I want to take a moment to share a story. This one’s for the men and then for the ladies who love their fellas. First, I want to start off by saying how proud I am of my hubby, who just recently stepped way outside his comfort zone when he headed to California to attend something completely new for him: what we gals might call a wellness event. This was a gathering of men called Sacred Sons. We didn’t know at the time how many men would be there, but it ended up being around 60 when my husband Mark arrived. They were from all over the world, including as far away as South Africa.
I guess you could say it was a wish to know what was going on over there like a curiosity. Jus t following along on there page and podcast for a while now. This retreat I showed him just so happened to land on my birthday and I gave him my blessing to go. Kinda like a gift to me if he did, so I guess I was following for a reason more than just a curiosity, everything happens for a reason they say! Even though when I showed him this it did raise his eyebrows at the idea, he must have been interested because without me knowing he was contemplating it for about a month. I honestly didn’t think he was going to do it, but one day, he came in and said, “I bought my ticket.” Yep, it was happening—he went for it—and I couldn’t be more grateful.
I had been following Sacred Sons for quite a while now. I see so many spaces for women to gather and glow, but it’s hard to find places offering a strong, masculine energy for men. As most of you know reading this, we even host events for women, but it seems like men are often left out of these opportunities. And the ones that do exist don’t seem to have the same pull as Sacred Sons. This group is changing the game in such a powerful way that even the alphas are showing up. The awakening is happening for the fellas. They’re starting to understand the importance of this as well.
It was during a sound bath I was hosting a few years back that I first noticed big, bodybuilder-type men starting to sit on the cozy bolster and ask questions about the crystal bowls. They just wanted to take it all in. That’s when it just clicked for me—they needed this too, maybe even more than we did. We women have been doing this inner work for a while now, but things are shifting, and men are stepping forward into their own growth journeys.
Sacred Sons creates a space where men from all walks of life—military veterans, professional fighters, athletes, fathers, and sons—come together to do the deep, meaningful work they need. I have a few friends who own martial arts clubs, and I’ve heard them speak on this topic before. It makes so much sense because martial arts is a brotherhood in its own way; it’s about evolving physically and mentally. At Sacred Sons, they fight to conquer fears and learn self-control, hike to reconnect with nature, and push their limits through physical and emotional challenges.
This isn’t just for men who need help; it’s for any man ready to break free from the systems we’ve been conditioned to believe in, get closer to knowing himself, and learn something real.
For four days, they get to log off completely—no phones, no computers, no distractions. These are the men we depend on, the ones always there for us, and this time, it’s all about them. They engage in raw, real conversations with other men, self-introspection, compassion-building, and creating brotherhood. Through movement, shared meals, and practices like cacao ceremonies (a heart-opening plant medicine once used as a conflict resolution tool to aid understanding and communication), they strip away the noise of everyday life and give themselves the gift of space to rediscover what truly matters.
This is my favorite way to travel, too—not sitting at an all-inclusive resort seeing how much I can drink at the bar, but turning inward, exploring new lands, connecting with locals, dancing to unfamiliar music, and experiencing something transformative. I’m so pumped he got a chance to experience it this way—and for himself. This is a man I usually have to peel away from work to get him to take any vacation.
Mark came back from this trip seeing life differently. In the car ride to the airport with his new friend, I got a call from him. This was before he boarded the plane to come home to me. It was the first time we could speak in four days—we’ve never gone a day without talking in 16 years. It was hard, but I knew what he was doing and how impactful this was going to be for him. His voice was different; I could tell something had shifted. He sounded more grounded, more open, and more connected. The biggest surprise? He was communicating so much more than usual. He wanted to talk about everything, with an enthusiastic tone in his voice—it felt like the days we first met.
This wasn’t easy for him. I know he had important things to work on that plagued him from his childhood, and other hard things were happening in town that I know he wanted to be here for and support. But he needed this one for himself.
When I went to pick him up, it felt like I was meeting that new boyfriend I met 16 years ago. It felt like the first time all over again—total butterflies. I was actually nervous. I don’t know why, but I was. His transformation was incredible to witness firsthand. I’ve always loved this man, but what’s happening now is intriguing. In fact, I almost couldn’t believe it. Talking with some of the other men and their wives, they said the same thing. We sent them our men, and they sent us back kings. It was big, really big—like heart-melting stuff. And they’re still continuing the work they started there.
These Sacred Sons gatherings are held all over. I’ve seen them hosted in Hawaii, which looked magical, but the EMX (Embodied Masculine Experience) in San Diego was what spoke to him—the one he felt called to join for what he wanted to face. These events are growing because the need is real. If there’s a man in your life who could use something like this, I encourage you to share it. The youngest man there was 17, and the oldest was 72—it’s truly for everyone.
This time of year can be especially hard, and that’s why I’m sharing this—with his permission of course, to tell our story. Today, we sadly witnessed a suicide take place. It happened just seconds out of our sight, but we were there and it shook us. We took this as a sign to share this story and a message for all the guys out there who maybe feel alone or that no one gets you. If you can’t do it anymore or therapy isn’t for you, there are other options. Just one foot in front of the other—talk to one person or try something like this retreat, trust me he said nothing was off limits to discuss & the container of men were there for each other, no judgment. I’m saying this so you know theres options and there are spaces like this for connection, healing, and working through the tough stuff. That’s why we thought this story was worth sharing today. So please be kind out there. You never know what people are going through.
Lead with love, my friends, because people need it these days.
Shoutout to @watermarkboards for stepping up and doing something for yourself, and kudos to @SacredSons for everything you’re doing for our kings 
