The Gathering
For four years, I've had the honour of hosting The Gathering, a vibrant convergence inspired by the Medici effect. This concept brings together people from diverse backgrounds and disciplines to co-create something entirely new. We've gathered in stunning locations like Queenstown, Muriwai, and Aro Hā, each adding its own unique flavour to the experience.
At the heart of The Gathering is embodiment. We always start the retreat with a sauna and ice bath, a ritual that strips away status and ego, fostering vulnerability and openness. This shared experience creates a foundation of trust, allowing true creativity and innovation to emerge.
Day one focuses on embodiment practices like a cacao ceremony, yoga, and breathwork, helping participants connect deeply with their bodies and spirit. This sets the stage for day two's "unconference," a dynamic lineup of sessions ranging from sustainability to AI, astrology to systemic change. These sessions, led by the diverse minds of our guests, offer fresh perspectives and challenge biases, enriching the collective experience. It’s a tru co-creation.
Throughout the day, we intersperse these cerebral sessions with grounding activities like dance, music, and human connection workshops, ensuring participants remain present and engaged, constantly coming back to the body. The final day features a wrap up and our "group therapy" session, a powerful culmination that equips everyone with practical tools to tackle their biggest challenges, leveraging the collective intelligence of the group.
The Gathering is a testament to radical authenticity and psychological safety. It's a space where you can simply be, connect, and co-create. This is a yearly highlight and we’ll continue to explore this journey, bringing more beautiful souls into this ever-expanding community.
““The Gathering is a ritual of special humans coming together to share in the magic of being human and being a collective. It is lovingly and beautifully curated to enable people to set aside their protectors and barriers and be truely open with one another. Open with our ideas, with our emotions and with our spirits. I emerge enriched and nourished, ready to go forth in the world as the best version of me.””
