As you’ve probably seen by now, Illuman’s annual men’s gathering, AWAKEN (formerly Soularize), will be focused on helping us reclaim our “hidden wholeness.” Our recent emails have described what this means, what happens when we do so, and what happens when we don’t. But how, exactly, will AWAKEN help us to do that?
During our time together at AWAKEN, we will acknowledge the grief of the “spell of separateness” that we feel when we become disconnected from our inner wholeness through wounding, trauma, and suppression; and we will engage in practices to help us restore that wholeness:
- Shared rituals: Through the power of the elemental forces of nature (Earth, Water, Fire, and Air/Wind), we will awaken from this illusion of separation and reclaim our place as interconnected, beloved, and belonging.
- Contemplative practices of stillness and silence will help us reconnect to our true selves.
- Council Circles and informal times together will allow us to reconnect to our fellow men in meaningful and authentic community.
- Nature wanderings and ample unstructured times during the weekend will help us reconnect with Spirit and the more-than-human world.
This whole process will be informed by the indigenous spirituality of Lakota teacher Doug Good Feather. (We recommend reading his book ahead of time!)
As we cultivate our vulnerable humanity in each other’s presence, we will become vessels for the re-emergence of our hidden wholeness.
This transformative process is not only self-healing, but also essential for the restoration of the entire interconnected Earth community and the well-being of all our descendants. As separate beings we are diminished, but through our inter-BEing, we reclaim our kinship in true community and become powerful healing agents of change.
Please join us for this vital and courageous work!
In order to make AWAKEN more accessible to all, we have moved this annual gathering to a new, all-inclusive location in the lush and inspiring mountains of northwestern Virginia. Unlike previous years, this venue allows us to provide both food and lodging as part of the total registration price, meaning that you can attend for about half the cost of previous years. Scholarships in exchange for volunteer hours are also available for any who need them.
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