Joy – the Theme for Spiritfest 2009
January 30th, 2009 12:24 pm
A number of my colleagues and friends have asked me to tell them more about what Spiritfest was like, what exactly I did there…..so here is my little summary.
Spiritfest is a Festival where people from many different spiritual paths (and some with no path and no affinity for things spiritual) gather to celebrate life, have “time out”, get uplifted and spend time in nature, away from the hustle and bustle of life, technology and many other stressors. The topic for this year’s event was “Joy”.
The readings were on joy, there was lots of laughter, fun activities and concerts. The festival also has workshops run by some of the people who attend.
People attending the Festival are grouped into what is called “Affinity groups”. This year all the groups had names describing different forms of joy and happiness. I didn’t realise that the English language was so rich in words describing “joy”.
The Affinity groups were named: , Euphoria, Ecstasy, Bliss, Exultation, Radiance, Glee and Effulgence. It will take more blog posts to discuss the differences between all of these expressions of “Joy”. The Affinity Groups work together (like kitchen duties and clean up) and they have fun together. One activity was a sort of a treasure hunt – I never thought that a group of placid meditators would become so competitive….in case you were wondering what group I was in…it was “Ecstasy”!
After lots of chanting, meditation, laughter, yoga, relaxation, swimming in a rock pool, exploring caves and having beautiful vegetarian food it was time to go home….till next year.
I leave you with the quote this year’s festival was built on:
“That which renews human existence and makes it full to the brim and overflowing with the joy of living is termed a festival. Let this festival inspire all people to live with a new spirit like true human beings. Let it inspire them with the fact that all humanity is an indivisible entity.” Shrii Shrii Anandamurti
Till next time,
Connie Your Yoga Partner
from
http://www.yogainahurry.com
February 2nd, 2009 at 7:50 pm
great write up … thanks Connie..
February 2nd, 2009 at 8:46 pm
Hi Michelle,
I am glad you like it. I am trying to convey the “spirit” of Spiritfest to my readers but I feel that words can’t do it justice, you have to be there to experience it.
Connie
September 16th, 2009 at 11:11 pm
Hi Connie,
Sounds sooo coool.
When is the next one?
I’m there!
Sean
September 16th, 2009 at 11:57 pm
Hi Sean,
the next Spiritfest is 7.1. till 10.1. 2010 as far as I know. I hope to be there, but I won’t know till it gets closer to the time. It will be held at Camp Coutts again, in the middle of Heathcote National Park just south of Sydney.
Connie