Shared Visions Youth Gathering in North Carolina, USA
At the end of October, some enthusiastic members of the Youth Section in North Carolina (in the South East of the USA) organized a conference for about 25 young people. The theme was 'Shared Visions' and we brought in two mentors, Louisa Barnum and Timothy Kennedy, to facilitate daily workshops involving inner work, learning about associative economics, and outer action through hands-on projects like farming and construction. It was a very meaningful week together, and it was a real beginning for a whole new wave of activity to pass through this area.
The 'Shared Visions' gathering began with our local elder, Eve Olive (in her 90s!), who co-founded the Waldorf School here, sharing her life story in terms of 'how to start something from nothing.' It was a very touching way to open the gathering; we took the opportunity to film her words for posterity. The next four days held us in a four day vessel that was masterfully facilitated by Louisa Barnum and Timothy Kennedy, who helped us in inner work and outer work respectively.
Louisa led us each morning in concentration exercises, passing from thinking down into feeling and will, helping us to penetrate and bring attentive freedom into our unconscious depths, leading into workshops where we explored the personal interior and social edges we so readily try to avoid encountering and transforming. She also led us in daily reflecting journaling before singing our way into dinner and social evenings.
Timothy took us through a multi-day nature-item based ritual to help us hold the knowledge of each others' wounds as gifts, in order to begin to alchemize them into what can become valuable contributions to the world. He spoke about the mysteries of money and social organization in connection with the architecture of the first Goetheanum, the spectrum of infrared-visible-ultraviolet radiation, and other such fascinating topics. In the afternoons, we visited local initiatives and worksites. We also re-built an amphitheater stage and put on an improv acting skit.
In our closing circle, many reflected deep gratitude and meaningfulness for the time spent together. A few of us continued on to the Friday multi-generational gathering of about 70 people, which led a group of about ten of us to begin to form plans for future events and impulses locally. From us young adults, there was great enthusiasm for future theatrical, architectural/construction, agricultural, and other healing projects, as well as a commitment to weekly local study and creative opportunities. And so a new wave of activity begins. If you're excited to connect with us in North Carolina, please reach out to dicker.gareth@gmail.com and we will do our best to find you a place to stay for a few days!