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THE WISDOM YEAR, 2024
The Wisdom Year is a year long commitment to a practice in rediscovery in a small community of like minded seekers.
As Carl Jung taught, and Stephen Jenkinson says, “we are relentlessly orphans” estranged from our wisdom traditions, the divine within and around us, our ancestors, and our true selves.
The post-modern life is quite persuasive, convincing us again and again that we can gain sufficient spiritual meaning from wealth, technology, consumption, and addiction. It sells us on avoidance, on a denial of the love & loss that is inextricably ingrained in our intimacy with others and in the ultimate intimacy, death.
The Wisdom Year, 2024 is a commitment opportunity for you. It is a significant commitment to self and the soulful life that is quite adamant about what must be lived through you.
Your families and community will benefit from these ripples you create for yourself.
We will form an intimate cohort and draw upon wisdom traditions, Carl Jung and modern teachers like: Pema Chodron, John O’Donohue, Joseph Campbell, Richard Rohr, Joanna Macy, Wendell Berry, Bill Plotkin, Francis Weller, Stephen Jenkinson and more.
Learn More and Register
*The Wisdom Year is not an Illuman program, but is being offered by an outside partner. As such, Illuman accepts no responsibility or liability for said program. This posting is for informational purposes only.*
Applied Convening for Illuman Men
As men we are at critical thresholds as the world reckons with increasing violence, ongoing pandemic, racial injustice, geographic instabilities, environmental risks, and other issues that affect Illuman and our communities, families and individuals. More than ever before we, as men must address these big challenges while also creating positive impact. Through the lens of The Art of Convening we will explore the power of acting from purpose.
Acting from purpose grants illuminated men the ability to focus on what matters. For the last 28 years The Center for Purposeful Leadership has crafted human centered practices and principles that lead to authentic engagement.
With other Illuman men we will explore four interrelated questions:
- In the face of disruption, how do we engage from a place of compassionate and wise response – in order to participate in the emerging future?
- How does the Convening framework guide and accompany us toward the emerging future?
- How will we connect with companions who can lead and share the journey with us?
- What practices can help us to act with purpose and intent, as co-creators, bringing gifts of wholeness and healing into the world?
Many of us have experienced the impact that Illuman Council gatherings and Men’s Rites of Passage has had on our lives. The art and science of Convening aims to build on those experiences and deepen men’s capacity to engage not only within the Illuman context but also in places of worship, the workplace and around the family table.
- Six live, 2.0-hour, every other Thursday sessions via Zoom, January 11 – March 21, from 6-8pm Central
- Between-session learning opportunities, including short video lectures, individual readings, journaling, experiential exercises, and assessments
- Session recordings will be available in the Center for Purposeful Leadership online learning community
This course is designed to help you develop your convening skills in a collaborative learning community of other men.
The course is based on applying the 9 Aspects of the Convening Wheel, a practical roadmap to activate convening as a core leadership competency, from CPL’s seminal book, The Art of Convening: Authentic Engagement in Meetings, Gatherings, and Conversations.
Learn More and Register
*The Wisdom Year is not an Illuman program. It is being offered by an outside partner organization. As such, Illuman accepts no responsibility or liability for said program. This posting is for informational purposes only.*
A FATHER FOR GENERATION ALPHA
A 9-week online offering for Fathers and soon-to-be Fathers
This online community is designed to meet new Dad’s at a moment when life has initiated them into Fatherhood. In meetings of just one-hour each week, we will drop keys of Wisdom, starting with ‘What it means to be a Man’, moving to ‘Living in Relationships’ and then to ‘What it means to be a Father’. We end with an overview of Men’s groups that Dads may want to follow-up with.
If you are a new or soon-to-be Dad, then this group is for you! Or is there someone like this in your life that might be interested in our Journey together? Then share this with them and encourage them to join us!
Find more information at https://a-father-for-gen-alpha.net/
When asked for a few words of encouragement, a Dad who recently completed the Journey shared these words from his wife; “I’m sad it’s your last meeting! I hope you can find another nourishing group to meet with soon, because this was so good for you and us!”
The Spring 2024 session of A Father for Gen Alpha starts on Tuesday, February 27 and meets every Tuesday night from 9-10pm Eastern through Tuesday, April 23.
Click Here to Register
Send questions to: a.father.for.gen.alpha@gmail.com
A FATHER FOR GENERATION ALPHA
A 9-week online offering for Fathers and soon-to-be Fathers
This online community is designed to meet new Dad’s at a moment when life has initiated them into Fatherhood. In meetings of just one-hour each week, we will drop keys of Wisdom, starting with ‘What it means to be a Man’, moving to ‘Living in Relationships’ and then to ‘What it means to be a Father’. We end with an overview of Men’s groups that Dads may want to follow-up with.
If you are a new or soon-to-be Dad, then this group is for you! Or is there someone like this in your life that might be interested in our Journey together? Then share this with them and encourage them to join us!
Find more information at https://a-father-for-gen-alpha.net/
When asked for a few words of encouragement, a Dad who recently completed the Journey shared these words from his wife; “I’m sad it’s your last meeting! I hope you can find another nourishing group to meet with soon, because this was so good for you and us!”
The Spring 2024 session of A Father for Gen Alpha starts on Tuesday, February 27 and meets every Tuesday night from 9-10pm Eastern through Tuesday, April 23.
Click Here to Register
Send questions to: a.father.for.gen.alpha@gmail.com
Join us for our first Watering Hole event of 2024, an ONLINE event featuring Dr. Heba Ismail as our esteemed guest speaker. Heba brings a unique perspective on the theme “Islam and Christianity: Children of the Same God.
Heba Ismail is an American-Egyptian physician with a diverse cultural and spiritual upbringing. Fluent in Arabic, English, and French, she navigates the intersection of different faiths with grace and understanding. Having attended a Catholic school in her youth and now practicing Islam while also being a member of a Quaker group in Florida, Heba embodies the spirit of interfaith harmony.
Heba will share her personal journey and insights into the spiritualities of Christianity and Islam. Through her experiences, she emphasizes the commonalities between the two faiths and promotes inter-spiritual dialogue as a path to peace, awareness, and unity. Join us as we explore the shared values between Islam and Christianity, foster connections with like-minded individuals, and contribute to the promotion of peace and unity in our communities. Deepen your spirituality and expand your horizons. Register now and be part of a movement towards a more harmonious and inclusive world.
Watering Holes are online opportunities to listen, learn, and dialogue with wise teachers that can help us along our spiritual journeys. The evening will include opportunities for wisdom sharing, questions, and small breakout discussions, allowing participants to engage deeply with the topic and each other.Please share this invite with your family and friends. All genders are welcome!
We use a gift economy model. The event fee is $20 but you are invited to pay what you can afford (we request a minimum of $5). If you are able and so-inclined, we also welcome additional contributions to support future Watering Holes and the ongoing work of Illuman.
*Note: Live translated captions are available in a variety of languages, including Spanish, Portugese, German, Dutch French, Italian, Ukrainian, Russian, Chinese, Korean, and Japanese.
CLICK HERE TO REGISTER
A FATHER FOR GENERATION ALPHA
A 9-week online offering for Fathers and soon-to-be Fathers
This online community is designed to meet new Dad’s at a moment when life has initiated them into Fatherhood. In meetings of just one-hour each week, we will drop keys of Wisdom, starting with ‘What it means to be a Man’, moving to ‘Living in Relationships’ and then to ‘What it means to be a Father’. We end with an overview of Men’s groups that Dads may want to follow-up with.
If you are a new or soon-to-be Dad, then this group is for you! Or is there someone like this in your life that might be interested in our Journey together? Then share this with them and encourage them to join us!
Find more information at https://a-father-for-gen-alpha.net/
When asked for a few words of encouragement, a Dad who recently completed the Journey shared these words from his wife; “I’m sad it’s your last meeting! I hope you can find another nourishing group to meet with soon, because this was so good for you and us!”
The Spring 2024 session of A Father for Gen Alpha starts on Tuesday, February 27 and meets every Tuesday night from 9-10pm Eastern through Tuesday, April 23.
Click Here to Register
Send questions to: a.father.for.gen.alpha@gmail.com
The Way of Council is a central part of what Illuman does to promote healthier masculinity and “inner work that makes a difference in the world.” If you’ve ever participated in this practice, you’ve hopefully experienced good Council Stokers—i.e., the leaders who facilitate the Council practice.
While anyone can lead Council with some minimal resources (see the previous article), there’s an art to being an excellent Stoker. Developing this skill is easy to learn but requires practice, especially in getting out of your own way.
For those interested in going deeper into this core practice and developing this skill, we will be offering a six-session series on The Art of Being a Stoker beginning after the New Year. These 90-minute sessions will be offered on the first Saturday of each month at 9am Pacific/Noon Eastern. They will be led by Dave MacQuarrie, one of the original instigators of Illuman’s Virtual Councils.
The schedule is as follows:
- January 6 – Session One – The Intentions of Council
- February 3 – Session Two – Participant Roles
- March 2 – Session Three – Creating Sacred Space
- April 6 – Session Four – Themes and Prompts
- May 4 – Session Five – Managing Difficulties
- June 1 – Session Six – Loose Ends
All are welcome: the curious, first-timers, and repeaters. Even if you can’t make it to every session, it is okay to join the ones that you can.
If interested, please contact Dave at dave.macq@icloud.com.
A FATHER FOR GENERATION ALPHA
A 9-week online offering for Fathers and soon-to-be Fathers
This online community is designed to meet new Dad’s at a moment when life has initiated them into Fatherhood. In meetings of just one-hour each week, we will drop keys of Wisdom, starting with ‘What it means to be a Man’, moving to ‘Living in Relationships’ and then to ‘What it means to be a Father’. We end with an overview of Men’s groups that Dads may want to follow-up with.
If you are a new or soon-to-be Dad, then this group is for you! Or is there someone like this in your life that might be interested in our Journey together? Then share this with them and encourage them to join us!
Find more information at https://a-father-for-gen-alpha.net/
When asked for a few words of encouragement, a Dad who recently completed the Journey shared these words from his wife; “I’m sad it’s your last meeting! I hope you can find another nourishing group to meet with soon, because this was so good for you and us!”
The Spring 2024 session of A Father for Gen Alpha starts on Tuesday, February 27 and meets every Tuesday night from 9-10pm Eastern through Tuesday, April 23.
Click Here to Register
Send questions to: a.father.for.gen.alpha@gmail.com
Although attempting to bring about world peace through the internal transformation of individuals is difficult, it is the only way.—The Dalai Lama
Illuman (US) is an organization of male-identified people who are predominantly White of European descent. Given the history of this country (USA), an essential part of Illuman’s mission to promote “inner work that makes a difference in the world” must be to address the deeply conditioned and embodied aspects of Whiteness that have grievously built and shaped our national culture and inherent institutions (educational, health, legal, political, religious, and economic) and continue to do so.
Although open to all men, healing the Whitewashed Soul was particularly created for white identified men who are committed to the struggle to end White Supremacy, have begun to awaken to how the construct of Whiteness has profoundly damaged and distorted their own humanity, are wanting to repair the breach with the natural world, and are looking for a supportive community where they can gather to face, grieve, and seek healing from their own moral and psychic wounds.
This experiential offering is built on the premise that Wendell Berry addresses in his book, The Hidden Wound, where he speaks of the profound psychic trauma that White Supremacy inflicts not only upon people of color, but also upon the psyches of those who are ‘privileged’ in the system. As James Baldwin writes, “that transformation [into Whiteness] ‘choked many a human being to death,’ because to become white meant the subjugation of others, an act that disfigured the soul by closing off the ability to see oneself in others, and to see them in oneself. This systemic internalized trauma, in turn, perpetuates patriarchal abuse, racial oppression, and destruction of the living system of our planet. Only by taking a crucial inner journey of courageous self-reflection can Whites truly prepare themselves to be part of the multi-racial coalitions required to end the global racism that manifests in the ongoing toxicity and destruction affecting most human and other-than-human communities.
~|~
Program overview:
- Initial full-day intensive on Saturday, April 13
- 10 two-hour long virtual plenary sessions, and 6 two-hour long break-out council sessions, held Mondays 7-9 pm Eastern Time (6-8 Central, 5-7 Mountain, 4-6 Pacific) from April 15-August 5 (excluding Memorial Day)
- Closing commitment gathering (possibly in-person)
Multiple nature based wanders throughout the series in home locality.
Topics will be introduced and explored through poetry, movement, video clips, rituals, short teaching times and small group discussions. Between sessions other resources such as reading, videos, and podcasts will be offered.
“Deepening Invitations” will be offered at the end of each plenary session that will include suggestions for wandering in the more-than-human world, journaling, and other means of soulful expression.
Program Fee: $550 with a sliding scale option
For more information or to register contact Glenn Siegel (gslizard@gmail.com) or Bryan Smith (bds3261@gmail.com)
~|~
Glenn Siegel, M.D. facilitated personal transformation as a psychiatrist for over three decades, co-developing a unique treatment model based on Authenticity as the “curative” force. Now retired from psychiatric practice, Glenn has entered a larger conversation with Wholeness and Self-Healing through the wisdom of the more-than-human world. He is a ‘Wild Mind’ guide trained through the Animas Valley Institute (Bill Plotkin) for those courageous enough to risk encounters with their soul gifts and the psychospiritual upheaval that may result. Now an Illuman Wisdom Elder Emeritus, Glenn has an enduring commitment to add both his voice and actions to the dismantling of patriarchal hierarchy, white supremacy/racism, and gender-based inequities.
Bryan Smith, M.Div. is a transformationalist who companions people as they discover, embrace, and manifest their wild calling and inherent genius that our enchanted and suffering world needs in a time such as this. Bryan has done this in myriad ways, including co-creating Seminary of the Wild, which has evolved into the Center for Wild Spirituality, where he serves as a guide and content creator. He also is an ordained minister in the Presbyterian Church USA, an International Coaching Federation credentialed clergy coach, an Animas Valley Institute certified nature-based human development guide, and an anti-racism trainer. In his anti-racism work, Bryan is committed to helping individuals and organizations dismantle white supremacy and facilitate racial healing.
Although attempting to bring about world peace through the internal transformation of individuals is difficult, it is the only way.—The Dalai Lama
Illuman (US) is an organization of male-identified people who are predominantly White of European descent. Given the history of this country (USA), an essential part of Illuman’s mission to promote “inner work that makes a difference in the world” must be to address the deeply conditioned and embodied aspects of Whiteness that have grievously built and shaped our national culture and inherent institutions (educational, health, legal, political, religious, and economic) and continue to do so.
Although open to all men, healing the Whitewashed Soul was particularly created for white identified men who are committed to the struggle to end White Supremacy, have begun to awaken to how the construct of Whiteness has profoundly damaged and distorted their own humanity, are wanting to repair the breach with the natural world, and are looking for a supportive community where they can gather to face, grieve, and seek healing from their own moral and psychic wounds.
This experiential offering is built on the premise that Wendell Berry addresses in his book, The Hidden Wound, where he speaks of the profound psychic trauma that White Supremacy inflicts not only upon people of color, but also upon the psyches of those who are ‘privileged’ in the system. As James Baldwin writes, “that transformation [into Whiteness] ‘choked many a human being to death,’ because to become white meant the subjugation of others, an act that disfigured the soul by closing off the ability to see oneself in others, and to see them in oneself. This systemic internalized trauma, in turn, perpetuates patriarchal abuse, racial oppression, and destruction of the living system of our planet. Only by taking a crucial inner journey of courageous self-reflection can Whites truly prepare themselves to be part of the multi-racial coalitions required to end the global racism that manifests in the ongoing toxicity and destruction affecting most human and other-than-human communities.
~|~
Program overview:
- Initial full-day intensive on Saturday, April 13
- 10 two-hour long virtual plenary sessions, and 6 two-hour long break-out council sessions, held Mondays 7-9 pm Eastern Time (6-8 Central, 5-7 Mountain, 4-6 Pacific) from April 15-August 5 (excluding Memorial Day)
- Closing commitment gathering (possibly in-person)
Multiple nature based wanders throughout the series in home locality.
Topics will be introduced and explored through poetry, movement, video clips, rituals, short teaching times and small group discussions. Between sessions other resources such as reading, videos, and podcasts will be offered.
“Deepening Invitations” will be offered at the end of each plenary session that will include suggestions for wandering in the more-than-human world, journaling, and other means of soulful expression.
Program Fee: $550 with a sliding scale option
For more information or to register contact Glenn Siegel (gslizard@gmail.com) or Bryan Smith (bds3261@gmail.com)
~|~
Glenn Siegel, M.D. facilitated personal transformation as a psychiatrist for over three decades, co-developing a unique treatment model based on Authenticity as the “curative” force. Now retired from psychiatric practice, Glenn has entered a larger conversation with Wholeness and Self-Healing through the wisdom of the more-than-human world. He is a ‘Wild Mind’ guide trained through the Animas Valley Institute (Bill Plotkin) for those courageous enough to risk encounters with their soul gifts and the psychospiritual upheaval that may result. Now an Illuman Wisdom Elder Emeritus, Glenn has an enduring commitment to add both his voice and actions to the dismantling of patriarchal hierarchy, white supremacy/racism, and gender-based inequities.
Bryan Smith, M.Div. is a transformationalist who companions people as they discover, embrace, and manifest their wild calling and inherent genius that our enchanted and suffering world needs in a time such as this. Bryan has done this in myriad ways, including co-creating Seminary of the Wild, which has evolved into the Center for Wild Spirituality, where he serves as a guide and content creator. He also is an ordained minister in the Presbyterian Church USA, an International Coaching Federation credentialed clergy coach, an Animas Valley Institute certified nature-based human development guide, and an anti-racism trainer. In his anti-racism work, Bryan is committed to helping individuals and organizations dismantle white supremacy and facilitate racial healing.
A FATHER FOR GENERATION ALPHA
A 9-week online offering for Fathers and soon-to-be Fathers
This online community is designed to meet new Dad’s at a moment when life has initiated them into Fatherhood. In meetings of just one-hour each week, we will drop keys of Wisdom, starting with ‘What it means to be a Man’, moving to ‘Living in Relationships’ and then to ‘What it means to be a Father’. We end with an overview of Men’s groups that Dads may want to follow-up with.
If you are a new or soon-to-be Dad, then this group is for you! Or is there someone like this in your life that might be interested in our Journey together? Then share this with them and encourage them to join us!
Find more information at https://a-father-for-gen-alpha.net/
When asked for a few words of encouragement, a Dad who recently completed the Journey shared these words from his wife; “I’m sad it’s your last meeting! I hope you can find another nourishing group to meet with soon, because this was so good for you and us!”
The Spring 2024 session of A Father for Gen Alpha starts on Tuesday, February 27 and meets every Tuesday night from 9-10pm Eastern through Tuesday, April 23.
Click Here to Register
Send questions to: a.father.for.gen.alpha@gmail.com
Although attempting to bring about world peace through the internal transformation of individuals is difficult, it is the only way.—The Dalai Lama
Illuman (US) is an organization of male-identified people who are predominantly White of European descent. Given the history of this country (USA), an essential part of Illuman’s mission to promote “inner work that makes a difference in the world” must be to address the deeply conditioned and embodied aspects of Whiteness that have grievously built and shaped our national culture and inherent institutions (educational, health, legal, political, religious, and economic) and continue to do so.
Although open to all men, healing the Whitewashed Soul was particularly created for white identified men who are committed to the struggle to end White Supremacy, have begun to awaken to how the construct of Whiteness has profoundly damaged and distorted their own humanity, are wanting to repair the breach with the natural world, and are looking for a supportive community where they can gather to face, grieve, and seek healing from their own moral and psychic wounds.
This experiential offering is built on the premise that Wendell Berry addresses in his book, The Hidden Wound, where he speaks of the profound psychic trauma that White Supremacy inflicts not only upon people of color, but also upon the psyches of those who are ‘privileged’ in the system. As James Baldwin writes, “that transformation [into Whiteness] ‘choked many a human being to death,’ because to become white meant the subjugation of others, an act that disfigured the soul by closing off the ability to see oneself in others, and to see them in oneself. This systemic internalized trauma, in turn, perpetuates patriarchal abuse, racial oppression, and destruction of the living system of our planet. Only by taking a crucial inner journey of courageous self-reflection can Whites truly prepare themselves to be part of the multi-racial coalitions required to end the global racism that manifests in the ongoing toxicity and destruction affecting most human and other-than-human communities.
~|~
Program overview:
- Initial full-day intensive on Saturday, April 13
- 10 two-hour long virtual plenary sessions, and 6 two-hour long break-out council sessions, held Mondays 7-9 pm Eastern Time (6-8 Central, 5-7 Mountain, 4-6 Pacific) from April 15-August 5 (excluding Memorial Day)
- Closing commitment gathering (possibly in-person)
Multiple nature based wanders throughout the series in home locality.
Topics will be introduced and explored through poetry, movement, video clips, rituals, short teaching times and small group discussions. Between sessions other resources such as reading, videos, and podcasts will be offered.
“Deepening Invitations” will be offered at the end of each plenary session that will include suggestions for wandering in the more-than-human world, journaling, and other means of soulful expression.
Program Fee: $550 with a sliding scale option
For more information or to register contact Glenn Siegel (gslizard@gmail.com) or Bryan Smith (bds3261@gmail.com)
~|~
Glenn Siegel, M.D. facilitated personal transformation as a psychiatrist for over three decades, co-developing a unique treatment model based on Authenticity as the “curative” force. Now retired from psychiatric practice, Glenn has entered a larger conversation with Wholeness and Self-Healing through the wisdom of the more-than-human world. He is a ‘Wild Mind’ guide trained through the Animas Valley Institute (Bill Plotkin) for those courageous enough to risk encounters with their soul gifts and the psychospiritual upheaval that may result. Now an Illuman Wisdom Elder Emeritus, Glenn has an enduring commitment to add both his voice and actions to the dismantling of patriarchal hierarchy, white supremacy/racism, and gender-based inequities.
Bryan Smith, M.Div. is a transformationalist who companions people as they discover, embrace, and manifest their wild calling and inherent genius that our enchanted and suffering world needs in a time such as this. Bryan has done this in myriad ways, including co-creating Seminary of the Wild, which has evolved into the Center for Wild Spirituality, where he serves as a guide and content creator. He also is an ordained minister in the Presbyterian Church USA, an International Coaching Federation credentialed clergy coach, an Animas Valley Institute certified nature-based human development guide, and an anti-racism trainer. In his anti-racism work, Bryan is committed to helping individuals and organizations dismantle white supremacy and facilitate racial healing.
A FATHER FOR GENERATION ALPHA
A 9-week online offering for Fathers and soon-to-be Fathers
This online community is designed to meet new Dad’s at a moment when life has initiated them into Fatherhood. In meetings of just one-hour each week, we will drop keys of Wisdom, starting with ‘What it means to be a Man’, moving to ‘Living in Relationships’ and then to ‘What it means to be a Father’. We end with an overview of Men’s groups that Dads may want to follow-up with.
If you are a new or soon-to-be Dad, then this group is for you! Or is there someone like this in your life that might be interested in our Journey together? Then share this with them and encourage them to join us!
Find more information at https://a-father-for-gen-alpha.net/
When asked for a few words of encouragement, a Dad who recently completed the Journey shared these words from his wife; “I’m sad it’s your last meeting! I hope you can find another nourishing group to meet with soon, because this was so good for you and us!”
The Spring 2024 session of A Father for Gen Alpha starts on Tuesday, February 27 and meets every Tuesday night from 9-10pm Eastern through Tuesday, April 23.
Click Here to Register
Send questions to: a.father.for.gen.alpha@gmail.com
Come join a circle of men as we move closer to our wounds and then reimagine our relation to them. This will be done through an invitation to participate in council, ritual, wilderness wanderings, storytelling, and poetry. You can expect The Trickster to be there as well with a bag full of surprises. See the attached flyer for details.
“To approach forgiveness is to close in on the nature of the hurt itself, the only remedy being, as we approach its raw center, to reimagine our relation to it.
…at the end of life, the wish to be forgiven is ultimately the chief desire of almost every human being.”
David Whyte – Consolations.
REGISTER HERE
Although attempting to bring about world peace through the internal transformation of individuals is difficult, it is the only way.—The Dalai Lama
Illuman (US) is an organization of male-identified people who are predominantly White of European descent. Given the history of this country (USA), an essential part of Illuman’s mission to promote “inner work that makes a difference in the world” must be to address the deeply conditioned and embodied aspects of Whiteness that have grievously built and shaped our national culture and inherent institutions (educational, health, legal, political, religious, and economic) and continue to do so.
Although open to all men, healing the Whitewashed Soul was particularly created for white identified men who are committed to the struggle to end White Supremacy, have begun to awaken to how the construct of Whiteness has profoundly damaged and distorted their own humanity, are wanting to repair the breach with the natural world, and are looking for a supportive community where they can gather to face, grieve, and seek healing from their own moral and psychic wounds.
This experiential offering is built on the premise that Wendell Berry addresses in his book, The Hidden Wound, where he speaks of the profound psychic trauma that White Supremacy inflicts not only upon people of color, but also upon the psyches of those who are ‘privileged’ in the system. As James Baldwin writes, “that transformation [into Whiteness] ‘choked many a human being to death,’ because to become white meant the subjugation of others, an act that disfigured the soul by closing off the ability to see oneself in others, and to see them in oneself. This systemic internalized trauma, in turn, perpetuates patriarchal abuse, racial oppression, and destruction of the living system of our planet. Only by taking a crucial inner journey of courageous self-reflection can Whites truly prepare themselves to be part of the multi-racial coalitions required to end the global racism that manifests in the ongoing toxicity and destruction affecting most human and other-than-human communities.
~|~
Program overview:
- Initial full-day intensive on Saturday, April 13
- 10 two-hour long virtual plenary sessions, and 6 two-hour long break-out council sessions, held Mondays 7-9 pm Eastern Time (6-8 Central, 5-7 Mountain, 4-6 Pacific) from April 15-August 5 (excluding Memorial Day)
- Closing commitment gathering (possibly in-person)
Multiple nature based wanders throughout the series in home locality.
Topics will be introduced and explored through poetry, movement, video clips, rituals, short teaching times and small group discussions. Between sessions other resources such as reading, videos, and podcasts will be offered.
“Deepening Invitations” will be offered at the end of each plenary session that will include suggestions for wandering in the more-than-human world, journaling, and other means of soulful expression.
Program Fee: $550 with a sliding scale option
For more information or to register contact Glenn Siegel (gslizard@gmail.com) or Bryan Smith (bds3261@gmail.com)
~|~
Glenn Siegel, M.D. facilitated personal transformation as a psychiatrist for over three decades, co-developing a unique treatment model based on Authenticity as the “curative” force. Now retired from psychiatric practice, Glenn has entered a larger conversation with Wholeness and Self-Healing through the wisdom of the more-than-human world. He is a ‘Wild Mind’ guide trained through the Animas Valley Institute (Bill Plotkin) for those courageous enough to risk encounters with their soul gifts and the psychospiritual upheaval that may result. Now an Illuman Wisdom Elder Emeritus, Glenn has an enduring commitment to add both his voice and actions to the dismantling of patriarchal hierarchy, white supremacy/racism, and gender-based inequities.
Bryan Smith, M.Div. is a transformationalist who companions people as they discover, embrace, and manifest their wild calling and inherent genius that our enchanted and suffering world needs in a time such as this. Bryan has done this in myriad ways, including co-creating Seminary of the Wild, which has evolved into the Center for Wild Spirituality, where he serves as a guide and content creator. He also is an ordained minister in the Presbyterian Church USA, an International Coaching Federation credentialed clergy coach, an Animas Valley Institute certified nature-based human development guide, and an anti-racism trainer. In his anti-racism work, Bryan is committed to helping individuals and organizations dismantle white supremacy and facilitate racial healing.
47 – Navigating the Midlife Passage
An Online Community for Men in Midlife
In our middle years we become vulnerable to new doubts, anxieties, and moods. We may suddenly fall in love, break up a marriage, storm out of a job in desperation. We may begin to feel empty, trapped in a life that seems to be living us. These are “dangerous” moments, but they can set the stage for a whole new phase of development. It begins to dawn on us, if we pay attention, that something more is needed.
—Robert Johnson, Living Your Unlived Life
A new Illuman community, “47 – Navigating the Midlife Passage,” is being offered this Spring for men who are navigating this delicate time of midlife. We will use Norman Fischer’s work, Sailing Home, as our companion on the Journey, along with other Wisdom Guides, to help show us the way Home.
Chris, a participant in our trial run of the program this past spring, offered these words about it:
If you are looking for something that allows you to look at your life from a different perspective, I would invite you to this program. Taking a few steps back from your own story and detaching from the pain can be very helpful. In this program, you will find an alternative to the myth that “as a man, you must do it alone, and I have to make my own way.” I found that my story, while unique to me, is part of a bigger story, and I can rest in the comradery of fellow sailors who are living their journey as well. This program offers connection with new friends and soulmates of a different kind that I didn’t know I needed. I found a place of belonging and don’t feel as separate anymore.
Click here for more information and to register
The offering will begin on Tuesday, April 30th from 8:30 – 9:30 pm Eastern Time and continue for the next six Tuesdays at that same time, ending on June 11th. All meetings will be held via Zoom.
We’re looking forward to meeting you!
Send questions to: midlifetime.47@gmail.com
The Way of Council is a central part of what Illuman does to promote healthier masculinity and “inner work that makes a difference in the world.” If you’ve ever participated in this practice, you’ve hopefully experienced good Council Stokers—i.e., the leaders who facilitate the Council practice.
While anyone can lead Council with some minimal resources (see the previous article), there’s an art to being an excellent Stoker. Developing this skill is easy to learn but requires practice, especially in getting out of your own way.
For those interested in going deeper into this core practice and developing this skill, we will be offering a six-session series on The Art of Being a Stoker beginning after the New Year. These 90-minute sessions will be offered on the first Saturday of each month at 9am Pacific/Noon Eastern. They will be led by Dave MacQuarrie, one of the original instigators of Illuman’s Virtual Councils.
The schedule is as follows:
- January 6 – Session One – The Intentions of Council
- February 3 – Session Two – Participant Roles
- March 2 – Session Three – Creating Sacred Space
- April 6 – Session Four – Themes and Prompts
- May 4 – Session Five – Managing Difficulties
- June 1 – Session Six – Loose Ends
All are welcome: the curious, first-timers, and repeaters. Even if you can’t make it to every session, it is okay to join the ones that you can.
If interested, please contact Dave at dave.macq@icloud.com.
Although attempting to bring about world peace through the internal transformation of individuals is difficult, it is the only way.—The Dalai Lama
Illuman (US) is an organization of male-identified people who are predominantly White of European descent. Given the history of this country (USA), an essential part of Illuman’s mission to promote “inner work that makes a difference in the world” must be to address the deeply conditioned and embodied aspects of Whiteness that have grievously built and shaped our national culture and inherent institutions (educational, health, legal, political, religious, and economic) and continue to do so.
Although open to all men, healing the Whitewashed Soul was particularly created for white identified men who are committed to the struggle to end White Supremacy, have begun to awaken to how the construct of Whiteness has profoundly damaged and distorted their own humanity, are wanting to repair the breach with the natural world, and are looking for a supportive community where they can gather to face, grieve, and seek healing from their own moral and psychic wounds.
This experiential offering is built on the premise that Wendell Berry addresses in his book, The Hidden Wound, where he speaks of the profound psychic trauma that White Supremacy inflicts not only upon people of color, but also upon the psyches of those who are ‘privileged’ in the system. As James Baldwin writes, “that transformation [into Whiteness] ‘choked many a human being to death,’ because to become white meant the subjugation of others, an act that disfigured the soul by closing off the ability to see oneself in others, and to see them in oneself. This systemic internalized trauma, in turn, perpetuates patriarchal abuse, racial oppression, and destruction of the living system of our planet. Only by taking a crucial inner journey of courageous self-reflection can Whites truly prepare themselves to be part of the multi-racial coalitions required to end the global racism that manifests in the ongoing toxicity and destruction affecting most human and other-than-human communities.
~|~
Program overview:
- Initial full-day intensive on Saturday, April 13
- 10 two-hour long virtual plenary sessions, and 6 two-hour long break-out council sessions, held Mondays 7-9 pm Eastern Time (6-8 Central, 5-7 Mountain, 4-6 Pacific) from April 15-August 5 (excluding Memorial Day)
- Closing commitment gathering (possibly in-person)
Multiple nature based wanders throughout the series in home locality.
Topics will be introduced and explored through poetry, movement, video clips, rituals, short teaching times and small group discussions. Between sessions other resources such as reading, videos, and podcasts will be offered.
“Deepening Invitations” will be offered at the end of each plenary session that will include suggestions for wandering in the more-than-human world, journaling, and other means of soulful expression.
Program Fee: $550 with a sliding scale option
For more information or to register contact Glenn Siegel (gslizard@gmail.com) or Bryan Smith (bds3261@gmail.com)
~|~
Glenn Siegel, M.D. facilitated personal transformation as a psychiatrist for over three decades, co-developing a unique treatment model based on Authenticity as the “curative” force. Now retired from psychiatric practice, Glenn has entered a larger conversation with Wholeness and Self-Healing through the wisdom of the more-than-human world. He is a ‘Wild Mind’ guide trained through the Animas Valley Institute (Bill Plotkin) for those courageous enough to risk encounters with their soul gifts and the psychospiritual upheaval that may result. Now an Illuman Wisdom Elder Emeritus, Glenn has an enduring commitment to add both his voice and actions to the dismantling of patriarchal hierarchy, white supremacy/racism, and gender-based inequities.
Bryan Smith, M.Div. is a transformationalist who companions people as they discover, embrace, and manifest their wild calling and inherent genius that our enchanted and suffering world needs in a time such as this. Bryan has done this in myriad ways, including co-creating Seminary of the Wild, which has evolved into the Center for Wild Spirituality, where he serves as a guide and content creator. He also is an ordained minister in the Presbyterian Church USA, an International Coaching Federation credentialed clergy coach, an Animas Valley Institute certified nature-based human development guide, and an anti-racism trainer. In his anti-racism work, Bryan is committed to helping individuals and organizations dismantle white supremacy and facilitate racial healing.
47 – Navigating the Midlife Passage
An Online Community for Men in Midlife
In our middle years we become vulnerable to new doubts, anxieties, and moods. We may suddenly fall in love, break up a marriage, storm out of a job in desperation. We may begin to feel empty, trapped in a life that seems to be living us. These are “dangerous” moments, but they can set the stage for a whole new phase of development. It begins to dawn on us, if we pay attention, that something more is needed.
—Robert Johnson, Living Your Unlived Life
A new Illuman community, “47 – Navigating the Midlife Passage,” is being offered this Spring for men who are navigating this delicate time of midlife. We will use Norman Fischer’s work, Sailing Home, as our companion on the Journey, along with other Wisdom Guides, to help show us the way Home.
Chris, a participant in our trial run of the program this past spring, offered these words about it:
If you are looking for something that allows you to look at your life from a different perspective, I would invite you to this program. Taking a few steps back from your own story and detaching from the pain can be very helpful. In this program, you will find an alternative to the myth that “as a man, you must do it alone, and I have to make my own way.” I found that my story, while unique to me, is part of a bigger story, and I can rest in the comradery of fellow sailors who are living their journey as well. This program offers connection with new friends and soulmates of a different kind that I didn’t know I needed. I found a place of belonging and don’t feel as separate anymore.
Click here for more information and to register
The offering will begin on Tuesday, April 30th from 8:30 – 9:30 pm Eastern Time and continue for the next six Tuesdays at that same time, ending on June 11th. All meetings will be held via Zoom.
We’re looking forward to meeting you!
Send questions to: midlifetime.47@gmail.com
Although attempting to bring about world peace through the internal transformation of individuals is difficult, it is the only way.—The Dalai Lama
Illuman (US) is an organization of male-identified people who are predominantly White of European descent. Given the history of this country (USA), an essential part of Illuman’s mission to promote “inner work that makes a difference in the world” must be to address the deeply conditioned and embodied aspects of Whiteness that have grievously built and shaped our national culture and inherent institutions (educational, health, legal, political, religious, and economic) and continue to do so.
Although open to all men, healing the Whitewashed Soul was particularly created for white identified men who are committed to the struggle to end White Supremacy, have begun to awaken to how the construct of Whiteness has profoundly damaged and distorted their own humanity, are wanting to repair the breach with the natural world, and are looking for a supportive community where they can gather to face, grieve, and seek healing from their own moral and psychic wounds.
This experiential offering is built on the premise that Wendell Berry addresses in his book, The Hidden Wound, where he speaks of the profound psychic trauma that White Supremacy inflicts not only upon people of color, but also upon the psyches of those who are ‘privileged’ in the system. As James Baldwin writes, “that transformation [into Whiteness] ‘choked many a human being to death,’ because to become white meant the subjugation of others, an act that disfigured the soul by closing off the ability to see oneself in others, and to see them in oneself. This systemic internalized trauma, in turn, perpetuates patriarchal abuse, racial oppression, and destruction of the living system of our planet. Only by taking a crucial inner journey of courageous self-reflection can Whites truly prepare themselves to be part of the multi-racial coalitions required to end the global racism that manifests in the ongoing toxicity and destruction affecting most human and other-than-human communities.
~|~
Program overview:
- Initial full-day intensive on Saturday, April 13
- 10 two-hour long virtual plenary sessions, and 6 two-hour long break-out council sessions, held Mondays 7-9 pm Eastern Time (6-8 Central, 5-7 Mountain, 4-6 Pacific) from April 15-August 5 (excluding Memorial Day)
- Closing commitment gathering (possibly in-person)
Multiple nature based wanders throughout the series in home locality.
Topics will be introduced and explored through poetry, movement, video clips, rituals, short teaching times and small group discussions. Between sessions other resources such as reading, videos, and podcasts will be offered.
“Deepening Invitations” will be offered at the end of each plenary session that will include suggestions for wandering in the more-than-human world, journaling, and other means of soulful expression.
Program Fee: $550 with a sliding scale option
For more information or to register contact Glenn Siegel (gslizard@gmail.com) or Bryan Smith (bds3261@gmail.com)
~|~
Glenn Siegel, M.D. facilitated personal transformation as a psychiatrist for over three decades, co-developing a unique treatment model based on Authenticity as the “curative” force. Now retired from psychiatric practice, Glenn has entered a larger conversation with Wholeness and Self-Healing through the wisdom of the more-than-human world. He is a ‘Wild Mind’ guide trained through the Animas Valley Institute (Bill Plotkin) for those courageous enough to risk encounters with their soul gifts and the psychospiritual upheaval that may result. Now an Illuman Wisdom Elder Emeritus, Glenn has an enduring commitment to add both his voice and actions to the dismantling of patriarchal hierarchy, white supremacy/racism, and gender-based inequities.
Bryan Smith, M.Div. is a transformationalist who companions people as they discover, embrace, and manifest their wild calling and inherent genius that our enchanted and suffering world needs in a time such as this. Bryan has done this in myriad ways, including co-creating Seminary of the Wild, which has evolved into the Center for Wild Spirituality, where he serves as a guide and content creator. He also is an ordained minister in the Presbyterian Church USA, an International Coaching Federation credentialed clergy coach, an Animas Valley Institute certified nature-based human development guide, and an anti-racism trainer. In his anti-racism work, Bryan is committed to helping individuals and organizations dismantle white supremacy and facilitate racial healing.
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