Healing Festival
April 2024
FESTIVAL REPORT
When life rolls out the redc carpet
At a time when most of us feel beleaguered by life, it’s not every day that it decides to relent and share some of the secrets that can help us rein in the rebellious horses of our lives. The Life Positive International Healing Festival 2024 was one such event where life was at its magnanimous best says Navni Chawla
Nestled in the outskirts of Delhi, embraced by verdant landscapes, Zorba the Buddha unfolds as a tranquil haven for seekers. Its serene gardens, reflective ponds, and exotic flora created an idyllic setting for the Life Positive International Healing Festival, 2024, where anticipation permeated the air. The excited participants, the vibrant Life Positive team, and the graceful facilitators converged on this oasis on the 24th and 25th of February 2024. The architecture of Zorba the Buddha seamlessly blends contemporary features with rustic elements, such as organic bamboo, mud, and thatch construction, to provide a natural backdrop for transformative workshops. In such a setting, the festival promised a holistic experience of spiritual exploration and connection with the essence of life.
Life Positive’s offerings included workshops on Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT), Divine Union of Shiva and Shakti Within (internal marriage), and Reiki Healing, as well as scrumptious sattvic food. Unfortunately, the workshop on Abundance Mindset had to be called off as its facilitator, Ramandeep, couldn’t make it due to poor health. However, many participants of her workshop happily switched to Meetu Sehgal’s EFT workshop and enjoyed it to the hilt.
The festival commenced on a brilliant note as the happy energy and vibrant vibe of the venue infused the gathering with a palpable sense of joy and spiritual resonance, setting the tone for transformative experiences ahead.
Day 1
Divine Union of Shiva and Shakti Within by Hitesh Vashisht
The workshop started with Hitesh Vashisht declaring that the space the participants were
entering was one of reciprocity, which meant that it would be an interactive workshop. Hitesh began with a story in which Shiva took the form of Ardhanarishvara, symbolising the harmonious blend of masculine and feminine energies. Through Ardhanarishvara, Lord Shiva reveals the wisdom in embracing both masculine and feminine energies, as completeness emerges when we welcome both strength and tenderness within ourselves.
The workshop delved into understanding the Shiva and Shakti energies and illuminating their crucial role in every aspect of existence. Shiva and Shakti represent masculine and feminine energies. Shiva is stillness, strength, and consciousness, while Shakti is dynamism, creation, and transformative energy.
The feminine or Shakti qualities comprise creativity, sensitivity, nurturing, gentleness, free-spiritedness, expressiveness, empathy, and flexibility. These qualities enhance emotional intelligence, thereby fostering deeper connections and understanding in relationships. In professional settings, they bring collaboration and holistic problem solving skills. Embracing these traits promotes a balanced and harmonious society, where everyone benefits from a diverse range of skills and perspectives.
Masculine energies, such as strength, resilience, and decisiveness, are valuable for individuals of all genders. These qualities provide stability and focus, aiding in goal achievement and overcoming challenges. In personal relationships, they offer support and a sense of security. In the professional realm, masculine qualities contribute to leadership and strategic thinking. Bringing together these attributes in a balanced way fosters a dynamic and thriving community where individuals draw upon diverse strengths. Both masculinity and femininity contribute uniquely to the richness of human experience and growth.
The workshop further mapped the feminine and masculine energies in our bodies where the left side represents the feminine, and the right side, the masculine qualities. Hitesh elucidated that a woman embracing the mind achieves completeness, while a man honouring the heart attains wholeness.
Masculine energy is often associated with giving, representing assertiveness, action, and outward expression. It is like the sun radiating its energy outward. On the other hand, feminine energy is linked with receiving, symbolising openness, intuition, and the ability to nurture. It is akin to the moon, drawing in and reflecting light.
The workshop also showed the participants 48 LifePositive | APRIL 2024
that when they feel complete from within, they have more fulfilling relationships outside. This formed the very essence of the Shiva-Shakti workshop, where the union of feminine and masculine energies first happens within.
Drawing parallels with the corporate world, Hitesh highlighted that even at the workplace, when there is too much emphasis on achieving goals, employee interests often get neglected, resulting in failure. So, there must be a balance between having a goal-oriented approach and sensitivity towards employees.
Referring to the Chinese philosophy of Yin and Yang, Hitesh explained that each element (Yin and Yang) contains an essence of the other, highlighting the interdependence of masculine and feminine energies. The path to connecting with Shiva is having reverence and love for Shakti, the creative force of the Universe.
This exploration left participants with a profound understanding of the interconnectedness of all living beings with the cosmic energy field known as Brahman.
Everything that is created has a divine purpose. Hitesh urged the participants to align with the Divine by perceiving beauty and perfection in all things.
Referring to the Isha Upanishad, Hitesh explained that a balance between one’s spirituality and domestic life should be maintained. He said that spirituality does not ask an individual to renounce their worldly duties but to perform them with refinement and awareness.
A person embodying balanced divine masculine and feminine energies exudes a harmonious blend of strength and compassion. In their character, you’ll find a confident yet nurturing presence. They display resilience, assertiveness, and clear decision-making associated with the divine masculine, while also expressing empathy, intuition, and a caring
nature attributed to the divine feminine. Such an individual is open-minded, adaptable, and values both independence and collaboration. They foster healthy relationships and understand when to lead and when to support. Overall, a person with balanced divine energies reflects a holistic and integrated approach to life, embodying the best qualities of both masculine and feminine aspects.
Reiki Healing by Dr N K Sharma and Savita Sharma
Dr N K Sharma and his wife Savita Sharma commenced their workshop on Reiki Healing by crediting Life Positive with giving a platform to alternative healing practices at a time when they lacked recognition and validation from society. This ongoing effort by LP has had a transforming effect on many people’s lives. They shared that the Reiki Healing Foundation (RHF), the world’s largest healing organisation
Dr N K Sharma explaining the fundamentals of lifefounded by Dr Sharma, has crossed the count of 8.5 lakh students worldwide. His target is to attract a hundred million students. The purpose of RHF is to debunk superstitions and empower people with scientifically validated knowledge. Dr Sharma claimed that every individual is blessed with infinite powers and psychic abilities, but they are blissfully unaware of them. He aims to awaken people about the universal laws that create the future, coincidences, and next births. “We leave everything to the planets, gods, and kismet, not knowing that we have the power to decide the course of our lives. When we learn all this, we will have no questions left.”
Since childhood, Dr Sharma wanted to know why there was pain, disease, and poverty on earth. The answer he received was that the body does not wish to fall ill. It is humans who create conditions that generate diseases.
Poverty exists because people do not know how to apply the law of abundance, and suffering exists because people nurse emotional toxicity, which combusts when it comes in touch with any external trigger.
The real nature of man is peace and bliss.
“Reiki is one of the powers we are blessed with which can enable us to design the life of our dreams. We will never beg God to give us blessings. We have the power to create extraordinary energy. We have the power of telepathy, intuition, third-eye vision, and the subconscious mind. We can self-heal, do astral travel, and magnetise whatever we wish for in our lives,” he declared.
Dr Sharma and his wife, Savitaji, initiated all the participants into Reiki and taught them how to cleanse auras and give healing to a person. We felt a strong and cool beam of energy
enter our Crown Chakra as Dr Sharma gave us Shaktipat (energy transmission). Savitaji gave a practical demonstration on how to invoke and use Reiki to heal ourselves as well as others. After that, the participants gave healing to the hurt and diseased body parts of their workshop partner, and everybody felt significantly better.
Then, with the help of copper wands, Dr Sharma checked everyone’s auric field. It was noteworthy to see how each one of us carried an electromagnetic field that had a strong effect on the environment. If we felt good and positive, our aura increased by several metres. This positivity also ensures that negativity and low energy do not enter our energy field.
Dr Sharma said that energy healing is mentioned in the Vedas. It travelled from India to Tibet, then to Japan, and from there to the whole world.
Apart from giving a long and extensive tutorial on Reiki, Dr Sharma also enlightened the participants on healthy living, healthy eating, and positive thinking so that we do not fall ill in the first place and achieve the highest potential by maximising all the natural gifts we have been born with.
Day 2
Emotional Freedom Technique by Meetu Sehgal
Participating in the Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT) workshop by Meetu Sehgal turned out to be a transformative journey. Meetu shared her personal healing odyssey, which was a testament to EFT’s power to bring about life-changing transformations.
Setting the stage, Meetu urged participants to leave doubts at the doorstep, fostering a safe space where intentions were explored. EFT, a process of tapping on energy meridians while vocalising specific statements, delved into the conscious and subconscious realms. Meetu emphasised that, as energy beings, our bodies host meridians, or nadis, through which energy flows. Painful experiences and negative thoughts and feelings can obstruct the flow of energy in these meridians, resulting in diseases or failed objectives.
Tapping on the meridians present on the crown of the head, the temples, the chin, the fingers, and the sides of the body; between the brows; and below the nose can unblock them and restore the energy flow in the auric body, leading to a sense of happiness and well-being.
Participants engaged in tapping sessions, experiencing the liberating flow of energy. The workshop underscored the connection between
emotional well-being and physical health, asserting that diseases often manifest from underlying emotional issues and unhealthy beliefs.
Exploring brainwave states, Meetu explained the transition from theta to alpha modes through EFT, which can even surface memories from the womb.
Practical exercises, including the Triple Calmer technique and holistic healing activities, enriched the learning experience. Meetu outlined a stepwise approach to accurate EFT, emphasising simplicity over complexity. The Personal Peace Procedure, involving the daily clearing of negative memories, became a cornerstone, and the language of emotions took centre stage, unveiling the purpose behind each emotional state.
The workshop buzzed with dynamic energy as
Meetu Sehgal infused it with engaging exercises aimed at energy-clearing techniques and physical movements, adding a touch of playfulness to the transformative process. Participants were not only guided through practical tapping sessions but also treated to insightful videos demonstrating the profound effects of EFT. One video showcased how EFT could bring about a tangible change in the chemistry of blood cells, illuminating the intricate connection between mind and body.
Meetu delved into the psychology of EFT, highlighting its ability to silence the self-critical inner voice, thus enhancing the potency of affirmations. The interactive session became a forum for intriguing questions from participants, fostering an environment where vulnerability was possible. Through an exercise, Meetu demonstrated EFT’s unique capability to navigate from surface-level issues to deep-rooted problems, which may otherwise remain obscured from conscious awareness. The hypnotic state induced by EFT, as illustrated, allows the mind to be more receptive to new instructions and the formation of empowering beliefs.
The workshop not only unfolded the technical aspects of EFT but also created a space for personal exploration and growth. It addressed the temporal nature of emotions, with a poignant reminder that emotions are sticky and often linger. Meetu highlighted the work of Bruce Lipton, which emphasises how beliefs impact the manifestation of affirmations.
The workshop concluded with a profound insight into channelling emotions in healthier ways, thus breaking the cycle of negativity. The echo of ‘tap, tap, tap’ lingered, leaving participants equipped with a powerful tool for emotional freedom and holistic well-being.
The workshop proved to be a delightful and cherished experience for all participants, fostering joy and laughter throughout. Meetu Sehgal’s guidance not only imparted valuable insights but also equipped attendees with simple yet potent tools to navigate stressful feelings. The immediate sense of lightness experienced by everyone validated the effectiveness of the techniques shared
Navni Chawla, a Delhi based writer has a heart brimming with passion for life and loves capturing the beauty of the world through words.