I had been planning to write an abstracted reply to this (along with a couple other comments in a similar vein) that addressed the issue more comprehensively. But, ended up deciding to note here for now:
”17 people” is within what I meant by “small”. (I think “small” caps out at around 25, depending on how well you know each other). I think I accidentally conveyed a different message than I meant to.
I’m not quite sure what the ideal relationship between Big and Small solstice is (although obviously it varies from group to group). The last couple years, Big Bay Solstice didn’t quite do the thing I wanted, and I held a small private solstice (around 15 people) that was basically my own usual take on the 3 chapter arc.
In years where Big Solstice hit exactly the notes I wanted it to hit, I wouldn’t feel the need for “Small Solstice that is just a smaller-scale replica of Big Solstice”, and I’m not sure if I’d prefer “just kinda chill with my friends having dinner and cookies and a fireplace” or “come up with a different ritual that somehow directly reflects our relationship.”
I think there’s basically N things that are good to have, and whether these work best as two separate events depends on your situation:
A time to gather with your “extended community” (whatever that means – could mean 250 people, could mean 20)
A time to gather with your close friends, or with people highly aligned with you (could mean, like, 3 people, or like 25. I think the 50-person 2012 NYC Solstice sort of straddles the upper boundary here)
A time to have a serious ritual arc
A time to have warm fuzzy togetherness
The important thing to me is that people have an opportunity for each of these.
I had been planning to write an abstracted reply to this (along with a couple other comments in a similar vein) that addressed the issue more comprehensively. But, ended up deciding to note here for now:
”17 people” is within what I meant by “small”. (I think “small” caps out at around 25, depending on how well you know each other). I think I accidentally conveyed a different message than I meant to.
I’m not quite sure what the ideal relationship between Big and Small solstice is (although obviously it varies from group to group). The last couple years, Big Bay Solstice didn’t quite do the thing I wanted, and I held a small private solstice (around 15 people) that was basically my own usual take on the 3 chapter arc.
In years where Big Solstice hit exactly the notes I wanted it to hit, I wouldn’t feel the need for “Small Solstice that is just a smaller-scale replica of Big Solstice”, and I’m not sure if I’d prefer “just kinda chill with my friends having dinner and cookies and a fireplace” or “come up with a different ritual that somehow directly reflects our relationship.”
I think there’s basically N things that are good to have, and whether these work best as two separate events depends on your situation:
A time to gather with your “extended community” (whatever that means – could mean 250 people, could mean 20)
A time to gather with your close friends, or with people highly aligned with you (could mean, like, 3 people, or like 25. I think the 50-person 2012 NYC Solstice sort of straddles the upper boundary here)
A time to have a serious ritual arc
A time to have warm fuzzy togetherness
The important thing to me is that people have an opportunity for each of these.