The facilitation and organizing team for the 2025 Men’s Pilgrimage includes:

Sky Otter

Sky Otter formerly known as Bill Pfeiffer is the founder of Sacred Earth Network  (https://billpfeiffer.org/sacred-earth-network/)(SEN) which implemented leading edge visions for over 25 years. In that time, Sky made Russia a second home, traveling there 44 times assisting the environmental and indigenous movements through SEN. This has given him a rare cross-cultural perspective. He has facilitated hundreds of spiritual ecology workshops, including vision quests, men’s councils, and breathwork sessions. He has 25 years of experience in Re-evaluation Counseling and Vipassana meditation, and has undergone extensive training with Siberian shamans. Sky has partnered with Joanna Macy, John Perkins, Llyn Roberts, Cathy Pedevillano, and John Seed. He has also spent much time in the US Southwest learning about Native medicine ways and the crucial importance of the petroglyphs and pictographs. His book, Wild Earth, Wild Soul: A Manual for an Ecstatic Culture (http://www.amazon.com/Wild-Earth-Soul-Ecstatic-Culture/dp/1780991878) has been met with high acclaim.

Sky is proud of his heritage. He is a non-Native to Turtle Island but a native of Brooklyn NY and loving his current home in Vermont. His parents were Jewish and German, both incredible lineages.

Jerry Riverstone

There are so many things to do in a lifetime, and one of my favorites is being out on foot or in small boats with fellow travelers: unplugged, curious, cocreative, open to surprises, and open to grace, where the journey is the destination. In addition to simply being good fun, this can be potent medicine for the soul, providing glimmers of what is possible.

I draw upon prior experiences including working for a decade as a geographer with native people on land rights issues in Latin America, organizing a pilgrimage along the full length of Hudson River, extensive training through the Animas Valley Institute, and nearly 20 years of leading inner development groups.

A few questions that guide me are: How can we plant seeds now for future cultures that live in sacred relationship with the animate Earth? How can we continually awaken to the Miracle we are part of, while also getting real about our social, political, and ecological Predicament? What practices and shared experiences can activate a deep sense of vitality and evolutionary purpose?

I offer individual and group mentoring and guiding for adults, supporting those who want to explore their inner landscapes, deepen their relationships with Nature and Mystery, and lead a soulful life. Approaches include dreamwork, eidetic imaging, somatic psychedelic integration, and varied practices for rewilding the psyche.

I’m also excited to be one of the founders of Rooted Futures, a new organization for mentoring boys and young men ages 9-19, and training mentors. Check us out and spread the word: rootedfutures.org

Mason Epstein-Cohen

At any moment, Mason may fruit like a mushroom into a magical forest wizard, storytelling bard, or medicine man with song.

Being 25, he’ll be both an initiate on this pilgrimage and a facilitator.

Mason longs to tell the living stories he holds, that reveal profound whisperings of reality, passed down from our deep-time Earth ancestors. These stories are meant to, support all human kin through the rite of passage that is life at any stage, give a sense of deep time connection to the Universe/Earth, and point to the unique-living soul within all of us.

He lives in service to the web of life and is an apprentice to Gaia’s Mysteries.

Through deep listening, meditation, and imagination, through song, dance, and story, through ceremony, ritual, and sacred spaces, Mason finds his gifts to offer community and brotherhood that support the way, one foot in front of the other, eyes open to the magic all around, and ears listening into the Great Mystery.

Come to him during the Pilgrimage if you need support or have questions, if you need a human to ground and breath with, or if you desire quiet companionship for a some time.

Matthew Harkins

MovNatLevel 2 Trainer 200HrYogaInstructor Wilderness First Responder

I’m a simple man that gets lit up by moving in nature. Climbing, running, vaulting, swimming, etc. Any tarzan games, and it’s a yes from me!

I’m looking to bring youthful curiosity to this pilgrimage. By questioning life, learning deeply from others, and sensorially experiencing the little things. A quality that I believe can change the world. By returning to our kind selves.

For the four days, I hope we as men can drop into a mindset of having no agenda or inhibitions. Releasing any weight that no longer needs to be carried.

I’ll be offering Natural Movement skills. In the form of tree climbing, vaulting/parkour, & ground movement. As well as nervous system regulation practices based in mindful movement. I’m also equipped in the Wilderness First Responder realm, so feel free to send it over some logs and I’ll fix you up if needed.

Mitchel

“What’s alive for me is this great dance of life, love, the baby… I feel I am relying on what’s inside me and the dedication of everyone.

In my dedicated times I always show up in a big way. I am an in-person person. I show up best when I’m submerged and immersed.”

Pilgrimage roles include: tending the sacred fire, leading the Dance Meditation Technique, and Bardic Circle. Lead tarpologist.

Josh Pouliot

I am honored to be a part of holding the container for this second pilgrimage. I am married with a 22 month old son. I live at and help manage an international community space called The Hive Farm. We have hosted many ceremonies over the years, giving me experience with both challenging and rewarding spaces, and with many different medicines and modalities.

For the past few years I have helped to create and host a monthly mens circle. We get together for about 4 hours a month- which is not nearly enough time. We have wanted to dive deeper and have ample space & time to really grow in our brotherhood and also expand into better men out in the woods. I will do my best to bring balance to the container, and to stretch boundaries while also helping men feel held during our 4 days together and beyond.

I had an excellent father growing up, which is super fortunate and something that seems rare for many dear friends of mine. I lead from a heart space that I love to share with abundance. Looking forward to our time together- cheers!

Nicholas Thorndike

Nick is an extreme, adventure loving, rabbit hole diving, builder of whimsical dreams, and a fresh new Dad. After a profound awakening to the deeper magic of our reality, he moved back to his family land and became the founder of Sacred Nectar Sanctuary. A 290 acre plot of undeniable beauty in Sandwich, NH. A place to connect with nature and share our gifts to create “the better world our hearts know is possible.” He runs a campground and can be found outside almost any time building and tending to the land.

His desire to build meaningful community is fulfilled through his passion of up-cycle building and local consumption to minimize our footprint as a more sustainable human. This path has led his journey on a synchronistic destiny which manifested the Forest and Village and Men’s Pilgrimage community of light warriors to this land of new. Here we will begin to discover what it means to be human on a more harmonious path in line with the knowing of nature.

Nick will be here as a steward of the land with confidence in the wild to provide a space of our own unfolding. As well as a participant to the magic, Nick is a brother awaiting for us all to step into the unknown and leave the forest as greater men than the ones who entered.

Patrick Collins

I’m honored to be one of the men supporting this beautiful journey. I find the greatest way to be a revolutionary in todays world is to tend to the Earth through ecological restoration, perennial food systems, and elevating consciousness. This can be attained through a path of cutting through separation within ourselves and all beings.

With the help of great friends, mentors and intuitive study I have cultivated a deep relationship to the natural world and the divine. I believe in utilizing our sacred human vessel to be a bridge which funnels unconditional love into the healing of our culture and Gaia.

Through understanding and modeling nature we can restructure society into greater harmony with the planet and a felt sense of Unity consciousness which guides our actions to be in right relation.

You will be asked to agree to these items during registration, and uphold them during the Pilgrimage:

• I agree to stay for the duration of the Pilgrimage. Arrival is between 11 am and noon on Thursday July 31st. Departure is between 5:00-6:30 pm on Sunday August 3, unless I opt to stay for the extended program. If I don’t show up I forfeit my payment, unless prior arrangements are made for an emergency situation.

• I agree to pay the program cost upon registration. $222 per person

• I agree that this is an unplugged event. This is an unplugged event, meaning no cel phones, recording devices, mp3 players with speakers, etc…
• I agree to not bring or arrive under the influence of mind-altering substances.
• I agree to uphold a positive relational space. I agree to mutual respect, confidentiality, and not giving unsolicited advice
• I agree that I am in adequate physical condition. I understand that the Pilgrimage includes carrying a pack for an extended distance. For most Men, this includes carrying a backpacking pack with all camping and food supplies for up to three walks of up to one mile each, on and off trail. It may also includes a day hike with a day pack for approximately 9.5 miles, with a 3000’+ elevation gain, and 3000’+ descent back to base camp.
•  
•  
• Safety and liability

• I acknowledge the risks of backcountry hiking and camping. I understand that I will be in a remote location, and while limited first aid supplies may be available, I will proceed at my own risk (as on any backpacking trip).
• I agree to take responsibility for my own safety and well-being. This event includes off-trail activities, including sitting or laying on the ground. I’m aware of the hazards of tick-borne diseases, and agree to take responsibility for my own safety and well-being.

Gear/Equipment/Food

• I agree to provide all camping gear and equipment that I will need for the duration of the Pilgrimage.
• I agree to bring all food I will need for the duration of the Pilgrimage, with the exception of Thursday night dinner, which will be provided. No refrigeration or coolers will be provided, so non-perishable foods are recommended.

I understand that I am encouraged to bring a portable water filtration device for backcountry situations. Drinking water will be available through a limited number of shared filtration devices.