It Has To Be Me Episode

Positive Masculinity

Amir Khalighi

Episode #63: July 17th, 2025

THE GOLD FROM THIS EPISODE

“When we think of men and power, we typically think of the collective unconscious or conscious toxic masculinity. Part of my work is to help men step into power. Not self-generated power, but power that is aligned with their purpose—to intrinsically take their rightful place in the healing of themselves and the planet.”

Amir Khalighi

Founder of Embodied Masculine™

“Most of the pain that is caused in humanity is done by unconscious men. Whether that's in a relationship, building a business, or running a country, the behavior comes from a level of disconnection that gives men permission to tear at the fabric of society.”

Amir Khalighi

Founder of Embodied Masculine™

"At 23, I was pretentious and distant from myself. I met a mentor who had a sense of self, and exemplified what it means to be a man. I met other men doing embodiment work, and it put me on a trajectory of discovery, healing, and self-actualization.”

Amir Khalighi

Founder of Embodied Masculine™

"The divine lives in the heart. My work is connecting men to themselves to become aware of the reverence that is within.”

Amir Khalighi

Founder of Embodied Masculine™

“Men need men. When trust is established, men’s circles provide a safe container for men to get honest about what they see in each other. Just being around other men that are a little bit further along the path of awareness and embodiment provides a resonance for new members.” 

Amir Khalighi

Founder of Embodied Masculine™

“The divine relationship to the feminine is an important pillar in masculine embodiment work. The feminine is to be not controlled, but witnessed and listened to. There is a lost art in the way we see and hold women. There is no men's work without bringing this into consciousness.”

Amir Khalighi

Founder of Embodied Masculine™

“Women are powerful, multi-dimensional beings that are not meant to be caged. Most women try to tone down their brilliance and fire. We want to make men who want to celebrate women with all of their flavors.” 

Amir Khalighi

Founder of Embodied Masculine™

“The men’s circle is like a lab for men to practice how they’re going to live. You come and you explore and express and confront and heal. You play and identify a new depth of your reach, expand your capacity, and experience joy. And, we’re building community at the same time.”

Amir Khalighi

Founder of Embodied Masculine™

“There is no freedom without a sense of self, and the ability to express your needs and boundaries. People-pleasing robs us of authenticity and intimacy."

Amir Khalighi

Founder of Embodied Masculine™

“Some of the most beautiful breakthroughs come immediately after turmoil. Something is holding you, and right on the other side of this pain is gold to discover. Don’t leave before that miracle happens. Lean forward instead of pulling back.”

Amir Khalighi

Founder of Embodied Masculine™

in THIS EPISODE

  • Struggling to cope with male abuses of power? Amir Khalighi, founder of Embodied Masculine™, shares how he works helping men connect with themselves, and identify and express their needs with genuine respect for feminine energy and for women. 

  • Raised by a single mother, without a positive male role model, Amir fell into a spiral with drugs and alcohol. He recounts his journey from addiction to sobriety, and how meeting men at peace with themselves motivated him to embrace sovereignty, somatic wisdom, and sacred responsibility.

  • With the help of male elders, men’s groups, and embodiment practices, Amir healed his fractured sense of self. He began mentoring other men seeking direction and purpose.

  • Amir describes the void left by the absence of father figures and the responsibility that conscious men feel about toxic masculinity. He gets into how he helps men navigate grief and give expression to it, and understand their hunger for guidance, purpose, and validation.

  • We discuss the importance of mentorship and community in shaping a loving expression of masculinity. Amir explains how men can move from disconnection to devotion through initiations, rituals, somatics, and honest conversations with other men committed to fully embodied awareness.

  • Taking us inside the dynamics of his marriage, Amir shares how he uses his experiences to guide other men to share their vulnerability, celebrate women, and form intimate relationships.

  • Amir’s philosophy: Look into your heart with courage, and take responsibility for your actions. When things get hard, lean forward, and welcome the breakthrough that leads to clarity and healing.

TESS'S TAKEAWAYS

  • Boys are born, men are made.

  • Healthy masculinity meets strength with reverence, not domination.

  • True masculine integrity honors the divine feminine so men can celebrate women.

  • Initiation ceremonies honor life transitions to promote awareness and self-actualization.

  • Somatic practices help men connect with their needs through movement and sound.

  • Men’s circles allow men to safely express themselves and mentor each other.

  • Men need other men. Community support is vital for healing and self-discovery.

  • Elders modeling positive masculinity anchor younger generations.

ABOUT AMIR

Founder of Embodied Masculine™, Amir Khalighi works as a teacher, coach, and speaker, helping men step into their power and live purpose-driven lives. 

Amir’s own journey into self-actualization started with study of existential philosophy and comparative religion. In his 20s and 30s, he helped men with addictive behaviors into recovery through martial arts and other practices. His approach integrates Jungian psychology, somatic healing, shamanism, embodiment methodology, yogic intimacy, Celtic mythology, Sufi mysticism, and mythopoetic men’s work. 

In coaching, workshops, men’s circles, initiation programs, and facilitator training, Amir builds communities where men find role models and ways to embody their male energies in loving paradigms of masculinity balanced with feminine counterparts.

Working with men from all walks of life, from Fortune 500 CEOs, influencers, and artists to young men finding their paths, Amir speaks at and facilitates men’s events around the world. 

Through his website Beloved Poetry, Amir shares his love of poems, presenting the works of Rumi, Hafiz, Neruda, and others.