MEN'S GATHERING
May 13 - 17, 2026 | North of Berlin
With the Companionship of Fernando Derks,
Alexandru Cîrneală & Daniel Cremer
THE INTENTION
Our world seems to be ruled by boastful teenage boys, caught between confusion and grandiosity.
Immature, uninitiated men lead whole societies into senseless wars. They attack the most vulnerable and create division wherever they go, promising shallow ideals of fake power to a following of insecure and disadvantaged men.
As men, we are called to respond to this. Do we want to follow these same impulses, which live inside us as well? Or do we want to walk a different path?
How can men be protectors of life in times of war?
How can we strengthen ourselves and encourage each other to confront violence – in the world, between us and inside us?
How can our anger serve as a healing force?
What do dignity, integrity and secure boundaries feel like in the nervous system?
A healthy masculinity can be reclaimed.
It needs to be sourced from the wisdom of nature, from our interconnectedness and the diverse puzzle pieces each of us carries:
As caregivers, peacemakers, gardeners. As fathers, lovers, free spirits and warriors of the heart.
As keepers of balance and participants in healthy, nourishing relationships.
As joyful, free bodies, unashamedly reclaiming our aliveness from the deadening burden of patriarchal manhood.
With a grounded, steady presence, acting from a sense of responsibility and with emotional maturity.
In this year’s Men’s Gathering we will explore how our own individual lives relate to this larger movement.
What is the next step – personally and collectively?
Bring all your questions and curiosity. In the sparks of the fire, in the sound of the wind in the trees, in the pulse of our hearts, we will listen for healing and guidance for mind and body. And most importantly: we will do all of this together.
You are warmly invited, just as you are.
THE GATHERING
Over the course of five days and four nights, we will gather in beautiful nature north of Berlin. We will move, learn, cook, pray, and reflect together. We will be outside most of the time. And we will be accompanied by our grandfather, the Fire. Throughout this long weekend, the Fire will be our meeting place as much as our guide for presence, warmth, and wisdom.
In daytime sessions, we will explore different facets of manhood through embodied practices and sharing circles. We will cultivate courage and sensitivity in an Andean Medicine Walk through the beautiful nearby forests. And we will explore the power of prayer and united intention inside the womb of the Sweat Lodge.
This gathering is open to all kinds of men, that includes transmen and masc nonbinary folks. Everyone on the male side of the gender spectrum is welcome. You are welcome, no matter if you are straight, gay or pan. The more diverse we are, the better for everyone involved. Because the greatest source of our healing and growth is the community we will form together. Each of us will be learning from all the others who are present — in our power as much as in our vulnerability.
If this gathering goes well, it will be more than a nice weekend in the woods. We want to weave deeper connections and create a field of brothers who keep each other’s company, if they like, and support each other even beyond these five days. To hold each other accountable and have each other’s back.
PARTICIPANT'S VOICES
„It’s hard to put it in words, but I take with me so many life-changing experiences from the Men’s Gathering. The time with other men taught me a lot about myself. I was able to see myself and all facets of my personality reflected in the group without feeling ashamed.”
(HOLGER)
„I left the gathering feeling that something significant had happened on my journey to healing and growth as a man.“
(MICHELE)
„Despite the inner work, there was also time to fool around, laugh together, and enjoy nature. The activities were well balanced and provided me with a completely new set of tools for my daily life.“
(HOLGER)
"It feels like a new skill was unlocked. There’s a significant shift in the relationship to my girlfriend and to my children. I look differently at situations that used to drive me crazy. Also, I handle the relationship to my colleagues differently. They literally asked me the day after the gathering: what happened to you over the weekend? “
(ANDREAS)
THE CONTRIBUTION
We are trying to make this gathering as accessible as possible. So, most of your contribution will be used to cover the costs for place and utilities.
550 € - Normal price for 5 days and 4 nights.
This contribution includes all the work and medicines, the food, the rent of the place as well as the materials, like firewood.
By booking soon, you help us a lot with our planning. As a little encouragement, we are offering an Early Bird price of 500 € for all bookings done before April 17.
Don't let the cost of the gathering discourage you.
There is always room to talk about the price, if you are in a difficult financial situation.
At the same time: if you are in a financial situation that allows you to easily pay more than the normal price, we’ll be glad to receive a bigger contribution from you. This will allow others with less means to join the gathering, too.
THE COMPANIONS
You will encounter Daniel Cremer, an artist and bodyworker who supports men in discovering their truth and embodying their unique essence. As a certified Pantarei practitioner, he facilitates empowering group processes and offers somatic coaching and body-centered therapy sessions tailored to individual needs. Since 2018, he has been guiding men’s circles, workshops, and retreats in various formats, making men’s work a central passion of his practice.
Daniel brings a rich background in theatre, having worked for over 20 years as a writer, director, and performance artist. From an early age, he has been fascinated by the ancient medicine of storytelling — illuminating archetypes and exploring different facets of the self. In his space-holding, he applies this curiosity and knowledge to serve the collective desire for freedom, aliveness, and creative solutions.
Daniel is founder of The Morning Movement, an ongoing project that is inviting a growing number of people to start their day with 30 minutes of free movement, tuning in with the truth of their bodies and aligning with the values that sustain their paths every day.
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You will meet Fernando Derks, a Peruvian-Dutch artist, musician, and ethnobotanist deeply rooted in the Andean-Amazonian medicine and ritual traditions. Raised high in the Andes in a remote village in Ancash, near Lake Titicaca and the Andean valleys of Ecuador, he grew up surrounded by medicine and spiritual teachings that inspired a lifelong dedication to learning and preserving ancient wisdom.
For over 20 years, Fernando has studied the rituals and traditional medicines of master healers in Ecuador, Brazil, Peru, and Colombia. His path has included four years working with the Cofan people of the Colombian Amazon, five years learning from Tchydjo of the Kariri-Xoco people in Brazil, and a decade with Taita Juan from Ecuador — where he immersed himself in the traditions and ceremonies of the sweat lodge, the Andean HawanKolla cactus, and undertook all of his Vision Quests.
Art is woven deeply into Fernando’s work. Having studied Fine Arts in Holland and guitar with masters in Ecuador and Peru, he expresses his creativity through fine art and musical compositions. His music blends and reinterprets ancient songs from the Andes, the Amazon, and ancient Europe.
Fernando’s vast experience with medicines and rituals allows him to bridge ancient practices with the modern world while honoring and protecting their origins.
You will meet Alexandru Cîrneala, whose journey began in the world of theatre and film, where he explored the power of presence, voice, and embodiment. This artistic foundation eventually opened the way to a deeper path of inner practice and shamanic work, where these same qualities became tools for healing and connection.
For more than fourteen years, Alexandru has been dedicated to ceremonial practice, weaving together diverse traditions. His path includes a 3rd-degree Reiki initiation, a long-standing Vipassanā meditation practice, and eight years of continuous work with sacred tools from South American shamanic traditions. He continues to learn from master plants — with Kambô being one of the core medicines he serves — as well as from the Māori Haka, received under the guidance of elder Toroa Aperahama.
Rather than applying a fixed formula, Alexandru adapts the tools he works with to the needs of each moment, creating attentive and grounded spaces where ancestral traditions can meet the realities of your time.
MEDICATIONS AND HEALTH CONDITIONS:
Upon registration, you will receive a questionnaire. You answers in this document will allow us to have a good idea of your health-related needs and the precautions we need to take on our side.
Please note that it is each participant’s personal responsibility to inform us of any relevant health conditions when filling out this questionnaire, including any medications you are currently taking.
All information will be handled with the most discretion.
We will also have a 30 minute conversation on the phone with each participant where all open questions can be clarified.
IMPORTANT: Do not consume any drugs for 4 days prior to the gathering. (This includes alcohol and marijuana.)
Got more questions? Feel free to ask!