Robert Bly's 37th Annual Conference
on the Great Mother and New Father

May 28th 2011 - June 5th 2011

Camp Kieve, Nobleboro, Maine

Theme of 2011:

picking up wood for the fire

Join us as we gather once again to nourish the soul of the world as well as the wild soul within us. Now in its 37th year, the Great Mother Conference has always nourished the gifts of beauty, eloquence, and community. This year we will once again consider traditions both mythological and poetic, seeking the laughter in ancient wisdom and the grief held in the ocean's deep song. Please gather with us in the wildness of spring to remember what it means to live fiercely and love ferociously.



Teachers in 2011:

Miguel Rivera

Ritual leader, musician and teacher,
brings us the insight of earth-based traditions. He is an accomplished drummer, and a man in love with the language of sound.

Caroline Casey

Astrologer & visionary activist,
will keep us up to date on the latest stellar and social happenings with her unique wit and trickster mischief.
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Martin Shaw

Storyteller, mythologist & writer,
brings his voice and drum, out of many years in the wilderness, to tell some of the old tales he's gathered.
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Tony Hoagland

Poet & teacher,
joins us again with his incomparable wit to read poems and lead workshops.
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Tom Verner

Artist & Magician,
bridges cultures with amazing feats and gifts of illusion.
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Janet Fredericks

Artist, illustrator & educator,
will provide guidance and art materials to renew our way of seeing and jumpstart the imagination.
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Erik Storlie

Author & teacher,
will be leading some meditation sessions and discussing mindfullness.
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David Whetstone

Master of sitar,
brings us daily ecstatic music, accompanying poetry recitations,
and playing in concert.

Doug von Koss

Maestro of song circles,
will begin every morning by
leading us in joyous singing.
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Mary Catherine Bateson

Author & cultural anthropologist,
brings us her experience in Active Wisdom, community dialog, lifelong learning and creativity.
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Gioia Timpanelli

Author & storyteller extraordinaire,
with her captivating narration, will lead us into the rich and vivid world of story.
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Cary Odes

Comedian,
returning to us with his spontaneity and genius for comedy, will perform stand-up and teach us about humor.

John Densmore

Musician and author,
 brings us his deep belief in the power of music in enabling change.
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Mary Fell

Poet & teacher,
will guide us in finding personal inspiration in writing poetry.
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Fran Quinn

Poet & teacher,
will read from his poems, guide workshops, and introduce us to some poetry by conference attendees.
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Susan Littlefield

Yoga teacher,
will lead workshops in yoga.
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Tim Frantzich

Musician of the heart,
is back to lift our spirits with his music and teach workshops to bring out the singer in each of us.
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Marcus Wise

Master of tablas,
will once again guide us into the
heart of rhythm with his exceptional Indian drumming.
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