The Practice of Presence: A Path for Men and Women Seeking God
by Brian Mueller
At Choosing Presence, much of our early work has been alongside men stepping into transformative spiritual journeys. This connection is rooted in our long-standing relationship with Illuman. Our principal teachers—Jim Heaney, Jim Taylor, and Brian Mueller—have each completed Illuman’s Men’s Rites of Passage and served in a variety of roles within the Illuman Community for many years.
We share Illuman’s conviction that the Journey of Illumination offers a powerful framework for spiritual growth. Its five touchstones—centering, gathering, connecting, releasing, and serving—provide simple yet profound practices for deepening one’s walk with God.
Here at Choosing Presence, we focus especially on the centering touchstone. Through the Practice of Presence, we teach a foundational contemplative path for anyone—man or woman—seeking greater stillness, awareness, and intimacy with God.
And while our roots are in men’s work, our mission is for all people. We believe the gifts of prayer, meditation, and contemplative practice—peace of mind, spiritual grounding, and deeper connection with God—are not limited by gender. They are for everyone.
That’s why our resources continue to expand to serve diverse communities. We now offer:
The book Choosing Presence – a guide to living awake and aware
The Practicing Presence mobile app – free, simple, and supportive
The online course Awakening to Presence – a self-paced journey
A bi-weekly newsletter with reflections, journal prompts, and resources
A video library and blog full of teachings and practical tools
We are also reaching out to spiritual directors, including members of Spiritual Directors International (SDI), who are uniquely positioned to walk with others on their journeys. Our hope is that the Practice of Presence becomes not only a resource for their own prayer life, but also a tool they can share with those they accompany.
👉 If you are a spiritual director, we warmly invite you to connect with us to explore how the Practice of Presence can support your ministry and bless the lives of your directees.
👉 If you’re new here, we invite you to subscribe to our newsletter for bi-weekly encouragement and resources for your journey.
Brian Mueller – Poet, Community Organizer, and Spiritual Guide
Brian Mueller is a poet and community organizer based in Dayton, Ohio. He serves as Director of Education & Engagement for ChoosingPresence.org and is an active member of the Ohio Chapter of Illuman, where he co-leads writing retreats that support men’s spiritual journeys. As a writer, Brian is known for his candid, accessible poetry, with works including Cock‑A‑Doodle‑Doo: 100 Morning Haiku, the Poem of the Day series, and the Bull Series. Inspired by poets like Rumi and Mary Oliver, he believes everyone carries the voice of a poet within.
