The First Convivium - Portugal

[claudiu]

Hello all,

Based on the resounding degree of interest (link), The Actual Freedom Fund has decided to continue with what we are now calling The Convivium Project.

We have settled on an initial format of roughly one-week-long convivia, which makes them more regional rather than global/fly-halfway-around-the-world in nature. As such, the first one is being planned for later this year in Portugal in the fall, with the second and third tentatively planned for America and Ballina next year.

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Richard brought the word “convivium” into the actualist lingo, chosen due to its roots and association with the word “convivial” (link):

[Dictionary Definitions]:

• convivial (adj.): sociable, friendly, lively, cheerful, jolly, merry, festive, hearty, genial, fun-loving, jovial, back-slapping, gay; festal; [e.g.]: “Enjoy simple but satisfying food in the bistro’s convivial atmosphere”. ~ (Collins English Thesaurus).

• convivial (adj.): 1. liking company; (synonyms): companionable, sociable, social; (chiefly Brit.): matey; 2. characterised by joyful exuberance; (synonyms): blithe, blithesome, boon (=very close and convivial; as ‘a boon companion to all’; ‘a jovial disposition’), gay, gleeful, jocund, jolly, jovial, merry, mirthful; 3. enjoyed, marked by, or spent in the company of others; (synonyms): companionable, sociable, social. ~ (American Heritage Roget’s Thesaurus).

• convivial (adj.): 1. enjoying good company; sociable; (synonyms): social, companionable, gregarious, sociable, convivial; these adjectives mean inclined to, marked by, or passed in friendly companionship with others; [e.g.]: “a friendly social gathering”; “a companionable colleague”; “a gregarious person who avoids solitude”; “a sociable conversation”; “a cheery, convivial disposition”; 2. characterised by merry celebrating; festive; [e.g.]: “a convivial atmosphere at the reunion”; (n.): conviviality; (adv.): convivially. [Late Latin convīviālis, from Latin convīvium, ‘banquet’, from com- + vīvere, ‘to live’]. ~ (American Heritage Dictionary).

• convivial (adj.): sociable; jovial or festive; [e.g.]: “a convivial atmosphere”; (n.): convivialist; conviviality; (adv.): convivially. [C17: from Late Latin convīviālis, ‘pertaining to a feast’, from Latin convīvium, ‘a living together’, ‘banquet’, from vīvere, ‘to live’]. ~ (Collins English Dictionary).

• convivial (adj.): 1. friendly; agreeable; [e.g.]: “a convivial atmosphere”; 2. fond of feasting, drinking, and merry company; jovial; 3. of or befitting a feast; festive; (n.): conviviality; (adv.): convivially. [1660-70; from Late Latin convīviālis, ‘festal’, from Latin convīvi(um), ‘feast’, (convīv(ere), ‘to live together’, ‘dine together’]. ~ (Webster’s College Dictionary).

• convivial (adj.): 1. occupied with or fond of the pleasures of good company; [e.g.]: “a convivial atmosphere at the reunion”; “a woman of convivial nature”; (synonyms): good-time; [e.g.]: “he was a real good-time Charlie”; sociable (inclined to or conducive to companionship with others); [e.g.]: “a sociable occasion”; “enjoyed a sociable chat”; “a sociable conversation”; “Americans are sociable and gregarious”. ~ (Princeton’s WordNet 3.0).[image]

As Richard wrote, a convivium is “[n]ot to ever be confused with a commune – where affectivity, positivity, morality, ethicality, et al., be the supposed glue to hold it together – as it most likely will be at times be, due to a lack of precedent, by peoples not in the know. A convivium is something entirely new to human lifestyle arrangements/ structures; as such may the word never be watered-down merely to accommodate those ill-informed.” (link)

To expand on it further, the point of these gatherings is precisely to live in a convivial living-together arrangement for the duration of the event. That is, the very reason to do it is to enjoy and appreciate being alive, in the company of one’s fellow human beings, who have also chosen to be there for that very same reason.

The fully free people participating (which will be at least Geoffrey in Portugal) will serve as living examples, automatically embodying just what that looks like when taken to its full potential. A week-long convivium thus serves as an opportunity to see just what a consistent enjoyment and appreciation really is and what it looks like, in practice, in an environment where it be remarkably easy for one to do that very same thing themselves.

To be clear, the convivia will not be lectures or “study sessions” or, ehh, the dharma as handed down from the living gurus . The purpose is for each convivium to serve as a practical, living, experiential embodiment of the very raison d’être of actualism itself. Of course, as we will all be there for the same purpose, not only to enjoy and appreciate being alive during the convivium itself but to have that be our modus operandi for the rest of our lives as well, topics and issues will come up, and we can take those opportunities as they come to share notes, converse, give practical advice and tips, etc.

As actualism works best in the marketplace, these gatherings will not be “retreats” where we spend the whole time holed up in a cabin or on “the complex”, but rather will consist of normal everyday holiday-type activities as well. Further note that while of course everyone’s intention will be to enjoy and appreciate come-what-may, inevitable frictions and tensions will arise. This is all par for the course, and I say this because to be forewarned is to be forearmed. Rather than being ‘issues’ or ‘sticking points’ to be glossed over with “affectivity, positivity, morality, ethicality, et al.” in tried-and-true-failed fashion, such occasions will serve as practical opportunities to show just how well the actualism method can work in practice.

As it will be a gathering of many people, the ambiance will be conducive not only to excellence experiences happening, but intimacy experiences as well, which the doing of the quotidian tasks such as the cooking of the food and the cleaning of the dishes and the going to and from the boat tour etc., will serve as ample launching-off points for such intimacy to develop.

In summary, the intent of The Convivium Project is, therefore, to promote, enable, and facilitate groups of sincere actualists to gather for the purposes of discussion, interaction, intimacy, enjoyment and appreciation, and generally fostering a jovial atmosphere, with the ultimate aim of maximizing the benefit to the participants with regards to their own goals of maximizing their continuous enjoyment and appreciation of being alive, and/or becoming virtually and/or actually free sooner rather than later, as the case may be.

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With that in mind, whoever is interested in participating in such an endeavour, and is logistically able to make it to Portugal sometime in the fall of 2026, please respond here. Note that for those for whom it’s not worth it to travel to Portugal for just a week, future convivia in America and Ballina may be more appropriate.

Once we establish who the participants will be, planning will proceed from there!

Best regards,
Claudiu

[Kub933]

I will be participating

[hunterad]

I’ll be there!

[Sonyaxx]

Will be there

[Andrew]

I will be there too.

[henryyyyyyyyyy]

I’ll be there!

I’d like to add that having had the experience of visiting Richard & Vineeto in 2018, I found it extremely helpful to see firsthand how they operated, experience the lack of vibes coming from their end, and asking questions and generally engaging with them. Not that coming to something like this is a requirement to become free or making progress, but in case anyone is on the fence.

I also was thinking about waiting to go to one in the USA next year because that will be much closer to home for me, but who knows if I’ll live that long lol. Better to take this opportunity asap.

Looking forward to hanging out with you all and seeing what happens!

[Felipe]

I’ll be there too. Well, most likely, I’d just like to know a narrower date range to see if the flights fit my budget.

[JonnyPitt]

I’d like to go too if there’s room for me.

[jamesjjoo]

I don’t want to turn this into a spiritual belief but I do want to be open to the possibility of something coming out of this convivium not only for the ones that will be there but also for myself and others who will not be there. I am open to the possibility. The best thing I know to do is to stay open to whatever happens.

In the mean time it would be good for me to live as the senses.

[jamesjjoo]

Also, as Richard said: In the meantime I can have fun.

[jesus.carlos]

I’m very interested, don’t know if i’ll make it but I’ll do my best!

[emp]

I’ll be joining.