The Council

A Private Wisdom Community for Men on the Path of Life Mastery.

 Men,

The world is changing faster than ever. 

Politics, AI, economic uncertainty, and the erosion of the sacred are shaking the foundations of modern life.

For many men, this relentless pace has left them feeling lost, isolated, and lacking clear meaning and purpose.

Today, too many men are struggling in silence—wrestling with depression, anxiety, or a deep sense of disconnection. 

Many men are ready to step beyond confusion.

Ready for clarity, direction, aliveness, and belonging. 

Ready for something real. 

— An Antidote —

The Council is a modern incarnation of the age-old ritual of men gathering around a fire to connect, share wisdom, and better themselves. 

It is a fresh expression of the impulse that led ancient philosophers to gather in Plato’s Academy to sharpen their swords, test their ideas, and refine their being. 

It is a space where men gather to drop the masks, open their hearts, and get real. 

A space where we gather to explore the knife’s edge of masculine evolution.

A space where we uncover the medicines that can heal our ailing culture. 

A space where we hold one another in the fires of love, forging ourselves into the men of purpose we truly are.

A space where we discover together what it means to be a man in the 21st century. 

A space where we call you forward.

And challenge you to rise.

— A New Vision of Sovereign Manhood —

In The Council, we are not here to force you into a rigid idea of what it means to be a man. 

Instead, we’re creating a space for you to discover who you truly are. 

We believe most modern men greatly benefit from healing their inner masculine and embodying more of their masculine edge.

Yet we are also deeply aware that each man is a unique, vast being. As such, we create space for you to explore the full range of your being and find your own balance between tradition and transcendence.

The modern “crisis of masculinity” is an important perspective, yet it’s not the full story. In our information age, men also have unprecedented opportunities to rise like never before. With a world of wisdom at our fingertips, there has never been a better time for men to evolve and build “the more beautiful world our hearts know is possible.” 

This group is for those who want to step forward with purpose, prioritizing their heart’s mission and breaking free from limiting narratives about masculinity and leadership.

Together, we can inspire and nurture a new generation of vital, high-integrity men who are impactful stewards of our living Earth.

— The Heart of Our Work —

At its core, The Council is an intentional space for deep transformational work. Think of it as a powerful fusion of group processing, mentorship, psychotherapy, somatic coaching, wisdom sharing, and alchemical potency—all within a supportive community of like-minded men. 

The heart of our work lies in rain-or-shine weekly meetings where we engage in honest dialogue, open sharing, and sacred presence. In this space, we support, challenge, and celebrate one another. We dive into profound exercises that help us integrate, clarify, and initiate. We work toward helping each of us realize our personal visions and dreams. We help each other embody healthy, mature masculinity. And amidst the deep work, there’s always space for laughter and camaraderie.

What sets The Council apart is our pioneering approach to men’s work, which invites men to integrate their masculinity while also exploring the vast fullness of their being. We are grounded in practicality while also holding spiritual depth. Our approach is often exploratory, playful, and creative, drawing upon wide-ranging sources—transcending and including classical men’s work. 

The Council is designed to attract an inspiring range of leaders, creators, founders, artists, mystics, healers, and purpose-driven men. Consider this group your personal Council of Wisemen. Sound us out, get our counsel, and please, give some too. 

Because there is no stronger way to stay invigorated, clear, and fully on mission than by regularly holding council with a group of men deeply committed to your evolution—and their own.

We’re curious—what would it mean for your life to have a Council of Leaders in your corner? How would this inspire and catalyze your evolution? How would the impact ripple forth into your career, your well-being, your relationships, your prosperity, and your mastery of life? How much stronger, wiser, and happier can we be, together? 

Join us and find out. 

— What You’ll Find Inside The Council — 

  • Live Council Gatherings: The heartbeat of what we do. These are weekly 1.5-hour Zoom meetings where all of us gather regularly.

  • 24/7 Space to Share: Our digital community on Telegram will serve as a space where men are always welcome to open up, find support, ask questions, share wins, connect, vibe, and exchange wisdom. 

  • Real Brotherhood: A circle of high-integrity men who have your back and are here to walk the path of purpose together. Real lifelong friendships and alliances are forged here. 

  • Mission & Purpose: We’ll create dedicated space and exercises for you to continually clarify and refine your short-term goals as well as your longer-term mission, vision, and purpose. 

  • Transformational Potency: We will not only experience many aspects of classical men’s work—a modality that has benefitted millions of men for decades—but we will also draw upon other deep wells of wisdom, healing, and activation: Meditation, breathwork, shadow work, inner child work, archetypal work, creativity-unlocking exercises, and much more. 

  • Wisdom & Insight: You’ll be surrounded by men of depth who have traversed profound journeys. You’ll be equipped with new tools and understandings to sharpen your leadership, relationships, and spiritual path. 

  • Accountability: No man rises alone. You’ll be surrounded by men who challenge and support you to step into your power. Our accountability structures and agreements will ensure you stay engaged in the group and committed to your path. 

  • A Place to be Seen & Heard: Being witnessed in your raw truth by a group of caring men is a medicine that must be experienced to be fully understood. This is a space where all of you is welcome to step into the light and be held in loving presence. 

— This Group is For You if… —

1. You are a man on a path of purpose and wisdom.

2. You want to develop greater mastery of life: Physically, emotionally, mentally, financially, relationally, and spiritually. 

3. You want to elevate your work, projects, or creative endeavors. 

4. You are curious to explore the full spectrum of life, emotion, and your deeper needs. 

5. You want to experience real brotherhood, heal your relationship to masculinity, and feel good being a man.

6. You want to set goals and be held accountable by others. 

7. You can commit to attending weekly meetings and being dedicated to this group.

— The Team —

Jordan Bates

Founder & Lead Facilitator

Jordan Bates is a co-founder of Apotheosis, founder of The Council, 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 turn his life around and step into grounded clarity and purpose. He has a deep passion for guiding other men to experience this unassuming yet powerful force for themselves. As a loving father and husband, this work has taken on even deeper meaning for Jordan.

Nick Stubbs

Co-Facilitator

Jordan Bates is a co-founder of Apotheosis, founder of The Council, 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 turn his life around and step into grounded clarity and purpose. He has a deep passion for guiding other men to experience this unassuming yet powerful force for themselves. As a loving father and husband, this work has taken on even deeper meaning for Jordan.

Eric Brown

Guest Teacher

Eric Brown is Eric Brown is the Director of Apotheosis, psychedelic medicine facilitator, and experience designer. For over 6 years he’s created psychedelic therapy programs used by hundreds of thousands of clients, and guided hundreds more through deeply transformative journeys. His work and writing focuses on personal sovereignty, medicine work, cultural evolution, and grounding the sacred in lived experience. 

 

— What Men Say About Our Work —

“Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference.”
— Quote Source

— Join Us. —

If you feel inspired to join us, you can do so by clicking the button below. 

The normal cost of The Council is $145/month, but in celebration of the launch we’re offering a one-time opportunity to join for $115/month.

— FAQ —

  • You’ll be billed $115/month on a monthly subscription starting from the day you join, and you’re welcome to cancel anytime, though we deeply recommend committing to at least 2 months in the group to begin to understand the potency of this work.

  • We are building momentum and intimacy. Trust takes time to cultivate, and the regular drumbeat of our gatherings becomes a vital force for our evolution. True transformation unfolds when you gather with the same group of men—week after week—committed to personal growth and supporting one another. This ongoing commitment creates the perfect environment for uncovering blind spots, stepping into your purpose with greater clarity, and cultivating magnetic presence.

  • Please join ~1-5 minutes before the call from a laptop or desktop computer in a private, distraction-free, silent space, with your camera on. You’ll want to be able to get loud and express without fear of being heard, as sometimes we do exercises involving primal expression. Ideally these meetings should not be sandwiched between other activities but have some space before and after to prepare and integrate. 

    In general we will agree to be sober, to not multitask, to be present & real & engaged, and to show up weekly for the work. If you must miss a meeting you’ll need to let us know beforehand. If you are late for meetings or missing meetings without letting us know, you will be given accountability consequences to fulfill. If you consistently break agreements, you’ll be given warnings—and if the pattern persists—you’ll be asked to leave the group. In our experience, men greatly benefit from this level of structure and accountability.

  • Once we know who is in the group, we will endeavor to find a weekly time slot that can work for everyone—either during the week or on weekends. The time slot will likely be in the morning or early afternoon for those in North America and evening in Europe. If you join and we are not able to accommodate your schedule, you’ll receive a full refund.

  • Yes. We believe men's work should be accessible to everyone who feels called to it. We offer a limited number of scholarships to ensure financial circumstances don't prevent qualified participants from joining our community. If you feel drawn to this work and need help with the monthly costs, we encourage you to email us at team@highexistence.com and explain why you believe you’re a good candidate for a scholarship.

  • Yes, Apotheosis hosts retreats, and men from The Council will be given first priority and a significant discount on our retreats. Currently our retreats welcome both men and women, though we are considering creating private men’s retreats in the future.