Welcome to EarthStory!
SAVE THE DATE!
The 23rd Annual EarthStory Community Gathering – 2013
THURSDAY, August 15th at noon through Sunday, August 18th at 1 pm (3 full days)
In the field and forest of Earthlands, Petersham, MA
Please note!
- Earthstory 2013 is THREE DAYS – Thursday through Sunday
- Earthstory 2013 is focused on the Earthstory community deciding on the future of Earthstory. Therefore, only people who have attended Earthstory in the past may attend this year.
- Due to changes at Earthlands, Earthstory 2013 is limited to 50 participants in total.
- All participants must arrive on Thursday, and sign in before 1 PM.
- All participants mus pre-register either online or by mail. Walk-ons are not allowed.
Greetings friend! Come and join us for EarthStory 2013 – our 23rd year!
Two decades ago a group of us met in late summer to celebrate our connection with Earth and with each other. Twenty two years later we continue to gather and share the joy and gratitude we feel for the natural world and to nurture our place in it. Over this span of time it has evolved to feel very much like a family reunion, acknowledging that we all are family on this earth, and new family members are always welcome. We live together for this time in truth, respect and celebration of our unique gifts which we are all encouraged to share. We recognize that the Earth and its people are healthiest when diversity is celebrated, so all perspectives are welcomed and respected.
We come to EarthStory because it provides a safe and fun container for sharing, growth, connection and play in a judgement-free and non-hierarchical space. Deep interpersonal relating is encouraged and supported, and provides an opportunity to get to know yourself better and in new ways. Many who participate feel that EarthStory is the most human and “real” experience of their year.
EarthStory can be described as emotionally and intellectually open, authentic, warm, engaging, creative, welcoming, flexible, heart-centered, free, earth-focused, experimental, celebratory, and awake.
EarthStory is entirely co-created by the people who attend each year through the process of open space technology. The container is created, but it’s up to those who attend to offer workshops and activities. The only planned activities are vegan meals, the opening interpersonal group work, talent show, and bonfires with music and singing. Common activities include workshops, sweat lodge, breathwork, swimming in the mill pond and river, yoga, meditation, forest walks, sports, hooping, massage, truth mandala, shamanic guided journeys, and more.
There is a tent dedicated to children where crafts, books, games etc. are available for the children and the adults who are there the hold space for them. Participants are encouraged to spend some time with the children during the week, and children are invited to participate in some of the adult activities as well.
Meals are cooked in the outdoor kitchen. Activities and meals take place outside or under the two big community tents. EarthStorians bring their own camping gear and camp in the woods or in the mowed open land.
EarthStory takes place every year at Earthlands, which is a 50 acre off-grid retreat center surrounded by thousands of acres of woods. Earthlands itself is magical and restorative ancient land and the experience of quiet, nature and solitude helps create the EarthStory container. The sound of coyotes howling with us as we sing in the night by the bonfire is wondrous.