Believing that “the best criticism of the bad is the practice of the better,” the New Story Festival seeks to lead us into a better story – one that encourages growth and liberation, healing and harmony; a story where the downtrodden are uplifted and everyone is included. We will gather artists, activists, teachers, practitioners for spiritual/emotional health & wholeness, along with numerous other social innovators to share their creativity, practices, and stories at a three-day (Friday afternoon to Sunday evening), outdoor festival of several thousand people on the campus of Huston-Tillotson University, right in the heart of historic east Austin and just blocks from downtown. There will be music, art and stories, speakers and workshops, conversations both formal and spontaneous, helping us step into a better story – one with the potential to transform both Austin and the world.
Imagine Convergence
The shift of the ages is unfolding on planet Earth. Change is happening at such a rapid pace it’s hard to make sense of it all. Decisions made today are determining the very survival of future generations. The Imagine Convergence is gathering changemakers, intellectuals, innovators and cultural creatives to explore cross-disciplinary solutions to these global complexities. Together we are weaving narratives for a future paradigm.
Unfortunately it is sold out, but you can livestream it:
Mountain West Seed Summit
This gathering will highlight the local seed movement taking root in the Mountain West. It will feature dozens of presentations and workshops from regional and national speakers on topics ranging from seed sovereignty and regenerative farming to indigenous rights and eco-spirituality. Participants will gain inspiration, knowledge, and connections with others to advance their local seed efforts.
The theme “Reunion of the Radicles” focuses on the radical aspects of the seed movement that challenge the dominant agricultural paradigm to create more just, abundant, and ecologically healing seed and food systems. A diverse lineup of presenters scheduled to speak features voices at the intersection of the seed movement with critical race, gender, and indigenous perspectives.
The Mountain West Seed Summit is the only seed-related conference that is grounded in such a diverse, accessible approach connecting seeds and food to community, culture, and spirit. Join other regional seed stewards for this unique and empowering gathering created with the intention of advancing seed sovereignty in the Mountain West and beyond!
Economics of Happiness Gathering
Join us as we explore the creation of vibrant, local economies with a radically different paradigm—a paradigm that focuses on meeting real human and ecological needs through our ties to community and nature – through an ‘economics of happiness’.
We’re gathering internationally-recognized leaders from the localization movement together with local leaders and activists for two days of plenary talks, panel discussions, workshops and tours on the global-to-local theme. Topics include the economics of local food systems, promoting local investment, social impact investing, workers cooperatives, mutual aid networks, closed-loop local systems, local currencies, and working together to create, as Charles Eisenstein writes, the more beautiful world our hearts know is possible.
Highlights include tours of Agraria fields and barn, a preview of Jim Merkel’s film Saving Walden’s World and a closing performance by the World House Choir.
Presenters include:
- Helena Norberg-Hodge, Author and Director of Ancient Futures and The Economics of Happiness
- Charles Eisenstein, author of Sacred Economics and The Ascent of Humanity
- Michael Shuman, author of Local Dollars, Local Sense and a founding board member of BALLE—The Business Alliance for Local Living Economies.
- Jim Merkel, author of Radical Simplicity and Director of Saving Walden’s World
- Anthony Flaccavento, director of SCALE—Sequestering Carbon, Accelerating Local Economies
- Brett Joseph on Community Banking and Cooperatives
The event is co-sponsored by the local, 76-year old Arthur Morgan Institute for Community Solutions, which is working to establish local and regional equitable economies through the lens of community, and Local Futures, a pioneer of the new economy movement, dedicated to the renewal of community, ecological health and local economies worldwide.
Science and Non-Duality Conference
Join Science and Nonduality Conference (SAND) for a 5-day immersive experience where leading scientists, philosophers and spiritual teachers gather to explore a new understanding of who we really are, both as individuals and as a society. Join us for 2 days of pre-conference workshops followed by a 3-day conference filled with talks, panels, meditation, performances, music and dance.
Tao gives birth to one,
One gives birth to two,
Two gives birth to three,
Three gives birth to ten thousand beings.
~ Tao Te Ching
Quarks in an atom; molecules in a liquid; proteins in a cell; cells in an organism; neurons in a brain; people in a city; grains of sand in a dune; snowflakes in an avalanche; stars in a galaxy: when the many parts of a system interact, behaviors appear in the whole system that weren’t present in the parts themselves. These surprising “emergent” behaviors are what our universe appears to be made of, from the Big Bang, to the unfathomable complexity of Life, to the unimaginable future yet to come.
Biology isn’t applied chemistry. Psychology isn’t applied biology. Every scale, every level of abstraction brings its own universe of phenomena, complexity, questions, hypotheses, exploration and experimentation. The whole is not only greater than the sum of its parts, it is fundamentally different. Analysis and reductionism can only provide limited insights, never capture the essence of the indescribable.
Join us to contemplate who we are, as individuals, as societies, as humanity, as cosmos from the perspective of emergence, listen to what science and the timeless wisdom traditions can tell us, and surrender to the awe which emerges when the mind gives up.
Space Between Stories – Montserrat 7.2017
The world is in a time of transition in its stories, in the deep mythology that runs our civilization. And many of us personally are in such a transition as well. Often, it is a crisis that initiates this transition, a breakdown in a core part of life: work, health, or relationship. For some, the breakdown happens in every area simultaneously: an initiation into a new phase of life
.In this transition, the old story of who we are, what is normal, what is possible, what is real, and how to live life falls apart, as we prepare to step into a new story of greater wholeness, love, freedom, and connection.
Before that happens though, most of us must pass through a special phase: “the space between stories.” The old answers no longer work, and the new answers haven’t emerged yet. Who am I? Why am I here? How do I navigate life? The ground has shifted beneath us.
This is a sacred time, though our culture gives it little breathing space as it seeks to corral us back into the old story. Sometimes, it is an abyss, dark, lonely, and seemingly endless. Other times we find a ground beyond story, a security entirely independent of predictability or control, and we are filled with light and serenity.
We may experience amazing synchronicities that defy what we were told about how reality works. Sometimes we may cling to the sinking fragments of our old story, trying in our panic to climb back onto it; sometimes we have an experience that foretells a new story, a promise of the life that awaits. All of this and more is quite normal, in the space between stories
.This retreat is designed to provide the validation and support that our culture withholds to those going through this special time.
Please consider joining us if you…
- Are navigating the space between stories right now
- Recognize you are still in an old story that is no longer able to hold you, and you perceive that it is coming to an end.
- Are recently emerged into a new story but still uncertain there, and the space between stories is still fresh in your mind.
- You feel an unreasonable Yes toward this retreat!
The price of the course includes accomodation, breakfast and transfers. You will have an opportunity to make a contribution directly to Charles at the end of the workshop for tuition. You will choose the tuition that feels right to you, from a sense of gratitude, propriety, and value, considering of course your own financial means. The Venue:
Montserrat Monastery is a Benedictine monk retreat about an hour’s train ride, northwest from Barcelona city. We will be staying at Hotel Abat Cisneros situated in Montserrat Monastery itself.
The Hotel Abat Cisneros has provided accommodation for Pilgrims since its original construction in 1563. The simple accomodation lend itself to quiet meditation/contemplation, the background noise is simply the Monks choir or Church bells.
As the rooms were provided primarily for spiritual retreats, there are no double beds, and mainly have twin beds – you have the option to pay for a single room if you’d prefer a room to yourself.
All rooms have bath or shower, satellite television, telephone and free internet access is available in the lounge area. All transfers (to and from Barcelona airport) and breakfast is included. You will be able to buy lunch and dinner in one of the restaurant and cafes in the area (there is a restaurant in the Hotel as well).
Once your place has been confirmed we will advise you on flight booking and insurance details.
You will purchase flights and insurance separately. Once your booking has been confirmed we will contact you. All deposits are non-refundable.
If you have any queries then please call Venetia in the office on 0207 287 6711 or email me atVenetia@alternatives.org.uk.