Elevate Spring 2022: A co-created island retreat + work week

About this initiative

Elevate is an initiative to gather committed co-creators, facilitators, dreamers and changemakers to create the next iteration of participatory events.

Our ambition is to create a radically open, brave and inclusive communal space where we all experience a strong sense of belonging and safety, in order to not only grow but shift as individuals. We believe that when we are in a state of full relaxation, connection and presence within ourselves, we open up and make room for ourselves to be both mind- and heart-blown. We make room for ourselves to elevate our way of sense- and meaning-making in the world, which ultimately elevates our own wellbeing as well as that of the world around us.

Inspired by how Burning Man events facilitate individual existential exploration, and how intellectual meta-modern conferences explore how we can better navigate and thrive in the increasingly complex world we live in, we want to explore a format where there’s a balance between the individual and the collective, and a balance between being, thinking and doing. An experience that is not a bubble that you then leave behind, but an experience that integrates into and elevates your everyday life, in order to elevate the world around you.

This event is co-created and participatory which means that all participants are organizers and hosts, as well as caretakers of the island. Only the structure and preparation of the gathering (and not the content) is made by a small core of initiators. This is an experience that we all create for each other. All activities, cooking and cleaning are self-organized. We start with an individual workweek with evening activities, followed by a full-time retreat over the weekend. 

Background

Being in contact with ourselves, each other and with nature

The world is changing rapidly all around us. Conflicts, climate threats, automation, the overwhelming influence of social media, the list can go on and on - and it makes it challenging to find our own way in life. In order to achieve balance and direction, it is increasingly important to be connected to our inner self and to be grounded in the relationship to the self, to others, our communities and to nature. Inner Development Goals is a framework which, through five categories, describes 23 different skills and qualities essential to our own inner development - and down the line in order to reach the Sustainable Development Goals of the United Nations. 

At Elevate our aim is to give special attention and focus to the first category of the framework. It is called'Being - Relationship to Self' , and is described as: 

"Cultivating our inner life and developing and deepening our relationship to our thoughts, feelings and body help us be present, intentional and non-reactive when we face complexity".

Being consists of;

• Presence - Ability to be in the here and now, without judgement and in a state of open-ended presence
• Inner compass - Having a deeply felt sense of responsibility and commitment to values and purposes relating to the good of the whole
• Self awareness - Ability to be in reflective contact with own thoughts, feelings and desires; having a realistic self-image and ability to regulate oneself
• Authenticity & integrity - A commitment and ability to act with sincerity, honesty and integrity
• Openness & learning mindset - Having a basic mindset of curiosity and a willingness to be vulnerable and embrace change and grow

We will use this framework as an inspiration and these skills will all be central to the week we'll share and co-create at Elevate. Our wish is for them to shine through in the activities on the island. It is through these essential skills we develop the relationship to the self. And when we elevate ourselves, we can elevate the world around us  ✨

Expectations

We believe that these requirements need to be shared in order to be able to create the kind of gathering that we want.

Community - “One group”: You share the intention of being part of one big group during the days on the island. It's of course okay and necessary to also take time for yourself.

Co-creation - “We are all hosts”: You acknowledge that you are an organizer as much as you are a participator. You are part of creating the experience for yourself and everybody else. You will cook and clean, but are also encouraged to contribute in your own way.

Participation - “You are not an observer". You have the courage to challenge yourself and be an active participant, in your own way.

Self-reliance - “Only you know your needs": You are responsible to be aware of, honor and either communicate or take care of your own needs.

Responsibility - "Leave a better trace": means not only to clean up after yourself, it’s a mindset of always considering how you can leave things/places/situations/people better than how you found them.

Costs

• Registration fee 1 800 SEK per person to cover basic cost for the facilities (includes bed in a shared room for all the days. Single room option exists for 2900 SEK). This is a highly reduced price, thanks to the Ekskäret Foundation who will sponsor us.
• You will also be part of a team that will cook once, where the team will decide and buy the food as a gift to the group (100-200 SEK per person).
• Transportation (boats, 200-300 SEK per person)

Please indicate in the interest signup if you want to join but don't have the financial ability to cover these cost.