I really should be better at shutting off social media banter when events of great significance occur. I find that many people have this dark side of their personality that bubbles to the surface during these times. A side that likes to stir, speculate, and point fingers without any sensitivity to the people impacted by the event. A lot of the social media posts that I’m seeing related to the tragic incident that occurred at Entheos Gathering yesterday…yesterday — is so mean spirited, it’s mind boggling; especially considering that this festival and conference is meant to be about the spirit and our connection with one another. Balance. Harmony. Love.

I felt like this after the Riot in Vancouver. Would these people say these mean things as readily and eagerly as they type them? The permanence of what is typed is clearly not on minds as one clicks post, comment, send. The people that painted apologies and cleaned up and hugged and cried together: that is who I want to be surrounded by. That is the energy I want to fuel me.

This was my first Entheos. I wanted to experience being at a smaller music festival that attracted a different crowd. I was fully enchanted by the location and by the friendly people…children…animals. Running, walking, singing, playing, dancing; this place had a heart-warming energy. An amazing little hippy village. haha

Wild cloud formations rolled through the vast skies and there was so much green. I am in love with the colour green in all of its variations. This festival fully embraced the beauty of its location.

While I loved dancing in the forest to some talented DJs, I moreso loved the days. I loved going on a ‘nature walk’ with my fiance (oh yeah…I’m engaged!!). We got to walk through this forested area, surrounded by lush green trees and hearing music playing in the distance. While this festival was far from a ‘road’, the area was quite large to explore because you are in a valley. I enjoyed lounging on deep seated chairs constructed for just this thing and laughing with the man who was lounging with his large pan of dahl. Watching Bellyfit Live where around 100 people danced in unison, until she shouted FREESTYLE. It was a tribal movement. I also relished over the campfire, that was fueled by a volunteer throughout the evenings. Camping with 1000 other people is just such a great atmosphere to escape to. Seeing so many down-to-earth children was very warming as well.

It was evident that something horrible had happened by seeing the large RCMP presence in the morning. My beautiful hay field had a helicopter resting in the middle of it. Police tape melded in with other yellow tape blocking off gardens and edges of camping zones. With such a small community, the incident cut deep. Peaceful serenity stripped away by an act committed by one. And, now that I’m home, the acts of many keep ripping at my peace. All of my emotions…and I don’t even know him.

This happened yesterday. So, I have to be hopeful that those who are currently completely struck down with grief will soon have a voice. I just keep wanting to write STOP STOP STOP on all of these thoughtless threads, but everything adds fuel to angry spirits. So, I post this here, STOP, LISTEN, LOVE!

I connected to a beautiful festival. I will continue to connect with those I love, because, sadly, it sometimes takes tragedy to remind us how precious love and life is.