“Going to Rally was like discovering the secret entrance behind Havi’s blog, and finding an amazing hidden cave there.”

– Jesse, one of the very first Rallyscallions, who got 18,000 words written on her novel in THREE DAYS of rallying. Rally!

What is a Rally?

A Rally is three and a half days of getting crazy amounts of stuff done, with support, love, hilarity and massive destuckification.

And acquiring skills you’ll use every day for the rest of your life to make your projects (and your relationship with projects) playful, creative and fun.

And where you acquire an entirely different, extremely happy relationship with time. And with space. Also with everything in your life. Side effect!

Come hang out at the Playground — the most magical and delightful place that ever was — and ~~work on~~ play with a pattern, a project or an adventure.

A pattern, a project or an adventure. Sometimes all three at the same time!

You do not need to know what your pattern, project or adventure is!

It will find you when it’s ready. Plus, we’ll help.

There are blanket forts. There is support. There is structure and flexibility and time to rest.

Also laughter and silliness and intense periods of being in the zone and getting stuff done.

It is extremely fun. And invigorating. And full of sparkliness.

“I got more done in the hour and a half between Shiva Nata and lunch on one Rally day than I have in the past four months put together. Ridiculous.”

-– Tim O’Brien (Rally #10)

Why Rally is so important.

Once you’ve rallied, you have an entirely different relationship with time. And space. And work.

You know how to turn annoying stressful things into playful exploratory things. You find the unlikeliest just-right creative solutions to any new challenge. You are not impressed by stuckness. You approach EVERYTHING differently. You find hidden pockets of light-heartedness. You make friends with your projects. It’s more than a little magical, and really hard to describe.

When’s the next Rally?

~~May 21-24, 2012.~~ SOLD OUT.

You can still make it to Rally #21 (June 18-21).

Here’s a speedy get-down-the-page link for the scheduling details »

You don’t need a Rally project yet.

Projects are about exploration and discovery.

Any time you ask a question: “What can I do to make this phone call less painful?”

Any time you express a desire or a gwish: “A kinder, gentler relationship with my body.”

Or wonder about change: “What if I had designated weekly creative time?”

Those are all PROJECTS. You could play with them at Rally!

Other people’s Rally projects…

Sometimes starting or finishing something. Like: a book proposal, grant proposal, ebook, product, outline, table of contents, marketing plan, business plan, website plan, art installation, a business or a non profit organization or a new career.

But also things like…

What am I like when I’m on vacation?
What would it be like to not be stressed out about time all the time?
What do I want to do if/when I grow up and is that even the right question?
What do I know about my relationship with money?
What am I going to do with this grief and pain about X?
How can I invent rituals and/or games to make my straight job more bearable?
What needs to happen for my relationship to work?
How would I go about building an underground lair?

Lots of us come to Rally with no idea what our project is or if we have one. It always works.

Projects contain so much.

They aren’t about a job or work or making something to sell or getting a certain thing done by a certain date, though they can be.

Projects are about getting to know how you function. They’re about a certain aspect or piece of the ongoing process of you working on your stuff.

They’re about play, discovery, creativity and process. But all that will make more sense once you’ve rallied at Rally, so let’s talk about Rally. Rally!

What happens at a Rally? (Rally!)

Stuff gets done.

Insane amounts of stuff gets done.

It gets done while you’re having fun, laughing your ass off and possibly eating crepes. And you still get to take a nap if you want.

There’s designated time, space, love, support and a process for getting stuff done.

Also a process for destuckifying when you’re not getting stuff done.

My best tools, rituals and unlikely tricks to put yourself in the space where creative inspired magical things happen so said things get done.

Worksheets, handouts and a mini-ebook, all of which will help you get out of the hard and back into getting stuff done (as well as feeling good about yourself when you can’t get stuff done).

A plan for coming back to the real world! So you can keep rallying it up and getting stuff done even when you are not actually at a Rally.

But also stuff like this.

Old Turkish Lady yoga

Daily. And optional! Super relaxing and supports getting stuff done. Anyone can do it — no experience necessary, and it will make your body and mind feel absolutely marvelous.

Outrageous Shivanauttery:

Because Shiva Nata:
a) generates epiphanies and insights to melt the blocks
b) is completely hilarious
c) will be best thing to ever happen to your brain, your arms, your life, everything.
We’ll do some every day. No experience necessary!

The Wine & Cheesening.

On Wednesday evening, we have this very fun wine-and-cheese hanging-out thing. Completely optional, of course.

Get to know your fellow Rallygators, listen to music, eat yummy things. It’s lovely. And in the winter we do stargazing on the ceiling.

Also you will get other things at the Rally, like:

Unconditional love.
Snacks.
Alone time with Selma.
A chance to hang out as much as you want in the Playground, which is my favorite place in the entire world and a catalyst for things happening in wonderful and unlikely ways.
Epiphanies and realizations.
Discovering of hidden superpowers.
Seeing me in the craziest hat ever.
The opportunity to ask me pretty much anything you like about your business or your projects or whatever you’re working on.
Schwag! Rally Schwag!

“Oh wow. I learned SO MUCH at Rally. And it was such fun!

I have to tell you: things have really changed for me since rallying (and not in the usual way where you feel different for a day or two after a conference and then you slip back into the habits of daily life).

It feels different at a deeper level. A palpable inner shift that’s reverberating into every part of my life. I’ve brought Rally home with me, consciously and subconsciously. It’s pure magic.

Also, ever since then I’ve been writing more than I can post. So productive! Eeeeeee! Cannot wait to return. Mwah mwah mwah to you & Selma!”

– Kylie Springman (Rally #13)

“My extraordinary fellow rallions became my co-conspirators. My project became a person, a landscape, and a child to put to bed each night.

The three days of nonstop dancing, Shiva Nata, processing, old Turkish lady yoga-ing, costuming, playing and pirate shanty singing has left me sticking out my tongue at ordinary life (phttt!).

This is now part of my inspired path into that more beautiful world where sparkly glitter breadcrumbs guide us across the landscape and everyone is lovingly supported in being themselves. Rallying is how I approach my life.

Huzzah! And thanks Pirate Queen and Selma for making it so.”

– Cynthia

Serious Side Effects.

As in: more stuff you get that also isn’t really part of the tuition but is still awesome.

Friends.

The people who come to my events always knock me over with how great they are. All of them.

You’ll probably adore them all but you’ll come away with at least one person who is a friend-friend.

Also, these sweet people will end up not just eating biscuits with you but writing you testimonials, giving you support and spreading the word to the world if/when you’re ready.

Extra destuckification.

After my events, people accidentally solve stuff they weren’t even working on.

Like, all of a sudden they’re loving blogging all the time instead of putting it off and resenting it.

Or their kitchen is always mysteriously clean.

This is partially because the stuff I teach is so brilliant but it’s really mostly because doing all that Dance of Shiva has some pretty intense side effects.

Experience.

Once your body has had the physical experience of working on a thing in a way that is not stressful, not painful and not stuckified … everything is different. In a good way.

Your brain has new neural pathways to follow. You have new patterns that are supportive and powerful. You have choice.

Repeatedly giving your brain and your body this beautiful experience, over the course of four days, is the thing that’s going to change everything else you do from now on.

“I was inspired LIKE CRAZY. Actually, it was like accessing pure undiluted inspiration. And outrageously productive too, but a productivity that happens without struggle, strain, pushing … probably for the first time in my life.

To say I got ten times more accomplished than expected? A ridiculously low estimate. The work I did here would have taken 3–4 months if I’d tried to do it at home.”

– Emmanuelle Archer, Winning Away

“I came prepared to work on a book-writing project, but ended up working on a
grant to submit to the National Science Foundation… and it’s the best I’ve written by a long shot. Three days to complete work that would normally have taken a month or so.

Thank you for Rally and Playground!

(I am in the process of converting a small room next to my research lab into a mini-playground.)”

– Andy Lammers

Things that are important to know!

1) There will be light snacks (nuts, pretzel sticks, potato chips, cheesy things, raisins etc) at the Playground at all times. And water. And tea.

2) There is no internet access from the Playground. This is a good thing. No distractions!

But! If you need to research stuff or whatever, there’s free wifi at all the (many) cafes on the street and you can probably also borrow someone’s smartphone if necessary.

Where you can work/play.

At the Playground: on chairs, on yoga blocks or meditation cushions, in the treasure room or the toy shop, under or on top of a desk, in the hall, inside a blanket fort …

Basically: everywhere except the Refueling Station (because that’s for refueling) and my dressing room.

Outside of the Playground: No shortage of cafes and bars and parks and benches. Check the PLUM (Playground User Manual) for details and for my favorite places. It’s usually on the red desk in the main hall.

Why this is so much better than working on your project at home by yourself.

Oh, the power of zoom (everyone working on stuff at the same time, companionable silence, cozy and supportive, shivanautical epiphanies!)
You will have Actual Things To Do if you get stuck (because that’s what your Kit is for).
Everything works so much better when there’s a strong, flexible, loving container, a plan, a schedule, deguiltified accountability, friends and a beautiful space for it.
Your fellow Rally-ites (Rallions, Rallyconteurs, Rallygators or Rallyscallions, we are not sure) will be a huge source of support, comfort and hilarity as you go through this process and after the Rally too.

See Jesse’s awesome update too …

How this all works:

Foods.

There will be tea and snacks at the Playground.

We’re right by cafes, restaurants grocery stores. Lots of terrific, affordable food within walking distance.

Amazing food carts. A grilled cheese bus. We have tamale ladies. Life is good.

And if you have weird and/or complicated eating-related stuff, no worries. There are two vegan bakeries just on our street.

Places to stay.

Lots of options. Some places in walking distance! If you want to save money, we have a list of AirB&B and couch-surfing options within walking distance in addition to hotels and hostels. Often Rally-ers end up sharing rooms or arranging something together, so you’ll have a chance to set that up on our private Rendezvous page. We have a ton of information to help, so let’s figure something out!

What to bring.

Pens. Notebooks. Computer if that’s how you work.

A raincoat. This is Portland. It will rain. And warm socks. Just in case.

What to wear.

Loose comfortable clothes you can move around in.

I hate changing clothes for yoga or Dance of Shiva so I’m usually wearing a cotton dress over pants. Maybe a hoodie. There is no way to dress wrong for a Rally.

Also we have a Costume Room at the Playground, so if your look needs a feather boa, you’re set!

See the Rally FAQ page for more…

“1) There’s something so powerful about doing this with people who get it. Who get that it’s hard, who allow it to be hard, who don’t try to force or to fix or to, god forbid, help… unless you ask, of course and then, omg, the support, brainstorming, encouragement and celebrating — to die for!

2) It only took one Rally to completely change how I think about and interact with my projects. Sure, I still feel pressured and stuck at times. But I no longer work on my projects. I work WITH them. They are my partners. My allies!

Work is now Adventuring…. I have an initial idea but where it actually ends up is often a total surprise. It’s fun and exciting. Unexpected things happen. All the necessary ingredients for a proper adventure. I love it!”

– Larisa Koehn

“Hey so my publisher (my! publisher!) called Thursday to say they want to publish my novel. Motherfucker! This is so. Um. No words, really.

I’ve been working on this since 2004 but I know that putting on a jester hat and brandishing a plastic sword in your Playground helped get me here and make me ready for this.

Man: do I get a fucking nickel for all the times I’ve said this to you? THANK YOU!”

– T.J. Beitelman (Rally #11)

Four more things I need to tell you.

1. After Rally, you’ll end up changing your space. Everyone does.

Dana switched out her desk for a hammock! T.J. decided to get rid of his giant critique table. Shannon realized she wanted comfortable cushions everywhere. Jillian decided she needed sparkly things. Kevin moved into an abandoned abbey and renovated it!

Your work and play spaces will be more fun, useful, and enjoyable post-Rally.

2. After Rally, you’ll end up having more time.

Or it will seem like you have more time. Because you’ll be better at consciously entering and exiting project space.

You’ll have a stronger force field. You’ll be quicker at recognizing stuck and interacting with it in creative ways instead of trying to push through it and making it worse. So you won’t spend nearly as much time in avoidance-procrastination-guilt mode, or hashing out the details of a plan. This is a very big superpower. Use it wisely!

3. Possible Unexpected Bonus. It’s just one guy.

Selma and I also get insane amounts of stuff done at Rally. If we create a product at your Rally, you will get a copy when it’s finished.

4. And — this is weird — Rally also makes you way better looking.

Ah, Playground Glow. I have no idea how it works, but it’s a thing.

So really, if for nothing else, come to Rally for the hotness.

The next Rally with openings available:

Rally #20
Monday, May 21 at 5pm — Thursday, May 24 at 5pm.

The 2012 Rallies.

Rallies fill quickly. Sign up and save your place.

Jan 23-26 — SOLD OUT
Feb 20-23 — SOLD OUT
March 19-22 — SOLD OUT
April 23-26 — SOLD OUT
May 21-24 — SOLD OUT
June 18-21 — Three spaces left
July 23-26 — Two spaces left
September 10-13 — Four spaces left

IMPORTANT! Timetable for a Rally (Rally!)

In the tradition of Christmas Eve or Erev Shabbat, Rallies begin in the evening.

We begin at 5pm on Monday and go for two hours. Regular Rally days (Toozday, Wednesday, Thursday) go from 9:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Rallying the Rally!

PREREQUISITES

The Art of Embarking. You’ll need this one BEFORE you sign up for Rally because you’ll use it to complete the (totally-not-scary) application and embarking process. And also to prepare for Rally, of course!
The Monster Manual & Coloring Book. You can get this any time before Rally. Get it the day that Rally starts if you like. Just make sure you have it so you can use it if/when you need to.

Please read:

How to Disagree Without Being Disagreeable – Elgin
Nonviolent Communication; A Language of Life – Rosenberg

A basic familiarity with the principles will be very helpful for (mostly internal) communication. The NVC book has some problematic poetry, which I apologize for in advance.

And of course read the Rally FAQ if you haven’t yet.

Okay! Signing up.

Until June 1st, 2012, tuition for a Rally comes to $1515.

After June 1st, Rallies will go up to the full price of $2165.

Payments.

You’ll click the big orange button to make an initial deposit of $220.

After you make your deposit, you’ll be taken to the Pickle page which has a love letter on it, as well as a pickle. And a series of useful writing exercises for you.

The remainder gets taken care of in 5 automatic monthly payments of $259, with the 1st coming a month from the date of deposit.
Please note the credit card you used, because that’s the card that will be charged for the monthly payments.

In our shopping cart, there’s be a box marked Comments. Use that to tell us which Rally you want. Leave a second choice in case it’s already full.

Important! Don’t forget to leave a note in the cart
about which Rally/Rallies you want.

Fine printables!

1. Included: Tuition, ebooklet, snacks, huge realizations, hilarity, bubble-blowing, presents/presence.
2. Not included: Travel, lodging and meals.
3. Before signing up, check in with yourself and make sure this is what you want.
4. If you register for a Rally, you have up to 60 days prior to the Rally to request a change in dates. A fee of $85 will be charged to your credit card for each rescheduling.
5. No changes, reschedules or cancellations can be accommodated later than 60 days prior to the Rally’s start date. This helps us create a safe and strong container for Rally, and keep tuition affordable.
6. If you can’t make it, we’ll offer tuition paid so far as a stowawayship scholarship so someone else can attend. See our Incredibly Boring Policies page.