Open: Men's Retreat
Upcoming Men’s retreat
It is time for men to do the work of understanding ourselves and each other, to rediscover the spirit of brotherhood, to ask what we can offer a world that needs balance and direction now, more than ever.
We live at a time when the place of men in the world is shifting. Many have begun to reject the old patriarchal expression of a masculinity that is dominating and violent, cut off from emotions and ultimately not in service to life. Yet a new conception of what a healthy, mature masculine expression could look like is still in the process of being formed.
It is time for men to do the work of understanding and initiating ourselves and each other. To reconnect with emotions buried under decades of shame. To celebrate our human needs for love, intimacy and expression. To rediscover the feeling of safety and support that brotherhood can bring, when too often we are pitted against each other as competitors. To reclaim our sensing bodies as part of nature, and to see nature reflected in ourselves. To return to the core of our beings and retrieve a way of living that we can be proud of. To ask what we can offer a world that needs balance and direction now, more than ever.
This retreat offers a chance for a psychedelic exploration into your mind and heart, catalysed by the safety and camaraderie among men sharing an adventure.
The experience of brotherhood – of feeling held and supported by the other men in our life – is unknown to most of us. The retreat could also be an exploration of your own experience of being a man and relating to other men, catalysed by the openness, intensity and insight that psychedelics can bring.
Who is it for?
Our OPEN retreats offer an accessible entrypoint into psychedelic and other forms of inner exploration and personal growth. Open retreats introduce you to the foundational pillars of our approach: relationship with self, relationship with others, relationship with nature, relationship with the Mystery. They are open to all, regardless of prior experience of psychedelic substances.
This Men’s retreat will be an inclusive space for all people who identify as men. If you feel interested in participating but have questions, particularly if you are transgender or genderqueer, you are warmly invited to get in touch with us at retreats@alalaho.org.
Disclaimer
- Our retreats are for people in good mental and physical health. We do not offer therapeutic or medical treatment.
- Reasons for not being able to participate in our retreats include serious cardiovascular (e.g. recent stroke or heart attack) or neurological issues (e.g. epilepsy or brain trauma), use of antidepressant (e.g. SSRI/TCA), mood stabilising (e.g. lithium) or antipsychotic (e.g. Abilify) medications or severe mental health problems (e.g. psychosis, bipolar disorder, personality disorder).
- Even though the vast majority of our participants have very meaningful and beneficial experiences, there is no guaranteed outcome from participating on a retreat.
- The majority of research indicating the positive effects of psilocybin was done in a clinical setting, which is very different to that of a retreat environment. More research is needed to explore the benefits offered by group psilocybin experiences.
What’s included?
PREPARATION SUPPORT
Giving due energy to preparation before the psychedelic journey not only reduces the possibility of anxiety and tension blocking the flow of the experience, it also enhances the probability of an enriched, deeper experience. Ahead of each retreat, you will receive reading material and suggested exercises to support your preparation for the retreat. One week before the retreat you will also have the opportunity to meet your lead facilitator and fellow participants via video call, allowing you to get to know each other and feel safe in the group, as well as ask any burning questions you might have.
On the retreat itself, we offer one-on-one sessions with the facilitators, and individual and group activities to help you feel well prepared and supported, as well as safe and bonded with the group before stepping into the unknown.
INTEGRATION SUPPORT
In many ways, the journey only really begins when the psychedelic effect subsides. In the days after the ceremony, we incorporate solo and group integration activities, and individual one-on-one sessions with the facilitators to give you the opportunity to explore the deeper nuances of your journey. We also offer 3 weeks of support following the retreat – through group video calls as well as suggested exercises – to help you weave the insights from the retreat back into your everyday life.
“The attention to integration was amazing, extremely impactful, and probably the main reason I’d recommend these retreats.” Li, 32 years old
GROUP EXERCISES & GROUP SUPPORT
On the retreat we can safely explore relating to one another in a held and loving space. Tremendous healing comes from being witnessed and accepted as who we are. In traditional contexts, psychedelics have often been used in group settings, the benefits of which were recently explored in a research study. The group is also a major resource in the integration process. In a society that hasn’t yet incorporated the use of psychedelics and other peak experiences into its fabric, the community of fellow retreat participants plays a central role as allies and companions on this extraordinary journey.
“I learned so much simply from being in the company of fellow participants, facilitators and volunteers. It was so wonderful to feel part of such a supportive community.” Duncan, 35 years old
MEDITATION & CONTEMPLATIVE EXERCISES
Embodiment practices
NATURE CONNECTION
HEALTHY, EXQUISITE FOOD
CREATIVE EXPRESSION
RITUAL AND CEREMONY
MEDITATION & CONTEMPLATIVE EXERCISES
Embodiment practices
NATURE CONNECTION
HEALTHY, EXQUISITE FOOD
CREATIVE EXPRESSION
RITUAL AND CEREMONY
“May your choices reflect your hopes, not your fears.” Nelson Mandela