A TC Summer Solstice Ritual in Meatspace?

[Aster Breo]

I love this idea! But how would we pull that off?

We're already discussing video recording the event,* which we probably should do. But to livestream it adds a level of logistical difficulty that may be insurmountable. For example, since Opus40 is in the middle of rural woods, would there even be a strong enough cellphone signal out there to send a video feed? And If we're all busy celebrating live at the site, how will we Zoom interact with the folks online? Or is a Zoom meeting not what you have in mind?

*Video recording means, however, that rather than fully participating, someone will have to be manning their smartphone for much of the time. Also keep in mind that while we're all fairly anonymous here online at TC, that won't be true in a recording of the live event (unless one is festively masked!)

There are definitely challenges. But it's something to consider.

Just off the top of my head, and for the purposes of sparking conversation (that is, please don't consider these fully formed answers!):

Re signal:  I think the first step is to determine whether there's any kind of coverage at the site. (Well, actually, the first step would be to determine if the site is even available when we want it.) If it's used as a wedding venue, they might have wifi and/or cell service available.

Re logistics:  Some of us might actuality prefer to participate in more of a support role, rather than as an active ritual participant. Another possibility is that some of us might be traveling with companions who would be willing to do things like video.

Re platform:  Zoom is a good option, but not the only one. And there might well be others by then. We'd need to do some research, but we'd need a better idea of what we're doing on site and what we want to accomplish online to be able to choose the best platform.

Re anonymity / identifiability:  We'd definitely need to be very careful about this, whether simply recording or livestreaming. I think it would need to be a discussion among participants to decide among the various options. It also might be possible to find a camera angle that doesn't show faces - or only shows faces of people who are OK with being shown.

Sent from my SM-G965U using Tapatalk

[Altair]

If we don't think we'll have enough TC folks, we could consider inviting adjacent groups, like Clann Bhríde or subsets of them.

But I don't think we should attempt anything public. Waaaaaay too much work.

Agreed. Though we might want to consider inviting a local pagan organization in the Hudson Valley, if anybody has any contacts in such a group.

We should also consider involving people or group(s) who are musically inclined. I think something like this calls for live music!

Food and drink could be BYO/pot luck. I'll definitely be having cocktails!

Opus 40 is closed on Tuesdays, which is great--our rental would mean we'd have the place to ourselves, and it should mean the rental costs less. Regular hours are 11 AM - 5 PM...though I'm guessing with a rental the hours are whatever you want/pay for.

But if we take those hours as a guide, we could arrive at 11 to get everything and everyone in place (4 contingents waiting in the woods); then the procession from the north, south, east, and west to the central monolith at noon (which seems appropriate on the summer solstice). Then the ritual, and then...picnic and party!

[Altair]

If we don't think we'll have enough TC folks, we could consider inviting adjacent groups, like Clann Bhríde or subsets of them.

So what minimum number of people would be the critical mass to make an event like this worth doing?

So far the definite in-person attendees seem to be me, you, Aisling, and (because this is ALL HIS FAULT so he's doing this even if I have to drag him up there with me from NYC kicking and screaming!) The Green Wizard. We need a head count if there are others.

Cauldronites, if you are interested and able to attend this possible event, please sound off!

[TheGreenWizard]

So what minimum number of people would be the critical mass to make an event like this worth doing?

So far the definite in-person attendees seem to be me, you, Aisling, and (because this is ALL HIS FAULT so he's doing this even if I have to drag him up there with me from NYC kicking and screaming!) The Green Wizard. We need a head count if there are others.

Cauldronites, if you are interested and able to attend this possible event, please sound off!

Ya know, if you had simply told me in our text messages that this is what you were referring to, I'd have gotten here a LOT sooner!!

Now then, getting into this - definitely interested. I'd LOVE to be part of something physical with TC and make this happen.

OTOH, TGW's cite for the cost is for a weekday morning. TGW, what would the Sat/Sun cost be? Best to check on various times of day, including whether very early morning (i.e., around sunrise) differs from later in the morning/day.

(Yes, I also do ritual logistics. Reflexively.)

Sunflower

Good question. I'll put out an email to them right now and ask about the availability of that date and approximate costs. Though, I would love to have some advice on how to phrase that email: should I simply state that we'd like to use it for religious observation of the Summer solstice? Or should we simply state that we're holding a private event to the tune of *insert number* people?

ALSO, Seeing as this would be next year, and we do have the concerns of who's going to do the livestreaming/recording... I could get my husband to do it. He's also a stage manager (like Aster Breo) and he plans things out exceedingly well. Plus, he has connections on Broadway for costume designers, wardrobe, lighting that he could potentially tap into.

[Altair]

Now then, getting into this - definitely interested. I'd LOVE to be part of something physical with TC and make this happen.

Yay!

Good question. I'll put out an email to them right now and ask about the availability of that date and approximate costs. Though, I would love to have some advice on how to phrase that email: should I simply state that we'd like to use it for religious observation of the Summer solstice? Or should we simply state that we're holding a private event to the tune of *insert number* people?

Well, er, to tell the truth, I like this idea so much that I already sent them an email two days ago! I said it would be a private summer solstice event for about 20 (I just pulled the number out of my ass), and I asked for pricing for Sat, 6/18; Sun, 6/19; and Tues, 6/21.

But I haven't heard anything back yet, which is kind of annoying, since you'd figure they'd stay on top of potential bookings...and they don't have a lot of other things to do right now, since the site is closed! But maybe that's why I haven't heard back; maybe, with COVID closing everything down and the site closed for the winter anyway, there's so little activity for them that they're asleep at the wheel.

Hopefully I'll hear soon, and if not, I'll follow up.

ALSO, Seeing as this would be next year, and we do have the concerns of who's going to do the livestreaming/recording... I could get my husband to do it. He's also a stage manager (like Aster Breo) and he plans things out exceedingly well. Plus, he has connections on Broadway for costume designers, wardrobe, lighting that he could potentially tap into.

Excellent! He can help me with what I want to wear...I have a concept...

[Aisling]

Well, er, to tell the truth, I like this idea so much that I already sent them an email two days ago! I said it would be a private summer solstice event for about 20 (I just pulled the number out of my ass), and I asked for pricing for Sat, 6/18; Sun, 6/19; and Tues, 6/21.

But I haven't heard anything back yet, which is kind of annoying, since you'd figure they'd stay on top of potential bookings...and they don't have a lot of other things to do right now, since the site is closed! But maybe that's why I haven't heard back; maybe, with COVID closing everything down and the site closed for the winter anyway, there's so little activity for them that they're asleep at the wheel.

I love your enthusiasm!  They may be minimally staffed during their down season, so hopefully that's the reason for the delay.

Excellent! He can help me with what I want to wear...I have a concept...

It wouldn't be black with bling, would it? 

[SunflowerP]

How about a European mirror event at the same time, streamed in? And in any other corners of the world where there's enough interest to bring one or two people together...

I really love this idea - it makes it much more a counterpart to our online December solstice!

Sunflower

[SunflowerP]

Agreed. Though we might want to consider inviting a local pagan organization in the Hudson Valley, if anybody has any contacts in such a group.

We should also consider involving people or group(s) who are musically inclined. I think something like this calls for live music!

We might also consider inviting them to join TC!

(Hmm. I don't have any contacts with HV pagan organizations, but I do still have contact with Ocelot, who might or might not have info on such groups - and who might or might not, but I think should have the chance to decide for himself, be interested in attending.)

Live music is a good idea - speaking generally, it kicks the 'good theatre' up a notch. (Speaking specifically, it's not hard to find exceptions, as our theatre folks can no doubt testify.)

So what minimum number of people would be the critical mass to make an event like this worth doing?

Strictly in terms of head count, I'd say at least 12: four per quarter. (I just reviewed the pics in the original thread, and to the extent I can judge from pics, I don't think that's too low for the site size.) From another angle, 'enough that chipping in for site rental isn't a burden', however many we figure that to be.

We'll also want to consider maximums - the more people there are, the harder it is to a) construct, and b) stage-manage*. We might never approach the maximum number, but it'd be wise to figure out what it is.

(*Since I don't seem to be able to resist volunteering for things like this, I need to acquire myself some not-so--much-business-as-personal cards that say, 'We also herd cats'.)

Sunflower

[SunflowerP]

It wouldn't be black with bling, would it? 

No, Aisling, it's not just you .

[Morag]

Cauldronites, if you are interested and able to attend this possible event, please sound off!

Interested? Hell yes.

Able? No clue at this point. But with this much advance notice I can start trying to put things into place now so it's more likely than not.

[PerditaPickle]

Cauldronites, if you are interested and able to attend this possible event, please sound off!

I must confess, when 2022 was mentioned I did have a quick look at how to travel to the site from NYC!  But I think I'd likely be flying in to JFK, so even if I could save up enough in time I don't think I'd be able to manage it, alas.

How about a European mirror event at the same time, streamed in?

I'd almost certainly be up for something here in England -- my first thought was Avebury stone circle, since we all know Stonehenge is well and truly spoken for.

[Jenett]

DAMN YOU, GREEN WIZARD!!! Now I can't stop thinking about this!

It's about a 3 hour drive from where I am (in Boston), which is not an impossible distance (even allowing for something like a night or two staying over in the area.) If people can make it to Boston, rides from there are not an impossible thing (though I might ask folks to do a ride by T or shuttle to somewhere less awful than the airport to do a pickup.)

I'm conceivably interested, modulo the usual "chronic health stuff shifts priorities, plus coven" (the weekend before or after actually makes that more complicated for me rather than less, on that that front.)

Also, have extensive public ritual experience, some theatre background, and a lot of "Wait, that will not work well with a ritual of X people" experience.

[Altair]

I must confess, when 2022 was mentioned I did have a quick look at how to travel to the site from NYC!  But I think I'd likely be flying in to JFK, so even if I could save up enough in time I don't think I'd be able to manage it, alas.

You could rent a car from JFK and drive up to Saugerties...

...or there’s a bus from Manhattan’s main bus terminal (Port Authority Bus Terminal, at 42nd St & 8th Ave, in the Times Square area) to Saugerties, NY. (I don’t drive but have a friend who lives in Saugerties, so I’ve ridden it many times.) The trip is about 2.5 hours:

https://trailways.com/our_carriers/adirondack-trailways/

From the Saugerties stop, you’d take a taxi, Uber, or Lyft to the Opus 40 site, or presumably other Cauldronites attending would have driven and could come pick you up!

[SunflowerP]

Also, have extensive public ritual experience, some theatre background, and a lot of "Wait, that will not work well with a ritual of X people" experience.

Oh, good, I was hoping you'd be interested! You have some particular ritual-constructon experience that I lack!

Sunflower

[Altair]

Well, er, to tell the truth, I like this idea so much that I already sent them an email two days ago! I said it would be a private summer solstice event for about 20 (I just pulled the number out of my ass), and I asked for pricing for Sat, 6/18; Sun, 6/19; and Tues, 6/21.

I heard back from Opus 40! I described our event as "a special costume celebration of the summer solstice in 2022," to which their executive director replied:

"That sounds marvelous. I am enclosing our rate sheet here. We would offer the rate for 15 people if your number is around 20. Let me know what you think."

The relevant part of the rate card:
Up to 15 guests                     $250/hour

...so for a total of $750, that would give us 3 hours, which would be great. However, that comes with limitations that don't appeal to me at all:

"Photo/Film Shoot or event cannot be on or directly in front of our main sculpture"

...since having our ceremony at the main monolith is sort of the point, I would think. There's a rental option with no limitations--so we'd have access to the central monolith--but unsurprisingly that's at a higher price point. There's also the question of whether we want the place to ourselves, or if we want random visitors to the site wandering in and out simultaneously. (The higher price point would give us exclusive access.)

So, things to think about as we weigh this; the good news is, the folks at Opus 40 seem flexible.