A Living Archive of Formation, Discernment, and Human Flourishing
The Formation Library is the public heart of UMANIAMO.
It is not a blog.
It is not commentary.
It is not entertainment.
It is a living archive of formation — reflections, practices, and teachings meant to be returned to, practiced, and lived over time.
Everything here exists to support one purpose:
The formation of builders — men and women capable of standing in reality, loving deeply, and carrying responsibility with strength and reverence.
This library is open to all. Formation, however, is always chosen.
When we use the word “formation,” we simply mean the everyday experiences that shape how we think, act, and show up for others
You do not need to read everything. You do not need to start at the beginning.
Begin where you are.
Read slowly
Return often
Practice what resonates
Bring what you read to the table — literally or figuratively
Let formation unfold at a human pace
Some pages will challenge you.
Some will steady you.
Some will name what you have felt but never had language for. That is intentional.
The library is organized into pathways. Each pathway reflects a different aspect of discernment and formation.
Weekly Formation for Real Life
The Sunday Table is a weekly rhythm of formation designed to be practiced alone, with family, or in community.
Each page includes:
a core reflection
simple embodied practices
table questions
D.E.E.P.E.R. formation prompts
These pages are permanent and revisitable. They are designed to be returned to over time.
Start here if you are looking for a steady, weekly rhythm.
Formation Through the Church Year
These multi-week series offer structured formation aligned with sacred seasons such as Advent, Lent, and other periods of discernment.
Each series includes:
weekly teachings
reflective practices
family-friendly table exercises
a clear beginning and end
These are paths, not playlists.
Start here if you are seeking formation with structure and continuity.
→ View Seasonal Formation Series
Formation Begins with Attention
This section contains essays and reflections written to help readers learn to see without distortion.
Many of these writings were originally developed under the working name The Devil at Work — not as accusation or metaphor, but as a precise way of naming the subtle forces that deform truth, dignity, and judgment in modern systems.
These texts focus first on distortion:
false promises that feel reasonable
systems that reward fragmentation
narratives that normalize dehumanization
Seeing clearly is the first work of formation. Without it, discernment becomes sentiment and action becomes reaction. Some essays here also gesture toward clarity (The Spirit at Work) and responsibility (The Builder at Work). These movements are not offered as solutions, but as orientation — signposts that point beyond distortion without rushing the reader forward.
These writings are not judgements. they are acts of attention.
Start here if you are trying to make sense of the world, or yourself, without losing reverence, judgment, or soul.
Formation for Men, Families, and Leaders
This collection focuses on themes of:
responsibility
strength without brutality
leadership rooted in service
family life as formation
loyalty, discipline, and presence
Many pieces speak directly to men — especially builders — but they are written with families and communities in mind.
Start here if you feel the call to build, protect, and serve with integrity.
→ Enter the Builder’s Archive
Challenging Shallow Wisdom
This section includes longer reflections that question conventional assumptions about:
success
leadership
masculinity
productivity
well-being
progress
These pieces were written to slow the reader down — not to provoke, but to clarify.
Start here if you are questioning the narratives you’ve been handed.
→ Read Foundational Essays
The Formation Library is meant to be lived, not consumed.
If you are ready for deeper, guided formation, you may feel drawn to our structured paths and tools:
Courses — guided formation experiences
Tools & Practices — cards, workbooks, assessments
Retreats — embodied formation in sacred places
The library prepares the ground.
Formation happens through commitment, practice, and relationship.
You do not need to agree with everything you read here. You only need to be honest.
Formation begins with attention.
Discernment begins with humility.
Strength begins with truth.
UMANIAMO means we are human together — or not at all.
If something here resonates, stay awhile. If it challenges you, return later. If it calls you forward, listen carefully.
The table is set.