In Correspondence #38

Feÿtopia, Emptiness and Metamodernism

Dear friends,

Greetings from the wonderful Blivande co-working/events/makerspace in Stockholm. Did you know that each edition of this newsletter takes me up to 2 days to curate and prepare? If you find my writing helpful, I would be very grateful if you’d become a paid subscriber, which aside from the financial element, acts as an important encouragement to me.

What I’ve been up to

• I co-hosted Futurecraft Together near Falmouth, Cornwall (Futurecraft website and dates for our next events coming soon – likely 5-7 July in Devon and 19 Aug - 1 Sep in the Stockholm Archipelago)

• I co-facilitated an off-site for ‘soulful hospitality’ company edyn on AI. You too can hire me as an AI consultant/group facilitator

• I got to experience the wonderful Feÿtopia for the first time and participated in the Planet.Health week

• I attended a Jhourney Jhana retreat (which wasn’t quite my cup of tea, I plan to stick with teachers qualified by Rob Burbea)

• I spent a day in Venice during a family holiday and was reminded of its majesty

• I attended Laura’s PhD graduation ceremony

Emptiness and Metamodernism, 9th May

I’m co-hosting an event on Emptiness and Metamodernism as part of a series of events commemorating the fourth anniversary of the passing of Rob Burbea.

Emptiness and Metamodernism: Exploring the Resonances Between Rob Burbea and Hanzi Freinacht
Hosted by Stephen Reid and Jem Stopes

Thursday 9th May
6pm - 8pm UK
Zoom link

Join us for a group discussion delving into the parallels and contrasts between the teachings of Rob Burbea on emptiness and the emerging philosophy of metamodernism, particularly as articulated by Hanzi Freinacht. We will explore how Rob's approach to deconstructing and reconstructing our perceptions of reality resonates with the metamodern emphasis on holding multiple perspectives and playfully navigating complexity. Whether you are new to Rob's work or Hanzi's ideas, this session will provide an accessible introduction to both, revealing the transformative potential of integrating their insights to develop greater resilience, empathy, and joyful participation in shaping our shared future.

Recommended watching for those new to metamodernism: 8 mins + 14 mins
Recommended listening for those new to Rob's work: 23 mins

More metamodern events

I can also highly recommend these two events run by Daniel and Emil from Metamoderna, one entry-level and one advanced:

• A Dramatic Introduction to Metamodernism and the Philosophy of Hanzi Freinacht, 10-14 June

• The Metamodern Academy: A Masterclass in Metamodernism, 1-26 July

Knowledgegraph

Since last time, I’ve shared 40 items to my knowledgegraph. Some highlights:

• websim.ai: This World Does Not Exist

• Manufacturing Bliss - Rediscovering the Jhanas

• An Introduction to Extitutional Theory

I’m looking forward to listening to Joshua Schrei on Embodied Ethics in The Age of A.I. and reading First Principles and First Values: Forty-Two Propositions on Cosmoerotic Humanism, the Meta-Crisis, and the World to Come.

Plans for the future

• ÖTILLÖ Sprint Utö, 8 June

• ZuBerlin, A two-week immersive residency bridging humanity and technology, 10-14 June

• Midsommar in Gotland

• Buddhafield, 17-21 July

• The Borderland, 22-28 July

• Radical Free-ness: Everything to Lose, Nothing to Fear with Martin Aylward at Gaia House, 10-15 September

• The Pleasure Journey, 19-25 October

Gitcoin GG20

Donations are open for the 20th edition of Gitcoin Grants. I donated to:

• Brave Earth, Château du Feÿ and Traditional Dream Factory in Ma Earth’s Regenerative Land Projects round

• Breadchain Cooperative in the Hackathon Alumni and Token Engineering rounds

Offerings from friends

• Primal Gathering, 14-19 May

• Embodied Psychedelic Journey: 4-week Course with Ciara Sherlock, 14 May - 4 Jun

• Quantum Burlesque, a weekend-long immersive experience in exploring a theatrics of the erotic basis of life, 24-26 May

• Introduction to Conscious Release, 26 May

• Somewhere '24 [Portuguese Burn], 30 May - 5 Jun

• Rave Ritual with Witch Clown, 31 May

• Edge Esmeralda, a month-long gathering for people building the future, 2-30 June

• Shipibo Healing Retreats with Maestras Laura and Lila, Aug 2024

• Soulful Leadership: 3 Month Group Coaching Journey, 23 Sep - 9 Dec

• The Call: Meaning, Purpose and Direction Weekend Men's Retreat, 19-20 Oct

• Awakening the Wild Woman: Autumn Retreat 2024, 24-28 Oct

• The Mythic Body, Nov 2024 - Sep 2025

Until next time, mettā,
Stephen

p.s. here’s that link again to become a paid subscriber 🙏 :