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. We have invited a wide range of queer, AMAB, AFAB people that we love and want everyone to be free to express themselves in all areas of the gathering.

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 the Ancestor Feast. Outside of Libations Night and Witch’s Brew 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, hike and swim and eat delicious free meals! Tue 10/29 - Wed 10/30. Please indicate on the registration form if you plan to come for the work party.