Awaken 2025

November 6–9, 2025
Shrine Mont, Northwestern Virginia

Awaken 2025 Speakers

A compassionate architect of men's inner work, Sean serves as the main speaker at Awaken 2025. As the founder of the Warrior Compassion Men’s Studio, he draws on his extensive work with veterans, corporate leaders, and men navigating the wounds of disconnection. Sean’s message reclaims the sacred warrior, not as a figure of domination, but as a devoted protector of the heart. Sean challenges the cultural scripts that ask men to stay numb, silent, or hardened. His work centres on a sacred reckoning: that true warrior energy is not about conquest, but about having the courage to feel, to heal, and to protect what truly matters. Through his powerful storytelling and experiential guidance, Sean invites us to rise not in dominance, but in devotion to love, truth, and brotherhood.
Sean will also speak at our upcoming watering hole event on September 4th.

Gareth Higgins was born in Belfast, grew up during the northern Ireland Troubles, and now writes and speaks about the power of storytelling to shape our lives and world, peace and making justice, and how to take life seriously without believing your own propaganda. He has been involved in peace-building and violence reduction in northern Ireland and helping address the legacy of conflict, received a Ph.D. in Sociology from Queen’s University Belfast, and helped teach the world’s first graduate course in Reconciliation Studies at Trinity College Dublin. He also helped found the Wild Goose, New Story, and Movies & Meaning festivals. Gareth leads retreats in North America and Ireland and founded The Porch Magazine. He's deeply involved in work aimed at reimagining, renovating and re-enchanting manhood, and was initiated at the Ireland Men’s Rites of Passage in 2001.
Gareth’s most recent book, co-authored with Kathleen Norris, is A Whole Life in Twelve Movies: A Cinematic Journey to a Deeper Spirituality.
Brian McLaren says Gareth’s beloved book How Not to be Afraid is “a beautiful book”, and Micky ScottBey Jones says it’s “a much-needed resource for skill-building through our fear and trauma, so that we might create the belonging and communities we desire”.
If you'd like to connect with Gareth’s work, have a look at what he can offer here.

Every fall, hundreds gather for Illuman’s annual men’s retreat: Awaken.

This powerful four-day experience helps men reconnect to themselves, each other, and the sacred rhythms of life.

More than just a “conference,” Awaken offers real connection, honest conversations, contemplative spirituality, and deep inner work. Expect teaching, rituals, nature wanderings, poetry, drumming, song, small groups, personal reflection, and time to just rest, recreate, and connect.

We gather around the core vision of a whole, healthy, and more authentic masculinity. We come together for the vital work of healing our wounds and awakening to our belovedness. We do this to help transform our lives, that we might bring beauty and healing to a desperate world.