2 | FESTIVAL GUIDE festivalfire.com | 3 ISSUE NO. 03 FESTIVAL GUIDE CONTENTS GET TO KNOW US! CALENDAR: FESTIVAL FIRE is a central hearthfire, a source of news and inspiration serving the transformational JANUARY ...... 16 festival community. Follow our blog, watch our calendars for upcoming events, get dressed for fest in FEBRUARY & MARCH...... 28 our store and enjoy our digital publications – packed APRIL ...... 29 with photos, interviews and important dates! MAY...... 30-31 “Transformational Festival” refers to cultural JUNE ...... 44-47 transformation or the re-invention of humanity on earth. These are not your ordinary music events. J U LY...... 48-54 We are building a culture of caring - for each AUGUST...... 54,64-65 other, ourselves, our neighbors, our planet. These gatherings are collaborative open-sourced villages, SEPTEMBER ...... 66-67 devoted to experimentation and inspired co-creation OCT / NOV / DEC ...... 67 of the world we want to live in. And we believe that YOU, that everyone, has gifts to bring to the feast! FLOW ARTS ...... 68-75 PUBLICATIONS FEATURES: www.FestivalFire.com/festival-guide JEDI RISING ...... 18-26 SHOP FESTIVAL FIRE ELECTRONIC AWAKENING ...... 32-40 www.ShopFestivalFire.com FINDING OUR CONNECTION ...56-60 OUR BLOG www.FestivalFire.com CREDITS: NEWSLETTER www.FestivalFire.com/subscribe Thank you to our amazing photographers, Kyer Wiltshire, FACEBOOK Jazzwall Sharad, and Zipporah www.Facebook.com/festivalfire Lomax, our work would not be possible without your immense SERVICES talent and great generosity. www.FestivalFire.com/services

4 | FESTIVAL GUIDE festivalfire.com | 5 SHAMANISM Explore. Learn. Discover.

HEALING • RITUAL • JOURNEY • CEREMONY • PILGRIMAGE

w o r l d r e n o w n e d s h a m a n & h e a l e r

www.SHAMANISM.com 6 | FESTIVAL GUIDE festivalfire.com | 7 WELCOME BACK! Are you ready for another stellar year in transformational festivals? And This year we’ve got a BONUS SURPRISE for you! what a year ahead! The East Coast has exploded with more than half a We collaborated with your favorite artists from fests dozen new events, and others are popping up across the Midwest. We had and put together a second flipbook, called more than twice as many fests to squeeze into the Guide this year, and had to cut anything outside of North America, just so you could download it! THE FESTIVAL MUSIC SPECTACULAR! The movement is growing like crazy - if there’s an event you want to be at, get your tickets early – many are selling out. Be sure to watch our posts for early release dates.

Inside these pages, you’ll meet JEDIRISING, a fresh new theater troupe combining dance, music, fire spinning, flow arts, storytelling and lots more. (page 18)

We also look into ELECTRONIC AWAKENING, an exciting film telling the story of our move from Rave dance floors to outdoor weekend gatherings; read our interview with film maker Andrew Johner. (page 42)

And once again ELLIOT RASENICK, founder of Beloved Festival, shares his deep inspiration in Finding Our Connection. (page 66)

Enjoy the pages ahead my friend, and may your adventures be many.

This year, you’ll see more color, more flavor, more art, more music, and more workshops than ever before. The weather report says it’s going to be the hottest year on record, so pack plenty of sunscreen, a wide brimmed hat and your refillable water bottles…and take good care of each other! to get your Have a fantastic 2015! BONUS GIFT! Saphir Lewis It’s filled with free track downloads...hours and As you navigate this guide, remember to CLICK! All Links in the Ads and Articles are Clickable. hours of music. A little bonus gift to follow your Festival Guide. Enjoy!

8 | FESTIVAL GUIDE festivalfire.com | 9 10 | FESTIVAL GUIDE festivalfire.com | 11 Reuben Smith and David Pricco photo by Jazzwall

12 | FESTIVAL GUIDE festivalfire.com | 13 SECTION TITLE HERE’S TO THE FESTIVAL PRODUCERS by Wesley Wolfbear Pinkham, October 2014

Here’s to the Festival Producers, splayed out on a couch at 2PM on a Saturday afternoon. Though the music thumps from just beyond the trailer, the need for sleep reigns supreme.

Here’s to the Festival Producers, reminding one another that you have to take care of yourself before you can take care of others. Still, stretching themselves to the brink of exhaustion, sleeping with one lucid ear listening to the chitter chatter on walkie talkie squackboxes.

Here’s to the Festival Producers, stewards of land and guardians of initation. In celebration and ceremony, they stand at attention around spires of flame, at box office gates, at information booths, reverential with obligation.

Here’s to the Festival Producers, engaged but not engulfed in emotional readiness, never completely consumed by the swirling energies, always grounding, grounding, grounding and searching for consensus.

Here’s to the Festival Producers, the first on-site and the last to go to bed on Sunday night, when the magnitude of success and failure come rumbling through backstage. For those few sets that you catch, for those few dance moves which burst from your tired limbs with singularity and expression. For those moments where time stands stills and the glowing crowd, unaware of so much sacrifice, gives off the deepest expressions of gratitude to no one and everyone at once.

Here’s to the Festival Producers, golf carts stuck in mud!

Here’s to the Festival Producers, plumbers and electricians none! But you are today! You have leveled up so long as you have not become submerged in slosh or shocked!

Here’s to the Festival Producers, for today you have been a Parking Attendant, Healer, Cook, Negotiator, Security Guard, Sound Tech, Janitor, Volunteer Coordinator, Vendor, Artist, Flow Master, Jedi and Trembling Scared Up To Your Neck Tears Streaming From Every Pore While You Make The Hardest Call Of Your Life That Only You Can Make. All before 11:00 AM and you didn’t even have time for coffee.

Here’s to the Festival Producers, champions of sleep deprivation, self-flagellating with responsibility and somehow sustaining a sacred vessel capable of modeling a new future of community and creativity.

Here’s to the Festival Producers, who, when the morning light comes streaming in, get up and do it again.

Bliss Camp photo by Kyer Wiltshire AMEN.

14 | FESTIVAL GUIDE festivalfire.com | 15 JANUARY / FEBRUARY / MARCH GEOPARADISE JANUARY 30 - FEBRUARY 16, 2015 | PANAMA GeoParadise offers an innovative approach to building sustainable CO2 EXTRACTS THERAPEUTIC FORMULAS futures. Promoting music events around the world, bringing artists to PURE ESSENTIAL OILS ESSENTIAL OIL TINCTURES the most beautiful environments on the planet, creating a symbiosis BOTANICAL PERFUMES WIZARD ALCHEMY BLENDS of entertainment, education and pleasure for our audiences. 10% DISCOUNT CODE: FESTIVALFIRE geoparadise.org/events/tribal-gathering

ENVISION MUSIC, ART & SACRED MOVEMENT FESTIVAL FEBRUARY 26 - MARCH 1, 2015 | UVITA, COSTA RICA On the Southern Pacific coast of Costa Rica with the collaboration of a myriad of renowned artists and visionaries, both local and international, Envision provides a multi-dimensional community forum focused on art, music, movement, education and co-creation. Be part of a global eco-conscious movement that is shaping our future and experience the beauty of the landscape, healing undertones, artistic expression, and the “Pura Vida!” way of life. envisionfestival.com Oregon Country Fair photo by Kyer Wiltshire

Envision Festival photo by Kyer Wiltshire

16 | FESTIVAL GUIDE festivalfire.com | 17 SAPHIR: I know very little of your history, piece that is directed at the individualized INTERVIEW / JEDIRISING / BY SAPHIR LEWIS let’s start at the beginning? soul, teaching him about their element. (Earth-Benjamin Moss, Air-Ashley Keith, DYLAN: From the beginning...I’m a Fire- Mark Wolfe, Water-Ivy Elwyn) The performer (hoop dancer) and I’ve been Air Dance is an aerial silk piece. The fire doing that for about 3 years. I started to get dance is our Fire God with a double dragon the notion that I wanted to do something staff. Then the Water Dance which includes greater than just myself. So I spent about dancing with giant bubbles. We created 2 - 3 months meditating, spending time in characters for the music, even down to the the woods, really focusing and channeling instrumentation. We sampled splashing a statement of intention. After 3 months of water against the shower and used it as the doing that, I came out of the woods, and snare. Every element was integrated into went to a New Year’s Eve party where I met each act and piece. BuddhaBee (aka BlondeOnyx), who makes electronic music. That was the beginning. It From that moment it culminates, as the was the Explosion of JediRising. Shaman, acting as the midwife, says, “Now you’re grounded in the four elements. BUDDHABEE: At the same time, I had seen You’re grounded in time and space.” traveling musician troupes like Liberation Movement; powerful clusters of people And then the Shaman introduces the who came together to create a larger Magickal elements. performance with a message. Rather than one super star creator, they were a whole DYLAN: There is also the understanding constellation of super stars. We each had of the masculine and feminine duality, the that inspiration and then we met, shared ability for us to hold both in our being. ideas, and birthed the entire thing. The story line just came through to us. BUDDHABEE: The Shaman can impart into you anything you need to know, without meet The first incarnation became our 2014 using so many words, using the art of performance, (which will be reborn and dance. Teaching the lessons, perhaps he

Bliss Camp re-molded into several different story lines moves in this one way that makes you think JEDIRISING photo by Kyer Wiltshire for 2015). The first story line is called“The of something. That intimate reflection. Soul’s Journey”. It is a 10 act piece. From there the Shaman piece transitions In the intro, which is called, “The Birth of into the Goddess piece. We have 5 Consciousness”, Dylan (who is the lead Goddesses, Coven back up dancers, while One of the most magical delights recently emerging in transformational dancer) is the individualized Soul, born from our lead woman, Alyssa, does a beautiful festival culture is the new mythical theater. Combining dance, Collective Unity. Our cast of characters are solo piece for the Goddess and that’s again the four Elements: the Goddess (Alyssa embodying all the femininity, motherliness storytelling, fire dancing, circus arts, acrobats, musical performance and Keys), the Shaman (Lucas Reshi), the Soul and teachings that ultimately empower ancient mystical traditions….the new theater “wow’s” your senses and (Dylan Bradley), and we have one character sensuality. which represents the Kundalini/Chakra captures your imagination, taking you on a journey to a land of wonder Energy system (Kandice Korves-Kaus). For DYLAN: There is a nurturing energy and possibility, inviting you to come back expanded and transformed. the birth segment, the four Elements are which comes along with the feminine, the present, with the Goddess and Shaman maternal. representing the Masculine & Feminine Meet JediRising, the newest collaboration of gifted visionary talent to rise on the festival circuit, and essentially making love on stage. Then BUDDHABEE: After the Goddess piece, and coming soon to a festival near you! BuddhaBee and Dylan T Bradley are the founders of all of a sudden, BOOM! the birth of the Dylan, the Soul, who just having learned JediRising. We chatted in early January, 2015. individualized soul comes from their union. all these things, from all these characters, and being present on stage the entire time, From there, each of the elements has a solo discovers his LED Hula hoop. He does a

18 | FESTIVAL GUIDE festivalfire.com | 19 SECTION TITLE

Bliss Camp Bliss Camp photo by Kyer Wiltshire photo by Kyer Wiltshire beautiful solo piece that begins the journey BUDDHABEE: Yes. The Goddess comes of self-enlightenment at the moment of out and she represents the ultimate birth. He does a beautiful LED Hoop piece otherworldly extra dimensional chakra as he is discovering time and space. activation. This is when your kundalini opens up and this is right before the final IT’S A SELF-REALIZATION DYLAN: It’s a self-realization piece. When act, which is the last act of our show which PIECE. WHEN YOU BECOME you become acquainted with all these is the enlightenment. elements, all the pieces that make up our ACQUAINTED WITH ALL THESE lives, then you realize where you are in that SAPHIR: In the Chakra piece, it sounds ELEMENTS, ALL THE PIECES THAT make up. like more than story telling? As if you had crafted the music to literally impact the MAKE UP OUR LIVES, THEN YOU BUDDHABEE: After his solo piece, the audience for an internal shift. REALIZE WHERE YOU ARE IN music transitions. I collaborated with Jordan Hansel, a DJ named GeOmertrae. BUDDHABEE: Absolutely. All the THAT MAKE UP. We created a four and a half minute sound instruments were tuned to each of the healing piece…all of the instruments we chakras, so when you looked at it on the used were tuned to each of the chakra computer, it actually was a rainbow. We frequencies. This is called the Chakra piece. created this to be something that... even We played to each of the chakras. Every if you didn’t watch what was happening sound that you hear has been tuned to 432 on stage, you would be having your own mhz. It is a beautiful sound healing piece experience through the music the entire for the audience to experience. During the time. Especially the Chakra piece. It is a Chakra piece we have a friend come out sound healing piece more than anything and do what is known as the LED Nucleus. else, so it’s the slowest and less beat driven It’s 3 hoops inside of one that revolve of the tracks. around the centralized glowing object. On stage, we brought out a dry ice DYLAN: A gyroscope typically has 3 rings, cauldron, and the Goddess and Shaman it’s a small medium and large ring, and they perform a ritual around it. All four of the each have LED lights on the inside and it elements are present. It’s a collective group revolves like a gyroscope would with the piece. Dylan is in the center of it all and we center piece being an octagonal nucleus. created a LED strip going up the center which are the chakra lights, so throughout SAPHIR: I saw the photo, it’s actually not the piece, we activate the chakra lights. that big, you can hold it in your hands. We’re illustrating what that Kundalini Bliss Camp photo by Kyer Wiltshire

20 | FESTIVAL GUIDE festivalfire.com | 21 is self-realized, then the light spreads from correct way to present this. We went into that person to all the other people. We have different realms to get the cosmic okay. We been working on creating different imagery did bring in a physical consultant to go over so that when he’s enlightened, those around our ceremony and have her tap into the him become enlightened and it spreads to question of, “What is the bigger picture we the larger audience. are creating?” What is the larger ceremony doing? Is it effective? SAPHIR: Do you guys have some history in sacred shamanic arts? SAPHIR: Very exciting.

BUDDHABEE: I have been a practicing BUDDHABEE: The magic of what has shaman for 4 or 5 years. happened…the energetic sparks that are DYLAN: We did a lot of research while we coming off the stage are so powerful! This were writing it. is the only show where everyone would sit down and watch for an hour at a festival BUDDHABEE: We brought in a ceremonial in rapture, and then stand up and give a consultant as well. We did journeys, we standing ovation. They were fully captivated did things to check in with the higher the entire time, so the portal we opened dimensional beings to validate support for really sucked people in and made them Bliss Camp photo by Kyer Wiltshire what we were doing, and if this was the very present with the entire thing. DYLAN: Which can be challenging at Awakening looks like. All the characters are creation? And how does consciousness Bliss Camp present on stage, and this is leading back work?” That’s why it’s called The Soul’s photo by Kyer Wiltshire festivals. It’s very short attention span toward the final act of enlightenment. Journey, because it’s the thing we all theater. have in common. The Soul. From birth to SAPHIR: The final act – Enlightenment! enlightenment, and that may look different BUDDHABEE: For us, they sat and watched for each individual person, but we believe the entire show and didn’t move. It was BUDDHABEE: In the Enlightenment, we that there are in some way, systematic steps amazing. let each of the characters do a little recap. that each person, each soul, goes through They each get a 15 -30 second solo piece to get back to the enlightenment phase. So SAPHIR: That’s fantastic. It looks like it was and then they leave in the same order as the Enlightenment is a recap of the entire full of light and color and lots of exciting they entered. It’s the closing of the circle. show, where Dylan throws his arms up, and things. The birth is the opening of the circle, and is the music crescendos into a reverse symbol also a ceremony in its own right, the whole crash: The Moment of Enlightenment. With BUDDHABEE: We did our show at piece is a ceremony and an intentional the music, I created specific modulations Enchanted Forest and networked with creation. to get from the key we started in, back to those guys to do lighting and projection. home C. Which is, in my opinion, the most That was the element we knew nothing DYLAN: We wanted to create something heavenly key. There’s intention in the music about. You might have seen in the that was entertaining, but had a deeper the entire way through. background a space palace in some of the message that, even if you weren’t able photos. We designed that with my house to fully grasp the message, you were still SAPHIR: You come to Enlightenment and mate, Jah Ishka Lha, who is a prominent moved and were granted some insight into everybody goes off stage one at a time, visionary artist. life lessons. closing the circle. One reason we started this troupe was BUDDHABEE: If you totally didn’t DYLAN: It’s the culmination of all the because there’s not a lot of opportunity understand everything about how creation gathered knowledge; all the lessons which for dancers in this scene to get paid. exists in time space, you’d still be moved. have been imparted, which result in an Performers are undervalued by producers One of my Taoist friends that saw it said enlightened understanding of our reality. and promoters. For instance, if you have “You guys pretty much nailed the Taoist a visual on stage next to the amazing version of creation.” We really went into... BUDDHABEE: Unity back into the music, people are just that much more Bliss Camp entertained and it becomes a more “How does life manifest itself? What is universe… and once the individualized soul photo by Kyer Wiltshire

22 | FESTIVAL GUIDE festivalfire.com | 23 immersing experience for them. Performers Lha who is a visionary artist painter, we get a discounted ticket to the event, no have myself, another female singing an accommodations, food, they don’t get epic operatic piece (Aleksandra Shira much for what they contribute. We want Dubov), and narrating the electronic birth to create an opportunity for our troupe of of consciousness. Our troupe is quite large dancers to actually get paid, and start that at different moments. We have 6 people on as a trend, and people will say, hey if we side stage singing while there’s 10 people band together as a troupe, we are worth on stage dancing. And we have a narrator more and can do this professionally. whom we call the Oracle (Michaela Ivie), she’s featured throughout giving little DYLAN: It’s appreciated by fans and artists, synopses of the next segment. The guys we but monetarily it isn’t appreciated. worked with for lighting and projections are Third Eye Projections and The Supernatural BUDDHABEE: So, that’s where you asked Factory, and our clothing designer is Ivy if the music is available… is it going to cost Elwyn of Elvyn Galactic Designs…it’s a big money? I say yes, because all of that is group! going to come back into the nesting pot we are creating. We paid our dancers for SAPHIR: What happened with the music? Is rehearsals because they would drive 2.5 hrs it recorded? to be here, and we had sometimes 3 days of rehearsal 8 hrs a day. The choreography BUDDHABEE: Yes it’s all recorded. We have was so hard. It was expensive for them to a couple of tracks on sound cloud. drive to a show for 3 days and miss 3 days of work at a time. We had multiple strings SAPHIR: Are they available for people? like that, so we paid people for rehearsal. BUDDHABEE: We will be finishing it into SAPHIR: Did you crowd fund for that? a complete playable album which will be available for sale. BUDDHABEE: We didn’t, we found a private investor, and on the other side of SAPHIR: How long it the performance? this, we have the music. BUDDHABEE: It’s an hour. For several of our shows, we have 5 live singers (Jah Ishka Lha, Ixchel Prrisma, SAPHIR: Wow that’s a lot to pack into an hour! Amae Love, Aleksandra Shira Dubov & I). There’s myself (BlondeOnyx) and another BUDDHABEE: Yes it’s very multi-layered. electronic producer (GeOmertrae) who If its longer than 45 mins, it better be created the music, I created all the vocal amazing, but it can’t be longer than an hour parts for the singers of the community too. or people’s attention span will diminish. Dylan’s vision from the beginning was a We’re trying to condense it into a 45 minute constellation of dancers, my vision was a piece. We wrote a song which works constellation of musicians and singers, and as our sound check. It’s a 4 minute full then we picked the best from the scene, systems sound check where the singers can and we brought them all together on one create beautiful ad lib stuff and make sure stage in one show. We have five vocalists everything is going well. singing over these tracks, the Goddess track is 2 people, Amae Love and Ixchel SAPHIR: Where are you going from here? Prrisma, who are two of the most up and What’s 2015 going to be all about? coming female vocalists on the scene right now. Ixchel works with Shamans Dream, BUDDHABEE: We really love the story line Bliss Camp and Desert Dwellers. We have Jah Ishka that we have created. The level of intensity photo by Kyer Wiltshire

24 | FESTIVAL GUIDE festivalfire.com | 25 it took to put it on, including a stage Forest and Forever Everland, and we will manager, stage hands, prop manager….it’s definitely do something at Burning Man. not really reachable for festivals who have We want to submit to different festivals and lower budgets. We have a lot of dancers create different productions for each one. and are putting on a huge show. So what LIB invited us to submit, so that’s exciting. we are creating now is a customized performance for the opportunity we are If there’s one image I could leave you with, given. We’re going to be collaborating it’s that we are a constellation of superstars, with more music producers, more singers, that is music and dance. The power of making new music. We’ve talked about what can happen, transformationally to the plenty of other story lines which we want to collective …we can inspire greater numbers develop. as we come together. Some of our dancers are visionary artists and painters. These are DYLAN: We will continue creating multi-talented artists. Our clothing designer relationships between music producers and is one of our dancers. We are a full package performers. We cast specific roles for this of talented multi-dimensional people that one. For 2015, we’ll be casting out again came together and created a larger vision. and we will be able to include more people Musically, dance wise, what we have put and showcase performers from around the together, is an example of what people can world. do. If we can do it, you can do it. It takes a lot but it isn’t unattainable. Any vision you BUDDHABEE: If Alyssa wasn’t present for have, if you can dream it, you can do it and one of our shows, we couldn’t perform we are a living example of that. because no one could step into that role. It was very specific for her. So moving facebook.com/JediRising forward we want to take the pressure off and create a semi revolving cast, with core members, and then revolving satellite members.

Now that we have a relationship within the community, as people who are pleasurable to work with, people who pay their dancers, more high quality professional people are coming to us to say, “I don’t care if you pay me I want to show my art in the way you are delivering it.” That’s been attractive to producers as well. We want to be the ones who organize it and put it out into the world. Ultimately we want to be the ones who inspire and educate people.

SAPHIR: It sounds like for 2015 you are crafting several more story lines that you can produce with different groups of people so you can incorporate more artists. It’s still early in the season so you don’t really have your gigs set up yet.

BUDDHABEE: We have submitted to quite a few, and we will return to Enchanted

26 | FESTIVAL GUIDE festivalfire.com | 27 FEBRUARY / MARCH APRIL / MAY WANDERLUST FESTIVAL OAHU LUCIDITY FESTIVAL FEBRUARY 26 - MARCH 1, 2015 | OAHU, HAWAII APRIL 10-12, 2015 | LIVE OAK CAMPGROUND, SANTA YNEZ, CALIFORNIA Wanderlust Oahu is a four-day yoga, music and food festival at the Join us, Lucid Dreamer, for our continuing epic transformational saga. picturesque Turtle Bay Resort for yogis looking for a sea-escape Kindred Quest marks the beginning of our collective exploration of from the winter blues with sun salutations, surfing and shore-side community, family and tribe. In this chapter we are seeking guidance meditation. from our past – from our ancestors and elders. Ever looking, ever oahu.wanderlustfestival.com learning, ever loving, ever lucid, we are coming together as One commUnity with One voice. SERENITY GATHERING lucidityfestival.com MARCH 19-22, 2015 | LOS OLIVOS, CALIFORNIA A conscious gathering focused on art and music, experience an array of NAAM FESTIVAL, WHERE LOVE TAKES FLIGHT workshops, activities, and art installations. The body germinates, the APRIL 24-25, 2015 | IRVINE, CALIFORNIA mind sprouts, the soul nourishes, and the spirit blooms. We encourage Love Takes Flight Festival is a charity event promoting community, sound and theme camps of all different kinds! wellness, and the positive evolution of humanity. Through speakers and artists, workshops, classes, live musicians, and activities, “Naam serenitygathering.com Festival: Where Love Takes Flight” promotes self-awareness, self- healing, and self-growth from a universal perspective. Come and MAULI OLA FESTIVAL immerse yourself in a high vibration of love, peace, and light. Raise CANCELED UNTIL 2016 | PAHALA, HAWAII your energetic frequency, and celebrate your birthright of joy, health, The Mauli Ola Festival is a Transformative, Co-creative Wisdom Festival. and inner peace with your local community. Deepen your connection to your inner wise one while you celebrate naamfestival.com and co-create with dance and song! We honor the convergence of ancient spiritual knowledge and the scientific paradigm, and we TRIBAL CONNECTION FESTIVAL commit to live in the highest truth available to us without dogma. We recognize that we are co-creating our experience together with all of MAY 7-9. 2015 | BELLEFONTAINE, OHIO life, and we respect the principle of free will, in the highest level of This conscious gathering is based upon supporting the local music scene mutual benefit and cooperation that is available to us. for the bands, artist, vendors, the Shawnee people and every single person attending. Make the connections that will last you a life time. mauliolafestival.com tribalconnectionfestival.com

OMETEOTL LEAF FESTIVAL - LAKE EDEN ARTS FESTIVAL MARCH 28-29, 2015 TEPOZTLAN, MORELOS. MEXICO These beautiful folks attended our producers alliance in August and MAY 7-10, 2015 | BLACK MOUNTAIN, NORTH CAROLINA produce the first transformational festival we know of in Mexico. This Spring, LEAF Festival celebrates 40 festivals and 20 years of connecting They have a beautiful vision of conscious community in collaborative cultures and creating community through music and arts. Enjoy a dynamic celebration of life, and we encourage your support as they begin the array of arts across 5 stages and 7 interactive villages that includes music, journey of gathering. You will also meet them at Envision and Tribal dance, healing art, visionary art, folk art, handcrafts, fire-spinning, poetry, Alliance, they are family. puppetry and so much more. Align your body, mind and spirit with more than 50 healing arts workshops, hiking, biking, swimming and canoeing. facebook.com/ometeotlfestival Feel the connectivity at this family-friendly lake setting. theleaf.com Envision Festival photo by Zippy Lomax

28 | FESTIVAL GUIDE festivalfire.com | 29 MAY SECTION TITLE KINNECTION CAMPOUT LIGHTNING IN A BOTTLE MUSIC AND ARTS FESTIVAL MAY 14-17, 2015 | DEERFIELDS, SOUTH CAROLINA MAY 21 - 25, 2015 | BRADLEY, CALIFORNIA Kinnection Campout is designed to be a unique gathering focused on A celebration of art, music, performance, yoga, sustainability and community building where the tribe can drop in deep with each other, life, LIB goes beyond any ordinary music festival. With its world- form lasting connections, and celebrate life together in a safe container. class fusion of electronic music, performance art, spiritual lectures We believe in the power of integrating the wisdom of traditional tribal and hands-on workshops, the festival’s overarching embodiment culture with the emerging modern visionary culture, integrating the of cultural and environmental consciousness creates an atmosphere power of prayer, expression, and personal growth into an experience where attendees from all walks of life can find a way to connect with that offers a new way of relating to each other, to ourselves, and to the others as well as themselves. entire breathing world of which we are part. lightninginabottle.org kinnectioncampout.org

SHAKTI FEST MAY 15-17, 2015 | JOSHUA TREE, CALIFORNIA Shakti Fest is a celebration of the divine feminine in us all offering the ultimate Yogic destination retreat and gathering place for the collective consciousness and discovering the pure Bhakti residing in us all. The event offers an unprecedented line up of internationally renowned yoga teachers, kirtan artists, and workshop leaders in the beautiful desert setting of Joshua Tree. Come open your heart and align with the divine! bhaktifest.com

STEAMPUNK WORLD’S FAIR MAY 15-17, 2015 | PISCATAWAY, NEW JERSEY Steampunk is the melding of futuristic technology with the anachronistic society of the Victorian era. The Steampunk World’s Fair has more music, vendors, shows and entertainment than anyone else! We are a rousing event, which combines the wild magic of a festival with the warm cordiality of a movement based on whimsy and creative joys. Family friendly, patrons can learn, explore, experience and interact with a culture out of this world. steampunkworldsfair.com

Burning Man photo by Zippy Lomax

30 | FESTIVAL GUIDE festivalfire.com | 31 SAPHIR: What was the original inspiration night, imagine what it had done for all the INTERVIEW / ELECTRONIC AWAKENING / BY SAPHIR LEWIS for Electronic Awakening? participants who had been engaged in the community for several years. ANDREW: When I began pursuing my undergrad in anthropology, I studied I continued my field research, attending Rave culture. I had a friend who had events, and interviewing participants, and been completely transformed by these all my interviewees expressed the same events and I was curious what he had narrative. The party awakened them. experienced. Just reading about the Their involvement with the events and the events from an armchair perspective, I felt community became part of their spiritual that there was much more going on than paths. Lives were changed, hearts and popular media had led us to believe. At minds opened, and over time, the whole the time, I was also deeply interested in community blossomed into an awakening, shamanism, spirituality, and religion. For conscious tribe of people. shamans, trance and ecstasy are methods of entering a supernatural dimension… As I was filming these interviews and so I wondered what this community was attending events, I began feeling more experiencing. I researched everything I and more a part of the community, and could find on the subject. Following my was having my own spiritual awakening. capstone on Rave culture, I was awarded a It was amazing, to have that experience grant from my University to go out and do around so many others who shared it with field research and that’s how I ended up at me, through community and through the my first event. dance floor. I was dedicated, from very early on, to make a film that expressed The idea for the film came as I began my exactly that—what thousands of others, research. My first event was Shambhala, in now including myself—had shared…. BC, Canada 2006, where I heard numerous accounts of life-changing experiences ELECTRONIC in my interviews, and encountered the AS I WAS FILMING THESE extraordinary power of dance and music for myself for the first time. I was blown INTERVIEWS AND ATTENDING away by the experience. Within the first 24 EVENTS, I BEGAN FEELING AWAKENING hours of field-work I felt that my life had MORE AND MORE A PART OF been changed forever. Here was a whole new side of life that I never before thought THE COMMUNITY, AND WAS possible, a place of connection with other HAVING MY OWN SPIRITUAL Electronic Awakening is an exciting new film, produced by people, with nature, and with myself. AWAKENING. Feeling that intense and life-changing Andrew Johner, with partner Keyframe Entertainment. It is about the power I was incredibly moved and at the rise of Rave culture and how the deep connection people experienced same time curious—I thought to myself, “so I ended up filming over 200 hours of this is what religion is supposed to be, but footage, and interviewed around 60 there led them to take the dance floor out and into nature to become I never got this experience from church”. participants in the community. By 2010, This experience gave me true access to a I had a rough cut of the film and was gatherings over several days. This movement merged with our spiritual dimension of life that was devoid looking for completion funds and someone growing transformational festival movement, and we’ve now become of dogma, deities, or charismatic preachers to help me edit all that madness. I began - genuine spirituality. I was even more working with Drew Martinez and Kalix one. The film is outstanding, very inspirational, and documenting an baffled that—here was an entire culture, Sky in Los Angeles (Drew now edits on important part of our history. I highly recommend checking it out. an electronic music culture, who had been the Bloom, I believe) and we started having these experiences with one another polishing the cut. Later that year, we had I spoke with Andrew in January, 2015. for more than a decade. If the experience a successful Kickstarter campaign and was able to change me like that in one partnered with Keyframe-Entertainment

32 | FESTIVAL GUIDE festivalfire.com | 33 who brought us to the finish line. The film of hard melodic dancing as a collective had a global release through Gravitas group, and the entrainment brainwaves Ventures on December 21st, 2012 to beat-focused music eliciting the (yes, I got to pick the date). production of trance and moments of group ecstasy. Technology also plays an SAPHIR: The film showcases the important role in amplifying each one of experience people have on the dance these elements - the production of high- floor, a feeling of deep connection to one intensity electronic music, psychedelic another. Talk about that a little more? soundscapes and visual projections. With all of these various elements at play, the ANDREW: The connectedness that event or festival becomes an alternate happens at these events is certainly not reality where individuals are able to escape unique to EDM. The sense of spiritual social norms while at the same time unity and social solidarity that arises on a achieving heightened states of empathy dance floor can also be found in Sufism, and euphoria. And, of course, everyone ecstatic dance, and many early shamanic feeds off the general atmosphere of the practices. There is an enormous amount event. The effect of all this is not only the of anthropology that has been conducted breakdown of the ego, and basic social about dance among early tribal cultures as normality, it also encourages individuals a means of catalyzing group solidarity, rites to discover new behaviors which amplify of passage for change, and the origin of euphoric and communal atmospheres. religious ritual and myth, namely from the Not only are individuals making new bonds works of Victor Turner and Emile Durkheim with each other but they’re accessing which were my favorites to read in all this. ways of being in the world that are new to While the experience is not unique to western society. EDM, it was EDM that helped rejuvenate the experience among youth, igniting a Attendees of these events often say revitalization of ecstatic spirituality and that a unified consciousness, or ‘hive- community through dance. Now, through mind,’ is born on the dance floor in the the recent rise of transformational festivals split seconds when the music brings one can surmise that such experiences everyone through a crescendo of intensity. lead to the production of a new culture. The dance floor, as well as the wider Here in the United States, as we have event, be it an outdoor festival, creates been blessed to watch the emergence of a liminal zone where the parameters of the transformational festival community, social expectation and norms are broken it has clearly demonstrated that these down - in some cases extinguished. The events transform individuals and whole experience rekindles the transformative communities. It is a movement of genuine power of rites of passage and sacred ritual. connection, a whole-earth ecology, and reignited interest in the sacred, healing, and an animistic kinship with THE DANCE FLOOR, AS WELL nature—and to think that it all spiraled out of kids listening to techno in dark AS THE WIDER EVENT, BE IT AN rustic warehouses in the nineties. It is a OUTDOOR FESTIVAL, CREATES profound demonstration of the power of A LIMINAL ZONE WHERE THE music, dance, and spiritual communion with others. Electronic Awakening PARAMETERS OF SOCIAL captures the story of that powerful and EXPECTATION AND NORMS ARE historical phenomenon. As Electronic BROKEN DOWN. Awakening explains, these experiences Bass Coast Festival at EDM events arise from a convergence photo by Zippy Lomax

34 | FESTIVAL GUIDE festivalfire.com | 35 Individuals find a new sense of being, identity, and perspective - i.e. “transforming” themselves. If you want to read into how these powerful experiences work, study the writings of Victor Turner on liminaltiy. When we experience ego-loss, we feel a kinship with those around us who are undergoing the same experience.

Now in a new chapter, electronic music events are shifting their focus away from the sole production of a transformative space, towards the creation of a community which lives on beyond the dance floor. When individuals undergo the experience as a collective group, they not only build solidarity with one another, but are partnering in the creation of a new group norm. We are seeing this with the emergence of “core values” at transformational festivals. By breaking down the ego such events are dissolving previous value-systems and making way for the collaborative creation of new culture.

SAPHIR: Can these experiences be created intentionally?

ANDREW: I prefer to use the word “engineered” The EDM culture on a whole is heavily involved with the engineering of experiences of ecstasy, euphoria, connectedness, and sacred or mystical revelation. They are also involved in the production of new culture around the experience. The transformational community, as an example, is less focused on the singular dance floor as they are on creating an entire cultural experience through the workshops, speakers, installation art, performance ritual, and ceremony. The euphoric, and often surreal apex of dance floor intensity at one of these events is only the beginning for many attendees. Beyond the momentary experience, participants are interested in expanding the mind, amplifying the imagination, broadening awareness, and evolving their own psychology. The film talks a lot about the process of creating these experiences through sound, electricity, and beat patterns. Many of my interviewees talk about how they felt their experiences on the dance floor were vibratory. They not only saw sacred experience as a psychological event, but as something that was physically tactile. Electronic Music is considered by some to be sacred, for giving physiological access to these higher dimensions of consciousness. I wanted to bring those concepts into the film – that music, spirituality, and connection are accessible. Historically, access to these higher states of consciousness was understood to be a supernatural or psychological event. That’s all changing now. We are moving into an era where spirituality is more and more being understood as a science—and in the case of the electronic music culture— as a technology. Electronic Awakening embodies this one key message, that connection to the sacred is biological. It’s a part of our humanity. In an age of extreme secularization when the mainstream culture is demanding the dissolution of religion, screaming God is dead, here’s a bizarre little subculture who have found a new interpretation of the Sacred on the dance floor, one Beloved Festival photo by Kyer Wiltshire

36 | FESTIVAL GUIDE festivalfire.com | 37 of the events. It’s about finding new a revolution in entertainment and event identity outside of regular societal norms, production towards engineering ecstatic belonging to a community of individuals experience. While intentions are yet for who support shared values that are formed leisure and entertainment, the impact of at these events. You can’t just go to a the dance floor ecstasis bonds participants transformational festival and have a heart with the awareness of a higher state of opening experience and be done with consciousness and group unity. Among it—you can’t go back to your retail job festivals like Burning Man, Lightning in a and continue doing the same 9-5 thing Bottle, Symbiosis, Wanderlust, and Lucidity and leave that experience behind. Most - the impact comes from the experimental people don’t do that. The participants exploration of new forms of society, new of these events seek to incorporate the interpretations of spirituality and religion, experience into their day-to-day lives. This and a reinvigorated dialogue between the of course means attending more festivals, establishment of community and rhythms integrating more and more members of nature. While this may not be a model of the transformational community into for an entire world of extraordinarily their social circles. They want to surround diverse socio-economic conditions, they themselves with people who share the certainly have and will continue to serve same set of values that have profoundly as an idea hot-spot, a source of cultural changed them. It becomes more than novelty, and new models for a possible just going to these amazing festivals a future for all of us. few times a year, its about belonging to a community—and a huge chunk of the SAPHIR: Tell us more about why the film, magic comes from that sense of belonging. Electronic Awakening is important to see, Beloved Festival and what it has meant to you to see it photo by Kyer Wiltshire Unfortunately, belonging is pricey. When blossom in the world. I first fell in love with this community, that is beyond dogma or church. They as on the internet. The charismatic leader it was partly because I thought this ANDREW: I always trace the conception are finding genuine connection through is spread out among a large faction of was something meant for everyone to of Electronic Awakening back to my sound and vibration, and have utilized that individuals, who consider themselves to experience. Dance music was universal. own awakening experience on the dance experience to catalyze a movement of be charged with roles of evangelizing It was beyond status. When I first floor within that first 24 hours of doing complete cultural revitalization. core values as emissaries of sacred awakened on the dance floor I didn’t just fieldwork. In that moment, call it a pink information. Because there is no central feel connected to the transformational laser beam from God, I knew that I had SAPHIR: Do you think these EDM or singular source of information guiding community, I felt connected to everyone to tell this community’s story, and rely communities, and their gatherings are the movement, it’s growth follows a new on the planet who had ever danced—and their experience to the outside world. influencing society overall? pattern which I call ‘Autogenisis’ acting that’s what Rave culture was originally all The fact that an experience so powerful ‘Autogenic’. It’s the organic self-guided about….but with the move to festivals, that was so misunderstood by the mainstream ANDREW: For those who do have access growth of a collective culture as one body. changed. I think the regional Burning Man encouraged me to find a way to explain it. I to the community, and are a part of the We have technology to thank, as it has events are making the most headway in remained very rigorous in the research and movement so to speak, the change is now allowed for new formations of culture keeping it accessible. The regional burns production of the film, and now the writing extraordinary. The festivals are a hotbed to blossom - and this is one of the first and are grassroots, self-mobilized efforts to of my book, Electronic Revival. It’s been a for a new form of viral culture-evangelism most interesting in my perspective. erect the Burning Man experience locally lot of hard work. due to the immersive complexity of and economically. Few can afford the I am grateful for the partnerships with our the social environment, as well as the As far as how much they are affecting thousands of dollars needed to attend in editor Drew Martinez, Julian Reyes from accelerated spread of information through larger society, there still appear to Black Rock City, but many can squeeze the Keyframe, and Phillip Wood and Satsi social networking. The traditional role of be immense boundaries between $40-50 it costs to attend a regional Burn. Sonik from AMMO who helped catalyze a charismatic leader directing the group, themselves and the outside world. The the project into what you see today. One has transformed into a silent one - a transformational culture is not just about SAPHIR: What do you feel the greater of the most amazing and unexpected ghostly form that exists within the vast buying a ticket and attending an event, impact is? results of Electronic Awakening’s release is data streams of communication between it’s also about belonging to a community. the global attention we have received from community members, at events, as well I feel too few people point out this aspect ANDREW: The rise of EDM is catalyzing dance collectives all over the world. The

38 | FESTIVAL GUIDE festivalfire.com | 39 film has screened in Australia, Costa Rica, I will begin a tour with Electronic England, Spain, Portugal, Germany, France, Awakening and Electronic Revival Belgium, Brazil, Mexico, and Finland. As starting in Spring 2015. I’ve said before, dance music is universal, and I hope that the film and the message I also have two chapters being published continue to spread throughout the world. in larger academic volumes in the next 6 months - one titled “What is a SAPHIR: Where can people see the film? Transformational Festival: Assessing elements of Identity, Belonging and ANDREW: I encourage everyone to see the Allegiance among Transformational film, Electronic Awakening: Culture” in the book Exploring Psychedelic Trance and Electronic “IF YOU WANT TO SHOW YOUR Dance Music in Modern Culture, and SUPPORT, YOU CAN VIEW also “Buy the Ticket, Take the Ride: Transformational Festivals and The THE FILM ON OUR WEBSITE Commodification of Experience” FOR $2.99, OR ORDER A COPY in the book Weekend Societies. OF THE DVD FOR $19.99 AT ELECTRONICAWAKENING.COM AC Johner is the creator of the film Electronic Awakening, released in 2012. He is also a writer and researcher on THE PROCEEDS GO DIRECTLY TO electronic music cultures, spirituality, and trans-humanism. HELPING PAY FOR THE MAKING He is currently pursuing an MA in Ethnographic Journalism at OF THE FILM. DESPITE THE Lesley University in Cambridge, Massachusetts. GLOBAL VISIBILITY I AM STILL TRYING TO BREAK EVEN, SO EVERY LITTLE BIT HELPS AND IS GREATLY APPRECIATED!” THE FILM IS ALSO AVAILABLE FOR FREE ON HULU SAPHIR: What’s next on your horizon?

ANDREW: For the last two and a half years I have been working on the written portion of my research. It is a book titled “Electronic Revival: Technology, Religion and the Rise of Electronic Dance Music”, expected to be out Fall 2015. The book is a journalistic account of the evolution of the electronic music scene on the West Coast, from the raves in the nineties through the birth of transformational festivals. The book explores the evolution of the electronic music community as one of the most modern revitalization movements in our history. To keep up with information on the book you can follow my website at: acjohner.com

40 | FESTIVAL GUIDE festivalfire.com | 41 ELECTRONIC AWAKENING EMBODIES THIS ONE KEY MESSAGE, THAT CONNECTION TO THE SACRED IS BIOLOGICAL. IT’S A PART OF OUR HUMANITY. - ANDREW JONER

Beloved Festival photo by Kyer Wiltshire

42 | FESTIVAL GUIDE festivalfire.com | 43 JUNE JUNE WANDERLUST FESTIVAL WEST VIRGINIA SOLSTICE OM REUNION JUNE 5-7, 2015 | SNOWSHOE, WEST VIRGINIA JUNE 16 - 21, 2015 | TORONTO, ONTARIO, CANADA Wanderlust Festivals are all-out, ecstatic celebrations. We bring Come celebrate Summer Solstice with your cOMmunity: sharing of together the world’s leading yoga teachers, top musical acts, yourselves and making new friends. We will enjoy all the things renowned speakers, exquisite chefs, and thrilling performers, weaving that make it hOMe: amazing music, sights and sounds, member- together an experience that surprises and delights. From early morning shaped workshops, healing, shared meals, and all that good stuff. meditations to all-night chakra-spinning musical performances, come A membership-based, community-driven gathering in the forest of practice and party in the most awe-inspiring locations in the world. southern Ontario. snowshoe.wanderlustfestival.com omreunionproject.org UNIFIER FESTIVAL JUNE 11-14, 2015 | TOLLAND, MASSACHUSETTS SONIC BLOOM Honoring and bringing together different sub-cultures this gathering is JUNE 18-21 2015 | LOCATION TBA, COLORADO a yoga festival, it is a tribal belly dance festival. It is a world and sacred SONIC BLOOM is a 4-day camping festival that brings live and music festival, and dance party, a live art show, a place for ceremony, electronic music, dance, art and human performance together in an for permaculture, for sculptural works and circus arts. It is a place atmosphere that inspires open channels of creativity for everyone to care for the land and to eat organic food, and to be inspired and involved, especially the audience…Together, we will create a inspire our kids and our elders. resonant field in which to unify all forms of human creative expression. Some of the highest quality live electronic artists UnifierFestival.com and most cutting-edge producers create an incredibly intimate FIREFLY FESTIVAL boutique festival experience... a unified field. sonicbloomfestival.com JUNE 11-15, 2015 | FLAGSTAFF, ARIZONA Firefly is a movement, inspiring profound positive social and individual growth, Connect deeply, learn unique skills, become inspired, and celebrate life. An intentional gathering focused WANDERLUST FESTIVAL VERMONT on manifesting our vision of a co-creative, nurturing and loving JUNE 18-21, 2015 | BONDVILLE, VERMONT community that fosters a healing, healthy lifestyle partnered with Wanderlust brings together the world’s leading yoga teachers, conscious celebration and a spiritual peak experience. When we come top musical acts and DJs, renowned speakers, top chefs and together to celebrate our ONE-ness, we all experience transformation winemakers to settings of breathtaking natural beauty. Fun in through inspiration, resulting in personal and planetary evolution. the sun and dancing under the stars. Hiking on peaceful trails and gettin’ your down dog on. Poolside with friends, and then a farm- fireflygathering.com to-table dinner with views of surrounding peaks. Early morning meditations and all-night chakra spinning musical performances FOREVER EVERLAND - it’s an all-out ecstatic celebration in the most awe-inspiring JUNE 12-14, 2015 | LAKE LADOGA, CALIFORNIA locations in the world. All pirates, fairies, and kids that never want to grow up …Experience the future of your fantasy – a new land brimming with art, music, magic stratton.wanderlustfestival.com and splendor has been discovered! By activating our imaginations & exploring peace through artistic expression, we co-create the world we wish to live in Forever! Join us in celebrating the discovery of FOREVERLAND with three days of radical inclusion, camping, swimming, playshops, community & unforgettable 24/7 music. Bass Coast Festival forevereverlandfestival.com photo by Zippy Lomax

44 | FESTIVAL GUIDE festivalfire.com | 45 JUNE JUNE SOLSTICE OM REUNION CONSCIOUS CULTURE FESTIVAL INSHALA FESTIVAL JUNE 16 - 21, 2015 | TORONTO, ONTARIO, CANADA JUNE 19-21, 2015 | TONASKET, WASHINGTON JUNE 26-29, 2015 | FORT MACLEOD, ALBERTA, CANADA Come celebrate Summer Solstice with your cOMmunity: sharing of CCF brings together music, art & education that promotes equality, Join us for this transformational festival, as we step into a new cycle yourselves and making new friends. We will enjoy all the things sustainability, justice, healthy living, organic farming, and an all-around of Creation & Celebration. Experience an extensive lineage of inspired that make it hOMe: amazing music, sights and sounds, member- conscious lifestyle. With 4 stages, 40 live acts, 40 DJs, 30 free workshops Conference workshops; Connect and dance with a variety of local and shaped workshops, healing, shared meals, and all that good stuff. and all sorts of amazing art, there is something for everyone at this family international music performers. Enjoy the family friendly activities for all A membership-based, community-driven gathering in the forest of friendly event. Music will range from Reggae, Rock, Folk, Hip-Hop, Blues ages and interests. Inshala 8 - “Rebirth” southern Ontario. and Soul to Dubstep, Downtempo, Glitch, House & beyond! inshala.ca omreunionproject.org consciousculturefestival.com PROJECT EARTH JUNE 19-21, 2015 | GENEVA, MINNESOTA SONIC BLOOM Most festivals are jam packed with non-stop over stimulation for your inner Bliss Junkie to get its fix. Although we do love that…Project Earth JUNE 18-21 2015 | LOCATION TBA, COLORADO has a different mission. To slow it all down and open space for the family SONIC BLOOM is a 4-day camping festival that brings live and to discover more of each other and strengthen our community roots. We electronic music, dance, art and human performance together in an feel that the more intimate setting in the forest is just the right medicine atmosphere that inspires open channels of creativity for everyone for the Tribal convergence. The Planet and all life on her need conscious involved, especially the audience…Together, we will create a resonant people now more than ever! We are the ones we have been waiting for… field in which to unify all forms of human creative expression. Some of the highest quality live electronic artists and most cutting- projectearthfest.com edge producers create an incredibly intimate boutique festival experience... a unified field. BHAKTI FEST MIDWEST sonicbloomfestival.com JUNE 26-28, 2015 | MADISON, WISCONSIN For the 4th year, Bhakti Fest’s highly anticipated return will feature an all-star yoga and Kirtan cast, charged with melodic sounds and a spiritual undercurrent so unique you feel at your core. Featuring unique classes, WANDERLUST FESTIVAL VERMONT from world-renowned teachers and local Midwest instructors, offering a JUNE 18-21, 2015 | BONDVILLE, VERMONT breadth of techniques from full-body work-outs, to restorative practices. Taking place in a drug free and alcohol free environment and offering Wanderlust brings together the world’s leading yoga teachers, top only vegetarian cuisine, there’s fun for the whole family. Children 12 and musical acts and DJs, renowned speakers, top chefs and winemakers under come FREE! Come chant, sing, dance and play! to settings of breathtaking natural beauty. Fun in the sun and dancing under the stars. Hiking on peaceful trails and gettin’ your down dog bhaktifest.com on. Poolside with friends, and then a farm-to-table dinner with views of surrounding peaks. Early morning meditations and all-night chakra FAIRY & HUMAN RELATIONS CONGRESS spinning musical performances - it’s an all-out ecstatic celebration in the most awe-inspiring locations in the world. JUNE 26-28, 2015 | TWISP, WASHINGTON Fairy Congress is devoted to promoting communication and co-creation with stratton.wanderlustfestival.com nature spirits, devas and the faery realms. Are you one of the enchanted ones who speaks, plays and works with the fairy realm, the fae, nature spirits, angels or even dragons? Or are you simply curious and wanting to learn more? People from all walks of life, who want to learn to, set this June weekend aside for profound teachings and deep personal change as we work with friends across the veil, to bring LOVE into the planet. Envision Festival photo by Kyer Wiltshire fairycongress.com

46 | FESTIVAL GUIDE festivalfire.com | 47 Zan Moore JULY SECTIONOregon Country TITLE Fair photo by Zippy Lomax RAINBOW GATHERING LUMINOCITY GATHERING JULY 1-7, 2015 | LOCATION TBA JULY 3-6, 2015 | SUNSHINE COAST, BC, CANADA The Rainbow Family gathers every year in the National Forests of Deep within the enchanted temperate rainforest of the Sunshine Coast, OREGON COUNTRY FAIR North America, always during the week of July 1-7. The peak of the a luminescent seed has been resown. We bring to the BC west coast, Gathering on July 4 begins with morning silence, broken by a community cutting edge musicians, artists, teachers, and visionaries from around the JULY 10-12, 2015 | VENETA, OREGON prayer for world peace and followed by a full day of (acoustic) music, globe. A chance to experience the next level paradigm in a synesthesiac The Oregon Country Fair has 17 stages featuring dancing, feasting, and celebration. Based on the principle of communal environment of future psy frequencies, visionary aesthetics, conscious hundreds of world class entertainers and performers, collaboration, food is donated to the many kitchens that feed the learning, community connection, and much more! Together we will co- hand craft artisans and gourmet food creators lining Gathering, free of charge. Money exchange is taboo, and prohibited items create an intimate west coast experience like no other! up to provide, once again, an experience unequaled in the include alcohol, firearms, and sound amplifiers. luminositygathering.com festival world. Dress up and come ready to participate in a time- welcomehome.org/rainbow of-your-life cultural immersion that nourishes the spirit. Explore living artfully and authentically on Earth, and transform culture WANDERLUST FESTIVAL COLORADO EVOLVE MUSIC & AWARENESS FESTIVAL in magical, joyous and healthy ways. The Oregon Country JULY 2-5, 2015 | ASPEN SNOWMASS, COLORADO JULY 9-12, 2015 | ANTIGONISH, NOVA SCOTIA Fair creates a world unlike any other in a magical Breakaway from the Summer bustle to Aspen’s Snowmass Village, a quiet A 3-day summer celebration of music, culture, and social awareness. wooded setting. Colorado town tucked in the Colorado Rockies. Held in one of the best From its start as a grassroots music and awareness festival featuring oregoncountryfair.org ski resorts in the world, this four-day event will offer guests the usual local bands, the festival showcases world-class performers from amazing yoga classes, musical performances, talks and food, along with around the globe. Evolve also hosts workshops about social issues, the water rafting, weekly rodeos, and miles of biking and hiking trails on a personal wellbeing and environmental awareness. breathtaking backdrop. www.evolvefestival.com WANDERLUST FESTIVAL TAHOE colorado.wanderlustfestival.com JULY 16-19, 2015 | LAKE TAHOE, CA Wanderlust Tahoe offers famous yoga teachers and top-tier performers in a legendary setting of breathtaking beauty for a memorable summer experience. Festival-goers can enjoy yoga, incredible music, lifestyle talks and the natural bounties of Squaw Valley. squaw.wanderlustfestival.com

ELEMENTS GATHERING JULY 16-22, 2015 | SPRINGVILLE, CALIFORNIA Elements brings together top instructors in Ancestral skills to awaken your instincts. 3,000 year-old sequoia trees create a truly magical setting as we come together at a 5,000 year-old traditional gathering place of native peoples. Make a basket, start a fire by rubbing sticks together, sing and dance, camp and connect with your community. Live music around the campfire every evening. Fantastic kids program, too! elementsgatheringfest.com

48 | FESTIVAL GUIDE festivalfire.com | 49 JULY F.A.R.M. MUSIC & ARTS FESTIVAL DIVERSITY FESTIVAL JULY 23-26, 2015 | BUENA VISTA, NEW JERSEY JULY 24-27, 2015 | TEXADA ISLAND, BC, CANADA Now in our fourth year, F.A.R.M (Future of Artistic and Revolutionary Minds) Drawn from both inside and outside the community, artists, composers, lays in a stunning location with views of the pine forests just 30 minutes bands, performers and participants from across the continent and beyond from Philadelphia and 30 minutes from the shore, Attendees from across the will converge for a weekend celebration of creative culture. The name nation enjoy an array of musical artists, workshops, art installs, and yoga says it all. A place where you can be you. Diversity Festival. sessions that are sure to create a positive, inspirational movement. diversityfestival.ca farmmusicfestival.com

CASCADIA NW ARTS & MUSIC FESTIVAL EVENT LISTINGS for SOULFUL MUSIC (PREVIOUSLY PHOTOSYNTHESIS) in over 25 NORTH AMERICAN CITIES JULY 23-26TH 2015 | GRANITE FALLS, WASHINGTON EVENTS MUSIC SOCIAL MEDIA PHOTOS VIDEOS NEWS LIFESTYLE MARKETING BRANDING Seattle based Starborne Shows, invites you to join us for the first annual CASCADIA NW Arts and Music Festival! 2015 brings the transition from Photosynthesis Festival to CASCADIA for the Starborne family and we do hope you will join us on this momentous occasion! CascadiaNW.com DEFINING the SOUL DIASPORA since 2003

MOTION NOTION FESTIVAL JULY 23-27, 2015 | GOLDEN, BC, CANADA Come be part of an exploration of electronic music, art, nature, and the $ infinite in the heart of Rocky Mountains near Golden BC, Canada. Motion @ MahaDevi10design.com OFF Notion has always been something off the beaten path and a thing of discovery and amazement for all. Welcome to freedom and growth! “FESTIVALFIRE2015” motionnotion.com free shipping TRIBAL CROSSROADS JULY 24-26, 2015 | ASHLAND, OREGON Tribal Crossroads is a Healthy Lifestyles Gathering and Mystic Family Reunion. We’ll have some juicy workshops, yoga, ecstatic dance and more. Envisioned by a close friend and supporter of Mystic, the idea of doing a ‘not for profit’ event was born, where monies would not be an issue and it would truly be a community offering going back to our roots. With that in mind, we have come home to where it all started at the Jackson Wellsprings, working with some of our close artists friends who have been with us since the beginning. tribalcrossroads.org

Serenity Gathering photo by Jazzwall

50 | FESTIVAL GUIDE festivalfire.com | 51 Lucidity Festival photo by Jazzwall

52 | FESTIVAL GUIDE festivalfire.com | 53 JULY / AUGUST AUGUST HUMAN NATURE FESTIVAL WANDERLUST FESTIVAL WHISTLER BELOVED SACRED ART & MUSIC FESTIVAL JULY 24-26TH 2015 | MARCOLA, OREGON JULY 30 - AUG 3, 2015 | WHISTLER, BRITISH COLUMBIA, CANADA AUGUST 7–10, 2015 | TIDEWATER, OREGON Human Nature Festival returns for its fourth year, bringing you the Wanderlust yogis will spend four days practicing yoga in a picturesque Beloved returns to Tidewater Falls for the 8th year this August! Our same great vibes and high quality production, but this time in a new landscape with the freedom to explore nature with tennis, hiking, goal is to dissolve the boundaries that isolate us through music, location. Enjoy a multi-genre musical experience and vast array of kayaking, relaxing, and visiting a gondola to the summit. dance and play. We aspire to engage the hearts and minds of those arts and culture in a lush forested setting, complete with high fidelity whistler.wanderlustfestival.com/ present in the finding of the beloved in each other; and furthering sound systems and vivid visual displays. our ability to cooperate to make that appreciation tangible on earth. HumanNatureFestival.com PORTAL MUSIC FESTIVAL belovedfestival.com JULY 31 - AUG 2, 2015 | LOLO HOT SPRINGS, MONTANA OPEN MIND FESTIVAL PORTAL Music Festival is a Transformational Festival, offering three days JULY 27- AUGUST 3RD 2015 | LA PATRIE, QUEBEC, CANADA to live, play and co-create with powerful healing workshops and all night

OpenMind is a Transformational eco-gathering that celebrates life music. PORTAL is a journey of intentional activation, joining the ‘sacred’ Beloved Festival White Procession through ecstatic celebration and intentional well-being. It’s an and ‘creative’. PORTAL is a participatory all arts festival, a chance to photo by Kyer Wiltshire invitation and reunification to harmonious communities from all immerse ourselves in a magically creative world. Beloved Festival corners of the globe, to share these inspiring celebrations of life in portalmusicfestival.com photo by Kyer Wiltshire a wondrous natural paradise! OpenmindFestival.com ARISE FESTIVAL AUGUST 7-9, 2015 | DENVER, COLORADO BIG DUB FESTIVAL Located in a breath taking rocky mountain oasis, this magical, secluded landscape is a perfect container to explore your creative JULY 29- AUG 2, 2015 | ARTEMAS, PENNSYLVANIA potentials, connect with nature, stretch out, dive in, and dance to the Big Dub Festival is the crossroads where great music & festivities wee hours. The intention of the festival is to facilitate and amplify meets human interaction. There are multiple stages of music with that inspiration into real life action. Theme camps give creative entertainment throughout each night until 6am, daily workshops, communities an opening to inspire the mingling of like minded souls, drum circles, bonfires, yoga, and more. whether your interests are music, clothing, food, yoga, the subtle bigdubfestival.com energies, activation, visionary art! arisefestival.com

Beloved Festival White Procession Mystic Island Festival photo by Kyer Wiltshire photo by Kyer Wiltshire

54 | FESTIVAL GUIDE festivalfire.com | 55 Beloved Festival INTERVIEW / ELLIOT RASENICK / BY SAPHIR LEWIS photoSECTION by Kyer Wiltshire TITLE FINDING OUR CONNECTION ELLIOT RASENICK IS ONE OF THE GREAT VISIONARY THINKERS OF OUR TIME… THE FOUNDER OF BELOVED SACRED MUSIC & ART FESTIVAL AND INSPIRE TRUTH. WE TALKED ABOUT THE RISE OF EDUCATION IN THE FESTIVALS.

SAPHIR: Lets talk about education as an aspect of the festivals, why would we look Beloved Festival White Procession Beloved Festival to education, what does that say about who photo by Kyer Wiltshire photo by Kyer Wiltshire we are and what we are doing?

Elliot Rasenick of Beloved Festival ELLIOT: I can speak to my own personal photo by Kyer Wiltshire journey with transformational events, which began with profound experiences ways that we’re evolving to live in?” What of connection just on the dance floor. As I does it mean it to bring the people from continued to engage with the community outside of our culture who have influenced that I was dancing with, I became as excited us, who are bringing these multiple threads about the conversations at the back of the together? What does it mean for us to bring dance floor as I was about the intensity of in people from outside of our culture to the connections in the middle of it. At first, teach us? there was the moment of awareness, being on the dance floor and feeling my oneness That’s the evolution that happened in my with everyone – which at its highest own personal experience – from having moments is really what it’s like, where we all a profound moment as if the new world feel so connected that it’s as if the change already happened, on the dance floor, in the world has already happened. to standing at the back of the room and having an engaged conversation. Sharing So while we experience the alchemy of the ideas like, “Oh wow! You’re changing change in the middle of the dance floor, we your diet also?”, “You’re not interested in can talk about inventing models of living eating poison anymore either?”, “You’re in a new way, and engage with each other finding ways to avoid producing so much about how we’re changing the way that waste?”, “You’re learning about new we’re living; how we’re learning to take models for intimate relationships?”, “What more responsibility for our effects on the does that look like?” And then the next planet and our effects on each other. evolution being, “Lets actually create a designated space where we’re really I think that the next evolution of that engaging in a much more sophisticated cultural exchange, for me, became, “What is conversation”. For me, that’s the personal Beloved Festival it like for us to really create a new platform history of the involvement of education at Elliot Rasenick and Polish Ambassador photo by Kyer Wiltshire to tell much more in-depth stories about the transformational events.

56 | FESTIVAL GUIDE festivalfire.com | 57 SAPHIR: The fact that we include education All of the education that we’re doing at as part of our events really informs the fact Beloved is organized around this idea. So the that we’re doing something different at these movement practices help us remember that festivals, it’s not just watching a band play, there is no disconnect between any sense of we’re creating a new way of being together. who we are and the vessel that we’re inside. So what’s new in education this year at Beloved? And then there’s the new project that we launched last year, the Temple of Awe, ELLIOT: At Beloved, most of the educational which is the temple of ancestral wisdom program takes place in the individual education. The concept was that some workshop areas. But we’ll continue to find of the representatives of ancient cultures ways to address pressing issues right on the that are performing on stage, what if we main stage. This year we’ll be focusing on give them a voice to teach about how their consent and sexual boundaries. Because cultures understand the connection between the festival is such an open and loving their music and the world that they’re living environment, many of us feel very safe to in? We’re understanding that the different explore a deeper intimacy. But we’d like to sacred musics from around the world are teach men and women how to maintain each doing the same thing, telling the story and how to pay attention to boundaries. of connection: our connection to God, our We’d like to cultivate an environment where connection to ourselves, our connection to everyone knows how to say no to any each other. Because of course, within that intimacy that they don’t want and where organizing principle at Beloved, where we everyone knows how to pay attention want to learn how we’re not separate, we to the subtle “no.” We’ll also be hosting see that music is one of the most powerful conversations about how to address tools that we have, to tell the story of our transgressions of boundaries. We want to connection. And then, the idea that bringing hold everyone accountable for their actions different sacred musics all together and and we also want to ask the question, showing that these sacred musics from “What does justice look like when we know different cultures are telling the same story we’re not separate, that we’re all deeply of unity, becomes like a meta-unity teacher,… connected?” teaching about unity in different ways, and then showing that all of those lessons are the Another shift over the last few years at same lesson. Beloved, is that we’ve learned that there are three major environments for education SAPHIR: You’re saying that you’ve taken at the festival; and that each area can tell those musicians off the stage and put them separate stories, and can help us to explore in a speaking format to talk about how their full themes. music speaks to our connection?

One space is designed to help us learn ELLIOT: Exactly, that’s a really exciting embodiment and energy awareness shift. And by creating one space to house practices. Here we are offering QiGong and education related to the ancient cultures we yoga in parity; acknowledging each of them present on the stage, we were able to create as valuable systems to help us understand a new temple of seven generations, which how energy moves through our body. is then also a platform to talk about both ecological sustainability in relation to the The organizing principle of the music and idea of thinking ahead seven generations, everything else that we do at Beloved, is and to talk about how we can repair the “What does it look like for us to remember way that our relationship with the earth has that we’re not separate, that we are in truth, become one of disconnect rather than one deeply connected?” of complete connection. Envision Festival photo by Zippy Lomax

58 | FESTIVAL GUIDE festivalfire.com | 59 At the same time, another part of that SAPHIR: Wow, it is so inspiring that your story is looking at how can we repair our organizing principle is, “Understanding relationships with each other? Because, as a how we’re all connected.” That is not community, both in individual relationships something that’s a given in anybody’s between two people and in our general mind – most fest’s organizing principle at social relationships, we’ve lost our sense of some of the other shows would be, “The always being strongly connected. So the world is a mess and we need to learn to Temple of Seven Generations also becomes be more sustainable, we need to learn our platform to remember how to live as a permaculture, we need to learn gardening village. so we can eat healthier food, and have a cleaner environment, etc”…definitely SAPHIR: What does that bring in, as far as the premise is not “How can we organize speakers? around being more connected”.

ELLIOT: Last year we had begun the ELLIOT: And my answer would be, process Michael Meade connecting old “The world is a mess because we have stories to the way that we explore being a forgotten that we’re connected to (new) culture, asking us to find our deepest each other, we’ve forgotten that we’re purpose and to live to awaken that purpose. connected to the Earth, we’ve forgotten We also offered Solsara workshops, where that the divine is right here and we’ve even we’re looking at “What does it mean to created a disconnect between our spirit be more authentically honest with each and our bodies.” other?” and “What does it look like to have relationships in a world where we know that BELOVEDFESTIVAL.COM we’re always connected?”

Burning Man photo by Zippy Lomax

60 | FESTIVAL GUIDE festivalfire.com | 61 WHAT DOES IT LOOK LIKE FOR US TO REMEMBER THAT WE’RE NOT SEPARATE, THAT WE ARE IN TRUTH, DEEPLY CONNECTED? - ELLIOT RASENICK

Beloved Festival photo by Kyer Wiltshire

62 | FESTIVAL GUIDE festivalfire.com | 63 AUGUST AUGUST

Introducing the Eco-Head Comfort Station - Event Sanitation TRINITY RIVER JAMBOREE PEACE VILLAGE FESTIVAL THREE DAYS OF LIGHT GATHERING

Modern composting outhouses are not only MUCH MORE AUGUST 7 - 9 , 2015 | JUNCTION CITY, CALIFORNIA AUGUST 14 - 16, 2015 | JACKSON WELLSPRINGS, ASHLAND, OREGON AUGUST 28-30, 2015 | ASHEVILLE, NORTH CAROLINA COMFORTABLE to use than conventional portable toilets, but they A truly multi-generational gathering set on the banks of the Southern Oregon’s Peace, Music, & Arts Fest features an eclectic mix In just a few short years 3DL has become known as a premier conscious SAVE WATER and INCREASE SUSTAINABILITY in waste management mighty Trinity River. The festival includes a full schedule of yoga, by reclaiming lost nutrients and putting them back into the Earth. of music, including world beat, reggae, rock, folk, americana, kirtan, and transformational gathering on the East Coast. Part Festival/ permaculture participation program, an awesome kids zone, rafting electronic, and more. With workshops & yoga classes, an artisans’ Part Retreat/Party Summer Camp, 100% INSPIRATION! ACTIVATION! trips, workshops, speakers, healing center, live music and dj’s as village, ecstatic dance, gourmet vegetarian food, a kid village, and a CELEBRATION! Laugh, dance, sing, play. Learn, teach, grow expand! well as a silent disco until 6am. With a limited capacity of less than healing sanctuary. There are also altars, ceremonies, and a goddess Three Days of Light is a SAFE, WHOLESOME space for our ENTIRE family 1000, we are dedicated to bringing people together to enjoy the wild temple. The venue’s hot soaking pool, extra large warm swimming to embrace our highest conscious self! natural habitat of Northern California. pool, sauna, and steam bath are open late. An alcohol and drug free 3DLgathering.com trinityjam.com event that is fun for the whole family. peacevillagefestival.org BURNING MAN SHAMBALA MUSIC FESTIVAL AUGUST 31 – SEPT. 7, 2015 | BLACK ROCK CITY, NEVADA AUGUST 7 - 10, 2015 | SALMO, BC, CANADA WANDERLUST FESTIVAL QUEBEC Burning Man is full to capacity and having to turn away thousands. Shambhala boasts six uniquely themed stages, each aiming to weave AUGUST 20 - 23 , 2015 | MONT TREMBLANT, QUEBEC, CANADA They are now putting their energy into growing the network of Regional Burn Gatherings all over North America and the World. Please the best in up and coming electronic and live music from both around Wanderlust Tremblant offers yogis a unique experience, breathing the globe and our very talented backyard. Set on the Salmo River see our Burning Man Regional Calendar for a location near you.] Black brand development · gfx design · storytelling · ecommerce in fresh, mountain air, surrounded by nature with bilingual Rock City is a kind of Petri dish. Theme camps cling in fertile clusters to Ranch, a 500-acre working farm year round, the pristine Salmo River instruction from top tier yoga instructors, musical performances, We are in the R&D phase of Eco-Head Comfort Stationsfestival and need yourmedia help. · photography · unicorn hunting its latticework of streets, artworks tumble out of it, like pollen on the Do you run an event and want to test our stations at your next event? runs through it all. Come to enjoy the festival’s focus of providing discussions and meditation. air. These nodes of interaction mutate, grow and reproduce their kind, Help us get this project off the ground! CLICK HERE to see how you can help. amazing art, music and organic food. E-mail me for a FREE creative evaluation tremblant.wanderlustfestival.com only to effloresce and spread across five continents. and conversation (360) 389-7277 shambhalamusicfestival.com burningman.com [email protected] www.eco-head.com facebook.com/ecoheadsanitation put a face to the name BASS COAST MUSIC & ARTS FESTIVAL WOLFBEAR AUGUST 10 - 13, 2015 | MERRITT, BC, CANADA You may have seen this logo on photos The rich culture that surrounds our music is a creative community from your favorite festivals, but did you of artists, scientists, designers, yogi’s, environmentalists, freedom know that Wesley Wolfbear Pinkham is also a creative consultant who works fighters, business minds, intellectuals, party-goers, poets and with some of the top media projects on dancers. We believe the Bass Coast community is a supportive the festival scene? environment where we hope to inspire each participant to find deeper layers of themselves. Yes, it’s true. And you too Contact him via e-mail or can discover why Lucidity by phone — he actually basscoast.ca Festival, The Bloom Series, answers and loves to talk on LostInSound and Festival one of these strange artifacts Fire work with Wolfbear for of a bygone era — for your free services ranging from brand consultation and to find out ENCHANTED FOREST FESTIVAL development, social media, what a Creative Consultant photography, brainstorming, can do to “up-level” your next AUGUST 14 - 16, 2015 | MENDOCINO COUNTY, CALIFORNIA design, and copywriting! project or idea! In the embrace of a majestic redwood forest we celebrate our culture through dance, art, nature and the unyielding gift of the [email protected] · (714) 642-5569 human spirit. We are nurturing the seed of our infinite potential as WESLEYPINKHAM.COM · WOLFBEARCONSULTING.COM individuals and community. Mixing Your MAGICAL SPARKLE with enchantedforestmendo.com GROUNDED Creative Consulting: WOLFBEAR IT IS.

64 | FESTIVAL GUIDE festivalfire.com | 65 SEPTEMBER OCTOBER / NOVEMBER / DECEMBER GREAT NORTH FESTIVAL THE SYMBIOSIS GATHERING INSPIRE TRUTH ~ NEW YEAR’S EVE SEPT. 4-6, 2015 | NORRIDGEWOCK, MAINE SEPTEMBER 17-20, 2015 | OAKDALE, CALIFORNIA DEC 30 - JAN 1, 2016 | PORTLAND ART MUSEUM, PORTLAND, OREGON Featuring a wide range of national and regional music acts , along Symbiosis features an epic lineup of live music, global and galactic bass, This event is produced by the creators of Beloved Music and Arts Festival with some of the most renowned visionary artists in the world, house, trance, gypsy and sacred music only 90 minutes from SF. Swim in and is a loving gathering for deep soul nourishment. You are invited including our main featured artist Alex Grey! This is our second year, a crystal clear lake and dance to an assortment of international acts sure to dance and rejoice with your creative family. A stunning, art-filled being held September 19th through the 21st of 2014 at the BEAUTIFUL to move your body and touch your soul. Explore four main stages, kids’ and transformative environment will inspire clarity of intent fueled by Last Breath Farm in Norridgewock, Maine. Please join us! area, cirque theatre and comedy, gourmet organic food, yoga and dance joyful celebration & the danciest dance music in the galaxy. Together we greatnorth.us classes and inspirational workshops for all things mind, body, and spirit. cultivate the joy, heart and love that we wish to bring into the new year. symbiosisevents.com facebook.com/events/392578677512587 FAERIEWORLDS SEPT. 4-6, 2015 | HORNINGS HIDEOUT, NORTH PLAINS, OREGON LEAF FESTIVAL - LAKE EDEN ARTS FESTIVAL In 13 years, Faerieworlds has evolved from a small gathering in OCTOBER 15-18, 2015 | BLACK MOUNTAIN, NORTH CAROLINA Prescott, AZ to being the premier mythic & fantasy Arts & Music LEAF Festival celebrates 20 years of connecting cultures and creating festival on the West Coast that annually draws guests from across community through music and arts. Kid-friendly (with childcare the country and the world. available), enjoy 5 stages and 7 interactive villages that include faerieworlds.com music, dance, healing art, visionary art, folk art, handcrafts, fire- spinning, poetry, puppetry and more. Align your body, mind and spirit with more than 50 healing arts workshops, hiking, biking, BHAKTI FEST WEST swimming and canoeing. Feel the connectivity at this family-friendly SEPTEMBER 10-13, 2015 | JOSHUA TREE, CALIFORNIA lake setting, nestled against the majestic Blue Ridge Mountains. A Yoga & Music Experience of a Lifetime! The largest gathering of theleaf.com yoga & conscious music leaders from around the globe. Practice and study with expert yoga teachers. Attend enlightening health & wellness workshops with world-renowned presenters. Shop the ZEN AWAKENING eco-marketplace and dine on the largest selection of vegetarian and NOVEMBER 20 - 22, 2015 | ORLANDO, FLORIDA vegan cuisine offered at any Festival. Bring the family along to four Zen Awakening is a transformational, music and arts festival. Featuring amazing days of heart-opening song, dance, and play! Lucidity Festival Celebrity DJ’s, Bands, Yoga, Meditation, Spiritual Teachers, Holistic bhaktifest.com photo by Jazzwall Teachers, Cirque Performers, Flow Dancers, Drum Circle, Group Chants, Fire Performers, Central Fire, Healing Sanctuary, Workshops, Theme Campsites,

Permaculture, Kirtan, Camping, Organic Food Vendors and Art Installations. Burning Man INLAKESH SACRED CEREMONY, MUSIC, ART AND zenawakeningfestival.com photo by Zippy Lomax DANCE GATHERING SEPT. 11-13, 2015 | JACKSON WELLSPRINGS, ASHLAND, OREGON COSMIC CONVERGENCE NEW YEARS EVE Get ready to shift into a more exalted and expanded state! Sacred ECSTATIC DANCE RETREAT DEC 30 - JAN 1, 2016 | LAKE ATITLAN, GUATEMALA ceremonies will include Sufi Zikr, Tea Ceremony, Pagan Goddess rituals, DECEMBER 7-13, 2015 |KALANI RETREAT CENTER, BIG ISLAND, HAWAII An annual gathering with art, music, education for conscious living, Healing Circles, Cacao Ceremony, Living Tarot, Sweat Lodge, and an Aloha The Ecstatic Dance Retreat is a week long intensive held in the healing heart and Mayan culture & traditions. A convergence of past, present, camp sacred fire music circle. Sacred dance to Sufi dancing, Ecstatic energy of the Big Island of Hawaii. It is a safe ceremonial container for all of and future, bringing ancestral and post-industrial ways of living to dance, African dance, as well as your own unique dance to the sounds of us to explore, expand and offer our unique creative expressions and gifts. provoke a shift in consciousness to rethink what is possible in post- our amazing musicians. Enjoy epic visionary artists, sound healers, and As a loving conscious community we will honor ourselves and each other by 2012 reality. Including Psy Family Guatemala, with the primordial uplifting workshops; or the hot soaking pool, sauna, and steam bath celebrating life to the fullest through various forms of movement and dance objective of the expansion of our consciousness until we reach levels of and some of the finest super foods on the planet. We look forward to modalities, music, art, singing, meditation, sacred ritual and ceremony, cosmic meditation in movement, influenced by the most high rhythm radiating this energy to the whole world! Oregon Country Fair nature, healing arts practices, community and much much more. frequencies of primitive sounds, ultrasonic and psychedelic. photo by Kyer Wiltshire inlakeshfest.com ecstaticretreat.com cosmicconvergencefestival.org 66 | FESTIVAL GUIDE festivalfire.com | 67 SPRING FLOW MINNEFLOWTA FLOW RETREAT FEBRUARY 21 - 22, 2015 | MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA Minneflowta is a flow artists gathering, bringing the best in poi, staff, hoop, ARTS INTENSIVES and juggling. The event includes workshops, a stage show, and a late night flow jam. 7 of the nations top flow arts instructors and performers bring you the absolute best in poi, hula hoop, staff and juggling. Minneflowta.com SACRED CIRCULARITIES BALI WEEK ONE: MARCH 8 - 15, 2015 | WEEK TWO: MARCH 17 - 24, 2015 WEEK THREE: MARCH 25 – APRIL 1, 2015 | WEEK FOUR: JUNE 28 – JULY 5, 2015 WEEK FIVE: JULY 6-13, 2015 | WEEK SIX: JULY 15-22, 2015 This seven-day immersion in spirit-infused movement includes workshops, play-times, accommodation (double occupancy), live music hoop events, tribal marketplace, fashion show and performance showcase, breakfast, lunch and excursions. sacredcircularities.com/bali-retreat-2015.html TEXAS FLOW FEST MARCH 27 - 29, 2015 | AUSTIN, TEXAS First annual public flow arts festival in Austin! Free performances nightly, over 40 workshops in circus & flow, dance & yoga with internationally touring instructors and performers. texasflowfest.com FLOWSTORM APRIL 3 - 5, 2015 | AUSTIN, TEXAS Flowstorm, the world’s first Flow Arts & Sustainability festival. Held on an eco-village, this magical weekend of camping and learning includes flow workshops and performances by some of the world’s best flow artists, workshops on Permaculture, organic gardening, and natural building, live music and art, and much more. Our goal is to cross-pollinate regenerative disciplines and create a truly sustainable flow culture! facebook.com/events/374129379418419/?fref=ts FLAME FESTIVAL APRIL 9 - 12, 2015 | LAFAYETTE, GEORGIA Flame Festival is the Southeast’s regional gathering of Flow Artists to share knowledge and play together. It is part of an emerging network of festivals that feature Flow Arts workshops all day (around 100 over the weekend), and a large fire-dancing circle with music into the night. Flow Arts include fire-dancing, poi, staff, hula-hoop, juggling, dance, fans, whips, and whatever else you can imagine that gets you into a state of flow. Light the fires of passion, connectivity, and expression! Mystic Island Festival photo by Kyer Wiltshire flamefestival.com

68 | FESTIVAL GUIDE festivalfire.com | 69 SPRING SPIN SUMMIT APR 30 - MAY 1-3, 2015 | BLACK FOREST, COLORADO The Spin Summit is filled with workshops on a variety of props (hoops, poi, flow wand, fans, contact staff, double staff, S staff, contact juggling, ball juggling, slackline, aerial, etc…), labs, forums, professional instruction, the SPIN CUBE educational interactive art, LED & Fire Spinning, Massage & Healing Space, Vending, Performances, Photo/Video, DJ’s playing indoors on a quality sound system, live musicians, live artists, overnight accommodations (cabins, yurts, or tent camping), meal plans or BYOF, forests and a central big field to spin on with various indoor spaces, a labyrinth and more! thespinsummit.com IGNIGHT FESTIVAL MAY 7 - 10, 2015 | JOSHUA TREE, CALIFORNIA IgNight is a 3 day Fire Flow Community Celebration in Southern California, designed to provide a fun, educational and community environment for spinners from all over the world. 137 workshops in three days! At least 10 classes going on concurrently at all times of the day and a nightly spin jam with flow music for you to practice new moves. Flow enthusiasts of all skill levels are invited to attend this communal opportunity for growth and development as a fire artist. 500 artists will gather to learn, teach, and advance together in the flow arts. ignightconference.com KINETIC FIRE MAY 14 - 17, 2015 | COLLEGE CORNER, OHIO Kinetic Fire is a Midwest regional gathering of Flow Artists to share knowledge and play together. It is part of an emerging network of festivals that feature Flow Arts workshops all day (around 100 over the weekend), and a large fire-dancing circle with music into the night. The Flow Arts include fire-dancing, poi, staff, hula-hoop, juggling, dance, fans, whips, and whatever else you can imagine that gets you into a state of flow. Light the fires of passion, connectivity, and expression! kineticfire.org HOOP CONVERGENCE MAY 14 - 18, 2015 | EFLAND, NORTH CAROLINA Hoop Dance was the potent seed of Hoop Convergence, and will always be the foundation of this event and a thread that weaves us together. For me, everything comes back to the circle. In addition to our fantastic lineup of hoop instructors, we will host some amazing artists in the realms of Circus & Flow Arts and Conscious Embodiment practices. You’ll have the option to explore contact staff, flow wand, aerial acrobatics, partner acro/ AcroYoga, slackline, Ecstatic Dance, yoga, cyr wheel and more. Envision Festival hoopconvergence.org photo by Kyer Wiltshire

70 | FESTIVAL GUIDE festivalfire.com | 71 SPRING - SUMMER SUMMER - FALL WILDFIRE RETREAT CAMPFIRE RETREAT MAY 22 - 25, 2015 | ASHFORD, CONNECTICUT JUNE 5 - 8, 2015 | CLARKS GROVE, MINNESOTA WildFire is the East Coast’s premier spinning and fire arts training Campfire Retreat is a Midwest regional gathering of Flow Artists and camp. Our core missions are to spread the spinning arts and build Aerial Dancers to share knowledge and play together. The Flow Arts community connections among spinning artists. Each of our events offers include fire-dancing, poi, staff, hula-hoop, juggling, dance, aerials, fans, a diverse selection of over 100 classes on poi, hoop, dance, teaching, whips, and whatever else you can imagine that gets you into a state of safety, business, performance, drumming… and so much more. It is a flow. Light the fires of passion, connectivity, and expression! “camping” style retreat, where all meals and hot showers are provided. campfireretreat.com WildFire is the perfect spot for you to share, grow, discover, and learn with our spinning and fire arts community. SPIN OUT wildfireretreat.com JUNE 12 – 15, 2015 | SUNDRE, ALBERTA, CANADA FIREDRUMS Spin Out is a unique event that includes 4 days and 3 nights of flow workshops, performances, dance parties, catered food, and cabins for MAY 28 - 31, 2015 | LASSEN NATIONAL FOREST, CALIFORNIA your comfort. A mix between a festival and a retreat this event will get you WildFire is the East Coast’s premier spinning and fire arts training moving, feeling inspired, learning new skills, and making new friends. camp. Our core missions are to spread the spinning arts and build spinoutevents.com community connections among spinning artists. Each of our events offers a diverse selection of over 100 classes on poi, hoop, dance, teaching, safety, business, performance, drumming… and so much more. It is a RETURN TO ROOTS GATHERING “camping” style retreat, where all meals and hot showers are provided. JULY 30 – AUG 3, 2015 | MEDFORD, NEW JERSEY WildFire is the perfect spot for you to share, grow, discover, and learn The original hoop dance, yoga and music festival. Reconnect with your with our spinning and fire arts community. heart and spirit while creating relationships that stay with you after firedrums.org you return home. Workshops center around hoop dance, yoga and flow arts skills, fire arts, aerial arts, dance, professional development and FAHRENHEIT FIRE & FLOW ARTS FESTIVAL conscious living – all to open your body, heart, and mind. At night, we MAY 29 - 31, 2015 | SCHUYLKILL COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA celebrate with live music and DJs. Intended for shy beginners, outgoing Fahrenheit is a three day camping event where fire performers and experts, and everyone in between. flow artists of all types and skill levels come from near and far to share returntoroots.com and celebrate their passion for this captivating art form. Each day is packed with dozens of intensive workshops that cover a wide range of IN FLOW FESTIVAL subjects taught by teachers at the top of their craft. The event is entirely JULY 31ST – AUG. 3RD 2015 | MUSKOKA, ONTARIO, CANADA volunteer-run, and all attendees contribute to its success by donating a A True North Hoop Gathering: an unforgettable weekend of flow few hours of their time in the kitchen, around the grounds, at the greeter in Ontario’s great outdoors. Top local instructors join forces with station, and wherever the event needs help. international hoopstars to create a beautiful weekend of movement, fahrenheitflowarts.com magic and community. Enjoy 4 days of programming while camping under the stars and eating chef-prepared farm-to-table delights at every PLAY THINK MOVEMENT & FLOW ARTS FESTIVAL meal. Additional amenities include swimming, nature walks, hot-tub, RMT JUNE 10 - 14, 2015 | BEREA, KENTUCKY and other wellness treatments. The PlayThink Festival offers an atmosphere of magic, letting you inflowfestival.com experience dance parties, circus camp, and four full days of play just for you and yours. Inspiring playshops, presentations, and discussions will be MOUNTAIN FLOW FEST led by some of the best known flow arts regional instructors. Musicians, AUGUST, 2015 (TBA) | ASHEVILLE, NORTH CAROLINA Dancers, Artists, and Lovers of Life will converge in Berea, Kentucky with First annual public flow arts festival in Asheville! Free performances their full range of unique talents offering a wide range of life enhancing nightly, over 40 workshops in circus & flow, dance & yoga with skills and thoughts. internationally touring instructors and performers. Envision Festival playthinkfest.com photo by Kyer Wiltshire flowfests.com

72 | FESTIVAL GUIDE festivalfire.com | 73 SUMMER - FALL WILDFIRE RETREAT SACRED CIRCULARITIES AUGUST 21 - 24, 2015 | ASHFORD, CONNECTICUT OCTOBER 2015 (TBA) | SEDONA, ARIZONA WildFire is the East Coast’s premier spinning and fire arts training camp. A Immersion Experience in Personal Transformation and Healing through Each of our events offers a diverse selection of over 100 classes on poi, Hula Hooping, Movement Meditation, Inner Alchemy practices and more! hoop, dance, teaching, safety, business, performance, drumming… New to the hoop? Been hooping for years? This retreat is designed with and so much more. WildFire is the perfect spot for you to share, grow, all movers in mind! Sacred Circularities retreats are an enriching mixture discover, and learn with our spinning and fire arts community. of dance and life-enhancing tools for your mind, body and spirit! wildfireretreat.com sacredcircularities.com PACIFIC FIRE GATHERING FLORIDA FLOW FEST SEPTEMBER 17 - 20, 2015 | CLOVERDALE, OREGON OCTOBER 9 - 11, 2015 | LAKE WORTH, FLORIDA Pacific Fire Gathering is part of an emerging network of Flow Arts events, that include fire-dancing, poi, staff, hula-hoop, juggling, dance, fans, Fifth annual, award-winning public flow arts festival in south Florida! whips, and whatever else you can imagine that gets you into a state of Free performances nightly, over 60 workshops in circus & flow, dance & flow. The festival is located right on the ocean with a private beach. The yoga with internationally touring instructors and performers. ticket includes high-caliber performance showcases on both Friday and floridaflowfest.com Saturday nights. Light the fires of passion, connectivity, and expression! PacificFireGathering.com WILDFIRE RETREAT SEPTEMBER 18 - 21, 2015 | ASHFORD, CONNECTICUT WildFire is the East Coast’s premier spinning and fire arts training camp. Each of our events offers a diverse selection of over 100 classes on poi, hoop, dance, teaching, safety, business, performance, drumming… and so much more. It is a “camping” style retreat, where all meals and hot showers are provided. WildFire is the perfect spot for you to share, grow, discover, and learn with our spinning and fire arts community. wildfireretreat.com FLOW CAMP SEPTEMBER 24 – 27, 2015 | HARRODSBURG, KENTUCKY Flow Camp is a weekend workshop retreat that features some of the best and brightest instructors in the fields of Flow Arts, Burlesque, Aerials, Fire Dancing, Belly Dance, and more! Started by Jorden “Flow Jo” Dundich in 2011, its intention was to bring these arts to the lives of many to encourage adults to nourish movement and play into their lives. flowcampfestival.com HOOP CAMP RETREAT SEPTEMBER 28TH - OCT. 1ST, 2015 | SANTA CRUZ, CALIFORNIA Hoopcamp is the largest yearly gathering of the hoop dance community, held at a Tibetan Retreat Center in Santa Cruz, California. Now in it’s 6th year, hoopers from all over the world come together at Hoopcamp to share, connect, learn, and celebrate the hoop as a transformational movement tool for creative self-expression. Foreverland flowfests.com photo by Zippy Lomax

74 | FESTIVAL GUIDE festivalfire.com | 75 Gatherings for Cultural Transformation

Envision Festival photo by Zippy Lomax See you out there!

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