***A weekend to live expansively in the presence of a caring community.

To grow without judgement, and to become fuller versions of ourselves.***

As the land gatherings have continued to grow, so has our mission. What was a silly gathering in the woods has matured in to what we now hope is a very silly gathering in the woods, and we’ll need your help to continue that trend.

Silliness for us is serious business. By silly, we mean a space to be something unexpected, something boundless, something fabulous. We want to create a space for deconstructing the narratives that we have written about ourselves, our lives, and who we are in the world.

We spend our days playing a part in a story we only had a small hand in writing. But that story isn’t the whole of us. It’s not our full, vibrant, creative, loving potential. And that story is often destructive and constrains us in a way that causes suffering. By gathering in a beautiful setting with a loving community, and with the intention of being fully present, we can create space for each of us to explore facets of our lived experience that we might not otherwise find accessible. To release ourselves from the constraints we all carry with us everyday.

We believe this space is only possible if we follow these basic principles.

• First, we create the gathering together. To make each person feel comfortable requires everyone buying-in to the purpose of welcoming each other and living expansively. Buy-in means that each of us is responsible for contributing to the event (even if that is just lending a helping hand). It also means that we each commit to curating a welcoming, loving, and safe environment for the people around us. We must act in a way that is kind, inclusive, and non-judgemental, especially to those who are different from us.
• Second, we must be truly aware and present with the people we are around: notice them, notice the land, notice the trees, notice the birds, and sit with everything your awareness brings without judgment. This is as true when sitting together for breakfast as it is when dressed in nothing but a fedora in the Pleasure Dome well after dark. Noticing is the greatest act of love.
• Third, we must open ourselves up to be truly vulnerable, to be silly, to be playful, and not “too cool for school.” This is a space of divergence and queerness. If we’re worried about being judged, we’re not present. If we insist on wearing our normal daily attire, we’re likely stuck in our narratives. This is a space for expansiveness and authenticity. This does not mean that anyone should feel pressure to dress sexy, in colorful festival outfits, or in any way that anyone else is dressing. We’re not just replacing one societal box with another. It means that we should all stretch ourselves to try something outside of our ordinary life. Maybe that looks like trying on fishnets and a thong for the first time, or wearing a giant fur Kukeri festival suit….. Whatever makes you feel expansive is how you should be.
• Fourth, we must be financially accessible. We will never charge an entry fee, or for anything else at the Fabulous Gathering. We love creating this space and we have found personal growth in spaces other people have created for us. We seek to pay that forward. Resources should never be a barrier for anyone to come. If you, or anyone you know, needs help with the resources required to join us - we have options to offer to ensure this space is accessible to everyone. For those of us who do have means, we welcome contributions to the cost of hosting this event which will go toward making this space sustainable for the hosts.
• Fifth, we gather in a way that, to the best of our ability, does no harm. This means that we reduce the impact on the world as much as possible by minimizing our waste, which includes minimizing food and plastic waste especially. We ask that everyone try to reduce the single-use costumes, accessories and supplies that are often found at festivals. If you have the time and resources to make a beautiful bespoke costume, that’s amazing and encouraged. However, we encourage reusing, repurposing and sharing old clothing and costumes as much as possible.

What do we do at the land gatherings?

Gathering weekends will be filled with activities that are intended to create space to connect with the community, the land, and those parts of ourselves we’re still opening up to. These activities will vary from day to day and year to year, but will include some form of creative art, opportunities to connect with nature, long walks, star gazing, sexual expression, dancing, singing, and costuming. Our goal is to live in the present moment, to connect with the land, with each other, and with ourselves.

• Art: there will be several group art projects to participate in. These are only possible with your help! Please reach out if you have an art offering to contribute or if you would like to propose a group art project. Past projects have included creating a black light forest around the dance floor, placing large colorful posts on the driveway to StarCamp, dyeing fabrics with natural indigo, fairy house building, and painting a flag honoring the great polypore mushroom.
• Nature: the land is a peaceful, largely natural forest that is recovering from being heavily logged about 50 years ago. We will take long walks through our trails and may have an opportunity to participate in “forest therapy.” There is a swimming reservoir about 2 miles down the gravel road where you can find solitude surrounded by a beautiful lake. Take the time to appreciate the beauty and commune with the nature surrounding this space.
• Music and Singing: one of the most connecting experiences is to sing and play music in a group. We welcome music and guitars around the campfire and at any time of the day. No skill required. Anyone should feel free to join in, or just watch. We hope this is an opportunity to come closer together as a group. If you need a microphone or other equipment, just ask!
• Dancing: A highlight of the weekend will be the dance party on Saturday night. Under the stars and around a large fire, we will come together dressed as our most fabulous, silly, authentic selves. Some will be nude. Some will be in giant animal customs. Maybe we’ll have a lumberjack or two. Together we will dance under the stars, talk and hold each other by the fire, take a night walk into the forest to discover what the darkness holds.
• Connective Spaces: at most of our big gatherings we will have sensual and/or sexual spaces:
  • The Cuddle Dome is a space for intimate connections short of any sexual acts, and we ask that you respect that boundary so that others may experiment with their proximity to these types of vulnerable spaces.
  • The Pleasure Dome is an explicit, public space for sex. This is the space where you will be able to safely explore your sexual desires, in whatever way feels best for you. The Pleasure Dome will be placed out of sight from the main party space. Nothing is expected of anyone. The Pleasure Dome will be for anyone including group play and has room for two or three groups at the same time. Each group (and each participant in the group) must negotiate consent and boundaries throughout their time in this space. By entering this space, each person is consenting to being watched those curious from a respectful distance. We will have a seating area outside the dome for breaks and for brief moments of voyeurism - which is the ONLY implied consent of any sort.
  • Whether in a Cuddle Dome or a Pleasure Dome, we believe by having access to a sexual space, we create a more expansive world. We’re creating a space to use sexuality as a form of expansive connection. By being around sexual freedom (even if not participating ourselves) we hope to escape our cultural shame and expectations about sex that we’ve all been taught our whole lives. Consent for any touching of any sort is strictly enforced. Anyone who crosses a consent boundary may be asked to leave the sensual spaces, to retire for the night, or accept an escort entirely off the property. We have ZERO tolerance for consent violations.