Sober Soul-utions's topics - tribe.net

Cork in the bottle.

Mza — Wed, 07 May 2008 07:23:59 GMT

Hello,
Going to Lightning in a Bottle and was wondering if would find a sober community in the forest.
-If not, I'd like to start a meeting that weekend.

Love
Alanna

posted in Sober Soul-utions - 1 reply

Different meaning of "sober"

btd — Sun, 23 Mar 2008 08:45:55 GMT

It seems a common use of "sober" means "you used to be addicted but got over it". Sometimes there is an added meaning of "if I'm tempted too much, I might go back to over -indulging".

I've never been any of that, I've just never wanted to drink (at all), nor do drugs, so I've consider myself sober, or is there a different word I should be using?

posted in Sober Soul-utions - 1 reply

Anonymous Village Location in BRC

Shadrock — Wed, 01 Aug 2007 15:01:51 GMT

We will be located at Estuary and 6:00 with plenty of room for anyone wanting a clean and sober place to camp. For more info join our mailing list.
Burning Desires mailing list
burning-desires@p90.net
http://lists.p90.net/listinfo.cgi/burning-desires-p90.net
KR,
Shadrock

posted in Sober Soul-utions - 0 replies

ISO Camp Anonymous or Hokey Pokey contact

lucindamichele — Wed, 30 May 2007 20:16:12 GMT

Hello kids. I'm trying to find a current contact for one of the sober camps at this year's TTITD*.

Anyone know anyone? I've looked all over the BMan pages and the interweb and all links & email addys are dead or two years old.

thanky!

* That Thing In The Desert

posted in Sober Soul-utions - 1 reply

Sober Camps on the Playa

anhareus — Fri, 29 Jun 2007 02:34:57 GMT

If you are looking for recovery based camps there are
camp stella (lgbt and lgbt friendly folks) campstella.org/ , campstella.tribe.net /
stella is part of avalon village, has AA meetings at 3pm and will be having an open sober chill space every night from 9-1pm-weds-saturday. some member are not in AA but choose to burn clean.

hokey pokey camp :
Hokey Pokey Camp Re-Fried Beings
Dance the Hokey Pokey Daily at 12 noon, Friends Of Bill W. Meeting Daily at 5:00. Tuesday night Movie night 8:00 PM -My Name is Bill W. Friday Noon break the Playa Hokey Pokey Record. Friday night Sister Iganacio Sober Dance Night and potluck. This is a clean and sober camp, everyone welcome.
Hometown: Calexico, CA
Contact: marvo03 (at) hughes (dot) net

Anonymous Village
Anonymous Village is a community of recovering alcoholics, drug addicts and other addiction affected souls. We celebrate our recovery and growth with gusto and welcome all to the safety and joy of regularly scheduled and spontanious meetings.
Hometown: Graham, WA
Contact: locotom (at) drizzle (dot) com
anonymous village lets anyone move thier tent there if they need a safe sober space to camp during the burn.

the majority of folks at burning man who are sober for the week aren't with sober camps.

besides these camps there are loads of sober recovery and sober by choice folks on the playa. burning sober isn't a contridiction. loads of burners choose to burn clean at least one year. some camp are more into drinking (bar ones) while others just aren't as into it. besides which drinking and the heat don't mix, probably one of the reason people switch to other things or abstain.

if it is your first sober burn you might want to try camping with a sober friend or sober camp. all the sober camps are open and friendly and you can always just drop by to get know people.

posted in Sober Soul-utions - 0 replies

Howdy: introduction

lucindamichele — Sun, 27 May 2007 02:54:08 GMT

Hi there.

My name is Michele (I go by my middle name) and I'm new to this tribe, but I'm so thrilled to have discovered it. It's like a breath of fresh air.

Just wanted to wave Hi & introduce myself--and thank you for being here.

posted in Sober Soul-utions - 2 replies

L.A. Foodies

JanetTheGreat — Sat, 12 May 2007 18:52:38 GMT

Well here is another SOBER SOUL-UTION!

On another site, years ago, I found a group that was called Sydney Foodies. As I travel to Sydney often, I decided to post and join them for a night out at a great little restaurant. I met some friends that I have to this day.

Why can't a similar sort of group be formed here in this large city of Los Angeles on tribe? The idea is to have periodic gatherings of those who enjoy meeting one another to experience and enjoy food, eating at chosen restaurants.

Never pressure to post nor to attend any of the meet-ups. I hope that it can be a place where either you have a great restaurant that you want to try or share with others *in real life*, or if you read a time and place that appeals to you, you simply post and attend. The idea of trying out new restaurants, centered around the act of sharing a meal with one another appeals to me.

Do you think it can work in a city much larger and so different than Sydney?
Here are links to the two tribes created late last night, which are
L.A. FOODIES http://tribes.tribe.net/lafoodies, and
L.A. FOODIES: Vegetarian(-Friendly) http://tribes.tribe.net/lafoodiesvegetarian

posted in Sober Soul-utions - 0 replies

Introductions and Such

anhareus — Fri, 06 Apr 2007 18:25:27 GMT

Hey Ya'll... I am being somewhat mentored inasmuch as moderating a tribe is concerned. I will follow his example since it seems to be such a good idea.

I think it would be cool if we all introduce ourselves to one another, Making this tribe a little more personal than some of the others. Hopefully, many of us will come to know each other and to build lasting and meaningful friendships.

posted in Sober Soul-utions - 15 replies

Last night's inaugural burn

moosewoman — Sun, 15 Apr 2007 20:02:44 GMT

So it seems appropriate to tell the story of last night's first gathering.
Feel free to add, correct, or comment on bits of the story as you see fit....

Our Fearless Leaders reported considerable difficulties in launching; so I was the first one at the beach at around 7PM. I pulled in--and the parking lots were F-U-L-L. So were the fire rings. Oh--and it was extremely windy down there, the worst I've seen it thus far. And of course, Tribe was down, so Adam couldn't even cancel the event.

After communications with F.L. (that would be Adam) it was decided that I was delegated to scrounge around and beg for space at someone else's ring. Now, I had stuffed an entire Christmas tree into the back of my car, just for fun. So I figured I had a bargaining chip. I passed by several rings, describing my firewood as well as the particular charms of our gang. Who could resist a free fire spinning show? I thought.

"No thanks."
"No, we'll pass."
Shot down again and again. I'm not a good salesperson, especially when I feel like I'm invading others' boundaries (or asking to do so).
Then the last people I asked came running to find me and they said, "We're sorry. You could stay with us after all."
Hurrah!!
It wasn't sober; they were enjoying their beer quite a bit. But at least we were on!

It was a group of about ten young-ish folks who were speaking both in Spanish and English. Luckily, this posed no language barrier for me. I told them about the fire spinners. I noted that they had a generator--!! which was wonderful since ours had apparently fried itself. They were enthusiastic about the DJ, the fire spinning and the extra firewood, since they apparently didn't have enough. I entertained them with my hula hoops for a while.

Finally, backup arrived. Our little party zone began to take shape.
And you know what?
This turned into a rockin' party!!
We even had folks wandering over from another nearby ring. I taught three women how to hoop. It definitely had the feel of they'll be drifting over into our community real soon. (They looked wistful when I mentioned Burning Man, too.) There was a big dance zone in front of the DJ area. The fire spinners were excellent as usual even despite the high winds. Fortunately, the ring we were sharing was right next to a lifeguard tower, which afforded some wind shelter.

The Christmas tree burned brightly, sending out showers of sparks. Lulie showed up with her darling little girl, Bella (aptly named; it means Beautiful, at least in Spanish). Bella wasn't afraid to hula hoop even despite the cold, until she smacked herself on the lip with the hoop, after which sad pouty face indicated it was bed time. Sooooo cute!

Suggestions for next time:
* We need to designate a reliable crew to go down to the beach early and hold the fire ring! As summer approaches this task will become more desirable. Heck, maybe we could just start the party earlier, kind of a dinner-barbeque gathering before the fire show.
* Everyone who is intending to show up, should provide us with their phone number. That way if we get hung up in any way, for example have to cancel or else move the event to anoher fire ring than what was posted--we can call and let you know.
* If anyone has a wind/shade shelter we might consider bringing that.
* As an addtion (not instead of the beach burns) we should consider doing a sober house party with DJ. I volunteer my house. Good points: Huge yard, great party house. Bad points: it's in Long Beach (for some reason people think that's too far, but they'll go to the Valley or downtown). Also the fire spinning would have to occur in the street in front since I hae mulch, dried wood chips as ground cover.

Anything else, guys?
I will be posting the photos I took sometime today or this evening. So stay tuned.

posted in Sober Soul-utions - 18 replies

This is the essence... a template for things to come : )

anhareus — Fri, 20 Apr 2007 18:31:30 GMT

new post
Re: what is it about Burning Man...Yesterday, 11:57 PM
From my experience, the most amazing manifestation of 'magic' is a series of events and situations stacked one right after the other like dominos. Their meanings co-mingle and mix when the fickle finger of fate tips the dominos so that all of those situations, moments, events, and experiences come together in ones life in such a way that one is moved beyond words. Connections are made, the mind is overloaded with joy and wonder, and the spirit lifts. Some call it "The divine coinsidence". It can be an intensely personal event shared by ones being and the event happening, or between a group of two or more immersed within what is happening. The 'relative' and the 'absolute' become two arrows meeting in mid-air-- witnessed by you; being you.

An example of the above paragraph happened when I was at the 2004 BRC temple complex. I had visited Japan and was well versed in Heian period art and achitecture. To walk up to the structures painted red in such a stark place tweeked my "coinsidence/mind factor". I had always fantasized about encountering such a place...and here it was. My buddy Dave and I had made collage mandalas of our lives and had prepared to leave them at the temple. We found our selves placing them on the main alter as if there was a space 'reserved just for us'. Dave had a relative who was in bad health so we made offerings on the alter for their healing. As we laid the offerings, a wind came up soft and quick upon our backs. We turned and couldn't speak. Meanings upon meanings flashed before our minds. Our hearts openned wide; tears fell in rivulets on our dusty cheeks. We both knew his relative would be well. But there was something more.. words could not capture it, nor any phrase describe it. We felt raw and exposed; vulnerable and clear. So many past situations had sort of prodded us to this place- to do this thing- at this time.....now it was over. We hugged, swigged a drought of water, and went back to our bikes to cycle home for a good long nap.
I know that Burning man affects people in countless ways, both subtle and gross, but we all seem to come away changed by it. I hope that everyone gets the privelage to find themselves within a ''Divine coinsidence'', and enjoys the rich sumptuous feeling that comes with being ''at the center of it all''. Best Wishes--Randy

posted in Sober Soul-utions - 0 replies

Sober Burn Beginnings... Wow!

anhareus — Mon, 16 Apr 2007 08:57:48 GMT

You should never meditate with a cell phone in your hip pocket. It was 3:00 Saturday afternoon. We were to hold our first sober event later that evening. After much discussion within the community careful planning the day had come to put into action what had only been discussed via posts on Tribe dot net and various emails.

The cell phone buzzed in my left pocket. I’d received a text message. I held my breath and pressed “view.”

“Probs, generator not firing up. Been trying for 30 mins.”

It was Troi with the first of many bad tidings. My mind was still... my breathing even. I took in the news without reacting. Be a part of the solution, don’t dwell on the problem. I repeated this to myself two or three times and picked up the phone.

“Hey, what’s up?” I instigated the conversation casually non-reactive.
“Hey Bro..?--My genie is in fifteen parts in the driveway.” Troi sighed, I let him continue “last night I got an earplug stuck in my ear. I went to the doctor today and he couldn’t even get the thing out. He says that he can’t see it and doesn’t want to pull on it because it may be stuck to my eardrum.”
“What? Damn, that’s not good, did he offer any ideas on how to get it out?”
“Well no, but I am going to have it looked at again after the weekend, and now my generator is busted. I opened it up and there’s sand all over inside. Maybe something shorted out..? I don’t know, everything is frickin fallin apart today. What do you want to do?” My friend sounded miserable and understandably so, I commiserated.
“Pray on it. I will do the same. Put the thing back together, try and blow it out the best you can and I will keep my fingers crossed that the thing fires up.” I offered.
“What do you think I have been doing? I will call you back in fifteen.” The line went silent as the generator.
I tucked my legs underneath me and rested my palms on my lap then began chanting. “Nam myoho renge kyo... nam myoho renge kyo... (visualizing a little red generator coughing then purring mechanically) nam myoho renge kyo...
The phone buzzed again, it was Samantha. Samantha had been tasked with “pit-sitting” to ensure that we had a spot to hold our event at.
“Ummm--hey, I can’t make it down to the beach today. My car won’t start, I think it is the alternator. I am sorry.”
My recently calmed mind shuddered, expectations were crashing about like Soviet test pilots. “It’s okay, I can find someone else.” I offered an olive branch, knowing that it was too late and that there was no way we could secure the pit we needed. Instructions to the northernmost pit at Dockweiler had been posted all over the net, we were expecting a sizable crowd. Things were looking down.
I began the chanting nam-myohos again, this time adding the visual of an open fire ring to the animated generator visualization. This I continued for some time, the sun began its’ downward slide into tomorrow.
The phone rang again, it was Andrea. I almost didn’t pick up.
“Hello..?” I held the phone an inch or two away from my ear as if it might lash out and bite me.
“Heyyyyy...” voice chipper and optimistically friendly as always, “where are you guys? I am here at the guard shack.”
I looked at my watch, it was already 7:00, somehow I had chanted myself to sleep; wierd! I should’ve left for the beach at 6:00. I felt a surge of panic at the rapidly developing fluster-cluck this evening had become then choked it down. Recognizing the thought process in motion then silently reminding myself that there was a pony somewhere in the this pile of poop.
“See if there are any pits open when you get down ther--”
“Daaaaaaaamn! This place is packed! I have never see this many people here before.” She interupted, I groaned inwardly.
‘The solution... the solution...’ another call coming in. “Andrea, I will call you right back.” I clicked over.
“Dude, the generator is not working. I tried everything; my ear is killing me. You call it bro.” Troi’s voice sounded like inclement weather.
“Can you aux into your boombox with your laptop?” I asked, rapidly lowering my expectations; praying for a drum circle to materialize out of thin air.
“Yeah, I can.” Solution.
“Great, I will get batteries and we’ll just have to make do.” I made the mental adjustment. It wouldn’t be great but it would do. “Okay, load up I will see you in thirty minutes, people are showing up already we have to show up too.” I switched back to Andrea.
“Andrea, hey..?--Sorry about that. Everything is falling apart. Can you do me a favor?” I didn’t wait for a reply. “Try and see if you can convince someone to let us join them. Tell them that we have a deejay and firespinners, see what you can do and call me back.” She agreed, G-d bless her heart then hung up to be about it, no questions asked. What a soldier!
I began packing, then fired up Internet Explorer to post the latest developments on Tribe. Great! Tribe was down, the only thing I could get was something about a donut. Donut freak out? What the hell? The phone rang again, I ignored it and took a much needed moment to swim around in the murky waters of disappointment and misery.
I held my head in my hands and bemoaned the stillbirth of the first sober event. People were showing up, everything that could have possibly gone wrong had gleefully done so. I straightened my back and meditated, surrendering to the moment and trusting in the Divine Mother to reveal more. Insight!
The phone rang again. I answered.
“Hello?”
It was Andrea again. “I walked over and asked everyone and nobody is willing to open their pits to a burner freakshow. I tried, sorr--” Someone called to her as she spoke. “wait, a second...” I could here a clipped conversation taking place. She returned to the line, “You’ll never guess what just happened. This group of kids offered us their pit, and check this out; they have a generator!” The words tumbled from her excitedly.
“No effing way! I can’t believe it... actually--I can believe it. Thank those guys for me and tell them that we will be there in fifty minutes. I have to make some calls.” I clicked off and called Troi.
“Hey. Brother you will never guess what just happened. Andrea is down at the site right now, not only has she scored us a pit, brought a Christmas tree to light on fire, but she found us a generator to use.” I spat the words out.
“No freakin way! I am two blocks from home, I’m turning around to get my speakers. I hope there genie has enough power to run my system.”
“Troi, I am pretty sure that these events are sanctioned by a Higher Power. Everything is going to work out fine. See you in thirty minutes.” I mashed the red phone icon on my cell and smiled.
An hour later we arrived with the system, firewood and another lesson into the intricate nature of the universe and humbled by our place in it. Little discussion was necessary to sort everything out, this sublime confluence of events has happened too many times for us to be in any sort of doubt. The Universe is always providing all that is required of us is to have an open heart.
We set up the audio system in a flash adding to the crazy vibrations emanating out into the Pacific ocean. Troi Ge spun fat beats that sped out across the waters like and invisible tsunami with a bad sense of direction. People, good people, materialized out of the utalitarian grid to the East. A group of souls formed a tight knot and began to dance with one mind, liminal shuffling. Dozens of feet stomped the sand into strange patterns. The night washed over us all, returning our smiles with a blanket of healing energy.
Soon our vibe spread like gossip in a small town, people from surrounding firepits came in twos and threes. I closed my eyes and listened with deep satisfaction to such questions as, “What’s Burning Man? How can I learn to spin one of those torch thingees? What is Tribe?”
I opened my eyes, people were dancing, a circle of neophyte hoopers were giving it their all with Andrea in the middle giving freely of what she’s been given, Chains spinning his staff in rapidly arcing circles thumbing his nose at gravity and common sense, Brigid practicing double staff moves with a small group of young kids watching her throw down, Troi bobbing his head and be-ing his digital wizardry, Albert chilling with a little hottie on his arm; hanging on his every word.
Everyboy who was meant to be there showed. There are no coincidences, this much I am certain of.

P.S.
First of all, let me apologize that this event, as planned, did not survive its’ first encounter with reality. I would especially like to make amends to Luli and Bella, the scene was a little rowdy and there was innebriated people about and even though the vibe was what it was; the environment in my opinion was not one suitable for families. I will try harder and use this as a learning experience to bring the event more in line with our original intentions.
Also, if you showed up and couldn’t find us I am truly sorry. I placed a sign at the northernmost pit on a lightpole at the end of the parking lot. The position of the sign was not a good one but it was the best I could do. I tried hanging a sign at the southernmost pit but within the last week the trash net/fence had been removed and there was nowhere to hang the sign.
I look forward to the next event. Please contribute freely with your ideas as to how we can pull this off to everyone’s satisfaction. Thank you sooooooo much to all of those who helped put this together, you know who you are. I hug all of you very much.

Namaste

posted in Sober Soul-utions - 2 replies

This tribe's photo

btd — Sun, 15 Apr 2007 09:14:48 GMT

Can we have the photo set.
Also... maybe people can upload good photos too?

posted in Sober Soul-utions - 0 replies

Hiking in L.A.-area

JanetTheGreat — Fri, 06 Apr 2007 02:05:06 GMT

If interested, just check out this tribe: http://tribes.tribe.net/hikehikehike
So many great things to do in L.A. with a natural buzz!

posted in Sober Soul-utions - 2 replies