Illuman’s Mission

We seek to form future generations of men who will restore these practices – serving to build a world that celebrates the beauty of all beings.

Our Mission

  • We are men transforming men through a power greater than ourselves.

  • We are seeking a life changing spirituality.

  • Our primary concern is inner work that makes a difference in the world.

  • We are fed by the wisdom traditions of forgiveness and radical inclusivity.

  • Our work recovers traditional patterns of male initiation, affirms a masculine path to healing, reveals the true and false self and honors the path of descent.

  • We do this through the power of nature, ritual, image, story and council.

The Illuman Welcome

“None of our current social or church issues is going to change until the ordinary male matures spiritually.”
— Fr. Richard Rohr, OFM
 

Illuman’s Five Touchstones

Centering – we are men grounded in the power of the here and now.

Gathering – we are men who listen deeply to each others stories.

Connecting – we are men who choose another to walk with – shoulder to shoulder.

Releasing – We are men who let go of the ways that no longer serve us.

Serving – we are men who honor the earth and serve the whole human community.

Worldwide Illuman Chapters

Illuman has many chapters throughout the United States and Internationally. Below are some helpful links and information.

“MEET OTHER MEN COMMITTED TO BECOMING BETTER, MORE AUTHENTIC MEN”

For most current information please see Connect » Illuman.

Illuman’s Way of Council

The Way of Council is a central and foundational practice for organizing gatherings within Illuman. The Way of Council represents a rich blend of age-old communication practices from an array of wisdom traditions.

Way of Council Flyer

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Speaking from the heart and listening from the heart are the two most important prerequisites in practicing the Way of Council. Being aware of how we communicate is also crucial. It helps to remember that 55% of what we convey in talking to another is determined by body language (posture, gesture, and eye contact), 38% by tone of voice, and only 7% by the actual content of what we say. We therefore need to listen for more than the words. That means paying careful attention to the other person, not trying to think of how we’ll respond. We have to avoid “rehearsing” while the other person is still speaking.

The Four Intentions of Council

  1. Listen from the heart.

  2. Speak from the heart.

  3. Be spontaneous and authentic.

  4. Be lean of expression.

“We seek to form future generations of men who will restore these practices while serving to build a world that celebrates the beauty of all beings.”

Illuman: Journey Together

Illuman is for men who are simply interested in becoming better, more authentic men. We welcome all men into our work and do not exclude anyone based on ethnicity, class, education, sexual orientation, religion or any other characteristic.