Tents wrapped around the small Woodlawn Lake Park to form an enclosed area spacious enough to wander but compact enough to traverse the booths with ease. The lawn was filled with individuals exchanging aspects of their spirituality, from Indian religious influences on spiritualism to practices rooted in Indigenous cultures. On the surface, the fifth annual Lighten Up Festival presented as an event dedicated to spiritualism, but a walk through the array of vendors and tables unveiled a focus on human experiences. The festival was filled with vitality — small artists, peace therapists and organizations sharing their work in hopes of immersing ongoers in their practices, art and activities.
Small art business owner Nahzja Hunter details the mysticism that lies within the event through her experience at past festivals.
“I really enjoyed when we did Hare Krishna,” Hunter explained. “It really stuck with me, and I had my little brother with me. It really stuck with him as well. I loved how exhilarating it felt. I felt so in touch with my inner child, and we were just holding hands, and we were going around in a circle singing.”
Hunter’s words captured the spiritual effects of the event, which participants could deeply feel when making their way to sound bath practitioner Abby Mason.
Mason’s tent contained a plethora of crystal singing bowls that encircled her, flowing from small to large and radiating at different frequencies once lightly tapped or and caressed with a striker.
“The way we perceive the world is the state of our nervous system. It is not what the world actually is. And so when I help people find a state of calm, they end up seeing a better world around them. That is beautiful,” Mason revealed. “I’m basically trying to promote the practices that help me find calm again and help me live a life that I was happy to be in.”
The event’s spiritualism was not only its centerpiece; the art and music that flowed throughout relaxed the environment, an apricity in the heat of the spring.
Musician Rosemary Flowers performed folk and indie music while onlookers, seated on their blankets, soaked in her melody. The light strum of her guitar and soft voice provided tranquility, easing her listeners into her lovely melody.
“I’m inspired a lot by spiritual experiences I’ve had,” Flowers shared regarding her inspiration for music. “I hope [listeners] can connect in some ways. Whatever is personal to them, in the sense of things like redemption and forgiveness and healing, to continue forward and know that this too shall pass.”
The event sprang with music, art, spiritualism and a place for groups, branding it as not only a spiritual experience but a human one.
