Virtual exchange of delight

[Jenett]

So, I proposed something to my coven folks today, and thought other people might find the idea intriguing, and also possibly have useful ideas.

Normally, we'd do a gift swap at our Yule ritual (we usually do a $10 limit, going higher is fine if you're regifting something, and we do a random swap facilitated by Tarot cards)

This year, we are obviously not getting together, so I have proposed (and everyone is reasonably in favour of) a virtual exchange, which will have these steps...

The plan:

1) I write up a form (project for tomorrow!) asking people to share some topics of stuff they're interested in getting something about (thematic stuff they're working on magically right now or interested in or just generally are here for), plus some practical stuff (a place to say what they usually listen to music via, if there's any particular form of thing they just won't manage to do anything with, if there's anything they absolutely don't want to get... etc.)

2) People fill out the form.

3) I will match people up (via a randomiser) and send each person the relevant form, plus a bunch of resources on copyright-friendly shareable sources for images, places to collect images, sources for music ditto, etc.

4) Everyone has a month to put together a virtual/digitally sharable something that fits a general theme the person they're gifting is into - that could be a playlist, it could be a collection of images to explore, it could be a collection of recipes (magical or otherwise) that are relevant to a thing, be digitally sharable art or music or a computer or phone wallpaper. (Or some combo of the above.) I will be volunteering to consult if people get stuck, both on a "help me find suitable stuff" and on "how do I make the tech option go"

5) At our Yule ritual, we'll exchange stuff and talk about it, yay!

I'm hoping it'll be a good chance for people to learn a bit about each other, and also to get a bit of personally attentive brightness, and I think I have ideas on how to make it work, based on some other stuff I've seen people working on.

(We want this to be no-extra-cost for anyone, because the coven includes at least one person entirely out of work right now, and a couple of others for whom funds are very limited. As a group we have widely varying tech and computer skills, but I am going to make it clear that "An email with links to individual images/YouTube videos/etc." is a totally fine option, and everyone should be okay creating that much, along with "spend between 1 and 3 hours on this project in the next month" as a time suggestion.)

If this sounds intriguing to anyone else, I am glad to share the final form when I get it done.

So, my actual question:

If you were doing something like this:
- What stuff would you think it'd be fun to be asked?

- What stuff is really useful to be asked? (things you absolutely wouldn't want, etc.)

- Are there ways to do fun virtual things I haven't included here (images, playlists, other collections of things like recipes, art you do yourself, etc.) that I haven't mentioned by might be fun, and would fit a generally witchy sort of theme/vibe?

[Aisling]

So, my actual question:

If you were doing something like this:
- What stuff would you think it'd be fun to be asked?

- What stuff is really useful to be asked? (things you absolutely wouldn't want, etc.)

- Are there ways to do fun virtual things I haven't included here (images, playlists, other collections of things like recipes, art you do yourself, etc.) that I haven't mentioned by might be fun, and would fit a generally witchy sort of theme/vibe?

This is a brilliant idea. 

Written works by the giver would be a fun option - whether it's a poem, short story, song, prayer or a ritual or spell they've penned.  Likewise, instructions for simple craft-related craft projects.  A short tutorial about something that the giver is good at doing (for example, I know someone who writes and records guided meditations for friends).  A virtual puzzle or game based on the person's interests (f'ex, a crossword puzzle using deity names from the receiver's pantheon).   

[Kylara]

If you were doing something like this:
- What stuff would you think it'd be fun to be asked?

- What stuff is really useful to be asked? (things you absolutely wouldn't want, etc.)

- Are there ways to do fun virtual things I haven't included here (images, playlists, other collections of things like recipes, art you do yourself, etc.) that I haven't mentioned by might be fun, and would fit a generally witchy sort of theme/vibe?

That is super cool!

I think for "things you absolutely wouldn't want", maybe have a few basics that everyone can answer, in regards to whether content including these things would be good/bad:  nudity, sexual content, profanity, other religions.

Great free apps might also be a good thing to share (you would want to specify what types of devices the gift receiver has, as some are only free or available on certain platforms). 

If people are willing to make content, making a video or audio recording of either reading out a guided meditation or some looping chants can be great.  A lot of chants are passed by hearing them at a gathering somewhere, and I know I love chants...but until I've actually practiced and learned them I completely forget the tune and/or lyrics, so having a recording to practice from is priceless!  And I know that it's often much easier to listen to a guided meditation than to read it and then try to follow it. 

Ohh, pretty digital art for a BOS is also something that I've seen people really like.  I'm in a few scrapbook style witchy groups, and people tend to really go for neat little art they can print out and add to their books or even whole pages with information (like a list of herbal recipes or the like)  This might be something that people can opt in or out of, as not everyone might find it useful.

And recipes are always good too, either actual food recipes (like seasonal ones or ritual foods), or witchy ones (incense blends, oils, bath salts....whatever).  People can mention if they have allergies or strongly dislike certain ingredients (so of course they wouldn't want things that featured those ingredients), or if they only make herbal mixes and don't use oils or what not.

[Jenett]

And here's my writeup of what we're doing

(Some of this is group-specific: I'm not encouraging people to try and record their own stuff, because I have a clue about everyone's current tech and household setups, but that might work well for other groups. There's also some logistical stuff I can do because I know these people and it's a small number I wouldn't try in a much larger group)

But basically, feel free and snag and adapt for your own uses, or pass along to anyone who'd find it useful.