After a three-year hiatus, like-minded people from around the globe rejoiced within the utopian jungles of Costa Rica.
Envision Competition encourages those that really feel the decision to easily “Come as You Are,” within the phrases of the late Kurt Cobain.
Whereas inclusivity is a standard theme for many occasions lately, no collective can encapsulate the total spectrum of what it really means to be a human fairly like Envision. A daring assertion, sure. However after attending this 12 months’s version of the award-winning vacation spot competition, allow us to break it down.
Globally famend as “far more potent than only a good occasion,” every year Envision is deliberately curated to instill a way of oneness through eye-opening experiences. It is simple to get disconnected by the mundane trivialities of day-to-day life, overlooking the fact that each one in every of us performs a significant function within the wellbeing of the collective.
Typically we simply must disengage with the intention to reconnect with that reality.
The seven pillars of Envision Competition.
Envision Competition
Taking a more in-depth look, the competition’s bedrock includes seven pillars: Sustainability, Schooling, Artwork, Well being, Motion, Spirituality and, in fact, Music.
The expertise is a pure draw for many because of founder Josh Wendel’s spectacular curation of each native and worldwide expertise. However the sonics solely make up a fraction of what the weeklong journey has to supply at Envision’s gorgeous dwelling in Uvita, Costa Rica.
2023’s enlargement from a four-day competition to a weeklong occasion gave attendees ample time to take all of it in. In years prior, those that opted to remain up late and dance the night time away have been usually too drained to bask in Envision’s transformative daytime actions. By spreading out the workshops, yoga lessons and performances, you could possibly get pleasure from the most effective of each worlds, do you have to select.
A Kundalini Breathwork Expertise by Jai Dev Singh on March third, 2023.
Eric Allen
Discovering your divine female interior healer
At 10am on Tuesday morning, dozens of girls gathered within the Pink Tent. A protected area designated for ladies solely, the construction was superbly adorned with purple and white silk tapestries draped throughout the bamboo framework for privateness.
Talking from expertise, I can not recall the final time that I sat with a gaggle of all ladies—whole strangers, may I add—and everybody shared so vulnerably about themselves. On this “Discovering Your Divine Female Internal Healer” workshop, the Gaia Guardians prompted us with inquiries to ponder in small teams.
The conversations have been designed for us to debate what we imagine our biggest energy is—and in what methods we could also be holding ourselves again.
Envision Competition 2023 Pink Tent (; 0:11)
As an alternative of feeling judged—as ladies so usually are in society—we have been all there to help each other and assist elucidate some deep-seated beliefs. It is robust to explain simply how profound it was to unravel our perceived truths alongside different females in a protected and supportive sanctuary. It was ineffable.
After we come collectively, it feels protected to unlock our divine female, interior wild lady.
Lotus flower ceremony
On Wednesday morning, we have been handled to an academic lotus flower ceremony. The lotus is an iconic image in Japanese cultures, revered for its magnificence and purity. This aquatic plant has been used for hundreds of years in varied religions and philosophical traditions, together with Buddhism, Hinduism and Taoism, the place it’s thought of a sacred flower.
Other than its religious significance, the lotus flower can be admired for its medicinal properties. The plant is wealthy in nutritional vitamins, minerals and antioxidants, making it a helpful ingredient in conventional medication.
After studying concerning the plant and sharing extracts to style and take a look at on our pores and skin, workshop host Ilup Gravengaard guided the group in an angel circle. The group fashioned two circles, one inside the opposite, whereas its members walked within the center with their eyes shut. Those that fashioned the outer circle shared compliments and affirmations, and bodily guided their blinded group members via the circles again to their unique spots.
Cacao ceremony
On Wednesday night time, Stephen Brooks, one in every of Envision Competition’s co-founders, and his associate Andrea Belen hosted a sacred Cacao Ceremony at Templo de las Estrellas.
Envision BEFORE (; 0:11)
All-natural, ceremonial-grade cacao—cocoa in its uncooked, unprocessed kind—is packed filled with nutritional vitamins and minerals. And a Cacao Ceremony is a ritual that has been practiced for hundreds of years as a way to maintain us centered and linked.
By consuming it, we will enter into euphoric states, and detrimental feelings dissipate as we connect with ourselves and the loving power round us.
Envision AFTER (; 0:07) Tree-planting ceremony
In Costa Rican native tradition, respect for nature is ingrained in on a regular basis life. The act of planting timber is thought to be a sacred accountability.
The federal government has set bold targets for reforestation and carbon neutrality, and so they’ve applied quite a few initiatives to advertise sustainable practices. Envision partnered with native environmentalist teams Tierra Mía and CostasVerdes to assist do their half to contribute to this aim.
After we heard the story of how Envision began this program, the native indigenous neighborhood made a blessing and a gaggle of over 50 volunteers adopted them as they walked to the positioning earlier than planting timber. A small contribution in concept, however one that may final perpetually.
Envision’s Tree Planing Ceremony on Thursday, March 2nd, 2023.
Charlie Orellana
Bear in mind easy methods to play
One other memorable expertise was a motion class referred to as “Bear in mind How To Play,” hosted by Emelie Rose and soundtracked by Costa Rican beatsmith Funka.
For this class, everybody in attendance was reminded of the significance of not taking life too significantly. We have been inspired to decelerate and join with our interior little one by taking part in leap frog, freeze tag and skipping, amongst different actions. It was exceptional to see nostalgia elicit such an emotional and energized response.
Templo de las Estrellas at Envision Competition 2023.
Eric Allen
Relationship communication
This workshop was held in a lovely, shaded space of the competition grounds, surrounded by timber and the sounds of nature. The group consisted of individuals from all walks of life, united by a want to enhance their communication expertise and construct stronger relationships.
The workshop began with a gaggle meditation earlier than its contributors have been requested to share their largest errors when speaking with companions from their previous.
The primary train concerned roleplaying totally different eventualities comparable to an argument over funds or a disagreement about plans for the night. The information offered considerate, tangible recommendation on easy methods to categorical points in a selected and goal means, which helps when attempting to grasp their wants and considerations.
The music
Juju performing on the Luna Stage on Thursday, March 4th, 2023.
Murrayverse
Standout performances included Ruby Chase, a DJ, rapper and singer who had a spellbinding stage presence. She blended hip-hop, Latin, entice, downtempo and home music as a fascinating crew of dancers gyrated in coordinated outfits.
The Lapa Stage got here alive with the entrancing tribal and Afro-house grooves of EDM.com Class of 2023 star AMÉMÉ and the funky disco flavors of The Sponges. In the meantime, the Luna Stage—with its humanoid stage design and mind-blowing projection-mapping—hosted excellent performances from the likes of Bonobo, Opiuo, Maddy O’Neal and Day by day Bread, amongst others.
Envision Competition returns March 4-11, 2024. You will discover out extra right here.
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