The Unseen Network: My Encounter with Power and Ritual in California

In June 2013, I was in San Francisco for the Symphony Season, immersing myself in the city's cultural vibrance. One evening, during a casual dinner, a colleague who worked for a prominent humanitarian government agency mentioned an exclusive men-only annual social gathering held in Monte Rio, California. He spoke with a strange enthusiasm, insisting I would enjoy it immensely. According to him, the event attracted figures of significant influence from politics, business, and media, making it a rare opportunity to observe the nexus of power and culture.