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| HealthForce SuperFoods at Shakti Fest 2013 Image by Kristina Clemens |
A swift but soft wind carried our fortified energy throughout the
sanctified Sunday, leaving us refreshed from the intense heat of Saturday.
First morning sips of Organic India tea and Teeccino put a spring in everyone
step for the day’s classes, workshops and Main Stage events. To further
supplement the energy we would all need for the last day, our Gold Sponsor New Chapter, and Bronze Sponsor HealthForce SuperFoods supplied enriching vitamins
and essential minerals at their vitamin bars. Our festival family protected
themselves from the full bloom Sunday sun with the help of Desert Essence sunscreen body products.
Starting the Sunday softly yet strongly in the Sanctuary, Zach
Leary (Ramana) lead a group in the Daily Hanuman Chalisa Recitation to focus
energy on service and devotion to The Divine.
In Yoga Hall II, Sean Johnson and The Wild Lotus Band offered a
class how to bring “Bhakti on the Mat.” My Yoga Online captured the incredible
energy that Sean created by invoking the power of a divine trinity of
goddesses: Saraswati, Radha, and the Kali Durga.
With powerful imagery of the Vedas through Sean’s storytelling
backed by the mesmerizing Jazzy beats of the Wild Lotus Band, all who were
present called on the great mothers to help recognize thee most important
things in their life. He explained that the powerful mothers would protect and
preserve those precious things for us--and that each goddess offers different
types of inspiration, strength and divine beauty according to each of our needs
if we just ask and accept. As we flowed through asana we were encouraged to
move from the sacred space inside where the goddesses dwell and express their graceful, and sometimes not so
graceful, dance.
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| Govind Das at Shakti Fest 2013 Image by Kristina Clemens |
Midday, Govind Das & Radha from Bhakti Yoga Shala slowed things down with a
peaceful practice of “Yin Kirtan Kosmic Bliss” while the YogaSlackers kept the
playful fun alive at the Chalice Pond, and Chris Stein offered the traditional
benefits of “Afternoon Iyengar Yoga.”
The classes closed with strong sisters among the Kudalini
community with Nandhi- Sunset Kalangi in Yoga Hall III, while Kia Miller
brought our festival family from the heavens back to Mother Earth by offering
an opportunity to be “Grounded with Grace” in Exhale Yoga Hall I.
Kia guided participants to awaken their subtleties. Through acute
and powerful pranayama practice, Kia invited all to envision themselves as
“little lighthouses living the dark masses to help guide others to the safe
harbor of their true home within themselves.”
She shared that staying true to one’s yoga practice is the way, “to
ground ourselves to the support we will need through the challenges that life
will inevitably bring.”
Sunday Kirtan started with the stirring sacrimonious sounds of
Sharnam Anandama, followed by the beloved divine duo of Sri Kirtan who filled
listeners ears with rich, ancient chants. Prema Hara picked up the kirtan pace
a bit with their playful and joyful expressions, while Arjun Baba carried the
afternoon through with his unique style and musings of traditional Qawwali and
raag music.
The lovely Larisa Stow & Shakti Tribe transitioned us into
the early eve with her luscious voice and infectious melodies. Dave Stringer brought the kirtan rock with his undeniable and forceful energy, and got the
crowed cranked up for the following All Star Jam. The community of kirtan
artists that shared their goddess given talents over the weekend gathered to
blast bliss levels to the stars for the Main Stage finale.
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| Honoring Shyamdas at Shakti Fest |
Before chanting our last mantra, a video was projected to honor
one of the founding fathers of the Shakti and Bhakti Fest Tribe, Shyamdas. Our
community held a magnificent moment of deep reverie for our fallen Shakti fest
father who passed in a tragic accident just a few months before. With our
hearts full of great gratitude and deep rooted reverence we began to chant to
the heavens above, below and within ourselves.
As Shakti Fest tradition would have it, we recalled and recited
the holy name of Krishna until ecstatic exhaustion. The Anugraha Closing
Fire led by Nandhi burned sacred flames until holy smoke was all that
remained of our graceful and truly blessed gathering.
Our hearts and spirits were truly set free in among the old
Joshua Trees that final day, and we felt the mystic magic happen as Shakti, The
Source, and our Greatest Mother melted away the final layers of all that which
impedes on our highest potential self: doubt, fear, defensiveness and ego.
The Shakti Fest experience left us with the sweet, strong truth that
to heal each other and ourselves, all we must do is sincerely respect and
accept the blessing and support of the One Sacred Mother who never ceases to
nurture us, and has powerful, infinite love for all us-- her divine creations.
