Celebrating its third season, Shakti Fest the spring celebration of the divine feminine produced by Bhakti Fest, the originator of yoga and kirtan festivals in the booming American yoga and spirituality festival scene is celebrating its third season May 17 -19 at the Joshua Tree Retreat Center, in Joshua Tree, CA. In addition to Bhakti Fest’s unique focus on kirtan music, along with hosting the country’s top yoga teachers, Shakti Fest brings together some of the top wisdom teachers of our time for over 25 workshops.
The Shakti centered workshops highlighted include Mirabai Devi’s “Living in Light: Anchoring the Power of the Divine Feminine” and Laura Amazzone’s “Shakti and the Tantric Wisdom Goddesses!” Devi’s session seeks to fully awaken, the Divine Feminine – the highest level of feminine expression and manifestation in the universe with a workshop filled with light as she guides attendees through an experience of transformation and healing that will culminate in a blissful state of divine awakening, an open heart, a healed body, and an expanded consciousness including a special Shakti Light Transmission for 2013. Amazzone’s session will be an experience of how the Tantric Wisdom Goddesses are the Shakti of spiritual empowerment, transformation and liberation–and discover how they are present within everyone.
Other workshops include kirtan superstar Krishna Das presenting “Awakening Bhakti” where he will share some secrets of leading kirtans; Meditation expert Dr. Lorin Roche PhD explains the way we each manifest Shakti differently through an exploration of The Radiance Sutras; HoopGirl Christabel Zamor will lead a special session of Shakti generating spiritual hooping; Zat Baraka leads a tantric breathwork workshop on the power of self-initiation; noted spiritual artist Paul Heussenstamm leads “Mandalas as Psychic Maps;” Brazilian yogini Nubia Teixeira leads a classic Indian dance class in her unique style; Joshua Tree Retreat Center Director Victoria Gevoian leads a workshop in “The 8 Key Tibetan Breaths;” Timothy Leary’s son Zach Leary, a longtime Bhakti Yoga practitioner will lead daily Hanuman Chalisa recitations. Additionally Bhakti Fest’s spiritual god father Ram Dass will give a special video message.
According to Sridhar Silberfein, founder and producer of the Bhakti Fests, “At Shakti Fest we like to allow space for context of the other spiritual disciplines at the festival – Yoga Asana – the physical yoga practice, and the devotional yoga of kirtan – Bhakti Yoga. Our workshops bring all the aspects together on the mental plane fostering greater understanding among our attendees. Having an annual message from our inspiration Ram Dass on video adds an even deeper level of wisdom and unity to our event.”
In addition to the workshops, the kirtan at Shakti Fest include the top two female kirtan players – Wah! and Donna De Lory as well as the genre’s superstar Jai Uttal, plus Dave Stringer, Prema Hara, Larisa Stow and Shakti Tribe, Govind das & Radha and many other inspiring performers. Plus world class yoga teachers Shiva Rea and Sara Ivanhoe bring their immense Shakti energy to the Joshua Tree desert along with Saul David Raye, Kia Miller, Christi Christensen, Felicia Tomasko, Elka Haeckel and many more.
Shakti Fest also presents attendees with the opportunity to experience massage and other spa treatments in the healing sanctuary. Additionally there is a marketplace with eco-friendly vendors offering delicious, high vibrational raw, vegan, and vegetarian foods and beverages, yoga gear, clothing, musical instruments, crafts and more.
There will be three separate ticket intensives around Shakti Fest: Saul David Raye’s pre-festival intensive – “Honoring & Embodying the Divine Strength, Wisdom & Love of the Mother,” a pre-festival Kirtan with Marine turned Monk Indradyumna Swami, and a post-festival intensive with Shiva Rea “Awakening of the Energetic Heart – Integrating Bhakti in Daily Life.” For information and tickets please see http://bhaktifest.com/category/festivals/shakti-fest/intensives/.
The Joshua Tree Retreat Center is the perfect setting to foster inner reflection and spiritual reconnection because of its peacefulness and natural desert beauty. Accommodation options include camping and RV parking, all on site. There are also ten local hotels within a few miles of the retreat center.
For a full list of performers and teachers and to purchase tickets (kids under 12 are FREE) please visit http://bhaktifest.com/category/festivals/shakti-fest/.