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Illuman of IllinoisIlluman of Illinois
Illuman of IllinoisIlluman of Illinois
  • Home
  • About
    • Who We Are
    • Resources For The Journey
    • Video Resources For The Journey
  • MROP
    • What is MROP?
    • MROP Testimonials
    • Initiator program
    • Returning Initiated Men
  • Journey of Illumination
    • The Five Touchstones
    • Centering
    • Gathering
    • Connecting
    • Releasing
    • Serving
  • Council
    • Way Of Council
    • Virtual Council
  • Connect
    • Illuman of Illinois
    • Illuman of Illinois Past Events
    • Illuman National Events
    • Soularize 2022
    • Photo Gallery
    • Blog
  • Umbrales

Way Of Council

Home Way Of Council

A hunting party
Sometimes has a greater chance
Of flushing love and God
Out into the open
Than a warrior
All alone.

                                              -Hafiz

Bring your pain, strength, power, weakness, glory, blessings or whatever else it is that you are to address at this moment in life. Council is a place for you to tackle life head on, as awake and honest to what is your reality as you dare. It is also a place to practice a radical form of listening to others and to the Spirit.

Our form of council is a communal contemplative practice where we do our inner work in a group. It isn’t a discussion group; it isn’t a place to debate ideas; it isn’t a place to get or give answers or advice; it isn’t a place to be held accountable by others. Council is a place uncommon to the rest of life where you are invited to put down the mantel(s) you carry, where you put down your many identities and roles you play, reconnect to Life itself, and sink deeper into your true self, using a variety of practices that have stood the test of time and come to us from wisdom traditions around the world. A large part of this practice is telling our own stories.

Illuman understands the Way of Council as a communal contemplative practice. It affirms the importance of listening and speaking from the heart within a circle of men, but it also recognizes the circle as being more than the sum of its parts. Illuman wants to be open to the mystery of the Spirit that arises within the wisdom and discernment of the Council. It recognizes that we run out of words in the presence of something larger than ourselves. This necessarily widens the circumference of the circle of men, extending our vision to a wider community to which we also have to listen.

Council

is a place uncommon to the rest of life where you are invited to put down the mantel(s) you carry, put down the many identities and roles you play, reconnect to Life itself and sink deeper into your true self, using a variety of practices that have stood the test of time and come to us from wisdom traditions around the world. -Ned Abenroth, Washington Convener

Who:
We practice radical inclusivity, and welcome all men, regardless of religion, ethnicity, sexual orientation, socio-economic status or anything else that may divide.

When:
An RSVP would be very helpful, but not 100% mandatory. Please contact us for more information! We have two meetings scheduled each month:

Wilmette area

The basement of Rectory at St. Francis Xavier parish, the white house just west of the sanctuary on the NW corner of Linden and 9th in Wilmette.

1st and 3rd Saturday every month from 7:30-9:00 AM

contact person: Bill Ciganek:WMDCIG@yahoo.com

Naperville area

(often St. Thomas Parish, 1500 Brookdale Ave

1st and 3rd Thursdays each month  – 7:00 – 8:30 PM.

Contact person: Tom Barkauskas: Tombarkauskas@yahoo.com

Downers Grove area

at Mayslake Ministries

718 Ogden Ave, Suite 200, Downers Grove

Meets every other Saturday : 7:30 AM- 9:00 AM

Contact: Bob Miller: rfm1141@sbcglobal.net

Virtual Way of Council

CHAPTERS OF ILLUMAN

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We're a community of men transforming other men through a love greater than ourselves.

Contact

  • Chester & Gary / Co-Conveners
  • ILLUMAN of Illinois
  • Hawthorn Woods, Illinois
  • conever@illumanillinois.org
  • https://illumanillinois.org

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