Is full discloser really that important?

wow- i'm glad that despite past experiences, eye continue to hold space for the amazing-ness of this tribal family. you are all so gr8, and eye am blessed to commune with you all here in open truth and loving intentions.

Will- thanks again for the post and especially the words you use- inviting and inquisitive- something eye shall embrace more often.

anywho- though the thread started off with a focus of budget disclosure, another focus has surfaced- joint custody. and... i first wish to say that this is fairly exciting for me, since (what eye saw as the assistant event manager) these are the two main points of contention. and here we have arrived at a very simple deduction of the obstacles at hand:
1) the budget/ disclosure- to best help, and
2) controlling/ releasing/ real-eyes-ing the vision.

i relate strongly to what many have said about the difficulty in turning over a project you have created/ even carried so far- yes, it can be hard. eye know from personal experience (as director/ producer of my own events). eye kept thinking how eye could retain this or that, though it became clear to me as i saw that those who joined must have felt a kinship to the event, i realized two things: 1) if i wanted it done "my way"- i would probably have to do it myself (no help- no community), and 2) the family that joined the project were offering more than their time, they had ideas- parts of themselves that they wanted to contribute of their own initiative... was i going to pass that over- i was about to miss the real heart of the whole event (the space-in-between)- being in that collaborative, connected, trusting, and creative space with other incredible love lights who also care immensely about this project- ie. the future of humanity and other life on this planet, and the very likely possibility of ending up with a vision that is more incredible and complete than eye originally imagined- what about that reflection of letting go? why is the perception that it is scary- what about the perception that letting others in will blow the top off your wildest dreams of what the event could be and achieve.

so, eye think one breakthrough present already is ariving at a very open and direct forum on the dillemma. eye wish to add here a reflection- for us all:

who's baby/ vision is it? to be complete- i not only wish to point out that many of us SHARE this vision- (in deed those are the people who first show up) but, also to consider where all of these things come from. where did the vision come from before it got to each of us or Eli- obviously it is not subject to ownership, since it has come to us all. additionally, dreamtime, the festival, was begun by Eli. It was a couple years into the project when Jen joined on- eventually Eli allowed her and all her ideas on board (along with her power house executive self-(Jen has an awesome presence in the professional/ business world). Now, that was probably difficult for Eli then, and now there are lots of people who also wish to contribute- ideas as well as their hard work. Yet, the ironic thing is that Jen protects the "vision" of dreamtime with tenacious ownership (though she is an add-on herself).

I hope that in the reflections of the dreamtime development, we can all see the possibility of what Dreamtime is ushering in for us so strongly-

a NEW Consciousness- (without possessiveness)- full of opennes and joy of love's truth: knowing we're eternally blessed; by the faith that we are... and to experience complete liberation through the faith of our blissful and abundant inheritance.

i have faith in our transformation- time is a funny thing. while the timing of this expansion is what it is- the sooner, the better for all life on this planet. that's plenty for now- you are all beautiful and divine. blessings-

sat chit ananda,

Tasi

Happy to see this discussion opening up.

My opinion is this:
Eli and Jen in their minds and hearts have believed in this vision as a service to all and given their full dedication to its continuation. They have endeaverd to do a lot with a little. However, like in the parent metaphore, they have developed a deep connection, investment and feelings of ownership over physical form of the Dreamtime project.

The vision, which obviously belongs to the Source from which it has come, is shared by all who feel it. Anyone is free to work toward its manifestation in form, start an event, organization, gather or celebrate it. There are those all over the world who are working for this vision for thousands of years, and the more that continue to do so, the better in my opinion.

It is the physical form of a great vision that we are calling "Dreamtime" , and it is about the creation and continuation of this form that we can debate. We may also debate about the Vision itself, but it seems that naming the un-nameable, generally leads to religious warfare. :)

It took much soul searching and clarity within myself to surrender my own sense of ownership of Dreamtime in form. (I had the honor of witnessing its birth and caring for it in its early years.) Through this surrendering process I have also let go of much of the responsibility that I previously held in the organization.

I am inspired to one day maintain steady earthly responsibility and also fully surrender ownership, but that is a great task indeed, one attained by only a handful of beings in the world. The path of service has many names: surrender, service, Karma Yoga, charity, non-profit organizations etc--- when our intent is to engage in the world for the benifit of others. Obviously there are different degrees and levels of achievement along this path, from Mother Theresa onward. The great sages have said that it is our degree of self-surender that gives us the strength to do great service.

So, let us first appreciate the effort and work of all who have given service to this vision. Also recognize that it is in our nature to develop attachment to the things we work so hard to create. Those who carry the most responsibility and work the hardest also end up carrying the added burden of attachments to their creation. Intense involvement, both physical and emotional, and the subsequent physical and emotional burnout result.

So...How can those of us carrying less responsibility and less attachment serve those that are more deeply invested? We can not rip this baby from the arms of the parents that are currently carrying it, no more than you would a physical child...well maybe,... but only if its parents are clearly engaged in abuse or neglect. There are a few voices in the community that seem to be worried that there is some abuse or neglect happening to this child. ... And it is within the rights of a concerned citizen to inquire over the heath and well being of anothers children, especially when those "parents" have allready invited and involved others in the upbringing of their "child".

I however think really what is happening is suffering from strong attachment, burn-out, learning through mistakes, and encountering the not-so-gentle force of transformation that is invited when we offer service to a vision greater than ourselves.

To Jen and Eli I say, "Thank you, excellent work, your actions are recognized and appreciated. When you are rested, please share your current vision, intentions and inspirations with the community here. Who are you now? What are you thinking about? "

To everyone else I say "Bravo, it wouldn't have happend without you! If you have experienced hurt from your involvement in Dreamtime, do not take it out on the organizers. Everyone is learning here, if necessary express your hurts, but point no fingers, what you learn by joyful or painful experience is useful to help this project continue. Yes there have been mistakes that resulted in pain, but surely this has never been the intention of Dreamtime, it is just the growning pains of learning to work together in our humanness. If we can forgive and accept others and ourselves, then we are living the very dream that we are talking about."

hari om tat sat,
Aaron

"i wanna know what hippie is supposed to mean."

Brother-Rain,
there are a few angles to this iron... first, out of curiosity eye looked up the term hippie, and most sources were close to these two definitions:

1. someone who rejects the established culture; advocates extreme liberalism in politics and lifestyle.

2. Hippie or Hippy refers to a subgroup of the 1960s and early 1970s counterculture that found its earliest beginnings in the United States, becoming an established social group by 1965 before declining during the mid-1970s. ...

now, obviously (as with many words) the connotation of the word is a good bit different than the denotation. often times people think of terms and words in imagery and experiences. indeed, the only understanding of a term or word is an example or context until you have an experience of your own that defines the word. in short- most people's understanding of a hippie is from their experience of a hippie, which is the same process for one's definition of any sub-culture, ethnicity, gender, profession, stereo-type, etc... and, as we all know, there is an infinite amount of possible experiences with a "hippie" as with any person.

at the same time, we should also acknowledge that sub-culture's are a sub-set of a populous that is often defined by it's behavior and tendencies, as in the first definition. however, to cut to the chase, there are positive associations and experiences with "hippies" and negative ones, the concern would have to be with the negative ones; which we're all familiar with: lazy, ungrateful, potheads- or something like that... and- sure, i'm a hippie, (and i'm a male, and i'm a taoist, and i'm pet-lover, and i'm a romantic, and i'm a shaman, and i'm a buddhist, and i'm a guitarist, and i'm a liberal, and i'm a poet, and i'm tasi, and i'm none of them at all), though eye have even had some of those negative experiences (things stolen, taking and with nothing in return, spreading foot stink on to furniture or pillows from refusal to bathe)-... and eye have had similar and other "negative" experiences with other sub-groups... equally, i have had experiences of incredible faith, love, devotion, sacrifice, hard work, tears, and support from other "hippies" as well. in double short,- like with any sub-group, it is what we choose to focus on that not only becomes our "reality" and repeated experience, but also the obstacle and very thing we must love in order to absolve.

rain- eye wasn't sure what use of hippie you were referring to, though i knew that eye had used it earlier, so eye thought eye would reply to this one. overall, the intention of my comment referring to "hippie" is this-

at this point in time, it is my understanding that the "general" demographic that attends (many fitting into the sterotype of "hippie") Dreamtime, is NOT the demographic that Jen and Eli wish to have attend Dreamtime. I am completely open to being wrong, and wish that it be clear utlitmately, for the knowing, and... I also see nothing wrong with this- whatever the demographic Jen and Eli and Dreamtime wishes to market to, I support that fully, (every demographic needs it) ... AND i think that this is something to be clear about in your self (as directors) and with your staff and attendees. gotta go-

love and gratitude,
Tasi