1. Love and Gratitude for Time Well Spent

By Brad Pickel, Illuman Administrator

Wow. It’s hard to believe that I began this position almost eight years ago! With wide eyes and an open heart, I jumped at the chance to work part-time with a startup organization for men who wanted to make a difference in the world. At that time, I had recently ended a beach management consulting contract in the Florida Panhandle and wasn’t sure what would be next. I had only been on the edge of M.A.L.Es and Illuman after being initiated in West Virginia in 2011, so I was intrigued and excited on the afternoon when I received the Drumbeat email with the job announcement. I remember it like it was yesterday. I was on a phone call with my Illuman Brother Tony, and right away, I knew it was work I wanted to do. My response was drafted and submitted within 48 hours. 

2. Appreciation and Thanksgiving for the Men of Illuman

The gift and miracle that Illuman has brought about in men's lives, among their families and communities, and in their workplaces has come about through the commitments and generosity of other men who have stepped forward to "do what is theirs to do!"

Illuman has existed since 2012. Our work, however, rests on the M.A.L.Es initiative which the Center for Action and Contemplation founded in the late 1990s. 

Words simply cannot convey the full appreciation we all hold for the men whose names we recognize here. All of these have stepped forward to serve, to lead, to pioneer, to give, to risk. All of these men have served in Chapter, Regional, M.A.L.Es or Illuman-wide roles. Some have served and continue to serve in multiple roles. They have all held their posts. We hold them in high estimation and ask each of these men (and Leslie!) to take heart in knowing that your efforts have produced life in all of us and will continue to sow seeds of hope and healing for tomorrow's men. If we have omitted your name, or that of another you know, in the following list, please let us know at administrator@illuman.org.

3. Join Us for These Upcoming Illuman Events

(held virtually on Zoom)

In the words of Matthew Fox: One way men transform is by finding “the nobility inside.” I learned this rich phrase from a Native American prison chaplain who approached me after a talk I gave shortly after my book on The Hidden Spirituality of Men: Ten Metaphors to Awaken the Sacred Masculine was published. He told me that men in prison don’t want to look inside but prefer projecting onto others. And that after 12 years of looking to find a book that would get men to look inside, mine was the first book that men would read wherein they found “the nobility inside.” We will consider some of these archetypes such as Father Sky, Green Man, Blue Man, Spiritual Warrior and Hunter Gatherer that lead men to look inside and find the nobility there. Thus, to transform.

Another way to transform is to resist Patriarchy and enter into another way of living in the world, one that is less empire-driven and reptilian brain-driven and more inclusive of the Divine Feminine, wisdom, and our capacity for compassion. We will also address this way of transformation.

(held virtually on Zoom)

Elders at the Gate is a three-day virtual experience, built from the ground up on the collective wisdom and work of the men of Illuman. Focused heavily on the power of story and Council, this event in an invitation into deeper brotherhood for all men, initiated and uninitiated. (Any initiate who signed up for a cancelled/postponed 2020 or 2021 MROP is invited to attend for free.) All involved will hold space for and work deeply around the question, "How do I live my power?" The elders are waiting to receive your story. Join us.

We have been through a lot these last 20+ months and have been challenged in a variety of ways. This retreat will give us an opportunity to finally meet in person, unpackage our experiences, look into our hearts and discover lessons that are waiting to be revealed. We will explore multiple understandings for what it means to wear a mask and what it might mean to take our mask(s) off.

“Spiritual maturity is to become aware that we are not the persona (mask) we have been presenting to others. That is why saints are humble and scoundrels are arrogant. We must become intentional about recognizing and embracing our shadows. Religion’s word for this is quite simply forgiveness, which is pivotal and central on the path of transformation.” -Richard Rohr

(held virtually on Zoom)

Illuman is dedicated to helping men on a spiritual journey. That quest is what this writing retreat is about. What are the myths that are guiding your journey? We will draw some of our inspiration from the work of author and storyteller Michael Meade.

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Illuman is an independent, non-profit 501(c)(3) organization whose vision is to see men transforming men and, through them, families and communities for generations to come. Our mission is to engage those seeking a life-long journey of spiritual transformation.