In Correspondence #43
In Correspondence #43
Portugal, Pleasure and Playground
Welcome to the latest edition of In Correspondence, after a 2-month hiatus mainly due to my attention being on the courses I was teaching. I’m writing from Carvoeiro in Portugal where I’m doing an SSI Advanced Adventurer scuba diving course, and I’m still buzzing from playing with an octopus earlier 🐙
What I’ve been up to
Laura and I completed Elaine Yonge’s Pleasure Journey, and then got handfasted for the second time at the mystical sea cave at Sagres Fortress
Course things:
Thanks to further generous donations (with particular thanks to Matthew Monahan), I’ve raised the $20k I was seeking for the Technological Metamodernism book project! I’m happy to accept further sponsors of the project, crediting you/your organisation in the final text – get in touch by reply if you’re interested.
The notes and recordings from my 4-week Practical AI course (rated 4.8/5) are now available for £99. Use the code SUBSTACK for a 10% discount
Stockholm things:
I finished the ÖTILLÖ Sprint Final 15K swimrun in 2h09m
I’ve now hosted two events in the monthly Futurecraft Film Club series (Kiss the Ground and Symbiotic Earth). Next up is The Art of Life and two other short films on Wed 6 Nov at Blivande in Stockholm
I continued to explore the nature around Stockholm - my favourite discovery since last time is Björnö
I’ve been spending some time at the new Emerge Lakefront residency project in Stockholm and I expect it to be awesome
I completed the Swedish Memrise (2719 phrases) and am now working on SwedishPod101’s Intermediate (B1-B2) course 🇸🇪
Plans for the future
Returning to Sweden via Barcelona to catch Alex whilst she’s in Europe
Elevate 2024: Hibernate at Ekskäret in the Stockholm Archipelago
A weekend with Diane Musho Hamilton in Stockholm
Christmas and New Year in the UK including a celebration of Dandelion selling 100,000 tickets
Soulmaking Dharma retreat with Catherine McGee and Juha Penttilä in Finland, Mar 2025
Upcoming Futurecraft residencies (save the dates, more details shortly):
Futurecraft at Feÿtopia, France, 17-23 Feb 2025
Futurecraft in Cornwall, UK, 9-16 May 2025
It’s also The Psychedelic Society’s 10th birthday celebration at &Soul in London on Sat 30th Nov – if I was in the UK at the time I would definitely be there 🌈
Books I read
UNUM: AI — God or Servant? by Fredrik Forss
Co-Intelligence: Living and Working with AI by Ethan Mollick
The Mountain in the Sea by Ray Nayler
Playground by Richard Powers (probably my favourite of the three fiction books here)
I’m now reading Right Story, Wrong Story by Tyson Yunkaporta.
Upcoming picks on Dandelion
Did you know… I’m the lead developer of Dandelion, which has now been used to sell almost 100,000 tickets worth ~£3.5m. You’re welcome to start listing your events there too!
The 6 Hidden Patterns of History: A Sneak Peak and an Overwhelming Cascade of Facts and Fictions with Emil Ejner Friis, online, Sat 2nd Nov 2024
Unearthing Soul: Rites and Rituals of Nature Connection and Soul Revelation with Carolin Goethel and Jenny O’Hare, online, Wed 6th Nov 2024
Contact Improvisation - A Relational Journey with David Basak, Totnes, Sat 9th Nov 2024
Open Q&A with Michael Levin with Amir Giles, online, Mon 18th Nov 2024
The Way Of The Witch: Embodying The Witch Archetype with Boe Huntress, London, Thu 21st Nov 2024
Questpass - A solo adventure in nature followed by a fireside feast with Amelia Parisian, UK, Sat 23rd Nov 2024
Inhabit Your Voice: A Singing Workshop For Womxn with Anna Ling, London, Sat 23rd Nov 2024
Speed Friending: Ladies Night with Gaia Harvey Jackson and Maya Bahoshy, London, Wed 27th Nov 2024
Winter Warmer Contact Improvisation Festival, UK, Thu 28th Nov 2024
The Psychedelic Society 10th Anniversary Celebration, London, Sat 30th Nov 2024
Winter Solstice Portal Retreat with Laura Reeves and Joshua Swords, UK, Fri 13th Dec 2024
The Body Knows A Six Week Immersion: The Gift of Somatic Resource with Dani Tonks, online, Tue 14th Jan 2025
Nicole also launched her new site for her Authentic Relating & Somatic Experiencing practice.
And finally…
May all beings be well 🕉️
Stephen