The 8 Spiritual Festivals You Should be Checking out This Summer
Summer is hard, ok.
It’s too hot to enjoy anything aside from lying down in the dark, and for the spiritualists among us, you have to ditch the duvet and sacrifice your left foot to the demon from Insidious to avoid overheating.
But this season doesn’t redeem itself just by the blades of fresh sunlight cutting through our grey English skies.
Festivals are now a mandatory summer experience, if the drama of Coachella 2019 clogging up your feed hasn’t told you that, yet.
Calling all paranormal fanatics, pagans, wiccans, witches, and wannabes: if you’re looking to connect with your inner spirit and set it free, here are the best UK festivals which should be on your to-do list.
1 – Stonehenge Summer Solstice Gathering, 18th June – 21st June
Even though the ‘what’s’, ‘who’ and ‘why’s’ still ring out about this mysterious location, one thing is very clear: this reigns supreme as the number one spiritual location in the UK.
And although its history clearly goes back further than the 20th century, it still remains a place of political contestation, despite its mystical setting.
There was once a Stonehenge free festival, yet a clash with the British police ended this celebration, reducing the solstice gathering to the few days it currently has. But nevertheless, you can still gather, get your spooky on, and even sleep at the famous stones as you wait for the sunrise.
The reason spiritual folk flock isn’t just for the location, however: the summer solstice is when the sun reaches its highest position in the sky, and thus the day is the longest in the year. As a result, cultures dating back centuries have celebrated this moment, marking it with the festivals and rituals that are emulated today.
The experience doesn’t stop there – exhibits celebrating this historic location can provide an easy break from waiting for the sun to come up. From reconstructed Neolithic houses to the gadgets kept within them, you certainly won’t be getting bored here (even if it is in Wiltshire).
2 – Buddhafield, 17th July – 21st july
The name should key you in on the focus of this festival – yep, its all about Buddhism.
But the name itself actually derives from a much more intriguing concept than a field just off of the coast of Cornwall; the concept originates in the Mahayana Buddhist Sutras which were believed to be planes of beauty created by Buddha. Thus, they are considered the perfect location for getting spiritual.
So, trade your beer gardens for this small festival in Somerset, and get in tune with not just yourself, but also the land you are walking on. Whether your keen on getting crafty, getting down to the live music, or making a mess of meditation, all are welcome.
The Buddhist teaching and workshops will keep you busy for the whole week. But what if you just can’t get enough?
Head on over to Glastonbury as many Buddhafield fans tend to do.
3 – The Spirit of Awen, 31st July to 4th August
“Join us and experience the magic of Awen, journey with us between the sacred realms of existence.”
Gloucestershire might not sound like a sacred realm, but for this pagan and druid festival, it provides the perfect setting for the workshops to inspire and celebrate our spirituality.
With the promises of music, mutual celebration and mead in toe, this shared experience should defo be on your summer to-do list.
4 – Wild Heart Gathering, 17th august – 21st august
Spiritual festivals might appear as ‘cosy’ – AKA small – gatherings, but did you know that this event actually has 2 festivals due to the volume of demand?
Whether you’re free in May, or feeling lacklustre in August, this festival will have room for you.
And not just in terms of the timing of these gatherings; from workshops, to performances, to healers, you can truly follow your own path of re-connection with yourself and the world around you. Even though it sounds more for the stressed and less for the spiritual, the wide variety of activities you can partake in means all are welcome.
5 – Bestival
One of the UK’s most popular festivals, this might not sound like the spiritual realm for you, but with an inflatable church, an angle temple and ‘sound healing’ (it is a music festival, after all), this 4-day event has something for everyone.
If you’re looking to boogie - or be at one with yourself – you will find it in Dorset (who knew!).
Plus, as an environmentally friendly festival, you can rock up in a campervan or rent out one of their glamping pods and truly get your hippy on. Be at one with yourself? Be at one with the whole damn world.
6 – Mind, Body and Spirit Festival
Okay, this festival wins the prize for most obvious title, but does it do what it says on the tin?
Well, yes, actually.
It has 33 years of history rooted in bringing people together from all corners of the UK and unleashing their inner spirit, as well as opening themselves up to new experiences.
It has even been considered an exhibition for the pursuit of more creative and healthier lifestyles, offering a place of commune and shelter for new ideas to be shared among thinkers alike, and not so alike. The diversity of ideologies brought together here confirms that you can learn and find your own path to reconnecting with your spirituality.
And did you know that it is one of the largest and oldest events of this nature in the world?
7 – Nest, 20th May - 27th may
If you’re inspired by the festivals across the pond, and your back yard can’t recreate Coachella, head on over to Exeter for this festival.
Inspired by Burning Man, this is an event focusing on the togetherness of people, and not doing dodgy drugs and staring at a stage for a few hours.
This year’s theme echoes this: Primordial Weekend.
2019 is all about galivanting in a ‘wonderland’ and recreating the dinosaur days of yonder years ago. Whether your partaking in a primal workshop, or building your forest lair, don’t forget to go wild.
And there we have it: whether your looking to reconnect with your inner peace, get your witch on, or just party to some banging tunes, there is a festival for you, all summer long, baby.
It is only ever a train ticket and a few pairs of pants away. Well, maybe pack a stick of deodorant too, and some sunscreen. Like I said: Summer is hard, ok.
