Secondary Benefit

One noticeable benefit I have found from my conscious evolution is that I have unwittingly progressed through personal challenges and goals that I have wanted to achieve or learn from for years.  These are things that I did not write about or intentionally seek within my conscious evolution.  Subconsciously I must be searching and in my current time I am finding.  My journey to learn more about myself, to express these desires and my ultimate findings of more life light, has helped me in more ways than each personal challenge can explain.  I am enjoying this secondary benefit.  I thought I might share one of my experiences of this unintentional evolution.  

I took a leap of faith and set out recently to a music festival on Texada Island called Diversity Festival.  It was small and intimate and full of kind faces.  I loved being able to truly connect with people that I frequently saw.  The festival was large enough to feel exciting, but small enough to encourage deep conversation and opening.  

I have always wanted to vend at a festival, so this year I did it.  I did not sell many of my beautiful headpieces (that I created with ethically sourced non-cruelty feathers).... but I did experience four days of enjoyment.  This festival had one stage for instrumental bands, musicians and another for electronic music.  The music was definitely delightful.  I have a memory of looking up into the sky, awash with Northern lights.... music playing in the background; Caitlin hoola-hooping near me on the beach.  Some memories you know will stay with you forever.

The festival also focused strongly on workshops to help people learn new skills and connect with each other.  I really enjoyed participating in African dance, improvised singing, African drumming and stilt walking.  Some of the other workshops included were:  improvised hip-hop freestyle, movement and dance, ribbon acrobatics, introduction to quantum mechanics, train-wreck avoidance (referring to mistakes while mixing beats electronically), yoga, and living foods nutrition.  I was vending, so I was unable to participate in all of the workshops, but I watched many from my tent (which was luckily located directly beside a stage).

One of my favorite experiences from this festival was the blessing/opening ceremony performed by some local First Nations of Texada Island.  Everyone was encouraged to get involved in the dances.  In one song, we chose a specific animal (wolf, eagle or orca) and each animal had a certain look and dance.  When the animal sound was called, you ran onto the dance floor to act out your chosen animal story.  It was fun, there was a lot of laughing.

The festival was successful in a non-monetary way.... which is definitely the best way possible.