[[Image:Milky_Way_from_Wikipedia.jpg|200px|thumb|right|Gazing out into the skies
<br>On the eve of the longest night.
<br>Here we dream with open eyes
<br>On the eve of a holy night.
<br>-- [http://www.ket.org/education/guides/hymnody.pdf Malcolm Dalglish, lyrics to "Psalm of Solstice" from the album ''Hymnody of Earth''] ]]
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== Info ==
Winter is generally a time for reflection, for the incubation of new ideas, and for deepening our inner selves. But the [[SolSeedMovement]] is at a place where we're ready to do more than just discuss and reflect. We have a [[OnePagePlan]] ready, and it's time to get into [[action]].
Join friends and members of [[SolSeed]] for the Longest Night Festival Open Space. Tentative theme: <b>"Who are we becoming? What are we doing next?"</b>
<b>Where:</b> [[Brandon]] and [[Shelley]]'s place, 1824 SE Oak St, Portland OR 97214
<b>When:</b> Dec. 19-21, 2009 (Saturday-Monday)
<b>What:</b> [[OpenSpace]] event followed by a [[Longest Night Festival#Longest Night Festival Party Invitation|Solstice Party]] on Monday night
== Open Space Invitation ==
[[Image:BrandonWithSol2009Rocket.JPG|250px|thumb|left|[[Brandon]] is ready to go!]]
The Winter Solstice is a turning point, and the [[SolSeedMovement]] is at a turning point as well. After a [[Seed2009|hugely]] [[Sol2009|successful]] [[Group Experiences|year]] of bringing people together to talk about big ideas, we're energized and ready to turn toward our ambitious goal of building an [[Intentional Societies|Intentional Society]] aimed toward fulfilling [[TheDestiny]].
But while we have written an [[OnePagePlan|outline]] of what we want to do, the essence of the [[SolSeedMovement]] is collaborative, and we want everyone's input on how we move forward. During the Longest Night Festival Open Space, we hope to have sessions focused around everything from general [[SolSeedPhilosophy|philosophy]] to specific planning and making actual progress on [[SolSeedProjects]].
[[Image:SolSeed1 049.JPG|250px|thumb|right|Our first winter [[Seed2009|SolSeed gathering]]]]
''Example session ideas:''
* How should we present ourselves to the world?
* Design ideas for the [[SolSeedVillage]]
* Planning session for starting a space-related engineering company
* Collaborative writing session for the [[SolSeed book]]
If that all sounds like too much work, remember that the contents of the agenda at an [[OpenSpace]] is up to all of the participants, so feel free to schedule some just-for-fun sessions as well.
If you are planning to attend, please add yourself to the participants list below.
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=== Open Space participants ===
* [[Brandon|Brandon CS Sanders]], Portland OR
* [[Shelley|Shelley Schoepflin Sanders]], Portland OR
* [[Ben|Ben Sibelman]], Bellevue, WA
* [http://artbrock.com Arthur Brock], Denver CO (arriving Sat. evening)
* [[Mickki|Mickki Langston]], Denver CO (arriving Sat. evening)
* [http://keithl.com Keith Lofstrom], Beaverton OR
== Longest Night Festival Party Invitation ==
[[Image:Solstice Lights 2008.jpg|300px|thumb|left|Solstice Lights 2008]]
December 21 marks this year's Winter Solstice, the Longest Night of the year in the Northern Hemisphere. After the Longest Night, each night gets progressively shorter until the Summer Solstice.
<big>Join us for a party and some simple rituals that honor the deep white silence of winter and celebrate the promise of the sun's return. </big>
Kids are welcome. We'll be lighting candles, singing carols, and roasting veggie dogs over an outdoor yule log.
If you'd like alcohol, feel free to bring it. We'll be serving hot cocoa, "unspiked" cider, egg nog, and other traditional holiday fare.
[[Image:Solstice Fire 2008.jpg|300px|thumb|right|Yule log 2008]]
:<b>Where:</b> Shelley and Brandon's house, 1824 SE Oak St, Portland OR 97214
:<b>When:</b> 6 pm to midnight, Monday, December 21, 2009 (come and go as you like)
:<b>Who:</b> All of our friends and families -- the more the merrier -- please pass the invitation along!
:<b>Contribute:</b> Email Shelley if you'd like to help out with food, drink, decorations, ritual planning, etc.
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=== Party participants ===
* [[Brandon|Brandon CS Sanders]], Portland OR
* [[Shelley|Shelley Schoepflin Sanders]], Portland OR
* [[Ben|Ben Sibelman]], Bellevue WA
* [http://artbrock.com Arthur Brock], Denver CO
* [[Mickki|Mickki Langston]], Denver CO