THE ORDER OF THE AMETHYST HEART
A LIVE ACTION ROLE PLAY OF A CULT'S JOURNEY TOWARDS TRANSCENDENCE
A farm 1.5 hours away from Portland, Oregon
Two Runs: July 24-27 or July 31 - Aug 1, 2025
Application deadline: January 31, 2025
It is the twilight of the world as we knew it. Memory is no longer trustworthy. Stories slip through the cracks of the mind, fracturing the coherence of who we once were. It is said that the wars of the End Times are waged not with steel, but with attention. Yet, in this dissolution, a spark remains. A chosen few—those who still hum with the song-story of consciousness—have gathered to form the Order of the Amethyst Heart, bound by resonance and the worship of the Inner Ultraviolet. You are among us now. Whether by fate, faith, or sheer desperation, you have chosen this path. We believe the world’s unraveling is not its end but its transformation. We can stitch the fabric of being back together—perhaps into something even better than before. But resonance is fragile. The Weird Unwinding tears at the edges of reality, and even within the Order, doubts and discord grow. It is said that only those in true harmony will survive the coming dissolution. The work ahead will demand clarity of purpose. There is no escape from the unraveling. There is no return to what was. There is only the path forward, through unity and surrender. Will you answer the call?
The Order of the Amethyst Heart is a 4-day immersive experience modeled off of Nordic LARPs. You will play a member of the order in a near-future as society grows closer to the end-times. The chapter you are part of is located on a small farm 1.5 hours from Portland, Oregon. You will be given a rough outline of a character to play, and will be encouraged to fill in important details.
CULT?
Here’s our take on cult. There is some better way to live life than your current state of existence. The path towards this “better life” involves practices that are questionable – i.e. these practices go against your current belief frameworks and can be psychologically and physically challenging, edgy or upsetting. Some people have walked this path, and so therefore know which practices and beliefs will ultimately lead towards this better life. And some people have not yet walked this path, and so will have to trustingly follow others. What makes a cult more culty (and less like meditation, yoga, or religious orders) is how aberrant the practices are (i.e. how much they go against the central moral and epistemological beliefs of normative culture) and how disparate the power dynamics are.
WHY PLAY CULT?
In our modern, western secular culture there is a lack of communal belonging that can hold both a devotional practice to the divine, and a wild, expressive transformative process of authentic embodied experience. So many of us are enchanted by the ideal of living with friends in the country. So many of us are enchanted by the ideals of radical community – an antidote to our radical western individualism. So many of us are begging for a deep immersion into the sacred, the natural, the divine – an antidote for our scientific secularism. And so many of us are needful of wild, authentic expression – an antidote for the stale, prescribed formalities of our culture. We want to create an experiential container (safe-enough space) to provide people access to these desires, not only as a means of giving our souls something that we desperately need, but primarily as a means of exploring and playing with vital existential questions. What is it to lose all sense of self? What is it to give up our psyches into the collective? To share in a wider set of bodies, beliefs, images? To disown our individual egos and to become part of something larger? Each other, nature, the divine? What fissures, fractures and frictions arise on this journey? How can we be with them, and how will they impact this process? What happens to us as we follow others towards behavior that has positive intentions, but whose means are edgy, challenging or dark? What happens to us as we lead others towards these places?
WHO IS THIS EVENT INTENDED FOR?
You do not need to have any experience with LARPing or role play.
Our event is intended for participants who:
-Want to play with what it is like to be in a cult.
-Want to play with transcendent practices and wild, authentic expression
-Want to play with giving up individuality, ego and self
-Want to play with radical followership and leadership
-Want to play with some of the edges listed below
-Are able to follow rules
-Are in a place in their lives where they have extensive emotional support and resources (in case they are needed for aftercare)
-Are not currently experiencing unmanaged or acute mental health conditions, and feel confident that they have the emotional stability and resources to fully engage with the intensity of the event.
-Are comfortable knowing their boundaries, and feel confident expressing a “no” even when within dynamic and intense relational contexts, and/or who consent to potential emotional fallout that occurs with the possibility of over-extending their boundaries and consent
-Are comfortable giving and receiving non-sexual, physical touch and intimacy with strangers. For example: cuddling, eye gazing, etc.
Our event is intended for participants who:
-Want to play with what it is like to be in a cult.
-Want to play with transcendent practices and wild, authentic expression
-Want to play with giving up individuality, ego and self
-Want to play with radical followership and leadership
-Want to play with some of the edges listed below
-Are able to follow rules
-Are in a place in their lives where they have extensive emotional support and resources (in case they are needed for aftercare)
-Are not currently experiencing unmanaged or acute mental health conditions, and feel confident that they have the emotional stability and resources to fully engage with the intensity of the event.
-Are comfortable knowing their boundaries, and feel confident expressing a “no” even when within dynamic and intense relational contexts, and/or who consent to potential emotional fallout that occurs with the possibility of over-extending their boundaries and consent
-Are comfortable giving and receiving non-sexual, physical touch and intimacy with strangers. For example: cuddling, eye gazing, etc.
EDGES THAT WE MAY PLAY WITH
Going beyond the point where play seems emotionally dangerous and risky. Leading or following behavior that seems ethically questionable. Rejection. Emotional abuse. Anger. Manipulation. Ambiguity of consent. Gaslighting. Public shaming. Out of body experiences. Transcending ego and a sense of self. Physically and emotionally demanding rituals.
*Please note that we are playing with these edges in the spirit Jungian shadow work such that we may explore the less known parts of self. “Everything that irritates or disturbs us in others can lead us to a better understanding of ourselves.” (Jung) This is how we find our blindspots before they find us. As our world grows increasingly extreme, we too must intensify our personal boundaries that we may hold space in impossible times. We will approach these edges with consent, and we will give participants an opportunity to share what kind of edges they are interested in playing with (out of game) and then have different amounts and types of edge-play for participants (in game) depending on their choices.
*Please note that we are playing with these edges in the spirit Jungian shadow work such that we may explore the less known parts of self. “Everything that irritates or disturbs us in others can lead us to a better understanding of ourselves.” (Jung) This is how we find our blindspots before they find us. As our world grows increasingly extreme, we too must intensify our personal boundaries that we may hold space in impossible times. We will approach these edges with consent, and we will give participants an opportunity to share what kind of edges they are interested in playing with (out of game) and then have different amounts and types of edge-play for participants (in game) depending on their choices.
EDGES THAT WE WILL NOT PLAY WITH
We will not play with sexual abuse or violent physical harm. We will also not discriminate against others based on off-larp (out-of-character) attributes (including: age, physical appearance, sex and/or gender identities including transgender status, race, disability, neurodiversity, nationality, religion, parental status/choices, class or social status, sexuality or relationship choices)
HOW WE WILL NAVIGATE SAFETY
The application process is meant to vet participants that are able to adhere to the list of above. The weekend will begin with workshopping out-of-character where we go over safety rules and practice their compliance. Once the LARP begins we will institute a safe-word policy that indicates a participant needs to step out-of-character and is making a request for another player to also step out to navigate some dynamic out-of-character. Additionally, we will have a house that will be a dedicate safe-zone for being out-of-character.
Please note that we do not anticipate that we will create a perfectly “safe” environment. We hope to create a “safe enough” environment through a moderate degree of planning, structuring, leadership and vetting to mitigate risks. Edges will be explored, boundaries may be crossed, and emotional fallout may occur. We hope to create a structure that lessens the potential for that fallout to be catastrophic.
Please note that we do not anticipate that we will create a perfectly “safe” environment. We hope to create a “safe enough” environment through a moderate degree of planning, structuring, leadership and vetting to mitigate risks. Edges will be explored, boundaries may be crossed, and emotional fallout may occur. We hope to create a structure that lessens the potential for that fallout to be catastrophic.
WHAT CAN I EXPECT TO DO?
The Order of the Amethyst Heart is a religious order, and the LARP is about recreating the feeling of what it is to be in a cult that is as extreme in it’s communality as it is in its efforts to achieve transcendence. Our days will have a rhythm of prayer, singing, working the land, ritual, eating and sleeping. Inevitably there will be some disorder thrown into the orderliness of our chapter. There will be a mixture of planned rituals, unplanned events, and open time for improvisational interactions and conversations.
WHAT WILL MY CHARACTER BE LIKE?
You seek transcendence. You believe that there is some ineffable, universal mystical “source” that holds all of existence. You want to connect more deeply with this source. At some in your life you have made contact with this source. It is the inner ultraviolet.
You seek community. The self (our ego) can act as an obstruction from accessing the divine. Your devotion to the inner ultraviolet is such that you must give up your individual beliefs, desires, aspirations and behaviors, and in this giving up, we are hopeful that the blocks to the divine will be lessened. The Order of the Amethyst Heart is the vehicle to access the inner ultraviolet.
You will be given some basic character guidance and structure that fits into these above considerations. In the application process you will have the opportunity to share a bit more the kind of character you are interested in exploring.
You seek community. The self (our ego) can act as an obstruction from accessing the divine. Your devotion to the inner ultraviolet is such that you must give up your individual beliefs, desires, aspirations and behaviors, and in this giving up, we are hopeful that the blocks to the divine will be lessened. The Order of the Amethyst Heart is the vehicle to access the inner ultraviolet.
You will be given some basic character guidance and structure that fits into these above considerations. In the application process you will have the opportunity to share a bit more the kind of character you are interested in exploring.
BRIEF SCHEDULE
Our event will begin with everyone arriving between 4-7pm on Thursday. During this time you are welcome to set up your tent and get acquainted to the property, walk around, and begin connecting with the other participants. We will have dinner together on Thursday and settle in with some games and introductions.
Friday morning and afternoon will be devoted entirely to “workshopping.” Workshopping will involve developing your character, starting to take some baby steps into being your character, co-creating how our characters are related to each other, and explaining some of the main mechanics and techniques we will be using in the game itself. We will have breakfast, lunch and dinner out of character.
Starting on Friday evening after dinner we will fully enter our fictional world, and be entirely in character. From Friday evening until Sunday at 3pm you are invited to be in character for the entire time. If you want to break character for any reason, you can go to the main house to relax and decompress or do whatever you need to do.
We will wake up very early on Saturday and Sunday, around 6am (as most devotional communities do). Saturday will be a full day in character - praying, eating, welcoming new members, doing special rites and rituals. Sunday will begin in character, and we will end the LARP at 3pm, and have 2 hours of time to be out of character and to integrate and reflect on our experience.
Friday morning and afternoon will be devoted entirely to “workshopping.” Workshopping will involve developing your character, starting to take some baby steps into being your character, co-creating how our characters are related to each other, and explaining some of the main mechanics and techniques we will be using in the game itself. We will have breakfast, lunch and dinner out of character.
Starting on Friday evening after dinner we will fully enter our fictional world, and be entirely in character. From Friday evening until Sunday at 3pm you are invited to be in character for the entire time. If you want to break character for any reason, you can go to the main house to relax and decompress or do whatever you need to do.
We will wake up very early on Saturday and Sunday, around 6am (as most devotional communities do). Saturday will be a full day in character - praying, eating, welcoming new members, doing special rites and rituals. Sunday will begin in character, and we will end the LARP at 3pm, and have 2 hours of time to be out of character and to integrate and reflect on our experience.
VENUE
The event will take place at Elkenmist, a 120 acre working farm nestled into 200,000 acres of wilderness located a 1.5 hour drive from Portland, OR. The farm has sheep, horses, rabbits, vegetables and old growth maples. With the exception of a beautiful yurt that can fit 25 people, most of the setting will be outdoors (sauna, outdoor showers, outdoor kitchen, fire-pit, hundreds of acres for hiking, etc). The location is rustic and does not offer modern amenities like indoor showers, toilets, heating, electricity, or cell service. Participants will be expected to bring camping gear and supplies with them.
OUT-OF-TOWN PARTICIPANTS
Our event accommodates out-of-town participants who want to fly in to Portland to attend the LARP. You will need to secure travel to arrive by Thursday morning at the latest (Wednesday arrival would be even better). And then departure would have to be late Sunday evening (9pm or later) or Monday morning. While we are not able to secure travel from Portland, we will share a rideshares document so that participants can arrange ride sharing amongst themselves.
MEALS
All food will be collectively cooked by participants. Participants without experience cooking for large groups will take roles of sous chef, or cleanup. The meals will include breakfast, lunch and dinner. They will be simple, healthy and largely resourced from the farm. We will take account of dietary restrictions and needs and provide reasonable accommodations.
PRICE
The cost of the 4-day LARP will be sliding scale income-based tuition. It will have 3 tiers: $300, $400, and $500. This cost includes all food and lodging for the event.
WHAT TO BRING?
-warm clothes (it can get cold at night)
-shoes that can get wet (the grass can be wet and muddy)
-white clothes (at least one pair)
-any special food you want to eat (snacks, etc)
-a headlamp (its dark at night!)
-tent, sleeping bag, pad (if you are traveling from far away and cannot bring some of these items there may be an option to purchase them for an additional fee)
-shoes that can get wet (the grass can be wet and muddy)
-white clothes (at least one pair)
-any special food you want to eat (snacks, etc)
-a headlamp (its dark at night!)
-tent, sleeping bag, pad (if you are traveling from far away and cannot bring some of these items there may be an option to purchase them for an additional fee)
INSPIRATIONS & PRACTICES THAT HAVE INFORMED THIS LARP
Our inspiration for this kind of structure comes from the Nordic tradition of Live Action Role Play (read more about it here). Our inspiration for the kinds of activities that we will be exploring comes from the facilitators backgrounds in: Processwork, Kundalini Yoga, Butoh, Psychodrama, Somatic Practice, Circling, Authentic Relating, Internal Family Systems, and more. Our conceptual inspiration comes from authors like: Jung, James Hillman, Stanislov Grof, Jefferey Kripal, Arnold Mindell, Robert Bly, Robert Johnson, Connie Zweig, Irvin Yalom, Starhawk, Robert Moss, Rollo May and Victor Frankl.
FACLITATORS BIOS
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Aaron Finbloom is a philosopher, artist, therapist, and educator whose work aims to expand transformative inquiry through relational games, role play, performance art, and conversation scores. He co-founded The School of Making Thinking (SMT) and is the founder and director of The Deep Play Institute (DPI). His projects have been featured internationally at venues such as the Museum of Contemporary Art in Chicago, Gallery 151 in New York, Maschinenhaus Kulturbrauerei in Berlin, UNAM in Mexico City, Performance Works Northwest in Portland, and MainLine Theatre in Montreal. Trained in Circling, Psychodrama, Buddhist Meditation, and Processwork, Aaron holds a PhD in Interdisciplinary Humanities from Concordia University in Montreal and teaches philosophy at the City College of New York. www.finblooming.com.
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Dennis Palazzolo lives and works in a LARP where he plays the character, DenZolo, a Psychiartist living on a rural farm who is learning to live in accordance with the sentient land, air and water of Skamokawa, WA. As a Psychiartist, he prescribes creative role play as the cure for most modern maladies and dream unfolding as the path to integrity. Having earned a Masters degree from The Processwork Institute in 2014, he has been thoroughly bewitched by renown astrologer-alchemist Carl Jung and lives under his spell. Before, during and after that, DenZolo was an Artemesia weed in a field of Butoh and Yoga flowers, dancing in obeisance to the wind, that could be steeped into a medicinal entheogenic tea. He has exhibited and performed at The Brooklyn Museum, The Wolfsonian Museum, Gallery Emmanuel Perrotin, Miami Basel, Art Basel Switzerland and The Museum of Capitalism.
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