The Illuman Welcome
Terry Symens-Bucher, President of the Illuman Board of Directors, introduced this welcome message to the men of Illuman at Soularize 2016. It has since become popular among the many chapters of Illuman for welcoming men to their groups and events...
Subscribe to AZ M.A.L.E.s News & Events
Featured Events
AZ MALES SPIRITUALITY holds and sponsors a variety of events throughout the year.
These include monthly meetings, quarterly gatherings, wanderings in nature, and special events.
Please check here often, or follow us on Facebook for the latest schedule of activities and events.
AZ M.A.L.E.s SPIRITUALITY
AZ M.A.L.E.s SPIRITUALITY is a nonprofit organization for men who are simply interested in becoming better, more authentic men. We welcome all men to our work without regard for your ethnicity, class, education, sexual orientation, religion or any other characteristic that might make you feel excluded. Our programs and offerings focus on providing men with an opportunity to do their ‘inner work’ in the company of other men. We use ritual, teaching and ways of communicating that allow men to create an environment where men can explore what matters to them most.
Journey of Illumination
We are pleased to invite you into this Journey of Illumination, a process for continued spiritual growth and transformation of men.
The Journey of Illumination is a five-fold process or practice, informed by rich spiritual tradition, that challenges you to show up and pay attention daily to the need to overcome the weight of your routine. The goal of this process is to realize a full, intense and well-grounded spiritual journey. Doing so is not easy, but it does involve clear elements:
→ Centering - we are men grounded in the power of the here and now.
→ Gathering - we are men who listen deeply to each other's 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.
Men's Rites of Passage
The Men’s Rite of Passage (MROP) is primarily designed for men in second-half of life (ages 30 – 65) and is a five-day / four night, deeply prayerful and soulful experience that builds on the classic patterns of male initiation through simple and moving rituals and teaching. Each day includes participating in group prayer, major teachings on central masculine spirituality themes, quiet time for reflection, and sharing in the context of a home group.
Illuman 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...
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.
Fr. Richard Rohr, OFM
Illuman is a global not for profit organization committed to supporting men who are seeking to deepen their spiritual lives. We are an organization that is open to all men based on the simple belief that we are all brothers. While Illuman was founded in 2012, it emerged from the remarkable work of Men as Learners and Elders (M.A.L.Es) founded by Fr. Richard Rohr. In December 2012, Fr. Richard blessed Illuman as the organization approved to continue the work begun by M.A.L.Es, and the Men’s Rites of Passage.
“Men are asked to come with a willingness to participate from beginning to end and not as an observer. All participants begin at point zero with no agendas to live up to or down to. All that is required is for a man to come with a ‘beginner’s mind’ and the readiness of a young novice seeking wisdom. Ultimately, initiation, like life itself, is not a spectator’s sport.” - Fr. Richard Rohr, OFM
