Michael

There are no teachers present in the Gathering as we got nothing to teach. The only person that could ever tell you anything about who you truly are are you yourself.
Yet, a few words about me (50) so that you get a very rough idea about who's faciliating:

I'm a trained German tutor (since 2001), a coach for behaviour and communication (since 2001), highly experienced in "altered states of consciousness" (since 2018) and with facilitating groups.
I've tried many many seminars and sorts of meditations, the longest being Vipassana which I left after 10 years when I realized that I was simply trying to fill an emptiness with it that it would never be able to fill.

I'm a avid proponent of Psychoanalysis (careful: not the theories of Freud as I got no clue what he proposes) but that process is mindblowingly beautiful as - very much like the Gathering - provides a neutral (enough) space in which I could explore myself.
It's not a fix for anything nor is it a tool for everybody.

I tried pretty much any psychedelic substance available since 2018 and came to one consistent conclusion: there's no other place and time than the here and now. No matter how far I was gone, how many endless universes unfolded in front of me, how lost I got in space, how clear everything seemed, I always returned into this experience as Michael, as it is.
In my conclusion psychedelics do not heal anything nor do they change anything. Change is inevitable anyhow and whether it changes this way or the other, doesn't really matter.
Keep in mind that this is just my feeble attempt to put into words what can't be expressed in words but it allows me to keep the Gathering clear of any believes, philosophies or ideas about how things are or should be. These are also merely my own experiences and have nothing to do with your reality.

After my first Gathering I actually felt like on a very very mild mushroom journey just without all the visual and emotional distractions. Don't worry if you haven't taken any of these things, you'll be in control as much as you like and getting high is not the aim of the Gathering at all. In fact, there will be no mindaltering substances in any Gathering, not even coffee.
If you must though you'll be able to have a smoke. I understand that it's a strong addiction and the Gathering is not a withdrawal opportunity. Coffee withdrawal is manageable though ;) If you are a smoker you might actually find that you won't have the desire to smoke at all.

I've been "working" with the question of who I truly am since I'm 18 years old and it wasn't before 2021 that I felt the clear call to provide this beautiful space for everyone to experience themselves in the most gentle yet very powerful manner possible.
The Gathering is my child yet every event is a co-creation of everyone participating. I simply fulfil a specific role of keeping the space clear and safe by being there for you and by repeating the ground rules that will allow you to enjoy this week fully.

May you enjoy this journey which wasn't always easy for me but I also learned that that was mainly my own doing. There's absolutely no need for suffering or struggling during the Gathering. All you got to do is to feel who you are here and now., enjoy the breaks and the fantastic food and enviroment and the beautiful people that feel attracted to this line of "work". As simple as that.

I'm also the father of a 21 year old fine young man who regularly participates in the Gatherings. And I'm happily married for the 2nd time to my lovely wife Lydia who I met in a similar event like this and who supports me sweetly in every Gathering.