Retreats and Programs that Open the Heart
Community Events
Discover gatherings, retreats, and programs that invite you deeper into the Practice of Presence. These events connect with various aspects of the resources we provide—Choosing Presence, the Practicing Presence app, and the Awakening to Presence online course—helping you bring awareness, peace, and connection into your daily life.
We are glad to share event information as a resource for our community. Some of the events listed below are hosted by outside organizations or individuals. Unless otherwise noted, Choosing Presence is not responsible for the content, leadership, or outcomes of these events. For details about a specific event, please reach out directly to the listed contacts. If you have questions or would like to submit an event for consideration, you can do so here.
🌿 CHOOSING PRESENCE | Meeting God in the Moment
🌿 CHOOSING PRESENCE | Meeting God in the Moment is an eight-week spiritual formation experience for men, inviting a deeper encounter with God through stillness, awareness, and life in the present moment. Through teaching, guided practice, and community, participants learn to release fear, anxiety, and habitual reactivity while cultivating peace, clarity, and spiritual freedom.
CHOOSING PRESENCE | Awakening to God's Peace and Presence
Join us January 23–25, 2026, at the Carmelite Spiritual Center for Choosing Presence: Awakening to God’s Peace and Presence. This men’s retreat offers guided practices, teachings, councils, nature time, and sacred ritual to help men slow down and reconnect with Divine Presence. Open to all men; registration required.
Soul Friends: A Men’s Writing Retreat Inspired by Celtic Wisdom
Soul Friends: A Men’s Writing Retreat Inspired by Celtic Wisdom invites men into a weekend of reflection, writing, and spiritual companionship. This retreat explores belonging, beauty, and blessing through stillness, creativity, and sacred friendship.
Awakening to Presence: A Community Conversation with the Choosing Presence Team (Session 2)
Join us for a relaxed and meaningful conversation on Practicing Presence. Whether you’ve taken the course, read the book, used the app, or are simply curious, you’re warmly welcome. This 90-minute Zoom gathering is a chance to slow down, connect with the Choosing Presence team, and reflect with others seeking to live more awake and grounded. No prerequisites—just come as you are.
Awakening to Presence: A Community Conversation with the Choosing Presence Team (Session 1)
Join us for a relaxed and meaningful conversation on Practicing Presence. Whether you’ve taken the course, read the book, used the app, or are simply curious, you’re warmly welcome. This 90-minute Zoom gathering is a chance to slow down, connect with the Choosing Presence team, and reflect with others seeking to live more awake and grounded. No prerequisites—just come as you are.
Awaken 2025: 🔥Igniting the Fire or Our Sacred Masculine
Step into deeper presence this November at Awaken 2025: Igniting the Fire of Our Sacred Masculine. Held at Shrine Mont in Orkney Springs, VA from November 6–9, this immersive gathering invites men to cultivate grounded, compassionate masculine presence amid nature. Guided by Illuman’s mission, participants will embody courage, curiosity, trust, and belonging through soulful connection with self, others, and the wild.
The Wild God: Five-Day Exploration of the Masculine Spiritual Journey
The Wild God: Five-Day Exploration of the Masculine Spiritual Journey immerses men in sacred space, soulful brotherhood, and encounters with the Wild God within. Led by Jim Taylor and Marc Oehler, this October retreat unfolds in the quiet of Warwick Conference Center and the wilderness of Camp Johnsonburg. Step away from the noise, remember who you are, and return renewed and whole.
Watering Hole - Warrior Compassion: Unleashing the Healing Power of Men
As the seasons shift, join us this September 4 for a special evening at the Illuman Watering Hole with Sean Harvey, founder of Warrior Compassion. Through storytelling and soulful reflection, Sean will guide us in reimagining the Warrior—rooted not in force, but in presence, compassion, and healing service. Lay down old armor, step into renewal, and explore a vision of masculinity that honors vulnerability.
AWAKEN 2024 - Roots and Horizons: Honoring Ancestors, Fostering the Future
AWAKEN - Roots and Horizons
Honoring Ancestors, Fostering the Future
Thursday, October 31 - Sunday, November 3, 2024
Lake Williamson Christian Center
PRACTICING PRESENCE: A Spiritual Intention (Online Workshop)
PRACTICING PRESENCE: A Spiritual Intention
How to Access God's Peace and Release Fear, Anxiety, and Stress
Sponsored by Illuman Great Lakes
Mondays - 8 - 9:30pm Eastern / 5 - 6:30pm Pacific Time
October 7 thru December 9, 2024
Choosing Presence Zoom Q&A featuring Jim Heaney & Jim Taylor
Save the date and join us on Saturday, August 3, 2024, for a conversation about Choosing Presence, followed by a question and answer session with author Jim Heaney and Rev. Jim Taylor - hosted by Brian Mueller. Bring your questions and feedback!
Join us at the Wild Goose Festival!
Join us at the Wild Goose Festival! — Choosing Presence will be sponsoring a booth to share the practice of presence, and Brian Mueller will be engaging festival-goers in a lively conversation about the benefits and challenges of practicing presence in our daily lives.
Choosing Presence Q&A with Jim Heaney & Jim Taylor
Save the date and join us on Thursday, March 28, 2024, for a brief introduction on Choosing Presence, followed by a question and answer session with author Jim Heaney and Rev. Jim Taylor - hosted by Brian Mueller.