One recent evening, a group of Illuman leaders met to consider how best to adapt the form our community should take to meet the needs of our times. We noted that one of our participants was missing. Another said, "Oh, he is from Minnesota. Minnesota is on fire again. He's probably out with the community." Our Illuman group met on the evening of the police—shooting? killing? accident? murder?—of Black American Daunte Wright in Brooklyn Center, Minnesota. This incident happened within ten miles of where former police officer Derek Chauvin, who is currently on trial, killed another Black man, George Floyd.
Inner Work Making a Difference in the World
Over the last few days, around 100 Illuman men met via Zoom to explore our mission, vision, what we do, and how we work together. During this time, we particularly noted patriarchy, climate catastrophe, deep political divisions, and domestic violence (normally with men as perpetrators). Several commented on our internalized racism, social and generational trauma, as well as individual trauma. All of this, mind you, coming after twelve months of global pandemic during which, according to an Axios poll conducted in February of 2021, one-third of Americans have known someone who has died from COVID-19.
Inner Work Making a Difference in the World
We spent a lot of our time sitting in silence together because to leap rapidly into yet another response feels like another "spin of the hamster wheel" of violence. Early in my work life, I was fortunate to have a mentor who told me, "When you find yourself in a hole, stop digging!"
Inner Work Making a Difference in the World
So, we are sitting together, actively waiting/hoping (in Spanish, esperar conveys both meanings) for clarity on what is Illuman's to do as we put into practice one of our Initiation lessons, "Your life is not about you," collectively expressed as, "Illuman's life is not about Illuman."
As our meeting went on that night, we did learn that, in fact, our participant from Minnesota had been with the community in Minnesota. He had spent time with George Floyd's family. And his eyes were still burning from the tear gas he had encountered earlier in the day as he went to get his second dose of the COVID-19 vaccine.
Inner Work Making a Difference in the World
