3-day Solstice in Leipzig, Germany: small, nice, very low cost, includes accommodation, 19th-21st Dec

post by chaosmage · 2014-10-09T16:38:06.739Z · LW · GW · Legacy · 14 comments

Contents

  The outline
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14 comments

Hi everyone,

like last year, we'll have a Secular Solstice in Leipzig, Germany. You're invited - message me if you'd like to attend.

We have space for about 25 people. So this isn't a huge event like you'd have in NYC - but it is special in a different way, because it goes Friday to Sunday and involves lots of things to do. We have a big and very nice appartment in the center of Leipzig where lots of people can sleep, so spreading this over several days is easy, and an obvious way to kick it up a notch from last year's event.

We'll do some of the beautiful ceremonial pieces and songs from Raymonds Hymnal and ride the same general vide. And on top of that, we'll do freestyle, participatory work in groups where we design ways to celebrate the Solstice, using an Open Space Technology inspired method. After all, we're only getting things started, and surely there are many kinds of celebration to explore. Lets find some of them, try them out together and by comparing effects, help optimize Secular Solstices!

We'll cook together and share the cost for ingredients and drinks - apart from that the event is free. Up to 18 guests can sleep right on the premises - half of them on comfortable beds and mattresses, the rest needs to bring sleeping bags and camping mats. If you really prefer a single or double room, there are fairly cheap hotels and hostels nearby, message me for assistance if necessary.

The outline

Arrivals are Friday 6pm-7:30. We'll have a welcome round and a few things to get us in the mood, then discuss ideas for Solstice activities to explore together. We'll find the most popular ones and get into groups that design them into something they want to share with everyone. Groups should self-organize fairly fluidly, i.e. you can switch groups, steal ideas from each other etc. and get to know each other in the process. So this will basically be a very social evening of preparation for the next day. Also, cooking.

On Saturday we will meet in the morning to plan the day, spend some time decorating and cooking, shopping for stuff groups have found they need to do their things, and probably rehearsing. Groups who are done preparing their thing will in some cases probably prepare another, because that is just what happens. We'll have time to chat and get to know each other better. The ceremonial part starts at sunset and is expected to take several hours. After that we'll party - some people will probably want to stay up all night and welcome the sunrise just like last year.

On Sunday we'll have less cohesion probably, because of high variance in how much people have slept. Still we should be able to come together for feedback discussion, have a nice closing, clean up a bit, and say farewell. If you need more sleep before you get on the road, you're welcome to have it.

Any questions?

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