The Eleven 9.11.18
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
This was Beloved Festival‘s 11th magical year. If you know me at all, you know that 11s are a big part of my life. From my newsletter (The Eleven) to my birthday (the 11th of May) – 11’s are key. You may have also seen me raise my hand when the question “who’s here for the first time?” gets asked. That’s another story (beginner’s mind…). So, one thing for me that was fun about Beloved this year is that I’ve been there since the beginning and I also try to approach things as if I’m there for the first time. I was scheming to make a t-shirt with the Beloved logo on one side with the year 11 on it and on the other side the slogan Beloved Virgin (1st year!), but never got around Tuit. Speaking of t-shirts, some of the stage crew wore black t-shirts this year with the word Belivid in bold white letters on them. Striking and potent.
My friend Matthew Burns did an interview with me on the last day of the festival this year. If photography is your thing – Carlton Ward took a great collection of photos this year – check them out (any photos that are published here are from him!). And, Maggie Jane Cech did these beauties!
As I mentioned, I’ve been attending the Beloved Festival for many years. Each year is different – depending on the site; weather; who I’m camping with; relationship status (I’m single and looking!); who else shows up each year; how easy it is to get in and out of the festival; and 100 other factors. That’s also partly why it’s useful to have a beginner’s mind – ie, not expecting that the experience will mirror past experiences saves you from the frustration you might feel when something has changed. And Beloved Festival always changes as we continue to change, too. My first year going I was 46 and now I’m 57 – ha, my life has significantly changed through that time, of course. The way Beloved has changed is a little bit structural – the layout of the festival – but the main change this year felt like an invitation or encouragement by the festival organizers for us all to challenge ourselves to go deeper.
Beloved Festival is full of seekers. People who are passionate about their craft – whether it’s yoga; eating healthy food; personal growth; healthy relationships; learning about and practicing consent culture; music; dance and many other passions are well represented. My sense this year was that there was a question in the air: “Are we doing enough personally and as a group to change the world?” Sub-questions around this are: are we doing enough to end racism? Is this event doing enough to be inclusive (the attendees are mostly white, and probably middle class, though class issues are not usually raised at the festival). How can we take the amazing lessons we learn at Beloved and bring them into our lives; our relationships and into the world? This is something I was chewing on a lot at Beloved this year – beyond just digesting my experience – how can we take this event and all that it teaches us out into the world? I know not everyone in the world can attend Beloved – most won’t get a chance to even attend something similar and even if they did, they would probably only take away a relatively small amount of the wisdom that is shared there. For years I’ve imagined a video testimonial/interview booth for people to share their insights during the festival. We’re brought to such a peak state and that would be good to share – I believe it would be a positive influence on the world. This year we were asked to look at our shit – both internal and our actual poop 🙂
These composting toilets were quite incredible (I believe the compost is left on-site and used to fertilize the property where this event is held. The troughs between the private toilets were for men. Perhaps in future, there will be herinals for women (like the ones at Oregon Country Faire 🙂
Then, there’s the Beloved Festival by night. One change that I was quite happy about was the return of video mapping of the stage. There was just a light dusting of that this year, but it’s quite lovely to behold. See Carlton’s pictures for more of that imagery. Beloved at night is quite special. There is one main stage and most people are either dancing; having food or wandering to and from their campsites. This makes it a great place to drop in with people and for years I’ve been talking about the festival being my annual men’s workshop. Ie, there’s nowhere to go that’s not in the center of things – so, when you meet someone it’s easy to settle into a longer, deeper conversation.
There is so much incredible intention put into this festival. Everything possible is thought of. In the first few years, some of the systems didn’t work so well, but now just about everything works beautifully. I’ll include some improvement areas down below, but here I just want to say HUGE kudos to the staff and many many artists who make Beloved such an incredibly beautiful place to inhabit for a few days. Just about everywhere you look artists like Nature and his crew came early to manifest beautiful interpretations of nature using the natural art materials found nearby. Making installations like this:
I’ve written about my visits to the Beloved Festival in the past. (that’s a link to my 2010 write-up if you’re curious about the changes over the years 🙂 This year felt a lot deeper to me than in years past, but that might also be partly where I’m at right now in my own life. Here are a few major highlights from this year.
I’ll probably add to the list of highlights as I think of them. Here are a few improvements I’d like to make for Beloved Festival’s 12th year. The festival already does so much right it’s hard to even consider posing some suggestions, but after 20 years as a software tester, I think it’s part of my DNA to share bugs with the hope that developers will improve the software 🙂
I’ll add to this list as I think of things, but the improvements for the Beloved Festival are probably well-known by the organizers and are nothing like the ones I’ve written up for Strummit. Overall, this year’s Beloved Festival is something I’m still chewing on and digesting. I still haven’t taken my wristlet off which is usually a sign to me that something was remarkable 🙂 In fact, Beloved is the one festival which I see people leaving their wristlets on for a year or more – which tells you something. Early Bird tickets usually go on sale for Beloved in the Spring – join their email list and perhaps we’ll share a dance there next year! Also, there’s a somewhat active FB group if you’d like to hear about other events and connect with other Beloveds throughout the year.
Thanks for reading and I look forward to your feedback/comments to me, or below.
Albert Kaufman
PS – did I mention I found a new place to dance (face altered by Maitrea)? Oh, and I skipped the word LOVE. Love is a big part of this festival – add in love. Loved the food. Loved the rain (fresh air). Loved the people I camped with. Loved the ride to the festival. Loved the ride home. Love thinking about Beloved. That.
PPS – The Economist weighed in this year.
Hood River |
I’ve been doing some traveling for work in the last couple of months. Boise, Idaho; The Dalles, OR; Hood River, OR; and most recently, Seattle – The Emerald City. Here’s a pic of me and my team of Constant Contact Authorized Local Experts (ALEs) in front of the Wall of Gum. We did a presentation for about 100 people last week which was a lot of fun.
Life on the farm is kinda laid back… |
All right then! I hope you’re having a great day/week/month and life. I love feedback – please tell me what you think of my newsletter and any thoughts you have about what I’m up to.
Oh, are you hungry for salmon? My friend, Clint, is off in Alaska fishing now and has a CSF – Community Supported Fishery! Get in on an amazingly tasty deal, here.
And, if you’re in Portlandia on Thursday night, June 12th – please come by Marino’s Adriatic Cafe @ 4129 SE Division to hear me play with my friend, Natalie Staggs. We’ll start at 8 pm. Save room for dessert!
That’s it from me.
Take care,
Albert
Upcoming Events
Campaigns That Drive Action: Feedback & Surveys and Danielle Ross on How to Attract Great Clients
Thursday, June 26, 2014, from 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM PDT
Join us and learn some great new strategies to help develop your next survey and get the feedback and insights you need from your customers, donors, clients, or supporters. And, Danielle Ross “How to Attract a Never-Ending Stream of Ideal Clients”
Holladay Park Church of God
March 11, 2024 – there really wasn’t an 11 this month, cause I was working hard on this.
December 11, 2023 – End of the year wrap-up
August 11, 2023
During this time I was running for Multnomah County Commissioner – and posted many newsletters which should be linked from albertkaufman.com
November 11, 2022 – Go, Georgia!
October 11, 2022 – Carlton Ward benefit
June 11, 2022 – get rid of your lawn
May 11, 2022 – Happy 61st to me!
February 11, 2022 – Happy Valentine’s!
November 11, 2021 – The 11 on 11.11 – East Coast West Coast Whatcha Gonna Do Tonight?
October 11, 2021 – All Eyes are on Virginia – part of a 3-part series referenced within
September 11, 2021 – A couple of Covid-related positive messages I’ve seen recently. Good compilation
August 11, 2021 – Sharing in the Harvest
July 11, 2021 – Portland and Beyond Please Sign up to Testify or submit testimony regarding South Park Blocks Trees: Zoom City Council Hearing 7.15 @ 2pm
June 11, 2021 – June 2021 – East Coast West Coast!
May 11, 2021 – The Day I turned 60! Happy Birthday to Me!
April 11, 2021 – The Eleven for April 2021 – Steve Goodman Singalong and Spring Membership Drive
March 11, 2021 – Right on time!
Happy Valentine’s Day – whether You’re single or coupled |
January 11, 2021 – Ringing in, Ring in the new year!
December 11, 2020 – then we worked to sweep in 2 new GA Dem Senators!
November 11, 2020 – Biden Wins!
October 11, 2020 – The Voting T****** out of office Issue
September 11, 2020 – hello from Smoke City!
July 11, 2020 – UnFair issue 🙂
May 2020 – happy birthday to me
April 2020 – Happy Earth Day
March 2020 – skipped! Pandemic begins
December 2019 – Review of my cross-country trip by car
November 2019 – Happy Singles Day 2019
September 2019 – Idea: Issues vs. Candidates as a way to be politically involved
August 2019 – Summer Festival and WDS reviews for 2019
May 2019 – Happy Birthday edition
January 11, 2019 – Using Nextdoor.com to create a group of local friends. Banning leaf blowers.
August 11, 2018 – Skipped due to Summer fun
May 11, 2018 (my birthday, yeah!) – I turned 57 this year
March 17, 2018 – St. Patty’s version
February 14, 2018 – Valentine’s Day
December 11, 2017
11.11.17
October 11, 2017
September 11, 2017
July 11, 2017
June 11, 2017
May 11, 2017
April 11, 2017
February 11, 2017
January 11, 2017
December 11, 2016 – Down elevator – Satvic Diet
November 11, 2016
October 11, 2016
September 11, 2016
August 11, 2016
July 11, 2016
May 11, 2016
April 11, 2016
March 11, 2016
February 11, 2016
January 11, 2016
December 11, 2015
November 11, 2015
10.31.15 – half-time show
October 11, 2015
September 11, 2015
August 11, 2015
July 11, 2015
June 11, 2015
May 11, 2015
April 11, 2015
March 11, 2015
February 11, 2015
January 11, 2015
December 11, 2014
November 11, 2014
10.30.2014 – All about the Face (about the voting app)
October 11, 2014
September 11, 2014 – Back from my last Burn
August 11, 2014
July 11, 2014
May 11, 2014
Earth Day 2014
April 11, 2014
March 11, 2014
February 11, 2014
January 11, 2014
December 12, 2013
November 11, 2013
October 11, 2013
September 11, 2013
August 11, 2013
July 11, 2013
June 11, 2013
May 11, 2013
April 11, 2013
March 11, 2013
February 11, 2013
January 11, 2013
December 11, 2012
November 11, 2012
October 11, 2012
September 11, 2012
August 11, 2012
July 11, 2012
June 11, 2012
May 11, 2012
April 11, 2012
March 2012 – 3.11.12 March 2012
February 2012 – 2.11.12 Val Day 2012
January 2012 – 1.11.12 Happy New Year!
December 2011 – 12.11.11 Year in Review
November 2011 – 11.11.11
October 2011 – My friend Amira and approaching 11.11.11
September 2011 – Back from the Burn, 2011 – 9/11/2011
August 2011 – Do something big, NOW!- 8/11/2011
July 2011 – Do something big, NOW! – 7/11/2011
June 2011 – Birthday re-cap, revolutionary articles – 6/11/2011
April 2011 – 4/27/2011 – Life through the Facebook fan page
3/11/2011 – 3/11/2011 – March Forth, March 2011’s 11!
2/11/2011 – 2/11/2011 – Valentine’s 11!
1/11/2011 – 1/11/2011 – Prospero Ano Nuevo!
12/11/2010 – 12/11/2010 – End of 2010 – Happy Hannukah!
11/11/2010 – 11/11/2010 – Kaufman’s 50th
Oct 2010 – Oct 2010 – Register to Vote, Voting Party, Election 2010
Sept 2010 – Sept 2010 – back from the Burn
August 2010 – August 2010 – Variety Pack and Beloved write-up
July 2010 – July 2010
June 2010 – June 2010
May 2010 – May 2010 Birthday Email
April 2010 – April 2010: DC Visit Re-cap
March 2010 – March 2010 – Tulips and Daffodils edition
February 2010 – February 2010 – Smoothie Recipe
December 2009 December 2009 – Archive.org link
November 2009 – November 2009 – Archive.org link
October 2009 – October 2009 – Archive.org link
August 2009 – August 2009 – Archive.org link
Summer 2009 e-letter – Summer from Albertideation – Archive.org link
Happy Earth Day e-letter for April 09 – Happy Earth Day 09 – Archive.org link
The Eleven for March 09, – The Eleven – Archive.org link
The Eleven for January 09, – The Eleven – Archive.org link
The Eleven for December 08, – The Eleven – Archive.org link
The Eleven for November 08, – The Eleven – Archive.org link
is located here – and below 🙂
|
Reviews for Albert Kaufman Top qualities: Great Results, Expert, High Integrity If you're looking for someone to setup and manage your Constant Contact account, Albert's the guy. He's enthusiastic, creative, and plugged in. He works well with clients, listening to what they want and incorporating … [Read More ...]
Copyright © 2024 · albertideation Child Theme on Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in