Beyond Othering: Cultivating the Commons of the Heart
A New and Ancient Story (NAAS) Gathering inspired by the work of Charles Eisenstein
October 22 – October 26, 2025
What is beyond “othering?”
inviting, bridging, exploring, listening, forgiving, retrieving, remembering, reuniting…
Many of us feel that whatever it is, it is time to do it in earnest. So let us gather to remember our hearts and to practice ways of being that will bring us closer to a world where war is obsolete, where all children grow up feeling safe and honored for their place in their communities, where all life, from the algae to the stone to the whale is held in reverence. Let us build a coherent culture that is so life-affirming and delightful that all will want to join us.
We will cultivate the commons of the heart through story-telling, calling on the ancestors, embodiment practices, sharing circles, reclaiming ritual, and simply being in the space of emergent possibilities together and seeing what is sparked into being.
CHECK-IN & CHECK-OUT
Check-in at reception: 17:30 – 18:30
Dinner first night: 18:30 – 19:30
First gathering: 20:00 in Upper Barn
Last meal: 13:00 – 14:00
Check-out*: 16:00
*Clean your room before this time. You don’t need to formally check out at the reception.
A New and Ancient Story
This gathering was inspired by previous annual gatherings of people who are part of an online community called A New and Ancient Story (NAAS) co-founded by Charles Eisenstein. The foundation of NAAS is reverence. Themes of previous gatherings have been the space between stories, cultural refugia, mercy, and connecting with the ancestors. The other co-founder of NAAS, Patsy Eisenstein, will be with us to add her magic, sharing mythic stories and giving at least one workshop at the gathering. There is a chance that Charles will also join us, and his attendance is yet to be confirmed. Another NAAS member, Mattias Olsson of Campfire Stories, will be coming to make a film that will include our time together in some way.
Co-created Space for a New, Emerging Story
Our intention as organizers is to make this a co-created space. Our days will flow between daily meetings of our whole group and various workshops, which will include yoga, breath work, meditation, sound journeys, ecstatic dance, song circles, concerts, forest baths, and whatever other offerings bubble up from within our group. Please contact Molly or LeAnn if you would like to offer something!
We will meet at Ängsbacka, tucked away in the forests and lakes of Värmland, Sweden, where autumn is a wonderful time to gather wild mushrooms and curl up next to the fire in the cafe with a hot chocolate…and those of you who resonate with true Nordic spirit can take dips in the local lake and/or finish the day in the beautiful, wood-fired sauna. Ängsbacka was founded in 1996 and is run mostly by a working community of 50-60 volunteers, who will join our group when they aren’t working to support us. The Ängsbacka theme of “Welcome Home to Yourself” says it all; thousands of people from all over the world come every year to discover who and what we are beyond thoughts and concepts, and to remember how to live in harmony with all beings around us.
Children
Although kids are welcome, Ängsbacka has no internal system for child care. We as organizers will assist parents to self-organize something if it is needed, just as was done during the past NAAS gatherings at Omega and in Black Mountain.
Gift Model
All workshops and experiences are offered on a gift basis. There will be an opportunity during and after the gathering to give to the facilitators. We invite you to give whatever amount you feel represents your sense of value and gratitude, and respects your financial situation.
A limited amount of scholarships will be available for this gathering. Please contact Molly or LeAnn if you need this support, or if you would like to contribute extra for this purpose.
Price & Booking
Course fee + food and accommodation from SEK 4850
Accommodation upgrades will influence the price per ticket.