We are pleased to invite you into this
Journey of Illumination,
a process for continued spiritual growth and
transformation of men.
(Journey
of Illumination Brochure 2-page PDF)
This process challenges you to show up and pay attention daily to the need to overcome the weight of your routine in order to realize a full, intense and well-grounded spiritual journey. Doing so is not easy, but it does involve clear elements:
● Show up and observe (Centering)
● Show up and get together (Gathering)
● Show up and share (Connecting)
● Show up and let go (Releasing)
● Show up and act (Serving)
By choosing to participate, you will enrich and enliven your existing spiritual practices, and create or restore balance in each step of your journey through a commitment to do the work that is the essence of spiritual discipline. What drives this process is accountability, both to yourself and others.
As the product of the collective efforts and consciousness of hundreds of initiated men, the Journey of Illumination awakens men to two essential challenges of the Journey—to choose a specific action (show up) and to be present (pay attention) in the body, the heart, and the mind.
Your personal investment in yourself and in the process is very important so that a group of elders can be raised up who live the values of Men As Learners and Elders and are not just into “joining” or “attending.” While much of the “work” will be on your own, we will walk together in preparation.
We trust that many of you have already begun incorporating these disciplines into your spiritual journey.
This is indeed an exciting time and we trust that the Spirit has much to teach us and lead us into. Thank you for your willingness and openness.
Mentorship
We do not walk this journey alone! An important aspect of the Journey of Illumination (JOI) is the pairing of each man with a mentor. Your mentor will connect with you at different times of the journey to check-in on how things are going for you.
Your mentor is not your Spiritual Director or counselor but rather a man who can encourage and challenge you based on what you share is happening in relationship to the different elements of the JOI. Check-ins can occur in person or by phone as your mentor might be located in another geographic area.
FIRMing (Fifth Initiation Rite for Men): A three-day event designed for men who have experienced the Rites of Passage and who have participated in the follow-up process (Journey of Illumination). FIRMing is an intensive event containing solitude, ritual, and other experientials. FIRMings will be scheduled in different regional locations and require an application and acceptance process.
In most Catholic literature, confirmation was described in warrior imagery as being signed as a "Soldier of Christ". We, of course, would like to be "confirmed" as Warriors, but also as Lovers, Wise Men, and Kings.
FIRMing means strengthening, firming, confirmation and as always, we would like to build again upon the older spiritual Tradition. Baptism and Confirmation were originally one sacrament, but they were gradually divided into two time separated rituals when the church saw the need for a free, conscious, and adult choice of one's infant baptism.
We now see the very same need in relation to our Men's Rite of Passage, and would like to begin to offer a powerful ritual for all initiated men. This will now provide us with a year long follow-up following one's MROP and leading to FIRMing a year later.
The ritual, will be a very serious and choiceful three-day event, that will involve preparatory work and study, fasting and silence on site, and a minimum five hour repeat of our sacred circle from our first days of initiation.
The FIRMing is the next step on the M.A.L.Es journey. This process is always open for enrollment, but the journey can take from 8 months to 3 years depending on the individual. A signed covenant is required before the start of this journey.
The follow-up work you do is essential to the confirmation of your MROP initiation. Like an MROP, during the 3-day FIRMing ritual there will be no partial attendance. Unlike an MROP, you may repeat the FIRMing as long as you go through the 8-12 month process followed by a FIRMing ritual. A FIRMing process will commence immediately following the annual MROP, open to the new initiates and all initiated men, and culminate in a FIRMing ritual 12 months later.
Although a self-guided process, the FIRMing curriculum is not intended to be done alone. It is a WE process with emphasis on a Home Group conference meeting/call every quarter and clear contact made with a sponsor/mentor half way through along with regular communication with a Soul Brother. These will provide a measure of accountability to be doing what we said we would do.
What Does The Journey of Illumination Invite You Into?
Choose at least one PRACTICE from each of the 5 Forms of PRESENCE. Be disciplined about practicing your choices at the frequencies listed in the Guide Sheet.
Journey of Illumination Guide Sheet
Printer friendly Journey of Illumination Guide Sheet (4-Page PDF)
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Forms of Presence |
Forms of Practice |
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· Show Up and Observe (Centering)
Each day challenge yourself to make contact with your true Source.
“I and the Father are one.” (John 10:30) |
q Centering Prayer/Meditation q Fasting* q Mindful Breathing/Practicing Presence* q Walking Meditation q Wandering Retreats* q Yoga/Body Work |
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· Show Up and Get Together (Gathering)
Regularly look for support and accountability with other serious brothers.
“Do not absent yourself from the gatherings of the brethren” (Hebrews 10:25)
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q Small Groups q 12-Step Support Group q Regional/Local Gatherings of M.A.L.Es q MROP Home Group Connection* |
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· Show Up and Share (Connecting) This applies on many levels, and is frankly the core meaning of “re-ligio” (reconnecting). Challenge yourself to find spiritual disciplines that you keep you connected and open-spaced in your mind, your heart, and grounded inside of your own body and emotions. “Peter, Peter, you must be sifted like wheat. . . and once you have recovered, you in your turn must strengthen the brothers.” (Luke 22:31-32) |
q Soul Brother Check-In* q Elder Check-in* q One-on-One* q Spiritual Director Therapist |
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· Show Up and Let Go (Releasing) Living in the present moment requires us to release the past. Solitude and silence are traditional ways of allowing this to happen “Let go of your old way of life, put aside your old self, which gets corrupted by following illusions.” (Ephesians 4:22)
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q Exercising forgiveness q Death Lodge Experience* q Journaling q Shadow work Wandering Retreats* |
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· Show Up and Act (Serving) Unless you find some way to give it away, you will not have it for yourself for long, or at any depth. The 12-Steppers call it the 12th and necessary step.
“I did not come to be served, but to serve.” (Matthew 20:28) |
Connecting with some type of service activity-- preferably with men’s work. Should be discerned through work with Mentor, Elder, Soul Brother, small group and/or spiritual director. |
* See Glossary of Terms for support information
Reflection Spiritual Reading List
Encouraged Daily with journaling and/or
spiritual reading, from the following:
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Bill Plotkin, Soulcraft
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Richard Rohr, Adam's Return
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Henri Nouwen, The Return of the Prodigal Son
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James Finley, Merton's Palace of Nowhere
Note: We encourage you to use the 30th of each month (M.A.L.Es day) for days of fasting, study, prayer, and/or service for yourself and other men.
Journey of Illumination Commitment Card
Printer friendly Commitment Card (1-page PDF)
After reading, praying and discerning that you are ready to begin the Journey of Illumination sign and date the Commitment Card and mail to:
Center for Action and Contemplation
Attn: FIRMing
P.O. Box 12464
Albuquerque, NM 87195-2464
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Commitment Card | |
| The Initiated Male bearing this Passport is on a Journey of Illumination together with his brothers. As a Beloved Son, he seeks a deeper connection with the truth of creation, knowing that the mystery will always be greater than his understanding. | Trusting that I am
called to this journey, I commit to the Journey of Illumination. With
the companionship and counsel of other men, I will faithfully pursue my
own spiritual growth in the months ahead. Signed: ____________________________Date:_____________ |
Click on: FIRMing Schedule
Click on: The FIRMing Experience by Kevin Anderson for more information.
DEATH LODGE – Intentional period of solitude (minimum of 24 hours), preferably occurring in nature. This period of time is to be without distractions of any sort and is a strong occasion to incorporate a day of fasting as well as prayer, solitude, observation, and journaling. For more info on Death Lodge experience, consult Bill Plotkin, Soulcraft, 105. One Death Lodge is strongly encouraged
ELDER CHECK-IN – You will be assigned an “Elder” with whom you will connect at different stages of the journey to help you discern if you are processing towards participation in FIRMing. The Elder might be based in your geographic area or could be in another area. Check-ins will occur by phone or in person. Determination of participation in a FIRMing will be made through discernment with the Elder.
FASTING – Different forms of fasting can be an “opening to the soul.” Fasting can occur with food, spending money, watching television, gossiping/excessive talking, and other types of “stimulants.”
FIRMing (Fifth Initiation Rite for Men) – A three-day event designed for men who have experience the Rites of Passage and who have participated in the follow-up process (Journey of Illumination). FIRMing is an intensive event containing solitude, ritual, and other experientials. FIRMings will be scheduled in different regional locations and require an application and acceptance process.
MINDFUL BREATHING/PRACTICING PRESENCE – There are 1,440 minutes in a day, each inviting us into the present moment. Taking an occasion to notice one’s breathing (especially when tense, emotional, grateful, content, etc.) can be quite grounding and revealing to the ego and to the soul. The use of the “Yahweh Prayer” as taught by Richard Rohr is a helpful practice.
MROP HOME GROUP CONNECTION – Home groups are often “safe containers” for men on the Rites of Passage; for connecting, sharing, and growing. A quarterly conference call with participants of one’s home group can be an important support element as well as a means of connecting to one’s Rites.
ONE-ON-ONE –This can be a connection with a Soul Brother and/or with another person who you can be honest with and who also has permission to both affirm and challenge you. Possible one-on-ones include Spiritual Directors, Therapists, or other Mentors.
SOUL BROTHER – This is another man with whom you can connect ~ be real ~ be honest with. He is an accountability partner and is someone who both affirms your journey and challenges you. It can be helpful if he, too, has made the Rites of Passage and is has/or is preparing to make FIRMing. Connection can be by phone or in person (preferably not by email). Frequency should be a minimum of 1x per month.
SPIRITUAL READING – Four books have been suggested for preparation/reflection. The goal is not to necessarily complete all four books, however, to truly engage with the text(s). It is recommended that you begin with Bill Plotkin’s Soulcraft.
WANDERING
RETREAT(S) –
Intentional solo time in nature; encouraged to be a minimum of a full day. The
Wandering Retreat is a strong occasion to incorporate a day of fasting as well
as prayer, solitude, observation, and journaling. Two Wandering Retreats
are strongly encouraged before making FIRMing. For more info on the Wandering
Archetype and its connection to Wandering Retreats, consult
Bill Plotkin, Soulcraft, pp. 68-78.