men's work
FROM VALLEYS TO PEAKS - WE RISE TOGeTHER
Why We’re Here
There’s a quiet crisis unfolding—one that doesn’t demand attention with fanfare, but speaks volumes through stark numbers. In Canada, nearly three out of every four suicide deaths are men, with approximately 4,850 lives lost in 2022 alone—about 13 men every day. In the United States, men account for roughly 80% of suicides, with a suicide rate nearly four times higher than that of women.
At the turn of the 20th century, life was built on face-to-face connection—work, community, and ritual intertwined. Today, we’re flooded with noise and data, and real connection can feel rare.
But the truth hasn’t changed: connection is how we survive, how we grow, how we rise.
This space is here for that reason. If you feel the pull for something deeper—for honest conversation, for a sense of belonging—this is where we start. Growth begins with curiosity, with the courage to listen, to share, and to let connection change us.
Brotherhood of the Heat Council — Nine Rings Edition
Led by Chris Fletcher of Halfmoon Haven and the creator of the 9 rings
This work takes place in the sauna. Inside the heat, the body shifts: dynorphins fire, endorphins prime, stress flushes, clarity sharpens. Step into the cold, and the reset deepens. Science calls this “challenge at the edge”—just beyond comfort, exactly where growth lives.
But state alone isn’t enough. When we anchor that shift with story—real conversation in real time—the insights don’t just stay in the head. They move through us, into muscle, memory, and spirit.
That’s where the Nine Rings come in. It’s a simple, intuitive map for reflection—self-care, purpose, family, community, even our place in the universe. Month by month, ring by ring, we’ll take inventory together: what’s thriving, what’s drifting, and where our attention is called. Not as a test, but as a compass.
Brotherhood of the Heat- 9 Rings Edition
The Schedule
Launch Date: Tuesday, September 30, 2025 (arrive by 6:45)
Time: 7–9 p.m.
Location: Heiwana Sauna, Davis Bay
Frequency: Monthly
Upcoming Dates:
October 14
November 11
December 9
February 24
Format
Opening Heat Round (20–25 min): settle in, breathe, shift state
Council + Conversation (45–60 min)
Nine Rings reflection, roundtable sharing, and dialogue
Closing Heat + Cold Round (20 min): sharpen, integrate, reset
Cool-Down (optional 30 min): stretch, silence, or quiet conversations
Cost
Participation is $50 per session, payable in advance:
Full nine-session journey: $450
This structure keeps the circle intentional, supports the continuity of the group, and ensures depth as we move ring by ring through the full arc.
Chris Fletcher
A seasoned family counsellor with 35+ years supporting families, couples, youth, and men, Chris specializes in conflict resolution, conscious communication, breathwork, and somatic trauma release. He is the co-owner of Half Moon Haven Retreat and co-author of Fearless Presence: Embodying Your Essence for Soul Aligned Success. His upcoming book, The 9 Rings of Alignment, distills decades of wisdom into a practical, intuitive framework for growth and alignment.
https://ninerings.ca/
The Brotherhood Heat Council is where state, story, and strategy converge
The body sharpened by heat and cold, the mind opened by honest dialogue, the path lit by Chris Fletcher’s Nine Rings.
This is the invitation: to sweat, to speak, to listen, and to rise together.
Spots are very limited — first-come, first-served. At this time, only 3–4 spots remain.
Yours in health,
Marc Huddlestan, SSC
my STory
I’ve carried my share of heavy seasons—setbacks that tested me, valleys that nearly swallowed me, and moments where I lost sight of the man I wanted to be. My story, like so many men, has been one of peaks and valleys. The peaks have been extraordinary—moments of flow, success, and deep joy. But the valleys have been just as real—sometimes so deep I wasn’t sure I’d find my way out.
What I’ve learned is this: we’re not meant to navigate those valleys alone. What pulls me back to center, every time, is connection—spaces where I can speak honestly, be heard, and hold space for others to do the same.
This circle exists for that reason. Not because I have all the answers, but because I know the cost of silence—and the power of conversation to lighten the weight we carry.
Together, we rise.