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You’ve completed the Men’s Rites of Passage and experienced the peace and power of stillness. Now it’s time to go further.
Awakening to Presence is a post-MROP formation course that builds on the meditation and centering practices you encountered during your rites experience. It’s rooted in Centering—one of the five touchstones of the Journey of Illumination.
In this course, you’ll learn the Practice of Presence, a simple yet powerful way to stay grounded in divine presence amid the anxiety and stress of daily life. Whether you’re looking to strengthen your daily meditation practice or reconnect with the wisdom of your rites, Awakening to Presence offers the next step on your journey.
Special Offer for Illuman Brothers: Use code ILLUMAN-MROP at registration to enroll for just $25 (regularly $79).
Your Journey Continues
Welcome Illuman Men!
Ghost Ranch - Abiquiu, New Mexico
Stay rooted in God’s presence each day through a practice shaped within the Illuman community to support your spiritual journey.
The Practice of Presence is a simple yet profound form of centering that emerged organically within the Illuman Community. It was first created by Jim Heaney following his Men’s Rites of Passage at Ghost Ranch in 1997 and has since been shaped, practiced, and shared among our Brothers walking the Journey of Illumination. Over the years, through collaboration with fellow Illuman leaders Jim Taylor and Brian Mueller, the Practice of Presence has been further refined and supported by practical tools designed to help men live with greater spiritual grounding and awareness in daily life.
What began as one man’s commitment to presence has become a growing resource within the Illuman movement—developed for men and women, and offered as a way to embody the Centering Touchstone more fully. Today, these teachings and tools are available at ChoosingPresence.org, where men can access additional resources and tools to help them learn at their own pace, and to join a wider circle of spiritual seekers committed to living awake, grounded, and present.
What is the Practice of Presence?
The Practice of Presence is a form of contemplative prayer, meditation, and mindful breathing described in further detail in the book Choosing Presence: How to Access God’s Peace and Release Fear, Anxiety, and Stress by Jim Heaney.
Tools to Support Your Centering Practice
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Choosing Presence:
How to Access God’s Peace and Release Fear, Anxiety, and Stress
Choosing Presence by Jim Heaney offers a practical and deeply spiritual approach to finding peace by living fully in the present moment. Through simple yet powerful practices, the book reveals how stillness allows us to access God’s presence, transforming fear and stress into inner freedom.
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Practicing Presence -
A Christian Way
The Practicing Presence – A Christian Way mobile app offers a daily, transformative guided meditation experience designed to cultivate inner stillness, enhance well-being, and deepen your connection with God’s divine presence.
Our free mobile app works great on both iOS (Apple) and Android (Google/Samsung) devices.
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Awakening to Presence:
How to Access God’s Peace and Release Fear, Anxiety, and Stress
Are you seeking a deeper sense of peace, clarity, and connection with God? We invite you to join Awakening to Presence, a transformative, self-paced online course designed to help you integrate the teachings of Choosing Presence.
This course isn’t just about learning—it’s about living the practice of presence.
Stay Connected!
Our email messages offer readers regular insights and practical guidance for cultivating mindfulness and deeper spiritual awareness in their daily life. Each message provides thoughtful reflections and actionable steps to help experience life more consciously and authentically.
Our Commitment to You
Wherever you are on your spiritual path, know that presence is always available to you. Our hope is that the Practice of Presence becomes a daily companion for you — grounding, guiding, and sustaining you as you live your sacred journey.