"Community as I see it, is a resonance from the heart that, when paired with sound has the potential to join like-hearted individuals into gathering", Shared Kelli Joy, the organizer of Unifier's Sound Sanctuary. "Many people connect with sound in different ways."
Kelli is a personal, Sound Healing Practitioner that organized a schedule of diverse sound based mediations that ran on a rotational schedule throughout the event. I couldn't imagine a better curator of sound healing modalities.
"Vibrational fields (sound) has a way of uniting individuals together, unifying everyone and disassembling separateness", Kelli has been the lead in the Sound Sanctuary for both years that Unifier has been held.
When I arrived at the Sound Sanctuary, I came across a slice of tranquility as the group Binaural Beat Brothers, Chris Sturk & Casey Ray, laid down some melodic tracks including a didgeridoo and an assembly of Gongs. I felt as if I had a vibration that was changing course depending on the beats and tones of the music. In fact, I think I fell asleep. I came to that "in between" state that separates sleep and awake. I couldn't remember a part of the demonstration, but when I came back to, I felt great! Kelli will also be organizing a sound healing space at other festivals this year including Liberation Fest 2015 in White Haven, PA. I recommend going and reconnect with your bodies inner frequency as it is stimulated by the music introduced by these unique artists.
"We are born to live creatively. Opening [to creativity], we are able to give and receive freely. We are able to be expansive and walk the path of synchronicity with nature." -Jason Cohen
My last day at the gathering I awoke early and joined in some yoga just off of the lake shore. Experiences of this last weekend released from the hold my muscle tissue had on them. A slight tightness in my lower back from sleeping on the ground in a single person tent. The stretching of my tight legs that have been worked out from walking and dancing along the 500 acre forest property. My shoulders were reminiscing the many hugs given and received this past weekend. I realize now that festivals are a way of pausing this systemic, economic life and allowing us to reconnect ourselves to the underlying principles that make life fun.
Moving forward, Unifier Festival has a 10 year plan (more or less) to generate income for a land trust. This land trust will be used to give permanent space for this and other gatherings. Jason shared with me that the intention is also to establish a community of free expression which can be built upon for generations to come.
"Power comes from Unifying", Jason shares as our interview winds down. "We identify with old stories, and it is good for us to respect those stories. Though we shouldn't let those stories keep us from coming together. We should use those stories with respect so that we can move past them and be ok with who we are."
Seeing the importance of celebration, and now having experienced an incredibly powerful example (which I hope to have portrayed well), I suggest to anyone struggling to find a strong sense of community, even folks who have a strong community, we can take a few great pointers from our friends with Unifier.
As Professor Smith-Shank points out, "Celebrations are essential to a culture's survival". I must add this to my definition of sustainable community.
Don't forget to celebrate!
Article by Daniel Bushman with Charity Warrior, "Community In Focus"
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