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The Body Tribal

Embracing the Tribal, Back to the Primitive

Friday Aug 1st - Sun Aug 3rd, 2008

Our Perception of Our Bodies and Each Other as Temple and Tool for the Exploration of Spirit in Ritual.


Tattoo, Costume, Image,
Attitude, Paint, Ceremony,
Piercing, Drum and Dance,
Adornment and Ritual.

No one lives forever. While we're here, though, we are possessed of a powerful instrument of expression and exploration. We have meat and bone ­ a machine inherently bound to the mind and spirit to form the self. Through it - this versatile tool, broadcaster, weapon, symbol, toy and temple called Body - we experience the ephemera of soul and thought in ourselves and coax them together into a matrix called Tribe. Enjoy it while you can.

You can't change fate. You can change you. These ideas, primitive and modern, spin and chase one another in our annual celebration of devotion to the malleable real as path to the unreal. In ceremony private and tribal, friends returning and new, come and take part in ever-deeper sacred acts of transformation and experience.
You worry too much. You make yourself sad. Make yourself something better, instead. Be the Body Tribal.

   We propose to host a gathering unlike any other. To explore the boundaries of our relationship with our bodies within a ceremonial context. To pursue the limits of what is known and comfortable, and purposefully to go beyond that limit. To cast a Circle of safety and respect, ...room to fly ...a place to fall. And it is from this place that we can just begin to see,

Standing in the Magic,
Between the Drums and the Darkness,
is The Body Tribal.

Ceremonials and Schedule 2007


Friday, August 3

Afternoon-9:00 PM Arrivals. Please put all potluck donations in the kitchen as directed by Staff.

9:00 PM-12:00 -- Shapeshifters' Ball at Hemlock Hole
The First major ceremonial of the weekend; Dress up for it, or feel free to enter the Hall of Mirrors where costumes are available for sharing. The theme is "Come in costume leave as yourself" - come dressed as a Manifestation of something from within you need to Confront or Transform. If you cannot arrive by 9:00, the Ball runs till midnight, just show up when you are able!

Midnight onward -- Tribal Stomp
Old-timers know it, first-timers love it. The great tribal dance- dance skills truly are not required. Believe us.

Saturday, August 4

11:00 AM-12:30 PM -- Morning Ceremony + Brunch
Potluck brunch at the kitchen. Please bring your white T-Shirt. Come break bread with your tribe, and take time and space to share your "differentness" with others. A time to touch base for the day and get ready for what comes next..

1:00 PM-5:00 PM -- The Altars of Challenge
Challenge yourself and your friends in tribal play. Located in the North Crook field. A way of interacting with our bodies as temple and tool that we have never yet explored at Body Tribal. Individual and group games of cunning, strength, and skill. A space for sparring, wrestling, martial arts demo and practice, team games; An adults game of cougars and joggers; and finally, the most ancient and challenging gladiatorial rite, the game that calls to our deepest tribal memories, a personal challenge for the tribe.. DODGE BALL! If you don't feel you can join the play, cheerleaders are needed, as well. Gatorade and snacks will be shared.

5:00-5:30 PM -- Showers
As a tribe, we have played, becoming sweaty, and dirty. Now we enjoy one of the finest amenities at Four Quarters-The Tower of Power Temple of Shower!

5:30-7:00 PM -- Tribal Potluck Dinner at the Kitchen.
Let us break bread, let us reflect and laugh about what we have done and learned, and as a Tribe let us begin to project ourselves forward as we contemplate the challenge of the night. Volunteers needed to help set up and clean up.

7:00-8:00 PM -- The Pause
A time to rest, reflect, connect, dress.. just be.. The planners respectfully ask that everyone respect the preparations going on in the Hemlock Hole, and that folks not wander through there from now 'til the beginning of ceremony.

9:00 PM -- Main Ceremony in the Hemlock Hole ceremonial area
On Friday night we Came dressed as a Manifestation of something from within us we needed to Confront or Transform. Saturday morning Refined our Communities by being divided into two clans. These two clans have spent the day in friendly combat against each other. Now all will gather to Collect and Construct our Tribal Sanctuary. Experience the spiritual commerce within the tribal body. Participate in transactions that are vital to Interdependence.

11:00 PM - onward -- Drum Circle Four Quarters Home Style, grown fresh on the land, not out of a can. Come get yer ya-yas out.

Sunday, August 5

11:30AM - 11:30 PM -- Potluck Brunch at the Kitchen.
Share your leftovers, share our leftovers, share your thoughts and ideas as we break bread for the last time. Volunteers needed.

1:30 PM -- Closing Ceremony
Our closing ritual. Introspection and Examination of what we learned.

There is no Children's programming for Body Tribal.
There is no meal plan for Body Tribal. Meals will be potluck.

Potluck Info

Bring 2 brunches, and 1 dinner. Each meal should feed 4-6 people. Please bring food
where there is NO prep required, just reheating if necessary (not cooking). Bring food in ready to serve container, foil pan and have it marked with what it is and how long it needs to be reheated for.Please do not bring beverages as that is already covered. *There is going to be so much more happening at the potluck then just eating, so plan to be there.*
If you need to store your items: As you drive in on Friday night drop off your precooked meals at the kitchen for storage. The fridges will be marked Brunch or Dinner.

All meals will be prepared and the cleaned up by the people eating them. So if you want to help out please come up before meal time or plan to stay after to clean up.

REGISTRATION
Thurs-Fri Arrival Members $65
Guests $85, PreReg by July 26th
$95 at the Gate, $75 Sat Arrival.

Things to bring: A white T-Shirt that will get painted; potluck food; costume for the Ball.
Please camp in the North Crook, however do not camp in the center grassy area.

    You are welcome to arrive before Friday and stay later than Sunday.
Early In and Late Out camping is $5 a night for Members.
and $10 a night for non-members.

    We have two hot shower buildings, both equipped with flush toilets; located in our North Crook and High Meadow camping areas.
    Our showers use state of the art "on demand" water heaters and low-flow heads; our toilets are imported super low-flow dual-flush units. Four Quarters is Green!

Register for
The Body Tribal with our OnLine shop

Registration by Credit Card on-line at www.4qf.org
or by calling our offices at 814-784-3075.