Where the Wild Queers Are
A Queer Spiritual Samhain Gathering at Shimmerback Ranch, California
During this California Samhain, shadows stretch their long fingers, the first rains sink into the earth, stirring the wild forest from its summer sleep. Bonfires blaze, feeding the soil with the ash of transformation, blazing forth like lighthouses to guide us through the dark. The crescent moon sailing over our heads like a silver ship, carrying us through the thinning veil to where the Wild Queers are.
Put on your furs, ears and tails and reclaim your wild nature, roar your terrible roars, gnash your terrible teeth, and show your terrible claws. Let us remember we were never made to be domesticated. Let us transform fire into altars, shadows into our dance floors, and our bodies into beasts. Let us crown each other Stag Kweens of the Wild Queers and lose ourselves in the ecstatic untamed night.
An Old Tradition, New Again
Samhain (pronounced SOW-in) is an ancient festival marking the end of the harvest and the beginning of winter. It is a liminal time when the veil between the worlds of the living and the dead grows thin. It is a celebration of transformation, a recognition that life springs from death and returns to it again. It is a moment to honor our ancestors and all those who have crossed into the spirit world.
In our circle, we call forth the queer ancestors: those who lived, loved, resisted, and created before us. We will tell and listen to their stories of defiance and resilience, of how they survived the harshest winters of the soul, how they resisted and refused to vanish, how they made themselves visible in a world that sought to erase them. We honor not only the legendary acts of rebellion, but also the everyday resistances, the quiet, humble ways they created space for one another, carved out joy, and kept the spark alive.
This is a celebration of light and shadow, life and death, desire and magic. It is a place where the wild forest meets the wild heart, where we drum and dance, tell stories, sit in stillness, and weave ritual.
“And now,” cried the Wild Queers, “Let The Wild Rumpus Start!”
What to Expect This Year
The Wild Queers have been busy weaving a gathering of sensual magic, spirited play, and deep connection. Highlights:
Psychic Fair Cocktail Hour — Sip a bewitching potion, open yourself to the mysteries, and receive a divination.
Mask Making Workshop — Through paint, papier-mâché, and imagination, shape a mask that gives form to your inner spirit and untamed self.
The Dark Harvest — An erotic shadow space within the big bell tent, where desire stirs as the lights begin to fade, and in the darkness, bodies find what can only be discovered by touch.
Fire Orgy — So much fucking fire, tended by our master Fire Daddy, creating a temple of heat, light, and primal energy.
Ancestor Feast — Bring photos of your beloved dead and set a place at the table for our ancestors. Call their names. Listen to thier stories from the past and sing songs for the future.
DJ Fur Trap & DJ Stefan Ways — Sonic shamans to guide our bodies into wild, unrestrained movement.
Wild Hunt & Costume Contest — Unleash your wild animal self, and the fiercest among us will be crowned Stag Kween.
Heart Circle — Sometimes the fiercest revolution is speaking from your heart.
There will also be cuddles in the hookah lounge and Bell tent, soaking in the wood-fired hot tub, stargazing on the Moon Raft, and whatever magic you bring to share.
The Spirit of the Gathering
We are a gathering of a beautiful constellation of queer energies. We are people across the spectrum of gender, sexuality, and experiences (LGBTQIA2S+ beloved friends and chosen family.) This space is for us, to shine in our fullness together. To celebrate our queerness openly, and to express ourselves freely in every corner of the gathering.
Samhain is a time for both wild celebration and deep reverence. Our gatherings are co-creations — there is no audience. Participation is not just welcome, it is essential. From tending fires to sharing a song, from leading a ritual to washing dishes, this gathering becomes what we make it together.
Rituals, solemn or playful, create the container that allows us to be fully ourselves. Consent, respect, and communication are the foundation of this magic, whether in the cuddle pile, the dance floor, or the Dark Harvest lair.
DJ Stefan Ways will be spinning at the bonfire Saturday night after the Ancestor Feast. A regular in SF, Portland and Denver, Stefan’s sure to get the dance floor hot and sweaty.
DJ Furtrap of Studio 5’4” (SF) will spin a fun funky set Friday night after the Wild Hunt Costume Ball. Fur trap mixes the perfect blend of house, disco, dance and electronica and his sets have sparkled across dance floors in Brooklyn, Manhattan, Seattle, Boston, Philly, Mexico City, Sicily, Coachella Valley, and of course San Francisco. (Furtrap’s Soundcloud)
Gatherings are a balancing act of fun and frivolity with spirituality and intention. If you’ve never been to Shimmerback before—and even more especially if you HAVE—please read these important principles and guidelines:
1. Intention
Why are you coming to Samhain? What is calling you and what do you hope to learn or receive? How will you be present with and mindful of others at the gathering? Who do you hope to connect with? Setting a clear intention will ground your experience and help you get the most out of the gathering.
2. Participation
Gatherings are co-creations. There is no audience! Participation is not just expected, it’s essential. From dishwashing to fire tending, everything happens because YOU and people just like you make it happen. See a glass lying around? Pick it up! Hot tub’s cold? Light the fire! Have a talent? Show it off! (Yes lewks count.) Know something quirky? Lead a workshop! What will your offering be?
3. Ritual
Gatherings are sacred energetic containers that enable us to let down our walls and give us ultimate freedom to safely explore and connect with the truest versions of ourselves and each other. Ritual helps build and protect this container, and creates a structure and rhythm for the gathering. Ritual takes many forms, from opening and closing circles to drumming and dancing around the fire. Ritual is optional but highly encouraged. It may sound scary but it’s usually pretty fun! (And most faeries approach ritual with healthy irreverence.) If you’d like to help with ritual planning, reach out to Ritual Qween Araila.
4. Consent & Boundaries
Unfettered freedom is fabulous as long as we respect each other’s need for physical and energetic safety. This encompasses many things, including consent related to sex and intimacy, and consent to be around drugs and alcohol. Wherever you find yourself please read the room and use your words to communicate with others who may be impacted by your behavior.
5. Substances
We support substance exploration, provided it's done responsibly, based on knowledge and experience of what works best for you, and in a way that facilitates a positive connection to the community. In consideration of the many ways we hold ourselves in relation to alcohol and other substances, please honor these boundaries:
Libations Night will be Saturday night starting with dinner. Outside of Libations Night and the welcome cocktail hour, we request that open use of alcohol and other substances be kept to tents or the barn & parking lot.
Persephone’s Lair, aka the Party Barn, will be the go-to spot for imbibing and recreating. Downstairs there will be ice storage and room for coolers (due to space limitations personal alcohol will not be stored in the Carport/Kitchen). Upstairs will be a lavish love lounge catering to your every naughty impulse.
Prohibited substances: Please do not bring meth, cocaine or GHB. Because of the historical and current harm these substances have caused our community and due to our remote location and distance from emergency services we ask that you refrain from bringing these substances. We do have Narcan and Dance Safe testing supplies on hand.
6. Sound
We love a good dance party and recognize amplified music as an important ritual element. As such we welcome the use of amplified music brought with care and intention. After 1AM amplified music will be kept to the barn or yurt and at a volume that’s not disruptive in the camping areas. We also ask folks to be mindful of fellow campers when socializing after hours. There will be designated festive and quiet camping areas.
What are the facilities like?
Shimmerback Ranch is 150 acres of quintessential California woodlands along a gorgeous year-round creek. You’ll be spending most of your time outside under the canopy of trees and stars. Accommodations are camping only; no indoor sleeping spaces available. We have a full kitchen, potable water, hot showers, and a flush toilet. There's a fantastic swimming hole, a wood-fired hot tub, and heated spaces for chilling and cuddling. Wifi is available and cell signal is decent depending on your provider. We're grid-connected and there are plugs to charge devices. Carpooling encouraged or use our ride board; AWD recommended but not required. No pets allowed during gatherings.
What to bring:
Camping gear (tent, sleeping bag/pad, bedding/pillow, headlamp)
Extra layers and rain gear
Toiletries & towel (for showers, hot tub and creek)
Sunscreen & bug spray
Water bottle
Snacks and drinks (cans are preferable to glass bottles)
Drums and musical instruments
Lewks/drag/wigs and extra drag for the drag closet
Offerings for the Ancestor Altar and Samhain fire
Most importantly, an open heart and mind <3
Cost:
This gathering is run by volunteers. The suggested contribution for the gathering is $200-250 per person, sliding scale, meals included. Your contributions go back into the community and allow us to step up the quality and reliability of food; buy necessary kitchen, decoration, and art supplies; and defray costs such as propane and porta potties. This range has been selected to cover costs associated with running the gathering while allowing for people to join regardless of economic status. If this gathering calls to your spirit we really want you to attend! As with all our events, please Give As You're Able But Always Give Something (GAYABAGS). Limited scholarships are available to make this event accessible for everyone; for more info please reach out.
Help needed! The gathering committee can always use more hands to manifest the gathering. Ritual queens, land fluffers, vibe tenders, we need you! If you feel called to help please email blimblam@shimmerbackranch.org
Work party! Come early, help prepare the land for Samhain, hang with friends and eat delicious free meals! Tue 10/21 - Wed 10/22. Please indicate on the registration form if you plan to come for the work party.