Mysteries of the Wild Heart: A Christine Center Men’s Weekend
October 16-18, 2026
with Pierre MacGillis and Wade Britzius
This retreat is a call to feel and feed your wild heart and honor the mysteries of the sacred masculine.
Come to the Mysteries of the Wild Heart Men’s Weekend, step into a sacred time and space, and activate your most vital self. In the safe, dynamic container of this retreat, you will cultivate a clearer connection to your heart, experience enlivening fellowship, and renew your sense of purpose.
Men in our society are often expected to stifle our feelings and imagination as well as our deep yearning for authentic connection with ourselves and one another. Many of us resist exploring our inner lives and are seldom supported to do so in ways that are convincing or helpful. These patterns of habitual neglect prevent us from living our most inspired and spirited lives.
Our need to nourish the deep, wild heart—and for supportive and meaningful brotherhood—is ancient and doesn’t go away even if we suppress it or forget about it. Renewing these primal connections is possible—but requires that we face ourselves courageously and feel deeply.
Through storytelling, careful listening, time for reflection, and simple ritual processes, we will drop down into the nourishing dark together and remember what our souls and the world so passionately need.
Retreat Highlights
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- In the beautiful natural setting of The Christine Center, take time away from your daily life to contemplate where you are now—and where you long to go
- Reflect upon great mythic stories and consider how they speak to your soul today
- Share your own stories and enjoy heartfelt conversation with other men in a strong, clean container
- Participate in simple but powerful ritual processes to help you connect to your body and heart
- Honor your wounds and find in your shadow side raw material for healing and transformation
- In the harvest time of autumn, find renewal of purpose and uncover your inner light
Your Guide for the Journey
Pierre MacGillis
Pierre MacGillis has deeply explored the realm of psyche and spirit for much of his life. He embarked upon a rigorous course of study at the University of Notre Dame, investigating ancient Greek culture and thought. Drawn to multiple ways of looking at the world, he also developed profound curiosity about diverse world and earth-based wisdom traditions. He spent a year living in Nepal and has maintained a daily meditation practice for 25 years. He has taught high school English and mythology for over 20 years and celebrates both the power of stories as well as the power of nature to feed and heal the soul. Pierre is committed to continuing to attend to his own inner work so he can be as present as possible with himself and others. He yearns to help men connect to their hearts—and believes that this simple but challenging move can change the world.
Wade Britzius
Since 1971 Wade has called the beautiful Driftless region adjacent to the Mississippi River his home. He was the founder and for 28 years director, of Trempealeau County Community Television studio, working with a wide variety of people and institutions. He has done several major photo documentary projects and has served on several non-profit Boards and as a County Government Supervisor. Wade has practiced Vipassana meditation since 1988, and has been a student of the Diamond Approach since 1996. He has made an extensive study of Nonviolent, or Compassionate Communication since 2003, and currently works part time mediating custody and placement of children for the local Family Court. He leads workshops related to Nonviolent Communication, and loves to ride his bike over the hills, and canoe the riverways of his local region.