The HowTheLightGetsIn Festival in Hay-on-Wye is an incredible event. I attended it in 2023 and participated (I use that term loosely) in a dinner/discussion event with only about 20 others with Michael Shermer at one head of the table and Iain McGilchrist at the other. I happened to be seated at a corner next to McGilchrist. During a brief lull in conversation as everything was just beginning to wrap up I managed to get the nerve to ask McGilchrist what to me was an interesting question but to him was, apparently, so trivial as to warrant no consideration whatsoever. 😄
It's a great way to spend several days in a beautiful setting with deeply curious people and have a chance to meet some of your intellectual heros. It's a bit of an adventure getting to Hay-on-Wye, Wales (if you're not a celebrated speaker, that is, ha ha) but that was part of the fun for me. The first thing, if you are considering going, is to not confuse this festival with the Hay Festival of Literature and Arts which occurs during overlapping days just right up the road. Also, HowTheLightGetsIn Festival is also presented every Fall at Hamstead Heath, London with a different lineup of speakers. So be aware of that as well.
Because the festival occurs in the small village of Hay-On-Wye simultaneously with the world renowned Hay Festival of Literature and Arts, accomodations become scarce quickly. Some places even book up a year in advance. So very early planning will pay off. The downside of very early planning is that you won't know who many of the speakers will be until much closer to event time (looking at you Steve). So you'll have to commit to going without knowing the whole program of events. But I'd bet that the likelihood of at least one of your admired thinkers being there is very high.
I think it really makes for a worthwhile holiday trip. Follow this link and get on their mailing list. The festival always occurs during the same weekend, the UK Spring Bank Holiday weekend, so you can actually start your planning now.
Tell us more about the “spiritual but not religious” debate. What does the phrase mean to people who use it and which side were you on?
I was arguing against it. Will have a post on the topic soon…
I will look forward to that.
I’m hoping there’ll be video of the debate as well. They recorded video, but I’m not sure when they’re planning to release it.
The HowTheLightGetsIn Festival in Hay-on-Wye is an incredible event. I attended it in 2023 and participated (I use that term loosely) in a dinner/discussion event with only about 20 others with Michael Shermer at one head of the table and Iain McGilchrist at the other. I happened to be seated at a corner next to McGilchrist. During a brief lull in conversation as everything was just beginning to wrap up I managed to get the nerve to ask McGilchrist what to me was an interesting question but to him was, apparently, so trivial as to warrant no consideration whatsoever. 😄
It's a great way to spend several days in a beautiful setting with deeply curious people and have a chance to meet some of your intellectual heros. It's a bit of an adventure getting to Hay-on-Wye, Wales (if you're not a celebrated speaker, that is, ha ha) but that was part of the fun for me. The first thing, if you are considering going, is to not confuse this festival with the Hay Festival of Literature and Arts which occurs during overlapping days just right up the road. Also, HowTheLightGetsIn Festival is also presented every Fall at Hamstead Heath, London with a different lineup of speakers. So be aware of that as well.
Because the festival occurs in the small village of Hay-On-Wye simultaneously with the world renowned Hay Festival of Literature and Arts, accomodations become scarce quickly. Some places even book up a year in advance. So very early planning will pay off. The downside of very early planning is that you won't know who many of the speakers will be until much closer to event time (looking at you Steve). So you'll have to commit to going without knowing the whole program of events. But I'd bet that the likelihood of at least one of your admired thinkers being there is very high.
I think it really makes for a worthwhile holiday trip. Follow this link and get on their mailing list. The festival always occurs during the same weekend, the UK Spring Bank Holiday weekend, so you can actually start your planning now.
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