Ever since the migration away from urban warehouses in the mid 1990’s, electronic dance music gatherings have found their way to remote deserts, vast redwood groves, lush jungles and even to sacred sites. As festival organizers search for unique environments to host their gatherings, attendees are often exposed to new ways of experiencing nature. This holds true with OM Vibrations. In it’s 2nd year, OM Vibrations is a Yoga and Music festival that is being held inside a cave at Longhorn Caverns, just outside of Austin, Texas.
Evolver Austin sat down with two of the key coordinators, Rose and Jason Hahn, of Re:Evolution Media, to learn more about what participants will expect during this transformational festival, consisting of yoga, music, meditation, healing and camping. Re:Evolution is a multi-media production outlet that bills itself as having a, “common intention of catalyzing meaningful change in the personal and collective consciousness.”
The vision of the gathering, for both Rose and Jason, encompass key elements that will be nurtured during the three day event. As with other intentional gatherings, the overarching theme is about shifting consciousness. Rose spoke about her intention to take the Phoenix Rising Yoga therapy model, which is something she practices, and apply it to the ceremonial aspects of the festival. During this experience, “we will begin by checking in with ourselves and seeing where we are at in the present moment, setting an intention about something that we would like to offer ourselves and what we want to grow from.” Rose continues by describing the body of the experience to be “movement through various yoga postures and having that same kind of mindful awareness of what’s happening…It’s very explorative.” When we have our integration ceremony, she says, “We will be pulling the pearl of wisdom from the experiences we have had during the three day festival, and then applying it to our everyday lives in a meaningful way.”
Jason’s intention behind the festival is to operate from the “be the change” model, which he believes will create true integration and subtle, but lasting change in the world around. One main element to this grassroots festival is that there is little to no separation between the artist, the healer, the yogi, nature and the participant.
Central Texas’ Transformational Community- Texas is Great, You Just Gotta’ Poke Around
Jason Hahn has been traveling a lot these days with his band Nadis Warriors, one of the headliners at this year’s festival. He says throughout his travels he has seen what talent Re:Evolution Media has been booking from Central Texas, and perceives this area to be quite the space for a burgeoning transformational community. Jason said this area consists of a strong grassroots movement and OM Vibrations will serve as a space to host this community. The goal, he says, is to replicate it elsewhere. Re:Evolution media has also been booking acts globally, and has put themselves on the map as a contribution to Transformational Festivals-and they are doing it all from Texas. “We are kind of the best kept secret down here; we have a lot of spaces in Central Texas to host these events, and that just doesn’t come with every state.” Finding the cavernous space to host OM Vibrations just adds to the intrigue. Both Jason and Rose are looking forward to having a few days to create true integration, and see its ripple through this community.
The Future of Festivals
We spoke about transformation and how the Hahn’s foresee the festival supporting this goal. Through Rose’s experience, transformation happens more subtle than overt, or immediate. She articulated that if one person can be rejuvenated and re aligned, then their impact on the community will be positive and more people will want to participate. We want to see this grow, she says, “The more we generate awareness of OM Vibrations, and have a continuous support from the participants, the more we will see the community getting larger.” That is of course, if the intention is that the participants will be present and conscious and understand their roles of collaboration, both during and after the festival. Jason and Rose see the future of these festivals moving towards a natural flow, running themselves. “We are seeing the final building of this movement. Once we have it to the level where there is a mass gathering in every city like this, contributing to a mass awakening, I think our role will be done and we will retire” says Jason. “In the final stage, we will either be bringing in the new paradigm or it will collapse on itself.” It’s really up to how the participants integrate this experience into their lives in a present, conscious and evolving way that is building momentum of this transformation, manifesting this paradigm.
OM Vibrations will be held at Longhorns Cavern, in Hill Country Austin TX May 17th-19th. For more information, please visit www.omvibrationsexperience.com.
