Awakening men to their belovedness, that they might love the world…
Being a member of Illuman of Washington simply is a way of saying, “I’m invested- I’m IN!” not only for myself but for the good of the world.
Join Us
Illuman Of Washington is a membership based community. If you see the value of this community, we ask you to consider formally joining us by becoming a member of Illuman of Washington. Being a member of Illuman of Washington simply is a way of saying, “I’m invested. I’m IN,” not only for myself but for the good of the world. It means moving from someone who attends events and councils, to being someone who helps support the creation and stewarding of this work for others. At its most basic level, we recognize members as those men who give financially (no minimum amount required) on an ongoing basis (for most this means monthly). Money is nothing more than a way of trading one’s life energy for something else. By investing money in Illuman of Washington’s work, you are investing your own life energy, to be used by the Illuman of Washington community for the good of the furthering of this work. It is yet another way of carrying the flame. Members receive discounts to retreats and more communication about the happenings of Illuman. But the reason they join, is because they recognize, that many of the world’s problems will ease, as men become healthier, more mature and grow into agents of transformation.
Serve with Us
Some men feel a strong desire to contribute through service. Service is one our five touchstones, and we particularly value service that comes from a prior sense of solidarity with those to whom one is serving. Solidarity first, then service. Ways men might serve range from serving as a council carrier, or a elder/mentor to others, to helping in all the tasks of enabling our programs. (For example serving in the kitchen at an MROP or digging graves in preparation for an EROP). If you are interested in serving, simply raise your hand and let us know!
Lead with Us
Leaders in Illuman of Washington are men who are committed to doing their own work; men who lead with robust vulnerability; men who know it isn’t about them, who have taken on the posture of an apprentice to life, to death, to their wounds, their suffering, to the more than human world, to those on the margins; men who are willing to set their lives on fire, to be about something much greater and counter cultural to the ways of this world, who live in the Realm of the Friend, more than the Powers of this World; men who are in touch with their hearts, their bodies, as well as their minds; men who love deeply; and men who are honest enough to know that on their best days they can only do half of these things very well…but who press on and in anyway. Generally, leadership roles and positions are filled by invitation, and are held via partnership. No man leads alone. More about our Leadership Philosophy is available in these two PDF White Papers: Illuman Model of Leadership and Leadership within Illuman of Washington.
Leadership Structure
Illuman of Washington’s structure could be described as a hierarchy of circles. Currently we are led by a Guiding Council of 5 men that meets for 90 minutes every two weeks. Stoking the Guiding Council are our Conveners, who tend the space of both the Guiding Council as well as the broader Leadership Gathering. The Guiding Council as a group were commissioned by the original board, to implement the mission of Illuman of Washington. This body is the one that discerned and implemented the first strategic plan, oversaw Illuman of Washington’s early events, and eventually called into being the broader Leadership Gathering, over whom they still hold authority. The Leadership Gathering is where the rubber meets the road. It is made up of 20 brothers who meet monthly, implementing much of the core strategic aims of Illuman of Washington, and helping the Guiding Council discern how the goals and projects continue to evolve.
Currently the Leadership Gathering is tending to five different strategic aims, with lots of smaller goals and aims under these five categories:
- Men are being transformed by the network of relationships within the community, as much as by the events (Men transforming Men by a Power greater than ourselves), and this is apparent to outsiders.
Men may come for events, and experience transformation in this context, but those who hang around know that the deeper work happens in the web of our community. - We are implementing an integrated formational pathway (Journey of Illumination), in which council fits as one piece.
Our major events tend to be crucibles of transformation– this aim tends to the work of “formation” which happens throughout our daily lives. We are doing this through the offering of courses, cohorts, councils, retreats and practices that shape our journey. - Leadership Philosophy is known and available
We are tending to the leadership container, and raising awareness that the DNA of Illuman is not only carried by some perceived center, but by all in the community. - Invest in Illuman Infrastructure
We are investing in the many rhythms/form/tools, muscles and bones needed for our community to flourish, for example: technology, leadership roles, trainings, rubrics for events, etc. - We are actively engaging the broader world, listening and speaking outside of Illuman.
We are cultivating a posture of listening to other communities, and bringing our own prophetic voice into the broader culture.
Overseeing the Guiding Council and the Conveners, is the Wisdom-Board, which is currently being re-commissioned into a more active expression. There is also a separate Council of the Pacific Northwest, which is a quarterly gathering of leaders from British Columbia, Oregon, and Washington. The MROP as a regional event, is currently held by the Pacific Northwest Council, who oversee the selection of the MROP Coordinators, the team, the location and more.
BEYOND and BETWEEN the structures, the organic expressions of our work flourishes as well. We hear this in the stories and activities that don’t show up in the ledger of our efforts, are not part of our plan, but have been made possible by the structures above. A bit like a wild garden, we celebrate planned and unplanned harvests!
Learn more about the mission and vision of Illuman:
Illuman’s 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, and the presence of the Sacred in all that is.
- 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.
These are our five touchstones:
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 standing solidarity with all, honoring the earth and being of loving service to all that is.
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.
