The Light Between-A New York Gathering
This August, over the course of five sun-shining days, more than 150 young people gathered from all over the world to attend an Anthroposophical Global Youth Section Conference. Those who felt inspired to bring the conference into being for the past year have explored themes of using community and craft to cultivate the environment to hold life's questions among today’s youth. The conference was titled "The Light Between," and attempted to illuminate spaces for growth and collaboration that live between each of us and those who share different perspectives. Thankfully, the desire to explore this space was well received amongst today’s young people, as the conference managed to draw the largest attendance of a US Youth Section gathering since the 90’s.
Individuals came from far and wide, some reaching as far as Singapore and Nepal, to join in mornings of singing, biography work, and shared meals. Not only were they met by other inspired and striving youth, but also by more established members of our far reaching communities that joined us to offer their gifts within the work we all believe the world needs more of; Empowering ourselves through drama, with John McManus, delving into the world of Goethean Observation with Henrike Holdridge, Threefolding with in Economics with Timothy Kennedy, ceramics, timber framing, health and wellness, and many more valuable and enriching courses. And as if choosing amongst these 13 in-depth, 3-day workshops wasn’t enough, participants were tasked with choosing amongst another list of more than 25 afternoon workshops, all intended to enrich our community experience. Offerings included Eurythmy, Puppet Making, Drama, Nature Walks, Horsemanship, Spinning, Music and Dance, and many more.
For the duration of the conference, participants beautifully managed to balance a wealth of new information, developing relationships, and joyous dancing, all while carrying the comfort and collaboration of community life. Time and time again, organizers and participants alike stepped up to make sure the event continued to run smoothly, helping to cook and clean, gather peers, and support conversations and hopeful intentions.
The conference's spirit was upheld each day with a glorious lecture given by Orland Bishop, and from his lectures a wealth of questions arose for participants each day. Subjects he brought, like truly seeing one another and one’s self, choosing to say “Yes, I am here”, shone though in the unrestrained joy of new friendships and creativity that permeated the whole event. Many participants shared initiatives that they had been working on and were ready to open to the world, new schools and avenues of connection, musical relationships, Camphill initiatives, while others expressed interest and enthusiasm towards more conferences, both near and far!
The event came to a close with a magical picture of the forces of collaboration that came out of the event. For days, participants worked to build large scale puppets and artistic installations throughout the forest behind the school, inspired by the puppet show that welcomed them during the opening ceremony. On the last night, everyone was led on an imaginative walk through silk tunnels, and dreamy soundscapes, past wild, yelping animals, sultry mermaids, and soaring birds. The evening, and the conference itself, culminated in a night of singing, creation, vulnerability, connection, community, and joy, and none of us can wait to do it again. Thank you to all of our community members for the support and resources you offered to us, we are all hugely thankful that this vision was able to become a reality. Stay tuned for what’s to come.
Originally posted in the Chanticleer newsletter of the Berkshire-Taconic Branch of the Anthroposophical Society in America
