders are here for support, not as a replacement for therapy, medical care, or long-term mentorship.
Security over Safety
We prioritize depth and daring over comfort. While we cannot promise absolute safety, we strive to create a secure container where challenging elements can be worked with together. We ask all men to commit to non-violence toward themselves, each other, and the land.
Ancestry
We strive to include local and Indigenous perspectives, while advocating for each man’s responsibility to connect with his own ancestral stories and knowledge.
Wholeness
We strive to have offerings that touch each of the four facets of wholeness: mind, body, spirit, and soul. This includes but is not limited to: intellectual discourse, movement, ritual, myth-telling, poetry, song, and celebration.
Initiatory Thresholds
Modern culture offers many entertainments but few thresholds. While this conference is not an initiation, it aims to be initiatory—ripening men through meaningful trial, honest reflection, and sincere ritual.
Grief & Praise
Grief waters the roots of our humanity; praise feeds our capacity for wonder and devotion. When we speak honestly of what has been lost and what remains, a deeper ground of connection becomes possible.
Elderhood as Practice
Elderhood is a practice, not merely an age. We value the cultivation of wisdom, humility, and stewardship—qualities that allow men to become trustworthy guides. We recognize that elders are made when younger people ask for their guidance. We commit to turning towards elders for their wisdom, before, during, and after this event.
Honoring the Land
We also gather to honor the lands and waters of Cascadia,
and the Indigenous peoples who have tended these territories since time immemorial.
This gathering is held on the traditional territories of the Chi'yakmesh
people of Skwxwú7mesh (Squamish) Nation in the heart of the newly designated Átl’ka7tsem/Howe Sound UNESCO Biosphere Region.