The Mindful Men's Guild
An explanation for our co-creation
In early 2024, I felt called to join a men’s group.
I wasn’t sure why, but it seemed like it could add some spice to an otherwise bland period of my life. My friend Jack, and co-founder at the Mindful Men’s Guild, shared that he had joined the Arka Brotherhood, finding some benefit from it. Upon visiting their website, I immediately felt myself cringe, uncomfortable by the notion of joining a “men’s group” to do “men’s work.”
Why couldn’t I just do “human work” I thought. What’s up with this overemphasis on being a man, and being a warrior? Why are all these men yelling and making faces in the Instagram pictures? I can be and do those things, but I am also feminine in many respects, and I like that about myself. Moreover, while I am a biological man, my spirit is not just man. Since my spiritual awakening on LSD when I was 17, I’ve taught myself to identify with spirit, or consciousness. Ram Dass calls it developing “the witness.” It’s a yogic practice which helps with freeing oneself from attachment.
While I am currently in a man’s body, I am not just a man. I am spirit, and spirit is formless and infinite. It is also full of form and finite, since spirit pervades all things—but that’s a topic for another day.
Recognizing that I am neither just masculine or feminine, and that I am also both, I chose to join Arka, out of my habit of doing things that make me feel uncomfortable.
My Experience in a Men’s Group
Upon first entering the Arka “squad,” I felt a tinge of relief to find a group of friendly men who were genuinely devoted to working on themselves. The group welcomed me, and I resonated with their focus on personal growth and vulnerability.
However, as weeks passed (we met once a week for three hours—too much for me at the time), I quickly grew bored. The group provided a space for men to discuss their challenges, but it didn’t seem to offer the kind of actionable “work” I was seeking.
While I had hoped for a group where we could discuss and practice meditation, breathwork, psychedelic integration, emotional healing, spiritual awakening—or any interesting activity to actively engage in together—I found myself in what felt like a conversation group with no common or regular practice.
Whether this was due to poor facilitation (although, to be fair, the lead facilitator was skilled in many ways) or simply the nature of this particular men’s group, I couldn’t say. But it wasn’t for me. After about a month, I felt a desire to leave, though I had agreed to stay for at least three months.
Stay connected with us by subscribing to the Guild’s Substack, where we’ll be sharing updates about offerings and insightful essays from men in the Guild.
So, I stayed, putting on my anthropologist hat to observe and reflect.
What I noticed during my time in the “squad” was a group of kind, curious, and dedicated men who valued having a space to talk about things they couldn’t share elsewhere—especially regarding their relationships. Whether it was about partners, roommates, or children, the kind men seemed to find a lot of value in having a safe space to discuss the troubles of being a husband, a friend, a father or a roomate.
Still, amidst all the talking, I kept thinking, “So let’s do something about it!”
Alas, we didn’t do anything about it. As the weeks went by, we just kept talking.
There were occasional outings I enjoyed, like hiking up a mountain in the middle of the night in the wet cold of winter, and I appreciated the rare breathwork circles (which I facilitated). But over time, I realized that this group lacked two things I was looking for: spiritual depth and physical embodiment. I wanted the group to not only discuss topics that mattered—awakening, holistic health, meditation, breathwork, psychedelic integration, personal growth—but to actively explore and practice them together.
After the three months passed, I left. The goodbye ceremony was bittersweet. I had seen it a few times before—walking around the circle to face each man, looking into their eyes, and sharing what I appreciated about them after they shared what they appreciated about me. It was, without a doubt, the hardest thing I did in the group.
I liked these guys, but I didn’t feel like I truly knew them.
After all, all we ever did was talk.
The Beginning of the Guild
While I didn’t particularly enjoy my time in Arka, some parts of the experience stayed with me: the connection, the vulnerability, the sense of fellowship. These aspects felt meaningful, even if the container they were held in didn’t fully resonate with me.
In September of 2024, Jack and I hosted our first men’s retreat (we’re hosting two more this year, which you can find out about via Woven Retreats)
The retreat spanned five days and included sacred council (sitting in a circle and discussing meaningful topics), morning meditation and movement, conscious connected breathwork ceremonies, guided forest-bathing, cold-plunging, fire-making and tending, one large dose mushroom ceremony, laughter, and tears.
Reflecting, it was magical. I’m proud of what we co-created: a space for hard-working men affected by the dead weight of a judgemental and punitive patriarchy to rest, open their hearts, and reconnect to their souls in the embrace of Mother Nature.
While Jack and I had no plans of creating a men’s group, our retreat attendees expressed a strong desire to stay connected. We had all connected on a deep, soul level. It didn’t make sense for all of us to simply get back to our lives and not speak again until the next retreat. And so, the Mindful Men’s Guild was born.
Why the Mindful Men’s Guild Exists
The Mindful Men’s Guild (MMG) feels different to us compared to Arka.
It feels more natural, more holistic, more balanced. We’re not trying to fit into a predefined mold of what “men’s work” should look like, or how a “man” should behave. Instead, we’re carving out a space where we can show up as whole humans—humans who happen to be labeled as “men” because of our physical form. It’s a space where all aspects of ourselves—masculinity, femininity, spirituality—are welcomed and embraced. A space to explore what it truly means to live with mindfulness, compassion, skill and integrity.
These qualities weren’t necessarily absent from Arka—they simply weren’t emphasized.
The MMG creates a new kind of space for men—one that prioritizes depth, presence, wholeness and authenticity over outdated or popular notions of masculinity. We believe men deserve a space where they can be fully themselves, open their hearts, reconnect with their souls, and grow into the best version of themselves.
What We Do
As we launch the Guild, we’re offering two ways for men to connect deeply with themselves and each other: retreats and group calls.
The monthly group calls provide a consistent space for men to check in, share what’s going on in their lives, and engage in meaningful conversations. Together, we’ll practice inner work techniques, supporting each other’s growth in a spirit of openness and camaraderie.
Our retreats, held a few times a year, take this work to a much deeper level. These immersive experiences are about more than just connecting—they’re about escaping the noise of the modern world, getting present with ourselves, and embracing transformation in the company of other men.
Later this year, we’ll also begin hosting wilderness excursions.
In February, Jack will complete his Wilderness First Responder training, an intensive 80-hour medical course that’s a key prerequisite for guiding backcountry trips. With our shared passion for ski touring, hiking, and outdoor adventure, we’re dreaming up world-class experiences in nature. These excursions will challenge men physically, mentally, and spiritually—all in service of helping them grow, connect, and explore what it means to live with presence and purpose.
How to Join
Everything we do is an authentic expression of who we are—our values, our passions, and our commitment to helping men connect to themselves and each other on a deeper level.
As we grow the Guild, we’re looking for men who resonate with this energy and feel inspired to connect with like-minded individuals on a spiritual path.
If that sounds like you, we’d love to hear from you. Submit an application here.
We’re always excited to connect and collaborate with others who want to bring their own magic to what we’re building. So, if you’re a facilitator of any kind, get in touch.
Here’s to leaning into discomfort, finding connection, and growing together as humans on a path to rediscovering ourselves in our wholeness.
Stay connected with us by subscribing to the Guild’s Substack, where we’ll be sharing updates about offerings and insightful essays from men in the Guild.
Yours in (hu)manhood,
Louis & Jack
Excellent idea here. I'm definitely interested in what you're offering and would love to get in touch about a potential collaboration in my work as a dream facilitator -- let me know the best way to connect!
It's not my thing for obvious reasons, but it sounds great! I love hearing about all the men’s groups that are popping up. I feel that men often need specialized support just as women do, sometimes. Time together is just as important as time apart. Balance is the key. When we find time to spend with ourselves, whether in a retreat or quiet reflection, we can better present ourselves to others. Thanks for sharing.