Review
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Matriarchy for Future – Festival
July 3 – 6, 2025
Kasteel de Berckt, near Venlo NL
40 km from Duisburg
First day of the festival, Thursday, July 3, 2025
Arrival, vernissages, welcome, dance with Caroline S’Jegers
Things are ready to begin. The organizing team has moved into the Guru Lodge, the Isis Bar is set up, as is the backstage area. The swimming lake has been tested, the pavilion decorated, the women’s tent is set up, the books have been laid out in the Demeter bookroom, the awareness room has been stocked, the «Women of the World» exhibition and the cinema room are ready, the seminar rooms have been labeled, the bar in the castle courtyard and the logos are installed, the Mother Earth Goddess in the wayside shrine. The trees in the park provide pleasant shade.
Check-in opens, the first guests arrive, exploring the grounds and rooms. The market stalls are filled with many small and large treasures, a colorful abundance. They are lovingly handcrafted by professional artisans. Tents and campers are set up, rooms are settled. The cinema program begins, and the beautiful weather invites you to explore the romantic park. People meet up, old acquaintances are rekindled, and new ones are formed.
At 5 p.m., the photo exhibition «Matriarchs» by Maria Haas and the figure exhibition «World of Women of the World» by Astrid Walser will open. Maria’s photographs are more than visual art – they are a homage to matriarchal communities and their enduring values. Astrid Walser’s life-size figures open up a field for many topics such as religion, women’s rights, women’s health, birth rites, beauty ideals and traditions, women and sexuality, and taboo subjects – the topics are as diverse as the women themselves.
It’s almost time for dinner. Preparing meals using local organic produce is an important part of the festival; everyone takes on various tasks in the kitchen for two hours, sharing a meaningful and enjoyable time together. Har Sternenherz and his culinary team aim to engage people with all their senses in how it’s possible to enjoy tasty, healthy, and delicious plant-based foods. Dinner is served at round tables inside or outside under the umbrellas.
Around 8 p.m., the Amazonensaal fills up, and it’s time for the welcome, which begins with a brief introduction. The organizers then outline the origins and concept of the festival. Almost 500 people embraced this idea and made the four days an unforgettable event. This wouldn’t be possible without the many helpers, who receive thunderous applause on stage. Finally, Iris Baumann and Gabriele Kapp explain the regional meetings, designed to connect people during and after the festival.
Second day of the festival, Friday, July 4, 2025
Opening ceremony, lectures, workshops, regional meetings, concerts
Night owls celebrated the first festival evening with Caroline S’Jegers’ Ecstatic Dance, while others rose early and followed Simran’s yoga offerings or the circle dance offerings of Barbara Brosch and Ingemar Rohn on Friday morning. Dreamwork with Katharina Braun also began early. After breakfast, the opening ritual began in the park with Walle Gairing and Anne Wiebelitz from the Uma Institute and the Planetary Dance by Melanie Nowak. Its magic lies in the collective power that connects and strengthens the heartfelt concerns of each individual.
Heide Göttner-Abendroth will give the keynote speech in the Amazonensaal. She will be introduced in German and English by Martina Engl-Fürstberger and Simone Plaza from the MatriForum. This will be followed by presentations and workshops in the morning and afternoon on the matriarchal themes of social order, politics, economics, ecology, and spirituality. Several speakers traveled from Finland and other European countries, even from the USA and South America, which we were very honored to have. The delegation from Costa Rica also included two indigenous women from the Bribri.
After the workshops, there’s time to explore the park in the fresh air. There, you can discover a peacock mother with five young, or the tapestries depicting Astrid Walser’s eight seasons at the women’s tent. Goddess banners by the American artist Lydia Ruyle decorate the Amazon Hall here and there. At 5 p.m., people from the same regions meet in 13 groups for a discussion. Later, dedicated women create a spiral of lament in light of the wars in the world. Three concerts by Schwessi, Luisa Laakmann, and Laura Lee & the Jettes conclude the rich day.
Third day of the festival, Saturday, July 5, 2025
Action Matriarchy Now, lectures, workshops, regions, concerts
The day begins again with yoga, circle dances, and dream work. From 9 to 10 a.m., the performance «Matriarchy Now» will be held in front of the castle, attracting a great deal of attention. This alliance of several organizations has set itself the common goal of transforming society toward a matriarchal system. Premiereing at our festival, «Matriarchy Now» will engage the public with this action in the context of matriarchy and feminist events. It advocates for a balanced future with respect for life.
As on the previous day, the lecture and workshop program is packed. Starting at 10 a.m., the programs run concurrently, leaving guests spoiled for choice. In the Amazon Hall, Joan Marler begins with a lecture on Marija Gimbutas, followed by a panel discussion with Maria Suarez and the Bribri women. Also featured are performance art, readings, programs specifically for women and men, musical theater, comedy, and, on all days, a rich program of matriarchal films, including discussions with filmmakers present, extending into the evening.
The regions will also meet on Saturday evening and brainstorm ideas for joint activities. After dinner, another highlight awaits: Yael Deckelbaum and Meera Eilabouni. The concert featuring the world-renowned Israeli peace activist and the Palestinian singer still holds political urgency. If only the sounds of the opposing parties could combine so sensitively and harmoniously into a moving song. Yael will also delight us with her well-known hits. The evening will conclude around the fire in the castle courtyard.
Fourth day of the festival, Sunday, July 6, 2025
Regional groups, thanks, voice ceremony and closing ceremony
The final day has dawned. What has emerged, and what will continue to grow as precious plants on the soil of this gathering? The regions present their plants, with plenty of humor, in poem form, or even as a loud chorus in the audience. Giving and receiving gifts: this matriarchal principle is evident, among other things, in the spontaneous activity «The Gift», which originated in a workshop on the topic of money. The helpers and the kitchen team also donated their energy, expertise, and time. The audience rewards everyone with voluptuous applause.
At the end, Yael gives us a touching voice ceremony, accompanied vocally by Meera. Hearts open once again, tears and emotions flow freely. After the closing ritual, we set off into a matriarchal future. May each and every one of us carry a piece of it into the world until we meet again at the next festival, in a regional group, in front of a peace memorial, or on March 8th in front of a city council building. Thank you for being there and for sharing these wonderful days. See you next time, your organizing team!
The photos are by Michèle Mettler, some also by Berit Soukup.
Photos by other people are mentioned. Thank you!
