Gender & Beyond 2019 Program
Imagine a community of loving people who care about each other and the Earth.
Discover relationships that are both heartfull and free.
Step into your own power to build a life that works
At this 5-day community journey, we will open these explorations in a field of love, curiosity, and compassion.
Morning Circle – Daily
Every morning we’ll gather for appreciations, announcements, and connection.
ZEGG Forum – the Forum Team, Daily
Forum (http://www.zegg-forum.org/index_en.phtml) was created at ZEGG, an intentional community in Germany, and its sister communities as a way of promoting transparency and mutual understanding among community members. ZEGG members found that decision-making meetings often got derailed because of emotional conflicts and undercurrents that were not known to or understood by all. In Forum, each individual’s experience could be seen and understood, leading to greater empathy and creativity in the community. Now, many residential and non-residential intentional communities have adopted Forum as a way to maintain ongoing connection, intimacy and understanding.
The goal of Forum is to reveal what is alive but not known to all. The community sits in a circle, forming a stage for one person at a time to stand and show what is true for them. Facilitators may assist the person (or “presenter”) to reveal themselves more deeply. Afterward, community members may offer reflections, or “mirrors,” on what they saw.
One of the gifts of ZEGG Forum is that it allows us a space to appreciate every perspective without taking it on as “truth.” Every voice has its own poignancy, its own wisdom, its own truth, that does not negate the wisdom and truth of other perspectives. Allowing all voices to surface and be known can lead to a profound and unexpected integration within a community. We tend to think that events leading to painful experiences and conflicts are bad, because they feel bad in the moment. However, when we open ourselves and compassionately witness what is happening for everyone, these experiences can be gateways to greater closeness, understanding, and love. When conflict emerges, whether or not we are in a formal Forum space, we can choose to listen in this way. This deep listening sustains and nurtures community life and relationships.
Orientation & Icebreakers – Friday Evening
Dawson Robert
After a hard day of traveling we’d like to welcome you into the space and the community. We will create a space for everyone to introduce themselves; as well as play some light and fun games to get us settled in. Then we will close so that we can all rest and be ready to set our intentions in the morning.
Intention Setting, connection, and pod creation – Saturday Morning
Dawson Robert, Richael Faithful, & Indigo Dawn
Let’s find out who’s here and what we have to offer each other!
We will spend some time meeting each other and deepening connection. We will talk about why we are here, what we will do, and who is with us for the coming journey. We will set our intentions, go over the schedule and camp logisitics, and introduce key people and support structures. Participants can engage with the group and get quick, direct feedback on issues they care about. We’ll also have time to go deeper in one-on-one connections.
This morning will be about getting to know each other, the staff and organizers, and the land and structure of camp; as well as just to have fun and settle into our time together.
We will finish the morning with creation of pods; a way to build a small daily check-in group.
Boundaries – Saturday Afternoon
Dawson Robert
Song Circle – Saturday Evening
Sarah Taub
Sensual Space Orientation – Saturday Evening
Dawson Driver
The Sensual Space is a warm and inviting space to explore Connection & Intimacy by engaging all of the senses. This is a space to lounge together after spending the day learning communication and intimacy tools – the perfect place to practice communication and share affection in a relaxed and sex positive atmosphere. We will give an introduction to the space and we will practice the “Safe Sex Elevator Speech.”
Ecstatic Dance – Sunday Afternoon
Indigo Dawn
“If you have a body, you are a dancer.”- Gabrielle Roth. Ecstatic Dance is a movement practice that leads us to open places in ourselves. It is a collective journey that sheds the layers of stress, judgment, and restriction to make space for inner clarity. Stillness. Motion. Intensity. Release. We invite all modes of expression and being in the space– from yoga, to meditation, to shaking, to rest. All bodies, movements, and sounds are welcome… as we find Ecstasy through Dance.
Authentic Relating Games – Sunday Evening
Dawson Driver & Indigo Dawn
Who are you? Who am I? Who are we? In this high-energy, interactive workshop, we’ll explore the deep connection that comes from feeling truly seen. We will play a number of games aimed at fostering a better understanding of ourselves and others. We will practicing honesty and authenticity with others, so that we can learn to be honest and authentic with ourselves. Our time together will develop our empathy, strengthen our community and relationships, and help us gain a better understanding of our true selves.
Being Human Together: Intimacy In Community – Monday Evening
As human beings, we are social organisms with needs that extend far past our needs for food, sleep, and shelter; many of us share a need for Closeness. For intimacy. With discussion and experiential exercises, we will explore the facets of being human– from understanding emotions to navigating deep, satisfying connections. And together, we will open up a space of loving connection with ourselves and each other.
Closing Circle – Thursday Afternoon
As our time together comes to a close, we will connect, reflect, say goodbye, and prepare to re-enter the mainstream world. What gifts will we bring with us from Gender & Beyond? What will we create in our lives and communities?