Bali Spirit Festival

The Bali Spirit festival is an annual event, that has been running for 8 years now, it is one of many festivals that draw large crowds to Bali, and the mission is to “awaken and nourish each individual’s potential for positive change within”. It is a five day event that is filled with yoga, dance, music as well as the chance to visit various spiritual healers. The proceeds go towards HIV & AIDS awareness and environmental conservation in Bali and other parts of Indonesia.

The festival takes place on extensive outdoor grounds, just outside of Ubud, usually around the end of March, beginning of April each year. The setting is beautiful, the sun is shining, and everywhere you look there are happy smiley people. Each year this festival draws over 6000 visitors, and there are hundreds of workshops on offer all day and night for the five days. There are many different forms of yoga, Balinese dancing, lessons in witchcraft, and even tips on using essential oils. There are several healers on standby to offer healing sessions, from all over the world. The one I visited was from Australia, and had been taught by an Aboriginal. She specializes in going back to past lives to heal present day issues. It was fascinating, and very enlightening.

There is so much to see and do, one day is not enough to make the most of it. There are also activities for children to enjoy while you are discovering yourselves. There is a great swimming pool as well as craft areas where your kids can be creative. There are stalls selling food, clothes for all occasions as well as bags and jewelry made form recycled goods. Music is played by live bands, as a back drop, and some people get up and dance, while others sit in the shade soaking up the atmosphere.

Sunday is the last day of the festival, and has more children inspired activities. Last year I met the  girls behind the “bye bye plastic bags” campaign. Melati, aged 12, and her sister Isabel aged 10 are infectiously enthusiastic about cleaning up their beautiful island of Bali. They have created a petition which they intend to have signed by 1,000,000 people in order to present it to the governor of Bali. Through this petition they hope to create and activate a law that will forbid the use, sales and production of plastic bags in Bali. Just the day before they had organized a flash mob at Tanah lot  to promote their cause.They met with the king of Tanah lot, who gave his support.We can learn a lot from these 2 young ladies, who are not happy to sit back and watch their island drown in rubbish, and are determined to make a difference.They are looking for children and adults to join their team, so if any of you are interested, feel free to contact them via their Facebook page.
I came away from my time at the festival feeling inspired, and revived, and looking at the world in a new light.

I would highly recommend this festival as a way to recharge and reconnect with yourself. Life can become so hectic, and I know I get carried away trying to please everyone. The few days I spent at this festival were all about me, and I came back ready to face the world with a new energy