Elevate: A co-created island retreat + work week

About this initiative

Elevate is an initiative to gather committed co-creators, facilitators, dreamers and changemakers in Stockholm to create the next iteration of participatory events.

Our ambition is to create a radically open, brave and inclusive communal space where we all experience a strong sense of belonging and psychological safety, in order to not only grow but shift as individuals. Because we believe that when we are in a state of full relaxation, connection and presence within ourselves, we open up and make room for ourselves to be both mind- and heart-blown. We make room for ourselves to shift and elevate our way of sense- and meaning-making in the world, which ultimately elevates our own wellbeing as well as the world around us.

This event is co-created and participatory which means that all participants are organizers and hosts (as well as caretakers of the island), and only the structure and preparation of the gathering (and not the content) is made by a small core of initiators. This is an experience that we all create for each other. All activities, cooking and cleaning are self-organized. We start with an individual workweek with evening activities, followed by a full-time retreat over the weekend. 

This is an experimental event initiated by the self-organized community K9 Co-living together with Ekskäret Foundation with the aim to unite purpose-driven communities and people in Stockholm on the beautiful island of Ekskäret.

Background

Inspired by how Burning man events facilitate individual existential exploration, and how intellectual meta-modern conferences explore how we can better navigate and thrive in the increasingly complex world we live in. We want to explore a format where there’s a balance between the individual and the collective, and a balance between being, thinking and doing. An experience that is not a bubble that you then leave behind, but an experience that integrates into and elevates your everyday life, in order to elevate the world around you.

About the event

Co-created: there’s a core initiator team that sets a framing and structure for organization and content, but the execution and content itself is completely co-created based on initiatives from participants. We will have teams where everyone will cook and clean (you will sign up to shifts in both), and an open program for you to add the activity that you want to host or co-host.

Activities: To structure and navigate in the activities we follow the "who-what" compass, where each activity is labeled either "I" or "WE", together with either "THINK", "Do", or "BE" (you will label your activity this way). There will be a program structure with fixed time slots for activities and meals. E.g. a morning meditation might be a "I - BE", while a think tank session would be a "WE - THINK", a music jam session a "WE - DO", etc.

Cost

• Registration fee 1 800 SEK per person to cover basic cost for the facilities (includes bed in a shared room for all the days (we acknowledge the covid19 situation and will take precautions like not mixing people from different communities). Single room option exists for 2900 SEK)
• You will also be part of a team that will cook once, where the team will decide and buy the food as a gift to the group (100-200 SEK per person).
• Transportation (Boats, 200-300 SEK per person)

Please indicate in the interest signup if you want to join but don't have the financial ability to cover these cost.

Expectations

We believe that these requirements need to be shared in order to be able to create the kind of gathering that we want.

Community - “One group”: You share the intention of being part of one big group during the days on the island. It's of course okay and necessary to also take time for yourself.

Co-creation - “We are all hosts”: You acknowledge that you are an organizer as much as you are a participator. You are part of creating the experience for yourself and everybody else. You will cook and clean, but are also encouraged to contribute in your own way.

Participation - “You are not an observer". You have the courage to challenge yourself and be an active participant, in your own way.

Self-reliance - “Only you know your needs": You are responsible to be aware of, honor and either communicate or take care of your own needs.

Responsibility - "Leave a better trace": means not only to clean up after yourself, it’s a mindset of always considering how you can leave things/places/situations/people better than how you found them.