JOURNEY OF ILLUMINATION
THE FIVE TOUCHSTONES
Becoming an Initiated Man on the Men’s Rites of Passage is the start of your Journey of Illumination. It will last throughout the rest of your life. The Journey of Illumination is a five-fold practice, informed by rich spiritual tradition, that invites you to show up and pay attention to the presence of God in your life. This is not another list of obligatory to-do’s to add to a list of oughts and shoulds, nor THE method that will bring you salvation or enlightenment. Rather these are simply practices and rhythms that we have observed are present and even essential in a healthy well-rounded life. The goal of this path is to realize a full, intense and well-grounded spiritual journey. In observing them all that is not important is stripped away, and in so doing you discover more deeply that which is deeply important. Here are the five core touchstones of our practice:
1.
centering: show up & connect
Each day challenge yourself to make contact with your true Source, that which makes you come most alive.
4.
gathering: show up & get together
Regularly look for support and accountability with other committed brothers and listen to each other’s stories.
3.
connecting: show up & share
Find spiritual disciplines that keep your mind and heart open and connected, your body centered, and your emotions grounded.
5.
releasing: show up & let go
Living in the present requires us to release the past and let go of ways that no longer serve us.
2.
serving: show up & act
Honor the earth and serve the whole human community. Find ways to positively impact your family, community, and world.
Start with
the ground
you know,
the pale ground
beneath your feet,
your own
way to begin
the conversation.
-David Whyte