Free. Sponsorships, voluntary donations, and tips are allowed, but tickets, fees, and mandatory donations are not. Selling merchandise, refreshments, etc. is ok.

Open. We understand some Esozones will have limited space, but attendence should not be limited to a certain group people or be “invite only.” Example: If an Esozone: UT Austin were being planned, it could NOT be limited to only UT students. Pre-Registration limits, first come first served entry, etc. are allowed. This does not mean that people can’t be ejected if they cause disruptions.

Unconference. Some pre-scheduled material may be incorporated, but Esozones will follow unconference principals and allow participants to set the agenda. Anyone can post a session.

Read the full document

The Cyclone of Slack has posted links to some media from the event. If you have more they’d love to know about it.

Cyclone of Slack: we want your pictures (videos, audios, whatever)

For the purposes of this working, I have chosen to locate the EZOSONE Astral Temple (EZTRAL) inside of an orb of liquid metal, floating in the molten viscous fluid in the very center of the Earth.

Within this orb, on the horizontal axis, circumscribing the perimiter are four sphinxes, marking the quarters, facing in toward the center of the temple. Above the center of the temple is an octagonal window, thru which the night sky can be seen. In the center of the floor is an octagonal pool of black fluid, upon which we will skry the vision.

Floating above this pool is a seed pod, about the size of a basketball. Its composition is a hybrid of organic and cybernetic materials. This sentient seed could be viewed as a chaosphere, upon/into which we will be focusing our intentions and interpretations of what the ESOZONE phenomenon means, what it will foster, how it will evolve, why it exists.

The first Esozone could be iconographically described as a key, which unlocked the gateway to a more practical and interpersonally direct understanding of our modern version of the esoteric community, which until then largely existed in the virtual realms. The second, a pyramid, which allowed us to climb to meet the sky, bringing us to the understanding that the stars of this EZ phenomenon are none other than ourselves.

This year, the meaning is as much a mystery as the previous two, but the intent has evolved into a free assembly of modern esoterics connected on the virtual and organic levels, a hope for the phenomenon to spread to other locales, an uncertainty of what kind of information will be presented, by whom, and for what purposes. It is up to us, ours for the making and taking, right here and now, free of charge, open to all.

Therefore, charge this cyber-ganic EZTRAL seed with your unique intentions for the future of this far-reaching community of free individuals, and contemplate in the pool below on the manifested information which the group’s effort transmits back to you. At the ritual’s peak, we will lift the seed to the sky, and focus our intent upon it with an intensity which will heighten to the point that it explodes, sending forth genetic copies of itself outward to the far reaches of this planet, in the hopes that these seeds will find fertility, and manifest in future ESOZONE festivals in other places, linking back to our efforts here at “Headquarters,” and blossom into a cornucopia of previously unseen communal fruit.

And have a happy harvest season, while you’re at it.

And feel free to project yourself forward or backwards in time if 3pm on Saturday doesn’t work for you.

Better late than never! EsoZone t-shirts are now available. I just got a sample one, and Bob does it look sharp!

Artwork by the incomparable Ian McEwan.

After EsoZone Portland 2009, we will release the “EsoZone Protocol,” a set of guidelines similar to an open source software license that will enable organizers to host an EsoZone in their own city as long as they are free and follow the “unconference” model.

Download it here

If you want to submit a talk to Ignite EsoZone, you totally blew the deadline, buddy. But we’ll be nice and continue considering proposals until October 4th also, just ’cause.

Guidelines for Ignite EsoZone here.

After EsoZone, enjoy the Cyclone of Slack!

Featuring:

REV. IVAN STANG!
DR. HOWLAND OWL!
PRINCESS WEI R. DOE!
REV. DR. ONAN CANOBITE!
THE DUKE OF UKE!
REV. CRAWFORD!

With the Musical Stylings of:

POWER CIRCUS!
NEQUAQUAM VACUUM!
CULT OF ZIR!

And:

an utter lack of NENSLO!

More Info

Guidelines:

Gallery setup time will be from Friday 10/9/09 between 12pm and 6pm. Additional art can be added over the course of the event, but space will be used on a first come, first served basis.

Be courteous with your space usage – don’t try to monopolize the space, and ask your fellow artists before moving their work. Be open to moving your work to improve the overall presentation.

Our biggest concern is fire proofing. Please contact us if you are unsure if your artwork poses a fire hazard. Do not block exits.

Neither EsoZone or Watershed PDX is responsible for lost or damaged art works.

For questions about fire proofing, logistics for installation art, or other concerns please contact Jillian Schadenfreude at jillian @ esozone.com

What is Ignite?

If you had five minutes on stage what would you say? What if you only got 20 slides and they rotated automatically after 15 seconds? Around the world geeks have been putting together Ignite nights to show their answers.

Ignite was started in Seattle in 2006 by Brady Forrest and Bre Pettis. Since then 100s of 5 minute talks have been given across the world. There are thriving Ignite communities in Seattle, Portland, Paris, and NYC.

We’re pleased to announce that EsoZone will be hosting a one hour Ignite during EsoZone on Saturday afternoon, October 10th.

Of course, there’s a twist.

Instead of 20 slides, at EsoZone Ignite speakers will use 5 props. The time will still be exactly 5 minutes. Speakers must incorporate all 5 props, and must speak for exactly 5 minutes.

Want to do it? Send a proposal to klint @ renegadefuturist dot com. Up to 10 talks will be selected by a panel. The deadline is September 15th, 2009.

Be sure to check out the next Ignite Portland this Thursday if you’re in town to see how the whole thing works, or check the Ignite web site for a schedule of Ignites in other cities.

You might also want to check out the BIL Speaker Guidelines for some general ideas for how to give a good talk.

(Please note that there is no relation between Ignite EsoZone Portland and Ignite Portland)

Announcing…

EsoZone 2009: Power

October 9-11, 2009
Portland, OR

Logistics Director: Vin Al Ken
Stage Director: Nolon Ashley
Operations Director: Johnny Brainwash

Watch this space for more infos.

Also, Esozone is in this month’s High Times! But you have to buy the mag if you want to see.