GeoParadise New Years Gathering in Costa Rica

Nestled in the tropical heights of Costa Rica, with the sun rising on the new year we knew that this was the start of something amazing. The music was transcendental, perfectly allying the moment. Everyone was dancing, pulsating rhythmically to the beat. Without a doubt we had found the perfect place to party for new year. We were not alone, everyone was smiling, confident that their decision to travel so far to find paradise was the right one.

The journey here was incredible with artists, movers and groovers we met along the way helping to make this event happen. We arrived in the States in January with a vague idea that we would like to put on a an event in Costa Rica. The transition from that moment to this has been staggering. The more people we met, the more ideas we shared, the more the event matured. In July we started the drive down, Noa, me, our one year old child Ocean, a ten meter long RV with trailer, our sound system, lights and the rest of our gear. The journey was a great adventure, traveling through Mexico, Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras , Nicaragua and eventually Costa Rica. The event was literally organized during that journey, we arranged contact points along the way with people from those countries, who were to become our work colleagues.

On arrival in Sinai we had a meeting with the whole village, collectively we organized things on site. It is important that the locals we work with are empowered from the start and have the authority to influence the events and decisions we make. The main event  licenses were held by the school and agricultural associations, with the restaurants being held by another local Betty, our super hard working crew cook and the bars being held by a local licensee from Venecia. We employed building, security and driving crews from the village, with other villagers vending during the event.

Around twenty volunteers from around the world came together to build the site, spending a month with the villagers, gathering the materials we needed from the forest and building the structures.
All the stages, art gallery, bar, restaurant, market stalls, showers and toilets were built from bamboo, softwood, vines and leaves harvested from within a mile. Carey Thompson and Dalabil made a beautiful bamboo gate at the entrance to the main site. Our heavy transport was an Ox cart with lighter things towed by horse or bought on foot.

The gathering started on Thursday with yoga in Geohaven followed by two days of workshops and lectures ranging from sound healing to anthropology. The atmosphere was tribal, with the global psychedelic community coming together from over thirty countries around the world with a common goal, to have a great time in paradise.

Bathing in the crystal clear waters of the spring, collecting blue clay to line the fire, smearing it over themselves benefiting from its healing properties, hanging hammocks in the shade of the forest and taking walks through the jungle to the waterfalls. The energy was building.

As the sun set on Friday everyone came together at the dance stage for the shamanic ceremony that preceded the music. Mathew Kocel sat cross legged on the floor throat singing, while Mauricio a shaman from Colombia chanted incantations. We were transfixed as the ceremony moved on. The smell of incense hung heavily in the air. All knew that this event was going to be special. The hairs were literally prickled up on the back of my neck. Carlos Sarmiento’s haunting landscape photos were projected behind these great masters as they plaid their trade. Time had stopped, we were moving through a different dimension, everything balanced in perfect harmony. Before we knew it the ceremony was over and the music had begun, with Willy Electronarcosis leading the way to five days of tribal dancing and healing, of ourselves and mother nature.

There were moments of brilliance from all the performers. Our thanks go out to all of you. Jogo Element left me sweating and completely out of breath, Manipulation’s new years set rocked. Philthy’s chill out set hung over the entire village. Bowie Van Ling you’re a true master of the decks. Ali we were privileged to have you along. Tua played a great set, deep and moving, definitely one of the highlights. PsyNomads you guys are truly a blessing. You all worked so hard and played so well, we look forward to working with you again many, many times. Throughout the event Geohaven continued to inform and entrance us, thank you Howard for all your work and congratulations on your marriage I was so privileged to be present.

On Sunday afternoon everyone, festival goers and villagers alike, enjoyed a free meal and drink before settling down for the main forum. Speakers from Geohaven came together to talk with us about the effects of the gathering and the future of GeoParadise. We presented Roberto the president of the school with three much needed computers. This is the first time the school has had computers, they will go a long way to helping the children of the village assimilate with the modern world.

Almost before we knew it, it was the last night and Entheogenic was starting his four hour set. Everyone dancing, living, alive the atmosphere was beyond magic. Truly this was it, the symbiosis of music, art, life and tribes of the world.

Monday and everyone went down to Playa Tortuga a beautiful sandy beach, shielded on one side by majestic cliffs while the other led off a few miles to a fresh water lagoon inhabited by crocodiles.

This was the setting for our two day free after party. Food, drinks  and coconuts were provided with everyone mucking in, setting up the space, cooking and building camp fires. PsyNomads rocked the place along with Jogo Element, Tua and several others. A special thanks goes out to Gianfranco you played really well.

When the festivities were over we were all left with a sense of purpose that collectively we really can make a difference. This is our world and ours to take care of and enjoy. We want to thank the volunteers for their time and dedicated work, the musicians, speakers and artists for their creativity and all who attended for taking the adventurous decision to come to an unknown event in the heart of Central America.

GeoParadise Gathering was more than a festival, it was also a meeting point of brilliant minds and souls with the intent to build and create great projects together, specifically addressing the hosting village of Sinai. Out of that intention, some beautiful fruits have ripened during months following the event: Carlos Sarmiento and Silvia Fantou have successfully organized a fundraising effort to buy Kendall, Betty's disabled grandson, a wheel chair which was really needed (Congratulations guys, you are awesome!! You can follow the story here ) Jason Grey and others are putting together self-organized Proactive Travel programs to carry on with different on-going projects in Sinai and Casey Potetz and her crew from Connecticut are organizing a fundraiser event to support the lovely village which deeply touched all our hearts.

There are many ideas on the table: build a water system, rebuild rainforest corridors as fauna's migratory routes, computer workshops with school kids, rebuild the old school to be a guest house, build chimneys in some houses to improve indoor air quality, biointensive communal gardens, etc. From here, we want to call anyone who wants get involved and cooperate in the projects. Please, join  GeoTribe and find the group Proactive Travel and start co-creating solutions with other fellows... Last New Year we planted a seed in Sinai during the Gathering and together we will make it flourish!

Sinai,  would like us to organize more events there. We are looking at the logistics of holding a larger event there and will decide around April/May.

2011 promises to be a great year, with the help of our new friends we surely will make a difference in this world. Aligning the psychedelic tribes with the indigenous tribes of Central America is our goal, already we are booking artists, looking for the perfect venue and speaking with indigenous tribal elders. We will keep you all informed of our progress.

Tim Raper Geocrew.

Matt Gurreri (USA)
“Just want to send out a huge thank you to Geoparadise and the crew. Cant begin to express in words my experience with you all. Thank you for everything. looking forward to doing more events with you guys. Much love and light, Namaste.”

Josh Nexus Golas (USA)
“Thank you for the beyond words incredible experience. Something I will never ever forget. I will be more than willing to help with anything in the future. Much love to everyone involved“.

Ruslan Andreyev (Russia)
“Thank you much for such a beautiful experience of the celebration of New Years Eve in Costa-Rica!!!”

Gianfranco Parini Murillo (Costa Rica)
“Thanks for the amazing festival....thank you very much for everything, for sharing such good energy with our group,
I thank you from the heart and look forward to another great festival!!”
so much luv and light.....PURA VIDA!

Michael Julian Berz (Austria)
“Catching up with last year and the energy the mixture of people - beings -things - creations and transformations. gratitude to all involved and the kindness and openness of the villagers of Sinai. all is good.”

Matthew Kocel (Canada)
“Thank you for inviting me to this precious gathering of souls. It was an honour to be with you!”

Erik Fernández (Costa Rica)
“It was fun to watch the locals dancing along with the rest of foreigners to rhythms and sounds completely unrelated to the traditional and regional music to which they were accustomed. One of them told me they were very happy that the event had provided work and income which would come in very handy to begin the new year and that they deeply appreciated the cooperative attitude and respect for the nature of the visitors.”