[nodsamadhi]

glad to hear y'all had fun

abe, i may have to dock you points for over-use of the word 'spiritual' 😛

at earthdance in particular i think the focused energy ritual allows me to have what i think of as a spiritual experience…as we had 15-20 people joining hands in the center of downtown asheville, most of us were very focused on the energy exchange we were participating in and i felt like i was experiencing that, but i'm sure there were folks observing and in the circle who had very different experiences…while it was a powerful moment for me, it was probably pretty meaningless and boring to some of the tourists wandering by.

in my mind, spiritual experiences are very private and personal…while i have had more than a few at parties, i would caution y'all against believing that there is some absolute formula for encouraging this at events. as much as it is possible to have those experiences, not everybody has them in the same way or is even able to have them in the same circumstances, and the term often gets misused as a way of airing personal drama without coming out in the open about it…

just putting in my 2 cents from the flaky pseudo-hippie quasi-spiritual capitol of the eastern seaboard – really not trying to offend anybody so please don't take it that way! 🙂

[X-Pulse]

Hello again 🙂
Once more As that too many negative emotions I read greetings to all in messages above. On me all was супер. On the account of heavy music on chiil out to a zone. Here more likely not problem DJ's and arrangement dj on stage organizers. I do not wish to recollect a small problem arisen at my arrival on action – it of that is not necessary and even заоострять the attention to it is not necessary. ORGANIZERS good fellows
Yes I played Full On music on chill out stage but during this moment played Chill on main dancefloor. And I saw that people like that that I do. On me there was a minus only one it +5C warm tempreture at night and that not especially that it and stirred. ONCE AGAIN I SHALL tell ALL was very much PERFECT !!!

and about spiritual !!! 🙂 guys U saw sky at night???????? or not????? U have more question after this????

[professorx]

I would like to thank everyone for coming out to this event and making it a success.  As far as the problem people, we will work our hardest to get names and blacklist these people for good.  My thoughts on the chill stage is that Cliff did an amazing job and he had no help.  Sunra and I set up the tapestries for main stage except for Tyler putting up Igor's tapestries.  We just did not have enough people that care about deco or that were willing to help.  I don't think it takes one person to delegate tasks, but a group of motivated people.  If more people could have got there sooner, I think more thought could have been put into it.  The lighting of the trail was awesome for as long as it lasted.  I do agree that the lasers were great, but I did not enjoy the fog.  Evertime it was shot near the dance floor, I had to leave until it cleared.  Just too much in the wrong area.  I think it would have looked better behind the tapestries, close to the trees, to help luminate lasers more.  Besides all that I had a great time playing for all you wonderful people.  I know went a little crazy at the end of my set, but I wanted to play something for everyone.  You can appreciate 170bpm for one song, can't you?  Can't wait until next year!  This is always the highlight of the year for me.  See you all soon!

[PookztA]

glad to hear y'all had fun

abe, i may have to dock you points for over-use of the word 'spiritual' 😛

at earthdance in particular i think the focused energy ritual allows me to have what i think of as a spiritual experience…as we had 15-20 people joining hands in the center of downtown asheville, most of us were very focused on the energy exchange we were participating in and i felt like i was experiencing that, but i'm sure there were folks observing and in the circle who had very different experiences…while it was a powerful moment for me, it was probably pretty meaningless and boring to some of the tourists wandering by.

in my mind, spiritual experiences are very private and personal…while i have had more than a few at parties, i would caution y'all against believing that there is some absolute formula for encouraging this at events. as much as it is possible to have those experiences, not everybody has them in the same way or is even able to have them in the same circumstances, and the term often gets misused as a way of airing personal drama without coming out in the open about it…

just putting in my 2 cents from the flaky pseudo-hippie quasi-spiritual capitol of the eastern seaboard – really not trying to offend anybody so please don't take it that way! 🙂

@ NoD @ Fixer:

I agree that spiritual experiences are mostly subjective and held by individuals rather than the entire event community, but agreeing with Fixer here, things like Alters / Shrines / Buddhas help create that subjective spiritual experience inside of people. for me, the music and the collective gathering of individuals is enough for me to feel spiritual inside, because it is so similar to a Native American Pow Wow, or Mayan drumming / dancing ceremony, etc… but for those that come to the events not knowing what to expect, or which direction to travel in their mind to achieve a more spiritual experience, an Alter / Shrine accomplishes this PERFECTLY.

when someone walks around seeing all the cool deco, but not thinking anything of it, and then they encounter a UV reactive / candle-lit alter, they immediately realize that there is more meaning involved in the event and the deco rather than simply trying to make everything as Psychedelic as possible. I contributed a lot of tapestries to deco, also helped set up and take down lots of tapestries with the help of Aktif, also Nate and Tim were running the laser / fog show, so there were plenty of people helping with Deco besides ProfessorX and SunRa, but next time we definitely should at least collaborate / organize our efforts to create an Alter of some kind at at least one stage, if not both… it only helps!

[Sudo Make Install]

A lot of good points were brought up.

Every single one of them noted.

We cannot prevent the type of people from coming that caused the few problems we had.  We know who they are, and we can reinforce the blacklist at future events as a result. 

It was a lot of work for me, and it took a lot out of me.  There were some DJs that didn't show up for their sets so i apologize if the music wasnt fitting for the stage during those times or if it wasnt what was expected.  We left room for ppl to play at the B stage saturday because we had a lot of ppl asking us for MONTHS before the event even happend and we told them all to bring their gear just in case.  I cannot control everything all the time, and had to leave it to the patrons to improvise upon the situations as they came about.

In regards to the deco for the B stage, there is no sense in complaining about it, or the lack of it, since no one took any real initiative to deck it out.  Cliff did what he could, but again, he was by himself and we're limited on resources.  Jef, you knew the deco situation, or lack therof all along, so i am a little surprised that you expected more.  Definitely an oversight on my part for not having that organized.  Anyone who was disappointed with that stage's setup, you have my apologies. 

I also wanted to sincerely apologize to everyone for us not having firewood there onsite Friday.  We had it secured and taken care of, and through the channels of communication, i thought we had it handled to have it delivered to the venue.  The person who i thought was handling it thought i had made other arrangements.  By the time we realized that none was neither there nor on the way, it was too late, and we had to make do with a cold night.  AND IT WAS COLD!  My lips are STILL chapped beyond belief.  I don;t think its ever been this bad!

The setup on the main stage was amazing, and i thank everyone for all their efforts. 

All in all, I am satisfied.  We had an excellent turnout.  The vibe was amazing throughout for me, even though i only slept for a few hours.  It was everyone who really kept me going.

We are learning as we go along.  This was our 3rd event at Elandorf (if you count SF3) and we're slowly getting everything figured out in terms of placement of stages, deco, and everything else.  We're also learning where to focus our efforts more in some departments, less in others. 

Within the Trance Psyndicate, there were a lot of challenges with organizing this event — many to the point that it wouldn't even happen.  We couldn't have and would not have done it without the gracious help of Chilluminati.  We thank you more than anyone else for all of your hard work and efforts. 

While not as “perfect” as we wanted it to be, it was damn good.  DAMN GOOD!  The music was stellar, the artists were all amazing, everyone i met and talked to really had a great time and said it was worth their drive / money. The music did was non-stop without a hitch on the main stage.  No issues that have not already been brought up.

we know who the kid was that was stealing from ppls cars. We have his ID.  He has never been to any of our events before, and we're just as shocked and appalled as everyone else that anyone would even do something like that.  Especially at our events.  We also know who the people are that he came in with.  While we're not responsible for anyone's belongings, and locking your car is common sense, it is PURE BULLSHIT that we should ever have to bring that up in hindsight of incident. 

Anyone who has pictures, please PM me with a link to a ZIP file so i can grab them to include on our site.  We're tryign to fill our gallery now.  Some pics will be there in a few.

Thanks again to everyone who made it what it was, and stay posted for details regarding Earthdance 2008.

[thefixer]

I am always regretful to use the term 'spiritual' but I will use the terms 'intentional' and 'techno-shamanic' and it's a real thing. I can only hope that new spiritual architects come into the community. There is some central direction needed for the use of space. A temple needs an architect. And just so it is clear, I see this happening at all events as long as there is not a deco / space coordinator. This is no fault of Tyler, Rob, or the TP and Chilluminati volunteers who put in such hard work. And I am VERY happy with the layout of the three stages. On a macro level space design was GREAT. Tyler you ROCK. I am more concerned with creation of altars, and myriad small details particularly around the chill space. I also wish we could afford more tents.

It was a great event but we need more people involved at the Crew / artist committed level. I hope this message is hitting receptive eyes. And things like tents will be more affordable with more attendees.

Dev and I showed up when we did on Saturday because (a) I have to work, money trumps Chilluminati every time and I don't get paid vacations and I have some serious stuff to deal with financially this year (b) we announced at the beginning of the year that we aren't doing deco any more. Anything we did Saturday was a courtesy not an obligation.

Lots of people came and left this weekend and basically made it a one-day event. Obviously we just don't have enough people at Crew level.

I am happy nonetheless with the event and I just hope some more people are inspired by this discussion to get involved as an organizer.

[thefixer]

In regards to the deco for the B stage, there is no sense in complaining about it, or the lack of it, since no one took any real initiative to deck it out. 

There is a point – getting the word out to the larger community that we need more leaders.

The only cure is more people stepping into the leadership position. I don't know who you are, but you are out there. We need you!

[Eklypz]

Makes me real sad that people focus on so much of the negative things, nothing will ever be perfect that way.

I had a great time!  I was happy that people participated in workshops (especially people I didn't know!).  Not sure when I will be out next so this was a great culmination for me of a wild 2 month run of AUM, Delaware (family thang), Burning Man, then back home to the Midwest.

It was great to be able to celebrate with my midwest familia after being in so many places.  Oh, and it was pretty spiritual for me. Maybe not as Spiritual as last year (I think having an hour of silence helped with that) but I definately felt some nice vibes.

[thefixer]

There were some DJs that didn't show up for their sets so i apologize if the music wasnt fitting for the stage during those times or if it wasnt what was expected. 

Thanks, that helps me to understand. I appreciate your efforts and the inevitability of chaos.

[fattbeach]

Thank you for one of the greatest experiences of my life!

I could write for pages on all the people that I met, the music I heard and everything I saw. The whole weekend seemed like a dream, and now I'm woken up in the real world trying to put together the pieces on what it all means.

I would love to keep in contact with everyone I met and all the amazing, energetic and happy people that were there. If you met a guy named Zack that was me, or if you met a dude with a glowstick in his hat or a purple and green jacket that was also me.
http://profile.myspace.com/7983976

any pictures would also be greatly appreciated!! My camera took one picture then ran out of batteries.

I also met two dudes from Poland that were getting way too close to girls and girlfriends of mine, including the 16 year old that just had her birthday. I almost started a fight with one. One of their names was Andrew.

Those firedancers were amazing!

[thefixer]

Makes me real sad that people focus on so much of the negative things, nothing will ever be perfect that way.

I am not “focused” on it – I am also not doing any of us a favor by being a cheerleader. Jeff Z you are uncomfortable with ANY critical assessment of ANYTHING . . . it always is hard for you to think that way. You have a tendency to see any such remarks as personal attacks, which they are not.

At the end of the day is the perfect time to discuss what we need and what we can do better – a month from now nobody will care. At this moment there are more eyeballs watching this discussion than at almost any time of year. NOW is the time to let future psy leaders know WE NEED YOU!!

I said SO MANY positive things about the event in my post. Re-read it. But the sexual harassment incident was SERIOUS and if things had become known to me sooner I think I might have called police on Saturday night. Sorry to rain on the Happy Hippie Love Parade but drunk assholes grabbing womens' asses is only a few steps away from rape in my opinion. Totally unacceptable.

[Sudo Make Install]

I said SO MANY positive things about the event in my post. Re-read it. But the sexual harassment incident was SERIOUS and if things had become known to me sooner I think I might have called police on Saturday night. Sorry to rain on the Happy Hippie Love Parade but drunk assholes grabbing womens' asses is only a few steps away from rape in my opinion. Totally unacceptable.

For future reference to EVERYONE, you have every single right in the world to bring this to the staff's attention and we will work with you to remove them from the venue as soon as possible.  If you cannot find a staff member, please remember, just for future reference, that our sound booth (the area in front of the main stage) is staffed at all times and they have a radio to call other staff members. 

WE ABSOLUTELY WILL NOT TOLERATE THIS KIND OF BEHAVIOR.   

[thefixer]

WE ABSOLUTELY WILL NOT TOLERATE THIS KIND OF BEHAVIOR.   

Thanks, at the time it seemed more important to comfort my friend who was really out of control due to the incident.

[Sudo Make Install]

let's let it go for now.  We know what we need to do.  Any other concerns, PLEASE PM ME!  We will address anything and everything.

I have started getting pictures posted!!!

take a look for yourself at http://www.trancepsyndicate.com/ in the gallery!!

More to come – i will update as i get them sent to me!

I wish i could go hoem and sleep the rest of the day!!!

[agenthurt]

this past weekend has given me a lot more to think about internally and externally.  thanks to all of the key players for just being good people.  you know who you are.  there are some of us that have slowly over the last year gotten crazier and crazier and its time to take a good look at ourselves, our music, and our community and try to better ourselves on a mental level and physical level.  the deco was an ongoing situation in a lot of planning.  cliff really stepped up to the bat and did his best, and igor and abe really came through on some tapestries.  sunra's live painting contributed a lot to helping round things out.  the last minute additions of lazers, lights, and even the smoke machine was a good example of a lot of people trying to come together to make things better!

i think its just part of the human nature in todays society to be pessimistic and focus on negative things.  perhaps because we all look so hard for things to go our way and for things to be positive, that we forsake the positive things and only see the negative.  we ultimately expect things to go perfect, therefor we only see when they dont.  i can see myself doing this.

honestly, my one complaint…(and god knows i complain so only having one is a good thing!)…come sunday morning, everyone disappeared.  a lot of key people and artists did their part by taking care of their own sites and taking care of their own trash so as not to leave anything.  MOST people left piles of trash and a time consuming process of clean up for about 5 individuals.  we dont mind cleaning up or helping to clean up in the least, but i hope for future events done anywhere in the midwest that people will be responsible on that end, take care of the planet and take care of their own messes.  thanks to the few individuals that helped us clean up trash and take care of things after most everyone had cleared out.  i appreciated being able to come home at 5 instead of 7.  =D

on a positive note, i have to say that i am really proud of tyler and rob.  things have been crazy the last 6 months and these guys really gave everything they could to making this work.  with BOTH of them having new babies in the last couple weeks, they still gave everything they could to get this going and keep it going all weekend.  a special thanks to scott, igor, and derby.  while not as noticed i'm sure, these guys constantly were working to support tyler and rob in the functions of the event.  im sure there were others as well and i apologize in not giving you credit here, but as i think back, these 3 were constantly working the gate, laying down the hot business, or helping clean up. 

i think that, we ALL are to blame for some certain negative things going down in a small way.  for instance, the crazy russian (or perhaps crazy polish guys?).  we've all seen them, we all know them, they are ALWAYS just a step out of control.  in fact, its a pretty funny joke to a few of us about the roving band of crazy psy russians.  i think a lot of us knew that things that they were doing were out of line.  instead of starting fights or yelling, the first step anyone should have done was just said “hey, this is unacceptable, please stop or we will have to take this a step further”.  if that doesnt change anything, well then its time to get organizers involved and let the people in charge decide what the next step is.  there was also a certain gentleman from india who was a little disrespectful to a lot of women on a verbal level.  i am trying to tell myself, and perhaps im just trying to be positive, but i honestly hope that a lot of things that happened were a total culture clash and the fact that a lot of english spoken on their parts is broken and heavily accented, making it hard for some of us to understand and communicate our thoughts.  language barriers are one of the biggest  breakdowns in communications.  its only natural.  i do think that there is no excuse for some actions, but i can hope that a lot of it was due to cultural differences…although i could never seen anyone such as varun or damon doing some of these things because they are such respectful individuals.  it all goes back to the future leaders stepping up and diffusing a situation and contacting the proper people if need be so as not to overstep your own bounds.  food for thought down the road. 

speaking of, a special shout out to a certain femal brit who in my opinion was a saint.  you took insults that i wouldnt have believed and yet returned it with as much kindness and understanding and explaination as you could.  my head would have exploded within 5 minutes of any of that.  i'd love to have a chance to speak to you further.

iowa guys…love all of you even if you are sometimes bad for my health lol
adam and phil…you guys are some of my favorite people ive met in the last year
arizona guys…im so happy you were able to share this weekend with me
jeffz…truely a GOOD person, nuff said
varun…i'll never be able to make chai tea quite like yours.  i wish you the best back home.  we will see you soon!

i look forward to hankering down this winter, doing some internal examination, playing some good music, and changing my mindset for the next year in the hopes that i can start contributing more than just sarcasm, grumpiness, and insanity!  all of you guys, EVERYONE, are good people and the world needs more of you. 
thanks from the bottom of my heart
nick

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