what is attractive with Ting gatherings, and what is it about?

See also my other blog about Ting and the Icelandic gathering on

http://gunnarhansen.diinoweb.com/blog/

The most intersting is the people and how they relate in a heart-felt way. There are so beautiful people coming to ting gatherings and always fresh faces, because its not the same people coming every year. There is no fixed program but any way there is always a bit similar day rute, the food circles, talking circles and seminars. Sauna is always a must every night. Very often its the finish people who are most active in making the sauna ready. But me too... I was also one of the early birds so I was cleaning and making altars in 2 places. On the floor in a hmm... with stones and all cinds of things we found in the forrest... like a pine tree or a Jóla-tree. There have been more than 50 gatherings in the last 30 years... First only ones a year. Then they started to have midwinter gatherings also. Now we have even mini-tings in between summer and winter. Yes to Ting gatherings come such beautiful souls. Lot of good vibrations. Hearts talk there more than left brain. When I came for the first time 5 or 6 years ago, I had known about ting since 1998 or so. But for some reason or the other I didn't want to go until 5 years later (yes i was so busy in my "own" life and sinking dysfunctional relationships) Yes what is so special? It was really magical. I felt everybody was there for a mystical reason, a holy destiny. Each gathering is unic Jól stile... Jóla tree and some stones and things from the Forest. Everything is done voluntarily "jobs", what they like to do... in a funny mood, cooking and cleaning and whatever is needed. Firewood. Helping and shearing. Having fun. Songs are everywhere. In the kitchen there is most often a band playing. Also in the main circle. In the summer its always outside and the kitchen is most often open fire places. In winter its inside. And therefore its more dense. In general everybody is doing what they like. And there is no one giving orders. Its more like suggestions people put out... This is the optimal situation for learning. And people share whatever they have of knowledge. Food twice a day and after eating always a shearing circle. People sit in a circle and there is a staff, a pin, or a feather going around. The one holding the feather speaks. The others listen. The most precious of these circles is the so-called heart-shearing-circle. This kind of circle is often late at night and can go on almost to infinity or until morning at times, when there is a lot to share. Heart-shearing is about feelings exclusively. Here and now, whats in the heart. Can be very strong experience to see and hear hearts talk or sing or cry. Then there are vision circles. About what we vision coming... Plans. Can be about a community or next gathering place etc. Well... like I said, there is no hierarchy and no real rules... just do with others what you want them to be for you and leave the place as it was or cleaner perhaps or more beautiful. Any other matter that comes up you can always go to the circle and ask the others. But yea I felt at home. You see, when I come to these places where there is a hierarchy and everything is fixed bye someone, then I feel a little suffocating. Also on ting there are no fixed prices. There is a magic hat going around after each food circle collecting money with a song for the food and other costs. But in this open space. All kinds of natural gurus "appear". It feels like everybody has something to shear. So in the end there are all kinds of seminars going on. Even a 8 year old boy made a seminar about making a knife up in north of Norway some years ago. But also really good yoga teachers and contact improvisation teachers are there all the time. This is way I say Ting gathering is an optimal place to learn about so many different subjects. This is how the schools should be. I would say we don't need schools. We need ting gatherings for everybody all over the planet. Local ones like Ting and global like the Rainbow. And sometimes there are so many seminars going on we too few people are there to cook. But there are always many master cooks also. Lot of real special dishes.