FIREKEEPERSMen's Retreat
"O, let not the flame die out! Cherished age after age in its dark cavern — in its holy temples cherished. Fed by pure ministers of love — let not the flame die out!" The Kybalion
A Sacred Invitation
Firekeepers is the only public retreat offered annually by Embodied Masculine — an initiatory gathering of 40 men called to step out of the noise of the world and return to the living flame of the heart, where truth, devotion, and right relationship are remembered. This year we gather in Chalma, Mexico, one of the most powerful pilgrimage sites in Mesoamerica: a threshold between worlds, shaped by caves, springs, prayer, and surrender.
Here, the work is not symbolic. It is embodied. Through ceremony, movement, breath, sound, and council, we enter a living dialogue with the land and with one another — tending the inner flame through presence, humility, and devotion, so it may illuminate our lives and ripple outward into our families, communities, and the world.
We gather as Firekeepers because throughout history there have always been men who feel the deeper pulse beneath the surface of society — men devoted to carrying the sacred forward, not in abstraction, but through how they live, lead, and love. In Chalma, that fire is earned.
This is not simply a retreat. It is a pilgrimage and a living ceremony. A remembering.
What's Included In This Retreat
- I.4 days / 3 nights lodging at a private retreat center in the heart of nature
- II.Transportation from Mexico City to the retreat center in Chalma
- III.Locally prepared meals crafted with deep intention and love
- IV.Transformative in-person sessions with Amir Khalighi and lead LVL2 certified facilitators
- V.Offerings led by TFTP Level 1 men in training, or spacious time to walk the land and deepen your connection
- VI.Nature immersion and visits to revered sacred sites in Chalma, in prayer and practice
- VII.Temazcal ceremony
- VIII.Brotherhood and community — deepen existing bonds and forge new ones
- IX.The opportunity to bring our practices and prayers to the land, in reciprocity
- X.Deep nourishment and revitalization of body, mind, and spirit
- XI.Integration time — no-demand space to rest, reflect, and simply be
- XII.Live teachings and Q&A with Amir Khalighi
Not Included
Airfare to Mexico City · Personal expenses
Chalma, Mexico
Cradle of Transformation · Birthplace of Gods
Chalma has long been revered as one of Mexico's most powerful pilgrimage sites — a place where devotion, humility, and transformation converge. Nestled in lush mountains and nourished by sacred waters, it has drawn generations of seekers who came to lay down burdens, seek healing, and reorient their lives toward what is essential.
At the heart of Chalma is the Black Christ, an enigmatic figure born from the convergence of Indigenous earth-based spirituality and later Christian mysticism. Beneath the icon lies an older current: an initiatory passage through shadow, surrender, and embodied prayer. Chalma has never been about spectacle. It is a threshold.
As we gather for Firekeepers, we do so in reverence — bringing our practices not only to receive but to bless, to offer, and to give back. We come to tend the sacred fire within, and to let the land itself reshape us from the inside out.
Reflections From Men Who Have Attended
"I noticed this disconnection between me and other men. This was really a deep wound that I actually wanted to navigate, noticing as well that a lot of it stems from my own experiences with my own father."
— Alex L.
"Working with Amir and being in community with other men, and exploring my own purpose in the world has brought clarity and nourishment I didn't even know I needed."
— Alex R.
"I have a son who is 12. Doing this work, this retreat, is the best gift I can give to him — so when he grows up, he knows he'll have a community with a deeper sense of connection waiting for him."
— Chaitan B.
"I've never felt more inner peace and groundedness. Any man who wishes to find his connection to something greater than himself and develop the capacity to handle the turbulence of the world should consider diving into this community."
— Jason D.
Leave the familiar for a while. Let your senses and bodies stretch out like a welcomed season onto the meadows and shores and hills. Open up to the roof. Make a new watermark on your excitement and love. Like a blooming night flower, bestow your vital fragrance of happiness and giving upon our intimate assembly.
Change rooms in your mind for a day. All the hemispheres in existence lie beside an equator in your heart. Greet yourself in your thousand other forms as you mount the hidden tide and travel back home. All the hemispheres in heaven are sitting around a fire, chatting while stitching themselves together into the great circle inside of you.
— Hafez
This Retreat Will Benefit Men Who
- 01Need a deep RESET from their day to day lives
- 02Are hungry for CAMARADERIE and connection with other powerful men
- 03Want to experience deep embodiment through shamanic and somatic PRACTICES
- 04Desire HEALING in some part of their lives
- 05Want to reconnect to an EMPOWERED version of themselves
- 06Need to feel more ALIGNMENT in relation to the natural world
- 07Want to redefine their relationship with POWER
- 08Desire deeper PERSPECTIVE on the pressing issues in their lives
- 09Want to LET GO and be held in a safe container for four days
- 10Need to RECLAIM a sense of self lost to relationship or society's demands
- 11Crave NOURISHMENT from simply being around heart-centered men
- 12Are new to our community and curious to experience our MEDICINE
- 13Love to play and listen to live music around the fire, in connection
- 14Need a complete RESET and a pattern interrupt in their lives
Return Home: Rejuvenated & Replenished
- Deepened RELATIONSHIP to community, self & the natural world
- GROUNDED presence carried into your relationships and purpose
- More CLARITY surrounding areas of uncertainty in your life
- A deeper sense of FREEDOM in relation to your life circumstances
- A new paradigm for understanding and working with POWER
- NOURISHED from nature and delicious meals shared in community
- A stronger sense of SELF
- A larger SUPPORT group of men who will walk this path with you
A Glimpse Into the Land We Will Be Working With
Firekeepers Schedule
Thursday 11/5
- General Public Check-In · 1:00 – 4:00 PM
- Opening Fire Circle · 5:00 – 6:00 PM
- Evening Practice · 6:00 – 8:00 PM
- Dinner · 8:30 – 9:30 PM
- Fireside Gathering · 10:00 PM
Friday 11/6
- Sunrise Meditation · 6:00 – 6:45 AM (optional)
- Fireside Coffee · 7:00 – 8:00 AM
- Morning Practice · 8:30 – 11:30 AM
- Lunch · 12:00 – 1:00 PM
- Free Time / TFTP Offerings · 1:00 – 3:30 PM
- Evening Practice · 4:30 – 7:30 PM
- Dinner · 8:00 – 9:00 PM
- Fireside Gathering · 9:00 PM
Saturday 11/7
- Sunrise Meditation · 6:00 – 6:45 AM (optional)
- Fireside Coffee · 7:00 – 8:00 AM
- Morning Practice · 8:30 – 11:30 AM
- Lunch · 12:00 – 1:00 PM
- Free Time / TFTP Offerings · 1:00 – 3:30 PM
- Evening Practice · 4:30 – 7:30 PM
- Dinner · 8:00 – 9:00 PM
- Fireside Gathering · 9:00 PM
Sunday 11/8
- Fireside Coffee · 8:00 AM
- Breakdown · 8:30 – 9:30 AM
- Closing Circle · 10:00 – 12:00 PM
- Farewell Lunch · 12:00 – 1:00 PM
- Checkout · 1:00 PM
Secure Your Place With a $500 Deposit
Complete payment by September 1, 2026.
Reserve My PlaceRegistration For The 2026 Firekeepers Retreat Is Now Open
Early Bird Registration pricing ends February 2, 2026.
Brotherhood Quarters
Shared communal lodging designed to support simplicity, presence, and brotherhood — ideal for men who value shared rhythm and collective experience.
Brotherhood Quarters
Shared communal lodging designed to support simplicity, presence, and brotherhood — ideal for men who value shared rhythm and collective experience.
PER MONTH · 4 MONTHS
Companion Chambers
Shared lodging with one other brother — a balance of comfort, privacy, and connection, supporting both solitude and shared rhythm.
Companion Chambers
Shared lodging with one other brother — a balance of comfort, privacy, and connection, supporting both solitude and shared rhythm.
PER MONTH · 4 MONTHS
Inner Sanctum (Standard)
A simple, private space for rest and reflection — single bed with access to a shared bathroom, close to the communal rhythm of the retreat.
Inner Sanctum (Standard)
A simple, private space for rest and reflection — single bed with access to a shared bathroom, close to the communal rhythm of the retreat.
PER MONTH · 4 MONTHS
Inner Sanctum (Premium)
Deeper privacy within the ceremonial field — a double bed and private bathroom for full withdrawal, rest, and restoration between practices.
Inner Sanctum (Premium)
Deeper privacy within the ceremonial field — a double bed and private bathroom for full withdrawal, rest, and restoration between practices.
PER MONTH · 4 MONTHS
4-month payment plans include a 10% payment plan fee, reflecting additional administrative and processing costs.
Questions & Answers
What is the Firekeepers Men's Retreat really about?
Firekeepers is a pilgrimage and living ceremony for men who feel called to return to what is essential. It is not about self-improvement or adopting a spiritual identity, but about slowing down, becoming honest, and tending the inner fire that guides how a man lives, loves, and leads. Held in Chalma, Mexico, an ancient site of devotion and surrender, the retreat supports clarity, humility, and deep remembrance.
What information will I receive after I register?
Once registration is complete and all required agreements and waivers are signed via DocuSign, you'll receive practical details on travel, timing, and how to prepare in the weeks leading up to the retreat. Your space is confirmed once all forms are completed.
Is this retreat only for men who have done men's work before?
No. Firekeepers welcomes men who are new to this kind of work as well as those with years of practice. What matters most is willingness — to show up honestly and meet the experience as it comes.
What will we actually be doing during the retreat?
Ceremony, movement, breath, sound, and council — alongside nature immersion, visits to sacred sites, a temazcal ceremony, and open integration time to rest and reflect.
What makes this retreat different from others?
Firekeepers is intentionally small (40 men), held on sacred land with deep historical significance, and led in person by Amir Khalighi and certified facilitators rather than run as a large-scale event.
Do I need to prepare anything ahead of time?
Very little preparation is required. There is no required reading or prior practice. The most meaningful preparation is arriving rested, open, and willing to be present — everything essential is held and guided on site.
Is this a plant medicine retreat?
No. Firekeepers is not a plant medicine retreat and no psychoactive substances are used or facilitated. The work is rooted in embodied presence, relationship, ritual, and time in connection with the land and one another.
Where is the retreat held, and what is the setting like?
The retreat takes place in Chalma, Mexico. Exact location and arrival instructions are provided via email once registration is complete and all required agreements and waivers have been signed.
What's included in the cost of the retreat?
Tuition includes full participation in the Firekeepers Retreat, selected lodging accommodations, all meals for the duration, and round-trip transportation between Mexico City and the retreat center. Airfare to Mexico City and personal expenses are not included.
What if I feel emotionally raw or spiritually tired?
Facilitators and support staff are present throughout to hold space for whatever arises. Integration time is built into each day precisely so nothing is rushed.
Can I come late or leave early?
We ask all men to commit to the full arc of the retreat, as the container and its depth depend on the group being present together from opening to closing circle.
How do I know if I'm ready for this?
If something in this invitation stirs you — a pull toward the fire, the land, or the brotherhood — that is often the clearest sign. This work meets you where you are.
How do I register or ask questions?
Register directly through this page, or book a Clarity Call if you'd like to speak with our team before committing.
Is this retreat physically demanding?
Some elements involve movement, hiking to sacred sites, and time outdoors, but the retreat is accessible to most fitness levels. Optional elements can be adapted as needed.
What should I pack or prepare to bring?
A detailed packing list is provided after registration, covering clothing for ceremony and nature, comfort items, and anything specific to the Chalma terrain and climate.
Will there be free time or downtime?
Yes. Each day includes designated free time and integration space alongside guided practices.
Are there bathrooms, showers, and basic amenities?
Yes, the retreat center provides shared or private bathroom facilities depending on your chosen accommodation.
What kind of support is available during the retreat?
Amir Khalighi and LVL2 certified facilitators are present throughout, alongside TFTP Level 1 men in training who help hold the container.
How are safety and consent handled during practices?
All practices are invitational. Facilitators clearly outline consent and participation guidelines before any embodied or ceremonial work.
Is this retreat trauma-informed?
Facilitators bring trauma-aware facilitation practices to how ceremony, movement, and council are held, with attention to pacing and choice throughout.
What happens if I need to step back or opt out of a practice?
You are always free to step back, rest, or observe rather than participate. Nothing is mandatory.
What if I don't feel comfortable sharing or being expressive?
There is no requirement to share more than feels right. Presence itself is welcome as full participation.
Is this a religious retreat?
No. While Firekeepers draws on ceremonial and spiritual traditions, including those present in Chalma, it is not affiliated with any single religion.
How do you relate to Indigenous traditions and the land respectfully?
We approach Chalma in reciprocity — bringing our practices and prayers to bless and enrich the land rather than to take from it, in respectful relationship with its living traditions.
What happens after the retreat ends?
Men leave with integration guidance and remain connected through the broader Embodied Masculine brotherhood and community offerings.
Who is this retreat not for?
This retreat is not for men seeking a purely recreational getaway, or who are not willing to engage honestly with themselves and the group.
Firekeepers is intentionally limited to 40 men. Deposits are non-refundable; once placed, your space is reserved and removed from availability. Full retreat tuition is also non-refundable.
If you are unable to attend and notify us at least 30 days prior to the retreat start date, you may request to transfer your paid tuition (excluding deposit) to another Embodied Masculine event within one year, subject to availability and approval.
We offer one partial and one full scholarship per retreat. To apply, email info@embodiedmasculine.com with subject line "Firekeepers Scholarship." Recipients are selected no later than seven days prior to the retreat start date.
All previous Embodied Masculine retreats have sold out. For full deposit, refund, and transfer policies, review our Terms and Conditions.