Cosmic Convergence is a transformational festival that takes place annually over New Years in Lake Atitlan, Guatemala. I’ve been to some of the biggest, most well-known festivals on earth, from Burning Man to Boom, yet this small festival in Guatemala is my favourite of them all. Here are the main reasons why:
Diversity
At Cosmic Convergence, you will meet people from just about every continent and almost every country in South America. This is something you just don’t get to experience at most North American or European festivals.
It really enforces the fact that this is a global movement, and that the values usually present at these types of events are shared by people all around the world.
Something that helps bring together such a diverse crowd is the fact that the festival makes tickets half price for Latinos, due to the income gap between Latin and Western countries. Although some see this as controversial, it’s an initiative that I fully support. There are many festivals held in developing nations around the world and a lot of the time you'll find everyone there is from the West, as locals simply can't afford to attend. Of course, the price is still unaffordable for many, but it is nice to know that the organizers are making an effort to be more inclusive. At Cosmic Convergence you will meet many Guatemalans and South Americans.
There were also many opportunities to learn about the local Mayan culture, from ceremonies to workshops.
Schedule
Cosmic Convergence has a jam-packed schedule of workshops. At any given time, there are numerous different events going on, which I thought was quite impressive for a festival of this size.
I also really enjoyed how there was no music during the day (except for New Years Day). This really helped take the focus away from the partying, and more-so on self-development, meaningful conversations, and getting to know others.
The music also ends quite early most nights (once again, with the exception of New Years Eve/Day). In a way, this forces most attendees to get a good night’s rest. I felt this was part of the reason that many people were actually doing things during the day, rather than sleeping off their hangovers. Some might be appalled that out of a 4-day festival, there is only one sunrise set. But more mature festival-goers may appreciated the music ending early, being able to actually sleep in the days leading up to New Years, and being able to participate in the workshops and other events during the day (but of course, you are always able to find people that want to stay up and party each and every night amongst this type of crowd, if that's what you're into).
Size
One of the most influential aspects of any festival is the size. Cosmic Convergence has around 3000 attendees, making it a relatively small festival compared to others. Because of this, the sense of community is very strong.
Unlike at a festival of 50 000+ people, you're bound to see the same people over and over, and thus, are able to make stronger and more meaningful connections. People take care of each other at this festival. Everyone is very open and the vibe is very tight-knit.
The grounds itself is also small, which makes it easy to get anywhere in the festival. How annoying is it to have to walk half an hour from your tent to the main stage, and then realize you forgot something and have to go back? This was never an issue, as everything at Cosmic Convergence was within a 10-minute walk or less.
Harm Reduction
In the past, a harm reduction NGO called Programa de Análisis de Sustancias was on-site offering free drug testing and other information. They also told me that a very high percentage of their tests were coming back positive. Less unknown substances going around means less risk of drug-related incidents.
There was also a healing space and a comfortable, warm building, where you could go to chill out, if needing a break from it all.
Location
How many festivals have you been to with a volcano as a backdrop?
Logistics
There's never a long line for the washrooms or food vendors. There are reasonably priced food options and free water on site. Efficient staff members are at the gate checking people in - no hour long waits. Almost everything about the event is eco-friendly, from the bio-construction of the structures and stages, to the reusing of plates.
The organization that runs the festival is a non-profit and funds generated go back into the local community. As a result, they have a great relationship with the locals. They also run social outreach projects throughout the entire year in the area. In the past they have built a school, a library, and donated materials and funds to other projects.
Variety of Music
Cosmic Convergence is a psytrance festival, first and foremost, but if you're not a fan of psytrance, don't let this deter you! There were three other stages: house/techno/bass music, live music, and chill out. There is something for everyone, unlike at other psytrance festivals where at a certain hour of the night, psytrance is all you can find.
This festival may not have huge, big name DJ's headlining. In fact, you may look at the lineup and not recognize a single artist. This is because transformational festivals are about more than just the music. Cosmic Convergence is worth adding to your list not because of the lineup, but because of all the other reasons above that contribute to the unique vibes present at this festival.
I've worked as a member of the festival's media team and help capture the festival. If you're still not convinced, well a picture is worth a thousand words, so here are some of my favourite shots that I've taken throughout the years:
This was my first year attending Boom, a transformational festival in Portugal. Overall, it was an amazing experience! The stages were beautifully designed, complete with amazing sound and visuals. The lectures and workshops were very well-curated. And the people were some of the craziest festival-goers I've ever witnessed.
While festival season comes to an end in North America and Europe, it is only just beginning on the other side of the world! It is important to realize that transformational festival culture is a global movement and is spreading across all ends of the earth. Here are some of the best, and some of the not as well-known transformational festivals in Australia, New Zealand, and South East Asia, to keep you festivaling all year round!
It is so wonderful to see a transformational festival in a small country like Vietnam. The first edition of Quest was held last year, and this years is bound to be bigger and better!
"Quest is a 3-day escape, a communal celebration of music, arts and interpersonal connection amongst nature. Quest brings the international festival concept to Vietnam, combining the very best local and international underground acts across 4 beautifully crafted stages, alongside cinema, workshops, street performance, team activities, live and installation art, and much more."
Although The Experience is mainly a psytrance festival, I chose to include it in this list because many psytrance events incorporate aspects of transformational festivals. What better way to ring in the new year than on a one of the most beautiful, paradise-like islands in Thailand.
"We have carefully chosen a line-up of artists, dj's and vj's from around the planet, who will be delivering a treasure-chest of sights and sounds that have never been Experienced before and which will electrify your mind" (The Experience, Facebook)
Regrowth is put on by R.E.G.E.N, a group dedicated to sustainable practices and environmental awareness.
"Presenting diverse music over 4 days from live bands to live electronic music from around the world. A tuned community dedicates a component of that potential energy existing at festivals to RE-GENerate through tree-planting native vegetation at the festival site for the benefit of flora and fauna. Alongside this, interactive arts, expression and learning spaces are present to allow all participants to share and learn. All activities will be present including an Art Gallery, Cinema, Markets, Healing space and diverse Performers."
Rainbow Serpent is probably the most well-known transformational festival internationally, on this list. The upcoming festival will be the 20th edition and it surely will not disappoint!
"From a small gathering in a secluded clearing Rainbow has developed into one of the most highly regarded music and arts festivals in the world. These days the epic five day multifaceted explosion of dance, colour, expression and celebration attracts people from all over the planet who converge on Lexton in Western Victoria in January for an unforgettable, unique Australian experience."
"Luminate 2015 is a place to re-energise on the dancefloor, participate in workshops, be inspired about living sustainably, receive a massage, join in drumming around the fire, relax with a warm chai, watch an enlightening movie, be in harmony with nature, and celebrate a sense of conscious community.
Find your rhythm on the two amplified dancefloors, get primal with the drums of the Tribal zone, take it horizontal in the Chillout Lounge, or bring an instrument and join in the fun in the Buskers stage."
Wonderfruit made it's debut last year, putting Thailand on the transformational festival map. It's ethos is inspired by many west coast and European festivals alike.
"Wonderfruit is an annual celebration of art, music and life, where fun and social responsibility can go hand in hand as a joyful adventure. We aspire to be a catalyst for positive change and seek to find creative ways to live sustainably and responsibly, and to have a net positive influence on our planet."
"With a strong focus on arts, education, healing and community spirit, Earth Frequency Festival has grown from it’s origins as a small landcare party to become one of Australia's foremost transformational gatherings.
At Earth Frequency, you can always expect an amazing mixture of live and electronic music, performance, visionary art, workshops and lectures, a family and kids space, and a fantastic food and markets area, and of course a positive community vibe."
This will be the first edition of Esoteric, but hopefully not the last!
"Esoteric is taking the bush doof to the next level, with a focus on a immersive visual experience with an emphasis in a beautiful natural setting. Professionally run with all the trimmings – full scale production, 3 stages, over 130 thousand watts of audio between stages, lightshow, water cooled lasers, VJs and projection mapping, marketplace, workshops, amazing spaces, including hammock zone, maze and jaw dropping sculptures all coming to life." (esotericfestival.com.au)
"Four mesmerising days and three luminescent nights of sensory enchantment, showcasing a superb calibre of music production talent amidst an abundance of psychedelic art. Accompanying the indulgences will be our Yemaya Stage, Ashaba Temple, Grand Bazaar, Healing Sanctuary, Creation Station, Live Jam Space, Art Gallery, Performer's Hub, Workshops, and Live Art Installations." (Yemaya Festival, Facebook)
It is so wonderful to see these types of events happening all over the world. Many Western countries have a reciprocal agreement with Australia and New Zealand, where you can obtain a one-year, and in some cases, a two-year working holiday visa. This is a great way to fund your festival expenses and also experience living, working, and festivaling, in a different part of the world!
Do you have any festivals to add to the list? If so get in touch.
The Bali Spirit Festival is a celebration of yoga, dance, and music, which takes place annually in Ubud, Bali. The 5 day festival is extremely well run and organized. Days are filled with yoga and meditation classes, music and dance workshops, talks on self-development, and various performers. A nightly concert is held, featuring performances by artists from all around the world.
Everfest sent me to capture the essence of the festival. It was an absolute pleasure! Although I am not a yogi, there were many other types of activities to keep me occupied when not shooting. I particularly enjoyed the workshops on ecstatic dance. I also found it refreshing to be at a different kind of festival, one where attendees are up at 8am doing yoga, rather than still drunk/high from the night before. The focus was definitely on self-development and community.
I put together the above video, which examines what the festival means to some attendees. I realized that I really do enjoy interviewing people at festivals. It is a great way to get a deeper understanding of what draws people to these types of events. It also reassures me that these types of festivals are having a profound effect on people's lives.
Click here to see my still photography from the festival!
We're on our way to Burning Man.
We're driving in a van as fast as we can.
Gotta get to this mystical land.
Just keep on moving while speakers jam.
We got the gear packed up and we're ready to go.
Even got Lucy past the five O.
Silly fucker at the boarder didn't even know.
Really glad I didn't have to stick mine in the back door.
Pulses of excitement come over us.
Gotta be God, in spaghetti monster we trust.
A few of us have lists of things to do we must.
Hopefully none of the intentions bust.
Just as the scenery started to morph.
Nalgene was part of an incident with the side door.
Full speed ahead Nalgene smashes into the floor.
Breaks and reverse I ran and grabbed him... Jess' tears no more.
In Wyoming there was a sign that tickled our desire.
A promise of a canyon... a canyon of fire
This was the first canyon there were no canyons prior.
This was not a good place for your average nitrous buyer.
And so we continue on a mission through the hills.
A mission through giant windmill fields.
In awe of the beauty all eyes are peeled.
The horizon doesn't even look real.
We ended our journey after three nights.
We saw so many beautiful sights.
Camped in some canyons with no camping rights.
Man were we glad we didn't take a flight.
The last night was spent in a party backyard.
Really nice to use the amenities after going so far.
One last trip to the local Wal-Mart.
And we were ready to hit the hippie festival of art.
The next day was spent in a line.
The first day we spent with others with like minds.
More stopping than going most of the time.
This is where we indulge in the Playa part of the rhyme.
As we entered the place to set the man a blaze.
We were given hugs warm and full of love, what a welcoming place.
Full of bright lights and fire, this night our hearts were raised.
This was what we had been waiting for, for over 220 days.
For those who don't know BM is a festival of art.
And let me tell you minds explode right from the start.
Massive installations and booming art carts.
Full of things that you interact with and they just touch your heart.
At the man burn you can't buy or sell.
It's a place with no currency, this I tell.
Yet constantly you are giving and receiving, ordinary society we dispel.
Never in need of anything the playa provides just as well.
When all is done the city goes up in flames.
Including the giant man and the temple... fucking insane.
Fireworks spark and fire dancing far from tame.
Shit so mind blowing it makes you forget your name.
Life on the playa is not like home.
Days are hot and nights chill the bones.
Dust storms make it necessary to find shelters in domes.
The harshest of all when deep playa you roam.
Exodus came quick after what seemed like a flash.
Another bunch of hours in line, mind and body mashed.
Back to the base in a house close to Reno we crashed.
Some time to reset and jump in the bath.
Time to start the journey to Toronto.
But we're not taking the same route as we took here of this we know.
We're going a little further south and through Colorado.
Gonna get some legal weed for sho.
But first to see the arches in southern Utah yo!
The first stop was to see ovens for coal.
Really they looked like huge upside down bowls.
This was where the process started for brass to be sold.
A sad place for Mother Nature of this we know.
A sad place for all the lost tree souls.
We hiked some arches in a national park.
The sights were awesome and the shade was dark.
Now we have our arches check mark.
I took a bath in the sink, no more smelly Andrew Clark.
The next state was Colorado where the weed has been freed.
So we stopped at a few dispensaries.
We drank some juice and ate some brownies.
Legalization is a beautiful thing indeed.
We pulled up to the boarder in our big dusty steed.
The officer gave us one look and pointed to a separate area and said proceed.
He said he needed to verify our declarancy.
They ripped apart our stuff but nothing they see.
So we left this place three weeks ago.
And now we're back with a new home to know.
The four of us have done a lot but most important we grow.
And this is a story of how we burn, yagga yo!
Every Summer Solstice, the OM Reunion Project co-creates a community-driven gathering of art and music, in a forest in southern Ontario, Canada. It is a great example of a smaller transformational festival that can have just as much impact as any other. This video is only a glimpse into the magical forest that participants help to create for the festival period.
If you live in the Greater Toronto Area, Veld and Digital Dreams are household names when it comes to summer music festivals. While these types of commercial festivals are a great party, they don't offer the attendee much more than that.
Most aren't aware that there are quite a few alternative, underground festivals, within reasonable driving distance of Toronto. They are known as transformational festivals and they are called that for a reason. You wont see any big names at these festivals, nor will you find that 'mainstream EDM' sound. This is because the main emphasis is not just on the musical lineup; it's also about community, art, and self-expression. Like any commercial festival, they each include stages, music, and dancing, but you will also experience a whole lot more!
The Om Reunion Project has been running this week-long festival since 2005. As a result, it is very well organized and there is a strong sense of community present. If there is one festival you make it to this summer, I would recommend this one!
"Om Reunion Project: Solstice is a yearly gathering of creative forces to celebrate the longest day of the year... aimed to inspire creativity and celebrate life. Camp, share, learn, eat, dance, laugh and love. Come with an open mind and dare yourself to pARTicipate in every way you can. We all bring something special, we all volunteer and we all contribute to create something magical."
Located in Saint-André-Avellin, Quebec, about a 5 hour drive from Toronto, Valhalla Sound Circus is a great way to spend a weekend!
"Valhalla Sound Circus (VSC) is a non-profit cultural event that evokes an environment of free expression by combining a plethora of live musical performances with numerous visual art installations devoted to unifying and strengthening the bass music community. The communitarian spirit helps encourage participants to get to know each other, inspiring people to highlight their individualism while celebrating together."
Eclipse is located in Quebec, just outside of Ottawa. The festival is most well known as a psytrance gathering, but over the years, has expanded to include other forms of electronic music.
"Eclectic programming will include over 20 international artists and 100 North American artists on 3 electronic-music stages (psychedelic trance, techno, and ambient/downtempo/dub) in futuristic decors and immersive visuals. You’ll also find a rest and healing area offering holistic care and a space for workshops and conferences. Come experience new connections, meet new people and share conscious experiences in a parallel universe!"
Playground is a newer and smaller festival, but don't let this discourage you! You don't need a crowd of 50 000 people to have fun. Attending a smaller festival can provide a more intimate experience and a chance to get to know others on a deeper level.
"PLAYGROUND is about music and art, but more importantly it's about the strong community atmosphere and amazing collection of playful individuals."
5. Alweezgrooven: mid-August (although on break for 2018)
Also located in Quebec, just outside of Ottawa, Alweezgrooven is an electronic music, art, and wellness festival that boasts an amazing outdoor location, psychedelic chillout area, total visual experience, workshops (poi, hula hoop, bondage...), Chinese lantern lighting ceremony, healing/recharging (reiki, meditation, yoga...), as well as the expected camping, stages, and amazing music.
Hosted by alienInFlux and Promise, both well known event promoters in the Toronto underground scene, Harvest is always a great way to end off festival season. The festival has been running for over 15 years, and the organizers do an excellent job of providing a fully immersive experience.
"The rolling hills, waters, sculptures and forests of Midlothian Castle is our place to gather and celebrate season’s change by the fire, under the stars and on the dance floor as we kiss summer goodbye."
Whether you are looking to experience something new, or simply wanting to dance to something other than Avicii and Calvin Harris, I highly recommend trying out one of these transformational festivals. I guarantee it will alter your perception of what a festival can be. If you haven't already, please take a look at my post Music Festival vs. Transformational Festival, to learn more. Happy festivaling!
"Boreal is a group camping trip with a major twist departing from Toronto Ontario, Canada... We travel together as a group north by buses to a beautiful river in Muskoka, paddle canoes up stream to a magnificent, secluded camping site and build the weekend around a fantastic Saturday night DJ party. It's a magical weekend of swimming in rapids, dancing around fire and enjoying the natural surroundings with good food and friends and music."
Too often do people group music festivals and transformational festivals into the same category. Although there are similarities, there are also some very distinct differences, and these differences can greatly affect ones overall festival experience.
Ever since attending my first festival back in 2011, festival culture has become a large and influential part of my life. I went to Burning Man for the first time and my mind was blown. What I experienced completely changed me and shaped who I am today. Years later, I've attended countless music festivals and transformational festivals. I've seen first hand what makes them very different and feel very passionate about educating other festival-goers about these differences so that they can have more meaningful festival experiences.
History of Festivals
The concept of music festivals dates back to ancient Greece. In essence, a music festival is a series of musical acts or concerts organized around a central theme, most commonly musical genre. Some well known modern day examples are Coachella, Glastonbury, and Tomorrowland.
Over the past couple decades, a new style of festival has emerged. The term transformational festival was coined by Director and Writer Jeet-Kei Leung. He presented the concept to the world at a TEDx Talk in Vancouver in 2010:
In short, a transformational festival can be defined as a counterculture festival that places a strong emphasis on community, personal growth, social responsibility, healthy living, mindfulness, and creative expression (P. Elizabeth, Redefine). Some well known examples of include Burning Man, Boom Festival, and Lightning in a Bottle.
Jeet-Kei Leung also went on to direct and host The Bloom Series, a documentary web-series on the emergence of transformational festival culture. The series is now being evolved into as a 12-part documentary series for television.
There are many elements which distinguish the two types of festivals. I will elaborate on the six which I have found to be the greatest differentiators based on my personal experience:
1. Participant vs. Spectator
The main concept of a music festival is simple: you pay money for a ticket that allows you to see musical artists perform on a stage. You are mainly attending as a spectator. Yes, you can dance, and there may even be other smaller events going on at the festival that you can choose to participate in. But the majority of people who are there have come to see their favorite bands or DJ's play. The focus is on the lineup of performers, not on you.
This is not the case at a transformational festival. Yes, the music, stages, and dancing certainly play a large part, but there is much more emphasis on the other aspects of the festival. Many don’t only attend for the music and dancing. There is often a schedule of workshops that are put on by attendees. There is interactive artwork that was created with participation in mind. In general, if you have any sort of talent, no matter how random it may be, you are free to express it. Attendees are also encouraged to dress however they want, making everyone something to spectate. The fact that everyone is considered a participant truly helps to creates a sense of community.
Of course, some of these aspects apply to music festivals as well. Music festivals today are realizing that festival-goers want more than just the music. They want an immersive experience. This is why more and more music festivals are including participatory elements like interactive artwork and other activities. However, the primary focus continues to be the lineup - the artists that people have come to see play live.
There is something wonderful about walking around a transformational festival and knowing that everything you see - the decor, artwork, stages, lights, lasers, costumes, etc. - has been brought or made by other people just like you, by people who care to contribute to festival. At certain transformational festivals this even includes the musical artists. Some require performing DJ's to buy their ticket and finance their trip. They are not being paid to perform, there is no VIP treatment, DJ's aren't the new rockstars at these festivals, which brings me to my next point...
2. Non-Capitalist Economy
Many music festivals are put on by event corporations. SFX Entertainment is one of the largest. They are responsible for arguably the largest EDM festival today, Tomorrowland, as well as other well known festivals like Electric Zoo and Stereosonic.
These corporations are for-profit businesses. They exist to make money and to grow and expand in order to make even more money. They partner with other companies for mutual benefit. There is most likely a certain brand of alcohol sponsoring a music festival or a certain pop drink. Basically, any company who wants to promote themselves to the festivals demographic will pay the event corporation to setup a brand activation on the festival grounds. "[In 2013], some 447 brands played a role in 300 music festivals worldwide." (M. Sebastian, Advertising Age)
Transformational festivals tend to operate a bit differently. Many of these festivals are grassroots and are organized by non-profit organizations. Some have actually started off simply as gatherings amongst like-minded friends and have expanded over the years into something greater. Many have few full-time staff, if any, and rely heavily on volunteers to keep the festival running year after year. The price of your ticket primarily goes towards renting the land, logistics, maybe a few art grants, and perhaps the salary of a few individuals, but no one is making millions.
Some transformational festivals allow for independent vendors to be present on site. Others operate on a total gifting economy, meaning that nothing is sold at the festival (with a few exceptions, ice and food for example). Everything one can acquire is either traded or given as a gift. This means that all attendees must come prepared with everything they need to survive throughout the festival. Burning Man and other Burner events are the most well-known example of this. Living in a gifting economy was one of the things I found most spectacular at my first Burn. The feeling of a complete stranger coming up to you and handing you a fresh mango, a cold beer, or a handmade necklace, then leading to a fruitful conversation, and possibly a new friendship, it what it's all about. A non-capitalist economy is a breeding ground for genuine human interaction.
3. Workshops and Events
Most music festivals do not offer workshops, as they expect attendees to relax and recover during the day when none of the headlining artists are playing. However, workshops and other events play an integral role in transformational festivals. These can range from almost any topic you can think of, but most often fall into some of these categories: spirituality (yoga/meditation, chakra balancing, discussions on new paradigm topics, etc.), performance (hoop lessons, open mic, talent show, etc.), visual art (body painting, friendship bracelet weaving, make your own tutu, etc.), sexuality (BDSM parties, orgasm demos, speed dating, etc.), and completely random (naked Twister, human carwash, etc.)
The wonderful thing about workshops and events is that they can be put on by anyone, people just like you! This directly correlates to the participant vs. spectator element. Many have an application process or callout for workshop leaders prior to the event. If you have something you are passionate about or would like to see something happen at the festival, you are given the opportunity to make it happen.
Participating in a workshop is a great way to gain some sort of knowledge that you can take back into the real world. It is also a simple way to meet others and have fun! Workshops and events definitely add to the sense of community fostered at transformational festivals.
Authorities are responding to these incidents by throwing more police, more searches, and tighter security at music festivals. Simply put, they are responding the wrong way. They are trying to stop drug use all together rather than acknowledging that it is going to happen no matter what. In the US, there are laws in place that discourage event companies from allowing harm reduction groups at festivals. As a result, some festivals "have banned everything from drug-testing kits to to drug information booklets to kandi bracelets in their efforts to not come across as fostering an environment for druggies." (M. Lhooq, Vice) These are exactly the types of tactics that would help prevent negative incidents.
Drug use is integrally weaved into festival culture, whether you like it or not. At Boom Festival, a harm reduction group called Kosmicare puts it best:
In most events across the world, substances are prevalent. The Boom has the responsibility to take care of the Boomers, on site substance testing facilities aim at minimizing the negative effects of substance abuse… never use and abuse. By respecting your body and your mind, you also respect your soul."
Many transformational festivals share the same philosophy and employ the same tactics that Kosmicare does. For example, free testing, and having a safe space equipped with individuals trained to assist those having a psychedelic crisis. Some also have people volunteering as rangers or vibe patrol. These individuals are identifiable throughout the festival and are able to assist with any incidents they may come across. They are much more approachable than law enforcement would be, to someone with a drug-related issue.
One of best example of harm reduction I have witnessed was at Solstice Festival. A safe space called C.A.L.M was setup on the outskirts of the festival for those needing a break from it all, or those having a crisis. Every stage had easily accessible and free water. Vibe patrol was present and would periodically hand out snacks to everyone on the dance floors. And going beyond drug-related harm reduction, there were stations throughout the festival equipped with free gum, sunscreen, bug spray, condoms, an emergency walkie-talkie… basically everything a festival-goer would need.
In general, some music festivals tend to give off a "let's get FUCKED UP" vibe - a mentality that leads to attendees not caring about what they are ingesting or how much they are ingesting, which then leads to negative drug-related incidents. Transformational festivals are about more than just "getting fucked up".
5. Leave No Trace
Leave No Trace is a set of principles that promote environmental conservation and sustainability. In a festival context, it basically means clean up after yourself.
Transformational festivals generally encourage attendees to respect the land that the event is held on. Because many are organized on a grassroots level, no one may be getting paid to clean up afterwards. Encouraging the leave no trace policy is the best and easiest way for clean up to occur.
The image to the right was taken at Glastonbury Festival in 2014. The grounds are often left looking like a garbage dump. Most music festivals do not encourage leave no trace. And if they do, it is widely ignored. Festival-goers paying large amounts of money for their ticket expect someone to clean up after them. Festival organizers know this and thus a cleanup crew is employed... which is fine, if it works for them.
However, I feel that leave no trace adds to the sense of community that is more prevalent at transformational festivals. If you encourage the fact that everyone is a participant, that everyone has something to contribute, that we are all in this together, attendees are more likely to help do their part at the end.
6. General people vibe
This is perhaps the most important factor for me personally and also the most subjective.Generally, I find the types of people who attend transformational festivals easier to connect with. They are friendlier, more loving, caring, and open. This attitude helps sets the tone of the festival.
I am not saying people who I have met at music festivals are not all of the above. And I am certainly not saying that everyone at transformational festivals fits the bill. But overall, I have found the crowds at transformational festivals different than at your average music festival. And it’s not hard to understand why.Many people come to these events looking for more than just a party or a hedonistic escape. They come looking to connect with others and with themselves on a deeper level. The come with intention, they come to create. But a lot of them also come to party. It's all about balance. At a transformational festival you are more likely to find those who are there for a wider range of reasons.
Below is a film I shot at several different transformational festivals over several years. I hope the visuals and interviews with attendees help to better illustrate the points above.
There are many other factors which differentiate the two types of festivals. These are merely the six I find most distinguishable based on my personal experiences. Am I saying a music festival cannot be transformational, or a transformational festival cannot be musical? No. There is certainly a grey area; many festivals are gradually blurring the lines between the two. Is one type of festival better than the other? That is up to you to decide. If you want to go see your favorite artists perform, dance, and party, then there is nothing wrong with attending a music festival. However, transformational festivals are called that for a reason. The combination of the above factors, and the sense of community that they help foster, sets these types of festivals apart. The transformation is truly something you must experience for yourself.
Regardless, the single most important factor in any festival experience is YOU - your attitude, your thoughts, and your decisions. Happy festivaling!
These are the figures which describe my journey from Toronto to Black Rock City, back in 2011. And it was one hell-of-a journey...
For those of you unaware, Black Rock City is a temporal city located in the middle of the desert in Nevada. It is where the annual Burning Man Festival takes place. I had known about Burning Man for quite some time, and I knew this would be the year I would finally attend. However, none of my friends (at the time) were really into it, let alone had even heard of it. But that wasn't going to stop me from going. I searched online and eventually found 3 others from Toronto, all in the same boat as me.
We met up in person a few months before, which went well, and so at the end of August we were off! The plan was to take Aaron's (aka HippieVanMan's) newly purchased off of Craigslist, 1979 Volkswagen Kombi, to the playa. As if our ride wasn't sick enough, Aaron had a psychedelic paint job done on the van just days before we left. Although there wasn't enough time to complete it, the van still looked pretty awesome.
We departed 5 days before the burn. Needing to cover roughly 4000km, which translates to 40 hours of driving, we we're prepared for full 8-10 hour days in the vehicle. Joining us for the drive was an RV full of 5 other virgin Burners like ourselves, led by one of Aaron's friends, Clay. All was going well, however roughly half way through the trip the van started experiencing some issues. We decided to pull in for the night at the nearest gas station and figure it out in the morning. Upon sunrise, we were faced with a dilemma: the van wouldn't start. And it just so happens that we were in the town of Buford, Wyoming, the smallest town in all of America. Buford's population is literally 1.
We all had a good laugh at the irony of the situation. But then it was time to figure out an action plan. Aaron called roadside assistance and had the van towed to the nearest larger town, in hopes of finding a mechanic. Unfortunately it was Sunday and almost everything was closed... but there was a Wal-Mart! The Wal-Mart carried a very affordable tow hitch, and so Aaron and Clay hitched up the van to the back of the RV, we all got into the RV, and we were off again.
The remainder of the ride became a mixture of games, laughs, discussions, crafts, naps, and general shenanigans amongst the 9 of us. The 8 hour line to get into Burning Man went by in a flash because we were all having so much fun. We all camped, hung out, and experienced the festival together. And at the end of the week, we piled back into the RV for the 5 day drive home (and the shenanigans continued).
They say everything happens for a reason. I'm so grateful that everything happened the way it did because this experience brought us together like no other. Out of the 9 of us, no one knew more than 1 other person. But by the end we were all like family.
My first burn was one of the greatest experiences of my life, but whenever I think back, I think about the ride there and back just as much as the actual festival. Breaking down in the smallest town in America might seem like a shitty situation, but in this case, it was the best thing that could ever happen.
spirituality (yoga/meditation, chakra balancing, discussions on new paradigm topics, etc.), performance (hoop lessons, open mic, talent show, etc.), visual art (body painting, friendship bracelet weaving, make your own tutu, etc.), sexuality (BDSM parties, orgasm demos, speed dating, etc.), and completely random (naked Twister, human carwash, etc.)
Many transformational festivals share the same philosophy and employ the same tactics that Kosmicare does. For example, free testing, and having a safe space equipped with individuals trained to assist those having a 
I searched online and eventually found 3 others from Toronto, all in the same boat as me.
All was going well, however roughly half way through the trip the van started experiencing some issues. We decided to pull in for the night at the nearest gas station and figure it out in the morning. Upon sunrise, we were faced with a dilemma: 
We all camped, hung out, and experienced the festival together. And at the end of the week, we piled back into the RV for the 5 day drive home (and the shenanigans continued).
