Mythic Warrior 8-Month Adventure
An 8-Month Training Adventure for Men …
Cost: $375/weekend (before October 1; $450/weekend after)
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Early Bird Pricing!
Men’s Program Mythic Warrior
Original price was: $3,600.00.$3,000.00Current price is: $3,000.00.
Led by… Sparrow Hart, River Strong, Adam Wadel, and others…
Nearly all men have the experience of being under-fathered, and consequently, over-mothered. We have grown up in our mother’s castle, and although we may have physically left, very few of us have really separated. Mother comes with us, standing between us and other men, projected onto women in our lives. Without love, guidance and teaching from fathers and elders, we struggle with how to become, and what it means to be a man.
Without fathers, elders to initiate us into a sacred sense of masculinity, to ground us in the spiritual and emotional life of men, we are confused about power. Having no positive, male mode of personal power, we react to the omnipresent feminine: we push it away, degrading and trying to dominate it in ourselves and in women; we submit, trying to become nice men, good boys. Overly passive or overly aggressive, men are often, at their core, lost. We vacillate, dependent, somehow needing to separate, unable to commit, unable to leave.
This training is for men who want to stand on their own ground, who want to see themselves in a masculine mirror, to find a sacred sense of the self outside our mother’s and women’s world. It is for men who wish to move beyond adolescence, to find our power through seeing our lives as a quest for vision.
Meeting one weekend a month for 8 months, beginning November 13, 2026, the group will enact a modern-day hero’s journey. Using depth psychology, ritual, initiatory activities and group processes, we will identify the mother-son conflict that lives in us, separating from adolescence, reaction and dependency. We will cross the threshold of the sacred, developing personal and male rituals to support and guide us through life, creating self-trust and a nurturing, healthy masculinity that can help heal ourselves, families, and communities.
This 8-month men’s training has three phases which mirror all traditional rites of passage:
FALL: November 13-15 – December 11-13 — January 8-10…
Severance; the end of Summer; saying goodbye to our childhoods. We cut the cords that hold us to a little boy’s view of the world, and we give them a decent burial. With mythological guidance, through psychodrama, journaling, personal ritual, and other processes we discover the ways we’re still imprisoned by mother’s (and father’s) view of us; how those stories and wounds express themselves in our relationships and lives; and we sever from the old story and sense of ourselves as victim of that story. We begin our journey.
WINTER: February 12-14 – March 12-14 — April 9-11…
Entering the sacred world; the journey within. In the winter we enter stillness, discover and nurture the life that sleeps under the ground — our true self under the surface of things. We journey to the underworld; search for and reclaim the lost self. Through holotropic breathwork, shamanic journeys, dreamwork, council and ritual we discover the wise ones who live within: our allies and guides. We encounter the grail, the seed of our vision, our bliss, and claim our special gift to give to “our people.” We explore the male mode of feeling, nurturing, and loving, and our personal connection to the mature male archetypes of Warrior, Lover, Magician, and King.
SPRING: May 7-9 — June 4-6…
Return; resurrection; rebirth. In spring we are birthed from the male womb into the world. In the company of other men, we affirm sacred masculinity; create and undergo rites of passage; inhabit our “purpose circle” on the earth and initiate ourselves into manhood. We encounter the feminine, in ourselves and in the world, from the foundation of a strong and loving masculine presence. Through prayer lodge, ritual enactment and council circles we will affirm and strengthen our commitment to life: to generate, to guide, to bless and celebrate the giving of our gifts to our people.
The training will be held at Stumpsprouts Retreat Center in Hawley, MA. Fields, ponds, woodland streams, and stunning views adorn the area.
Sparrow Hart created the Mythic Warrior Training in 1994 and has led vision quests, workshops, and journeys of the soul across the U.S. for over 35 years. He is an author, counselor, and teaches courses and workshops on the hero’s journey, shamanism, nature and the spirit, and the path of the warrior. He founded and directed the Men’s Wisdom Council at the Rowe Conference Center for over 20 years and has been involved in the men’s movement for almost twice that.
The cost is $375 per weekend (before October 1, $450/weekend after) and includes Zoom calls between our gatherings to integrate the weekends lessons. We offer a 10% discount if you bring a friend/another man. Payment may be made monthly, but we require a commitment to the entire 8-month program. A deposit of $375 is required to reserve your space and will be applied to the final weekend. If special circumstances require an alternative payment plan, these may be negotiated on an individual basis. The weekends will begin on Friday evenings at 8 P.M., concluding early Sunday afternoons. Directions and further information will be sent upon enrollment.
FAQ's
I'm undecided... I don't want to regret coming... h0w do I make this decision?
- Commit to yourself: The person wallowing in indecision is the person you are now. Mythic Warrior will help/require you to become a different person — a person who lives his life without self-doubt and regret.
- Experience the first weekend: We also offer the option to come, commit to, and experience the initial weekend for yourself. At the end, before leaving you’ll have a choice to commit to the rest of the program or not come back.
Is there scholarship assistance available?
- Maybe: There is a limited amount of set-aside funds to help. If you attend and pay for the first weekend, we’ll encourage men to state their financial limitations and ask for help. Often — usually — there are others attending who are willing to gift and help those with lesser means.
What will be my big takeaway… what will I drive away with?
- Your adult is calling.: The Hero already exists within you, but it may be felt as a potential, a longing, like a seed awaiting spring. In Mythic Warrior, that seed will germinate, take root, flower, and start to bear fruit and change your life in ways you probably can’t imagine. You’ll become an adult.
I‘m undecided… I don’t want to regret coming… how do I make this decision?
- Commit to yourself: The person wallowing in indecision is the person you are now. Mythic Warrior will help/require you to become a different person — a person who lives his life without self-doubt and regret.
- Experience the first weekend: We also offer the option to come, commit to, and experience the initial weekend for yourself. At the end, before leaving you’ll have a choice to commit to the rest of the program or not come back.
How can I create the time in my busy schedule to be gone one weekend a month?
The answer to this will depend on each man’s specific situation. Here are some points to consider:
- Invest in yourself: This is 8 weekends over 8 months dedicated to your growth and well-being — time that will make you more present, powerful, and effective in all other areas of your life.
- Schedule in advance: Mark all dates now on your calendar and treat them as non-negotiable appointments with yourself and accountable to other men.
- Consider what you’re saying “yes” to: Men often find that once committed, the time appears — it’s about priorities and making space for what truly matters.
- The program is designed for busy men: The once-monthly format recognizes your other commitments while providing enough frequency to build momentum and community.
I’m not sure I can make it every weekend. Do I have to attend every month? What if I have to miss?
- Full commitment is required: The program requires commitment to all 8 months — each weekend builds on the previous one, and the group journey depends on everybody in the circle showing up with whatever they are carrying.
- The experience is cumulative: Missing weekends disrupts both your personal process and the group’s development through the hero’s journey.
- Life happens: If truly exceptional circumstances arise, reach out to the facilitators to discuss — but the expectation is full attendance.
- Consider your readiness: If you’re uncertain about making this commitment now, think about waiting for a time when you can fully participate.
What are the sleeping arrangements? Showers? What do I need to bring?
- Sleeping: Stump Sprouts provides beds with mattresses; you bring your own bedding (sleeping bag or sheets/blankets). You’ll likely sleep in a bunkroom with one or more other men. Come prepared with whatever might arise in a group sleeping situation (e.g., snoring, CPAP machines, etc.)
- Showers/bathrooms: Indoor facilities are available; bring your own personal toiletries
- Additional things to bring:
- Weather-appropriate clothing for outdoor activities
- Journal/writing pad and pen
- Any sacred or ritual objects meaningful to you
- Drums, rattles, and/or musical instruments are encouraged.
How will food work? What if I have dietary requirements?
- Meals are communal: Men contribute food items on a rotating basis and share in meal preparation
- Typical schedule: Light Friday snacks, Saturday brunch (~10:30 AM) and dinner (5:00-8:00 PM), Sunday breakfast, plus snacks throughout
- Rotation system: Each month you’ll bring a different contribution (snacks, dinner, brunch, entrée, juice, etc.). You’ll be notified before each weekend what to bring.
- Dietary needs: Meal prep teams will generally be aware of dietary needs and will often try to accommodate them. However, they may not always be able to and men who need special considerations will sometimes bring their own personal food for certain meals.
How is the program structured? … What is the daily schedule? … How much “work” vs. “downtime” is there?
The weekend structure: Opening circle is on Fridays, 8:00 PM. Closing circle is typically on Sunday, ~1:00-1:30 PM. Men should arrive at Stump Sprouts by 7:00pm on Friday to settle in and plan to leave on Sunday at approximately 2:00pm.
There are three phases in the 8 months that mirror the hero’s journey:
- Fall (Nov-Jan): Severance — releasing childhood patterns
- Winter (Feb-Apr): Sacred journey — inner work, breathwork, dreamwork, ritual
- Spring (May-Jun): Return — initiation, integration, bringing gifts to the world
The balance of intensity and rest: The work is deep and transformative (psychodrama, ritual, council circles, breathwork), balanced with meals, connection time, and integration.
- This is not a vacation: Expect intensive personal growth work, mixed with meaningful downtime for processing, social time, and rest.
Will there be time for me to connect with nature?
- Nature is integral to the experience: The retreat center and its surroundings are intentionally chosen to support the work and each man’s connection to the sacred. Stump Sprouts features fields, ponds, trails, and stunning mountain views.
- There are outdoor activities each weekend: Even in winter, you’ll spend time outdoors (dress appropriately).
- Early arrival on Fridays is encouraged: Come early to settle in, leave the past week behind, and connect with the land.
Does the location have cell signal and WiFi?
- Yes and…it depends: Stump Sprouts offers a limited WiFi signal. Rural Massachusetts locations like Hawley can have limited cell coverage depending on your carrier.
- Embrace the disconnect: Part of the transformative experience is stepping away from daily distractions and being fully present with the work and community.
- Plan accordingly: Let family/work know you may have limited availability during weekends.
- Emergencies: Talk to the facilitators directly if reliable connectivity is essential for emergencies
Food & Lodging
We look forward to sharing this journey with a group of committed people. The following addresses some of the things you will need to know and logistics of the weekends.
The weekends will begin at 8:00 PM on Friday nights and end at approximately 1:00 to 1:30 on Sunday. We recommend that you arrive a little early — to relax, to unload whatever you’ve brought, to walk the land, etc. — so that we will be able to start promptly at 8:00. We especially recommend this for our first meeting. The directions are easier to follow if there’s some daylight.
Stumpsprouts provides beds with a mattress, but you must bring your own bedding. Most people bring a sleeping bag, but you can bring sheets and blankets if you prefer. Also bring whatever personal toiletries you require, a writing pad or journal, a pen or pencil, and whatever sacred or ritual objects are important to you.
Food: Our meal plan will be somewhat flexible to accommodate the timing of the various exercises and activities we will do on the weekends, but in general it will look something like this: Friday evening — no meal, but snack food will be available. Saturday mornings Coffee/tea/light snack early. Brunch will be a major meal, generally happening around 10:30 AM. Dinner will be the other major meal of the day and may happen as early as 5:00 or as late as 8:00 depending on our work together. Snacks will be available. Sunday morning will be a breakfast, after which we will clean up and finish our work.
Each month men will bring a contribution to our meals together. From the second weekend onward, we will have a regular rotation where one month you may bring snacks, the next a dinner entree, the next, juice, etc.
Since we do not yet know the number of participants we have, before the first month we will write or email you to let you know the item or category of food for you to bring, and we will give you contact information for the other men in the program.
If you have any questions, call or email Sparrow Hart at 971-239-6463 or sparrow@together.net
We look forward to seeing you.
Transportation
Stumpsprouts Retreat Center is in Hawley, MA
From Boston or eastern Massachusetts: Route 2 runs east-west across the whole state of Massachusetts. Take Route 2 West to Charlemont, MA. Then, take Route 8A South 6 miles to West Hill Road. Turn Right and continue up the hill for one mile.
From Hartford, New York City or most of Connecticut: If you are coming from Connecticut or New York, get yourself onto Interstate 91, which runs north-south from Hartford and New Haven to Vermont. Take I-91 to Route 2 in Greenfield, MA (Exit 26). Then take Route 2 west to Charlemont, MA. Next, take Route 8A south 6 miles to West Hill Road. Turn right and continue up the hill for one mile.
If you are coming from Vermont, take I-91 south to Route 2 west. Then follow the directions above.
If you have any difficulty, on the weekend you can leave a message at 971-239-6463. For information before the weekend, call 802-387-6624 or email sparrow@together.net
Good Luck !
What to Bring
Bring clothing appropriate to the season and weather. We will be spending some time outdoors each weekend, even in winter, so it’s important that you bring clothing that will keep you comfortable. In the winter, good boots, gloves, hat, and jacket are essential. Rain gear is also recommended.
Stumpsprouts provides beds with a mattress, but you must bring your own bedding. Most people bring a sleeping bag, but you can bring sheets and blankets if you prefer. Also bring whatever personal toiletries you require, a writing pad or journal, a pen or pencil, and whatever sacred or ritual objects are important to you. We will often have a central altar to remind us of our commitment to Spirit, and you can add your energetic presence to that space by bringing things that are significant to you. Drums, rattles, and musical instruments are also encouraged. Part of reclaiming our lost selves is learning and expressing ourselves in ways that are outside of the ego and its habitual domain of talking and reason.
For our first meeting, please bring two other things: 1) An item that symbolizes or expresses something you want to say goodbye to or put behind you; and 2) a poem, song (live or taped), or reading that expresses this point in your life.
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