Illuman East Coast Colllaborative Viewpoint
Change. It’s often called the only constant. If it weren’t so true it would be trite. We work at a deeper level of change. Metanoia, the introductory word to the Gospels. Meta meaning beyond; and noia meaning mind. Metanoia means ‘think beyond your mind, ’think in a new way,’ ’adopt a different way of seeing.’
Are you ready to make some changes in your life?
Are you being called to address changes already underway?
Do you have unresolved “shadow” issues, perhaps from the earliest days of your life, that adversely impact your identity, behavior, relationships?
A natural question is, “how can I recover from, or cope with, my current situation?” Perhaps a better question is, “how can I learn to be free from the pain I’m living with?”
The pain we do not transform we transmit.
Richard Rohr
When we look back on our lives we see disturbing, repeating patterns of our thinking, emotions, behaviors. A powerful spiritual exhortation is, “Lord, let this crisis not pass me by until I have learned the gift it contains for me.”
By carrying unresolved grief, internalized anger, shame and guilt, loneliness, personal family traumas, and societal pressures, men are weighed down in disparaging ways. For many men the wounding of their souls may not be recognized until midlife.
The injury to men’s psychological and spiritual state, and the wounds of the world, cry out for healing. The men of Illuman offer a pathway and support for healing that leads to authentic love. This requires life-long attention, commitment, learning and practices.
The work begins by learning how to bring healing to our wounds, addictions and trauma. It extends to learning how to become whole, fully human and fully alive men. This is spiritual work. It culminates with men becoming healing agents with the ability to elder others along their life journey.
Our viewpoint and approach is guided by the insights and wisdom of our founder, Fr. Richard Rohr (founder of the Center for Action and Contemplation).
Most problems are interpreted psychologically today,
but the real solutions are almost always spiritual.
Spiritual is a bigger realm than psychological because
the individual psyche is precisely that.
It's too individualistic. It's too small.
It's text outside of context.
It's individual outside of participation.
Richard Rohr
Illuman men steward this process. Our primary focus is inner work that expands the depth and breadth of love in men and makes a difference in the world. We use the ancient tools of relationship, nature, ritual, image, storytelling and council to help one another reclaim the soul’s wisdom and the gift of joy.
Our fellowship is fed by the wisdom traditions of forgiveness and radical inclusivity. Throughout this lifelong journey of illumination, many men experience transformation through a power greater than themselves.
Everything we do starts with a conversation to develop a relationship. Let’s talk.
Dave Kraybill, ECC Convener, kraybill.1@gmail.com