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[Samhain] Men’s Embodiment Circle – 10/30/24

$33.00

Date/Time: Wednesday Nights 6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. PST / Virtual doors open at 5:45 for you to drop in

Location: Zoom Private Virtual Room

What is Samhain?: See below

Facilitator: Amir Khalighi

Structure, Preparation, & Special Note: For details on special preparations, please see below. Please note that the Samhain circle is the only circle of the year that is not donation-based (i.e., “name your exchange”) and is not included as part of the TFTP men’s program.

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Description

Structure:  The first 15 min. are introductions and intention setting.  Then we fall into approximately 75 min of deep practices (yogic, somatic, shamanic & embodiment) consisting of various practices from various traditions.  The final portion of our time will be spent in a community circle (men putting their voices into the circle).

Date/Time:  Every Wednesday Night, 6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. PDT.  Registration must be completed no later than 5:30 p.m. PDT on the day of the gathering for you to receive your Zoom log-in instructions in time; virtual doors open at 5:45 p.m.  PDT.  Once you register, you will receive an email with your Zoom link and password to join the circle.

What is Samhain?

Samhain, an ancient Gaelic festival, originated over 2,000 years ago as a celebration marking the end of the harvest and the transition into the dark half of the year. Rooted in the agricultural cycles of Celtic communities in Ireland, Scotland, and the Isle of Man, it symbolized the delicate balance between life and death as crops were gathered, livestock were brought in, and the earth prepared for winter’s rest. The festival was celebrated with great bonfires and rituals to honor the dead, protect the living, and ensure a successful harvest for the following year. Samhain also marked the moment when the veil between the physical world and the “Otherworld” was believed to be at its thinnest, allowing spirits, ancestors, and mythical beings like the Aos Sí to pass freely into the human realm. This blurred boundary fostered a sense of awe, respect, and mystery as people prepared offerings and held ceremonies to ward off harmful spirits while honoring those who had passed on.

The transformative allure of Samhain lies in its invitation to embrace the darkness and the cycles of death and rebirth. It represents a time of introspection and renewal, encouraging people to face what must die—whether in their lives, their habits, or their communities—in order to make way for new beginnings. By acknowledging the inevitability of death and the harshness of winter, Samhain transforms fear into wisdom, offering a sense of peace and continuity. The bonfires, seen as both protective and purifying, symbolized the cleansing of the old and the welcoming of the new. Samhain’s power to transform lies in its recognition that from the ashes of what has ended, something fresh and vital can emerge, capturing the spirit of survival, renewal, and hope.

Preparation For Virtual Gathering:

    • Privacy – Set aside two uninterrupted hours for yourself. This is your time to give to yourself. You will need privacy.
    • Intention – Set an intention on what you want to bring or receive in these two hours. You will be asked to claim your intention during introductions. Keep it short and to the point.
    • Setting / Sacred Space – Create a sacred space to practice in. Take this seriously. If you’ve ever been to our physical gatherings, you see what meticulous attention goes into creating the sacred space we work in. At a minimum, set yourself up with candles in the four directions and sage your area before stepping into it. You want your space to feel safe and inviting. Set it apart from other parts of your living space, and elevate the space. Make it sacred. Do not join a call from your car or a public place.
    • Technical Non-Issues- Make sure you get your audio and video sorted out and have the latest version of Zoom before the start of the meeting so you don’t have to fuss with it when we begin.  Wireless earbuds or headphones are recommended.
    • Don’t Rush – Set time aside to do this right.  Make sure you log in as close to 5:45 p.m. PST as possible, sit and ground yourself; you will see other men doing the same.  This is your time; ease into the experience.  Refrain from chatting with others, checking your phone, etc.  Sit, tune into the music being played, and settle in.  We start promptly at 6:00 P.M PST.
    • Structure – Introductions & setting intentions (Apx. 15 min.), followed by Practice (Apx. 75 min.). After practice, the recording is turned off as we move into the sharing circle (Apx 30 min.), The sharing circle allows each man who desires to put his voice into the circle. What you share here stays here in absolute privacy.
    • Honor The Container – No late entries. No early departures. We honor ourselves and listen to our bodies. We go ALL IN yet are aware of advocating for ourselves so as not to participate from a space of ego during practices. We find where our 80% edge lives, and we breathe into the pose at hand and relax into it. What is shared in our circle portion of our gathering is considered sacred and private; it does not get shared with anyone; it stays in the circle.  All practices are recorded and shared on our private online community page, but no recordings occur during the circle portion of our gathering.
    • Processing Potential Triggers – Some practices take us deep into spaces within the body and the unconscious where we hold pain and sometimes trauma. You are in a safe container, and letting go and leaning in is encouraged, but if you feel stuck or triggered by chance, post-practice, we ask that you send a private chat message to your facilitator. Then stay after the circle portion of the gathering to work with him in helping you move through the existing charge.

What To Expect:  At our men’s embodiment circle, we dive into deep practices and community designed to shed what no longer serves us to step more powerfully into our lives.  Each man creates a sacred space in the comfort of his home (see “Preparation For Virtual Gathering” below), then we virtually share a powerful two-hour experience. Practices include movement, breath-work, physical and spiritual practices from various traditions, including Tibetan Buddhism, qigong, Kundalini, archetypal embodiment, shadow work, and deep dives into the subconscious via guided meditations.  These practices are structured in a safe container that takes each man into spaces where the potential for deep healing and clarity can be experienced.  We work on developing our masculine container as men of presence, depth, and consciousness and developing acceptance, expression, and a relationship with the feminine within.

In the circle portion of our gathering, men share in a safe container with one another.  What is shared here is held in strict confidence by a community of powerful, loving men. You can share and debrief your experience from the practices or where you are currently in your life.  An intrinsic quality of nourishment happens when men spend time together in practice and community.  We aim to cultivate and raise a community of powerful, conscious men, and we invite you to join us. No experience is required for any of the above practices mentioned…come as you are. If you are hurting and need support, come.  As the thirteenth-century poet Rumi said, “Come, come, whoever you are. Wanderer, worshiper, lover of leaving. It doesn’t matter. Ours is not a caravan of despair. Come, even if you have broken your vows a thousand times. Come, yet again, come, come.”
We look forward to meeting you and welcoming you into our circle.

The Following Items & Attention To Your Practice Space Will Support You At Our Virtual Embodiment Circles:

  1. Privacy so that you will have 2 hours of uninterrupted time for yourself
  2. Create sacred space (see “Preparation for Men’s Embodiment Circle” below)
  3. A meditation cushion: Zafu & Zafu Tan or a meditation chair. (meditation cushions or meditation chairs not needed for in-person)
  4. Let your space be conducive to movement, and wear comfortable clothing to practice in
  5. A blindfold
  6. Unlit candles (in addition to the ones used to set up your practice space, see above
  7. Bluetooth headset or wireless earpods (sound is an essential component in our practices, make sure the audio is coming in nice and loud)
  8. Do not attend the circle from your car or a public space.