Modern Om Mindfulness Festival 2017 – A day of Love and Gratitude
Hello Readers! Get excited for our Modern Om Mindfulness Festival 2017 review! I had an amazing experience spending the day at the gorgeous surroundings of the Sacred Space Miami. Parking was an absolute breeze with the option to valet. Upon check-in I was given the biggest and most welcoming hug ever by the cheery staff, and given a stylish cord bracelet as my admission to the festival which I still wear as a fashion piece to this day!
After check in there were an assortment of different vendor tents to peruse, featuring gorgeous handmade jewelry, unique clothing, and nutritious superfood supplements. One that stood out in particular was the Ultimate Elixir created by Live Ultimate, a Miami-based superfood startup. They also have an Ultimate Shroom mix that tasted just like coffee! I felt energized after just a few sips! We are all for supporting local businesses, check out their stuff!
Wandering further into the Sacred Space I caught the healing scent of sage on the breeze, the soft sound of bells tinkling, deeply rhythmic chanting, and the swish of olive leaves over to my right under the shade of Guava trees. Shaman Eli Rechtstaffen and his adorable wife and child gave a powerful shamanic blessing to the blissful participants seated around him. It was such wholesome energy and his singing was very soothing to the soul.
As I made my way over to the West Gallery, a beautiful soul was seated just outside the door, clothed in white and playing with the most gorgeous sound healing bowls I’ve ever seen. Her name was Luchi Estevez, founder of La Luchi Foundation. Not only is she a prominent figure in the spiritual community, but she also gives back to the Miami community in the best way through her foundation which helps introduce urban youth to holistic teachings such as yoga and mindfulness. Her spirit radiated positivity and her class on Chakra Movement and Relaxation was very therapeutic.
The Mindfulness Festival made great use of the Sacred Space’s area. Meditation workshops began at 12 noon and encompassed the West Gallery, Mindfulness Tent, Under the Crystal Grid, and Under the Guava Grove. There were so many profound emotions and releases experienced while participating in these sessions. Keith Mitchell, Jennifer Grace, Biet Simkin, and Urban Shaman were just a few of the wonderful people on the amazing lineup in the West Gallery. I attended the Urban Shaman’s flute ceremony and have to say, it was incredibly powerful and moving. He played instruments to the beat of the different chakras, beating a deep powerful drum and blessing each of the students in the jam packed space. He is local to Miami and hosts classes at the Sacred Space monthly. Biet Simkin’s Center of the Cyclone Meditation changed my life in the best way. Her story of her life and how she came to be was beyond inspiring, and at the end we eye gazed with the person next to us. What an unforgettable experience that was!
Just outside the West Gallery was a fun little space with some very cool activities going on. Under the newly installed crystal grid by Jennifer Stone, we sat with her and received a sage cleansing and a wealth of information about the powers of crystals. We spoke about how crystals amplify our energies and the different attributes of common stones such as amethyst, quartz, and meteorite. At the end she gave us all a pointed quartz to carry with us. I was so touched by her gesture and intrigued about the powers of crystals.
In the room behind her, a large glowing pod that looked straight out of an alien sci-fi flick sat at the center of everyone’s attention. This was no extraterrestrial egg baby though, it was actually a newly-designed and highly innovative guided meditation pod. The wait time to experience this was hours long, however I happened to be in the right place at the right time when someone no-showed and I was able to hop in. It was probably the coolest thing I’ve ever experienced. Once inside you are enveloped in calming lights and the soothing sound of a female voice taking you deeper into your meditation. The temperature was comfortable from air-circulating fans, and the entire thing is handmade of sustainable materials. Everyone should definitely try this once in their life!
There were delicious bites on a specially curated Modern Om Mindfulness Festival 2017 menu being offered all day at the Sacred Space’s onsite restaurant Plant Food and Wine. In the evening there was an intimate dance party to the sounds of Jared Bistrong’s Didgeridoo and an intention release closing ceremony. Overall I left with such an elevated sense of well-being and highly encourage you to experience that and love yourself by attending next year’s festival. Thank you for reading our Modern Om Mindfulness Festival 2017 Review! We hope to see you there next year! Keep an eye out for when tickets go on sale! Namaste!
