"My experience was beautiful... It was healing and it was life affirming and it was a gift that I gave to myself that I'm truly grateful of receiving."

— Austin, Past Retreat Participant, USA

Dear Brother,

Every soul needs a periodic drink from the deep well of Wild Aliveness.

In our heart of hearts, there is something fundamentally un-caged.

Something that can never be domesticated.

This is our wild nature.

It is a current of Aliveness capable of reviving, rejuvenating, and restoring our lives on so many levels.

When it is present, it amplifies our creativity in unimaginable ways, and it pours new life and enthusiasm into all our relationships and undertakings.

And when it is NOT present…

When we are cut off from the wild flow of aliveness that is essential to our nature…

We die.

Little by little, slowly but surely.

Our lives become a stagnant, humdrum ‘Groundhog Day’ type of affair.

We find ourselves going through the motions yet feeling deeply disconnected and disenchanted.

Life feels like a meaningless desert of pointless drudgery.

We require the revitalization of Wild Aliveness.

To be connected to this Wild Freedom, is not merely a luxury…

It is a necessity, if we are to actually feel ALIVE, appreciate Life, and allow our creative gifts to ERUPT forth into the world.

Aliveness is our birthright.

ALIVENESS: A North Carolina Convergence

May 24th - 25th, on a wild lakeside in Mount Gilead, North Carolina, something special is about to take place… 

An intimate tribe of men will gather for a once-in-existence event…

Through a combination of nature immersion, sacred celebration, men's circles, primal aliveness activations, dance, bonfire, movement, meditation, breathwork, camaraderie, and medicine ceremony...

We will rise together to reclaim our Wild Aliveness and Freedom.

We will remember our primal nature as Mighty Sequoias who root deep and reach toward the heavens.

Centered in the heart, we will step forward with confidence to live as Guardians of the Sacred and Creators of the New.

If you feel the fire, join us.

Key Event Details & Logistics

Here's everything you need to know to make a clear decision on whether to join us for this profound convergence:

Dates: Main Retreat: Saturday & Sunday, May 24th-25th, 2025 — We'll begin at ~9am on Saturday and end at ~7pm on Sunday.

Bonus Pre-Retreat & Post-Retreat Festivities: Evening celebrations on Friday, May 23rd and Sunday, May 25th — optional bonuses for those who arrive early or stay one final night. You're welcome to stay at the lake house all 3 nights in total.

Departure: Sunday evening or Monday morning, May 26th

Location: A serene lake house in Mount Gilead surrounded by the beauty of North Carolina—perfect for reconnecting with nature and yourself

Transport: You can drive to us or fly into Charlotte, North Carolina—one hour from the retreat. We can likely help you with a ride from airport if you fly in Friday evening, May 23rd.

Healthy Food & Lodging: Included. We’ll cook meals for you and you’ll sleep in the lake house.

Medicines: We will work with 'sacred herb' for our plant medicine ceremony. Utilized ceremonially, the plant has profound healing, rejuvenating, & aliveness-activating properties.

What you'll experience:  Nature immersion, sacred celebration, men's circles, primal aliveness activations, dance, meditation, breathwork, camaraderie, movement practice, medicine ceremony, unconditional loving acceptance, fun, grace, wild freedom, & a few surprises.

Pricing: Sliding scale: $285 - $425 (8 spaces available) — Covers food, lodging, and all activities. Choose an amount that fits your circumstances; $355 is the standard contribution. Higher contributions support others and grant first access to beds over air mattresses. We aim for accessibility—payment plans and scholarships available.

What Past Retreat Participants Say

I've (co-)created 14 entheogenic retreats on multiple continents. Here is what some men have said about their experience. Please note that all of these were in reference to ~5-day retreats working with ayahuasca and Bufo:

"Absolutely life-changing. The most important thing I've ever done. Years of therapy and pill medication did nothing compared to the accelerated program here. Beauty. Words don't do it justice. Incredibly profound."

— Jake, Retreat Participant, USA

——

“I wanna weep in the face of truth… Two things: There’s nothing to be afraid of, and Love is unlimited. I wanna hug you guys.”

— Sam, Retreat Participant, USA

——

"There was just such immense love, encouragement, support and wisdom being poured into our hearts. The team was also just a beautiful mirror for us to ground into the truth. Because that's what it's all about. It is moving beyond the stories that we incessantly tell ourselves that keep us trapped in the prison of our minds. This retreat absolutely demolishes those shackles, and I'm super grateful. Thank you so much, it was beautiful. I learned so much from y'all, so much about myself. I am forever grateful. Thank you, I love you. Much love. Peace."

— Brady, Retreat Participant, USA

——

"I leave feeling complete. More complete than I ever have. Acknowledging all the facets of my personality and all the depth that I choose to ignore at times... I feel a sacred connection to everything after this work. I'm so, so grateful to Jordan, Tanja, and the whole team. I want to continue this work for the rest of my life and see where it goes. It's a wonderful road. Sending big love and appreciation to everyone who was involved."

— Zach, Retreat Participant, USA

——

"The experience has been really magical and healing. Just coming here to this amazing place and hearing all the wilderness feels so calming and relaxing. Being here with everyone in ceremony and all healing together and supporting each other really opened up my heart. My biggest highlight was the time after ceremony. Just sharing our experiences together and getting to know everyone and hearing their stories."

— Kevin, Retreat Participant, USA

——

"My experience was beautiful overall. It was healing and it was life affirming and it was a gift that I gave to myself that I'm truly grateful of receiving. I really enjoyed the camaraderie, the sharing with each other and the group process. The entire process was in some parts challenging and in some parts a lot of fun, but overall enriching and helpful in a lot of ways. At this point in time, I feel like I need to come back here every year of my life just to bathe and bask in the love that is here."

— Austin, Retreat Participant, USA

——

"My experience was really powerful. I’ve been going through a really rough time for the last four months or so and this felt like a deep reset and a remembrance of the joy and gratitude in the world and all the possibilities out there. The community, the medicine, the workshops… Everything just came together for a big reset."

— Eric, Retreat Participant, USA

Your Facilitation Team

Jordan Bates is a co-founder of Apotheosis, founder of Council of Kings, and author of 5 books. A long-time co-steward of HighExistence, Jordan has been a pioneering leader and prolific creator in the space of global transformation for 10+ years. Jordan has studied and trained in a variety of men’s groups ongoingly for the past 5 years; led his own innovative men’s groups for 3 years; and receives regular mentorship from leaders in the men’s work space. At key junctures, men’s groups helped Jordan step into grounded clarity, aliveness, and purpose. He has a deep passion for guiding men to experience this powerful force for themselves. As a loving father and husband, this work takes on ever deeper meaning for Jordan.

Brady Heath is a health coach, wellness educator, and movement practitioner dedicated to the study of human potential. His journey—from battling addiction, insecurity, and destructive patterns to discovering the transformative power of artistic expression, men’s work, and deep self-reflection—has led him to cultivate the self-love, emotional mastery, and relational wisdom he now helps other men uncover. With over a decade of experience in physical training, behavioral health, and wellness coaching, Brady is passionate about creating spaces where men feel deeply seen, supported, and challenged to grow—as partners, fathers, friends, and leaders.

Will You Join Us, Brother?

You feel it.

This will be an unforgettable, life-shifting experience for all of us. 

A catalyst. A firestarter. A deep activation that moves through you in ways beyond logic, rippling into every corner of your life.

Is it time to reclaim your Wild Aliveness? 

To remember your birthright—fully, viscerally, without holding back?

Only you can answer. If the call is there, trust it.

We’ll see you in North Carolina—ready to welcome you with open arms and a big, soul-deep hug.