Men’s Prayer for Peace
A 5-day journey of co-created brotherhood, musical artistry, and transformational breath
April 2-April 6th, Appalachian Mountains of North Carolina
They say that we men—in our confusion and isolation—have brought war to this world. But what if—through our coherence and our togetherness—we can bring back Peace?
Amidst the swirling chaos of an existential despair and the endless cycles of self-healing work, there lies a Great Natural Peace, waiting for us to awaken to its presence.
We gather to align our bodies and spirits with this ancient current and to ask: What is Peace in this moment on Earth? What keeps us ensnared in distraction, away from the Peace that is possible, and what orients our compass within the chaos? Is anything in the way of peace, right now? And: what does this world need from us men for Peace to be inevitable?
We gather to devote sustained attention to these questions of Peace, inviting deep listening, authentic connection, and creative expression that harmonizes with the Peace already within us. It’s through our very lives that Peace begins to flourish, and so we uplift all those melodies of Peace we already know, and we touch those places in us where we’re still at war with ourselves.
In the blossoming of Appalachian spring, we’ll be guided into soulful, artistic expression by world-renowned musician and sacred song carrier, Murray Kyle. We will reconnect to the oceanic rhythm of Life through conscious breath journeys led by Breathwave Senior Facilitator, beloved poet and integral psychologist, Patrick Merle Sellin. And we will restore the inner and outer brotherhood through rituals of remembrance with Earthkeeper and Men’s Circle Leader, Thomas Doochin.
In this, we initiate ourselves as the Visionaries, Leaders, and Healing Artists of this Prayer and welcome the depth of personal restoration that can only come when we show up for something Greater than our individual selves.
If you are a brother ready to answer this Sacred Call, welcome.
Space will fill for this intimate gathering.
Your Guides
Murray Kyle
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A renowned mystic troubadour and voice facilitator, Murray Kyle is passionate about using sound as a powerful tool for emotional expression and presence. Hailing from the visionary Byron Bay region of Australia, he shares his soul-restoring music globally, inspiring Earth-honoring practices and a deeper connection to all our relations.
Beyond his musical performances, Murray leads transformative circles that invite people to explore the voice as a tool for healing, growth, and authentic connection. Drawing on his extensive musical background, he blends soulful soundscapes with practices that open a doorway to strength, to vulnerability, and to our true authentic voice, ushering in a deeper sense of self-awareness and presence.
Patrick Merle Sellin
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Patrick Merle Sellin, M.A. is a heart-centered healing artist specializing in psychosomatic therapy, psychospiritual guidance and conscious connected breathwork. Patrick is a Certified Facilitator and Senior Trainer in the Breathwave®️ Conscious Breathing community, offering private retreats, breathwork trainings and psychedelic integration consultation worldwide.
Over a decade of private psychotherapy practice and community leadership inform Patrick’s Integral Breathwork offerings. Transposing psychotherapeutic wisdom and his personal evolution into natural mysticism, Patrick offers us, “My Soul To Keep: Blasphemies & Gratitudes” as a poetic companion for our inner wilderness and the yearnings of the soul.
“I feel at Peace with myself when I’m in Flow with myself;
I feel in flow with myself when I Breathe with myself.”
Thomas Doochin
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Thomas Andrew Doochin is the creator and lead facilitator at Heart of Men, an organization that works across the continent cultivating the conditions for men to be well.
Thomas brings an exquisite artistry of the circle to facilitate spaces where the mundane meets the miraculous. He brings with him over a decade of holding space for group process. He lives in the Appalachian mountains and stewards a 22-acre land project with his family, where this work gets to take root in relationship to Place.
“Peace is not the absence of War. Peace is the choice we have to create the conditions such that war doesn’t have a place.”
The choices we make at this time send consequential ripples into our own beings and this planet. Are you ready for Peace?
The Medicines of Peace:
Artistry of Sound
In our bones, there is a song—a calling to reconnect with the harmonious pulse of life itself. There is a beat within the heart, guiding us towards the rhythm of balance within. Together, we will journey into the ancient instrument of the voice, using Sound as a gateway to liberation and peaceful presence. We will share songs, learn body percussion, laugh and tone together to rediscover the natural harmony between our inner and outer worlds. No prior musical experience is necessary—only an openness to the healing power of sound.
Renewal of Breath
Breath is the sacred rhythm to our existence. From our first inhale to the finale exhale, our breath becomes a feedback loop for what we believe and feel reality to be. How we breathe is how we live. Together, we will devote ourselves to a way of breathing that awakens powerful wisdoms, presence, and a profound sense of being. Guided by the transformative art of Breathwave facilitation, we will unravel the unconscious respiratory patterns that limit our communion with the Great Natural Peace within. Breathwave, held as a sacred medicine ceremony, invites us to journey into expanded states of consciousness and coherence, allowing us to align with that Peace we wish to see in the world.
Reunion in Brotherhood
As Men, we walk a path of paradox: to fully know ourselves and our purpose, we must situate ourselves within the Greater Circle; yet, many of us live without a trusted village to provide this orientation and reflection. In this Prayer for Peace, we call upon these ancient codes of Circle and Brotherhood to create a space where our path forward becomes clear. Together, we will embody a way of being—strong in our center, tender in our hearts, and unwavering in our devotion to one another—that reveals the fullness of who and what we really are. Each day, through a rich tapestry of ritual and technologies of connection, we will nurture this deeper relationship with ourselves, each other, and the wider web of life, in service to the flourishing of Peace.
What if Peace were not dependent upon the changing of your external reality?
Our Gathering Space
We’ll be journeying on a 20-acre property situated within a broader 329-acre off-grid sanctuary, nestled in the mountains east of Asheville, NC. Our ceremonial space is a hand-built, wooden Yogasthan, and our work will be supported by walks in preserved forests, swims in spring-fed creeks, glowing stars by night, and delicious meals sourced from local farms and wild harvested bounty. This is one of our favorite places to gather on the whole continent.
The retreat space does not have Wifi nor cell service, and we’ll ask everyone to keep their phones off for the duration of our time together (your family will be able to reach us in case of an emergency). The closest airport is Asheville Regional Airport (45 minutes), with both Greenville-Spartanburg (1 hour 20 minutes) and Charlotte (2 hours) as additional options. We encourage carpooling amongst our group, and we will offer support in coordinating airport rides.
But, is it going to be good?
Working with Thomas:
“I have grown in a deep, life-changing way. This group of like-minded brothers…who shared this experience with me, now know the true “me” as well as anyone on the planet. This is the most transformative experience in my life.”
“You are one of the most eloquent, poetic, insightful men that I've met in quite some time. You are carrying the torch lit by men like John Lee, Robert Bly, and Martin Prectel by igniting men's hearts and minds with such beautiful, touching words.”
Working with Patrick:
“The presence that Patrick brings to this world and my life is one-of-a-kind. He has helped guide me back to my heart and uplift the inherent resources within me through his Breathwave facilitation. He is a pillar of integrated wisdom and balanced masculine energy- bringing his offerings forward with stability, reverence, light-heartedness, and gentility. He warmly invites people into presence with his work, and witnessing the transformation of myself and others through this has been nothing short of beautiful.”
Are you ready to put down the sword to align with Peace?
You’re a Man of This Prayer If You:
Believe that a world far more holy and wholly beautiful is possible and are ready to step into your part in creating it.
Sense you are at a threshold of stepping into a deeper, more authentic expression of your purpose.
Are reckoning with what it means to be alive in a time where there is so much pain and destruction for so many forms of Life.
Feel ready to expand your focus beyond the healing of the self, towards a greater devotion to life itself.
(and concurrently) Are willing to touch and explore those places within yourself where conflict still resides, so that a Greater Peace can be restored.
Hold the courage and commitment to carry this torch of Brotherhood and Peace forward into your life and community.
Stay updated on future offerings from Men’s Prayer for Peace
Everything Else You Need to Know:
The Peace Path: Our Journey Onwards
This Call to Peace is a journey that ignites and continues at the culmination of our in-person gathering. We foresee the lighting of a shared Peace Path that we Creatives, Activists, Healers, and Visionaries will continue to walk together as brothers. In the spirit of the Artist, we trust the collaborative listening and co-creative genius of this Circle to lead us into discovery of a mutually inspiring and practical Path of Peace—be this music we co-create to carry forward, a ritual of remembrance we bring to our beloveds, a collective service to our community, or the shared devotion to a Peace breath practice. The revealing of this Path will be the Gift we gather together to receive and give back to the world.
Cost: Early Enrollment until February 7th
Camping: $1900 USD ($1600 Early Enrollment)
Indoor Lodging: $2400-$2900 USD Sliding Scale ($1900-$2400 Early Enrollment)
Offered on a First-Come, First-Serve Basis
What’s Included:
Five Days of Deep, Soulful, Orienting Retreat Space
All Meals: Locally-Sourced Ingredients Crafted into Delicious, Nourishing Creations by our Dear Farmer Chef Brother
3-4 Breathwave Journeys + Co-Created Artistry Ceremonies
Lodging in a Beautiful, Natural, Quiet Setting
Three Integration Calls after our Gathering
Opportunity to Participate In the Peace Path Community Moving Forward