Latest news from the Oneness Festival team.

Read more here: » Oneness Festival - Intermediate Newsletter 040104

Read more here: » What happened at the Oneness Festival Feb 16-22 2004?

One Way Street employs several professional performers and speakers who travel regularly to Regional Festivals. Some of these in-house workshop leaders are: Dale VonSeggen - President & CEO of One Way Street Liz VonSeggen - Ventriloquist, Storyteller, Puppeteer, Writer Todd Liebenow - Puppeteer, Writer KJ Schmidt - Puppeteer Ryan Spittler - Puppeteer In addition to the speakers from the company, One Way Street brings many other staff members to Regional Festivals as teaching ...

See also:

One Way Street Regional Festivals, One Way Street Regional Festivals - Staff, One Way Street Regional Festivals - Locations, One Way Street Regional Festivals - Sources

Read more here: » One Way Street Regional Festivals: Encyclopedia II - One Way Street Regional Festivals - Staff

SEXUAL COME-ONS AT PAGAN FESTIVALS - An Open Letter to the Web of Oz

Like many another Neo-Pagan, I began life under the heavy indoctrination of Christian precepts. Like many others, I found this upbringing to be not only painful, but psychologically damaging, as well. It has taken years of disciplined work to shrug off the feelings of guilt and self-recrimination foisted upon me during those years. Especially, I remember the pain of being taught to feel shame and remorse over each and every thought I had of a sexual nature. And any overt sexual act (other than narrowly defined exceptions) was anathema -- a cause for eternal damnation. 

Read more here: » Paganism: SEXUAL COME-ONS AT PAGAN FESTIVALS - An Open Letter to the Web of Oz

Spiritual Parenting is a topic relevant to all parents and all who are in contact with children in any way. The following article is a summary of the speach about Shristhi - the Art of Parenting that was delievered by Radhika Dasaji of the Golden Age Foundation at the Oneness Festival, 16-22 of February 2004.

Read more here: » Spiritual Parenting, summary of lecture at the Oneness Festival

Get a feel for what happened at the last festival at The Spiritual Retreats.

Read more here: » A snapshot of the first Oneness Festival, August 2-8 2003

India needs rejuvenation. This rejuvenation will come only with the revival of our great Indian ideals. India needs shakti. For this, extensive re-building needs to be initiated for the country to acquire physical, mental and spiritual strength.

For creating this stupendous energy, India needs a new spiritual awakening. A new direction. The inspiration for such an awakening could come from a prophet of peace, for instance, someone like Guru Nanak, who proclaimed: "Love the saints of every faith, Put away the pride! The essence of religion is Humility, service, and sympathy.  Not fine clothes, Not the yogi'sgarb and ashes, Not the blowing of horn, Not the shaven head, Not long prayers...".

(See also: Peace on Earth, Peace of Mind, Love and Happiness, Life and Beyond, Body Mind and Soul)

The tradition of sanctifying various trees and plants dates back to the Vedic period. Though wood as a fuel was a basic need and trees in general were treated with care and respect, some trees such as the Peepal, Banyan and Neem, commanded more respect than others.

The Tulsi (Basil) plant was grown in every household in the centre of the courtyard and ritually watered. The rituals served an important purpose - they made people aware of the environment and its importance and so indirectly helped preserve and nurture it.

(See also: Peace on Earth, Peace of Mind, Love and Happiness, Life and Beyond, Body Mind and Soul)

Beltane is celebrated on May 1st and is one of the original Celtic festivals. Beltane or May Day is also known as the Lover's holiday. Beltane is one of the four Celtic Fire festivals, and is probably the second most important festival next to Samhain. Beltane is primarily a sun festival and was performed during the day. The most important part of Beltane was the kindling of the fires. The Irish Celts would extinguish their fires the night before and would eat a cold meal to insure that all fires were out. Then they would attend the ceremony, returning with an ember to once more start their fires.

Read more here: » Beltane: Beltane - May 1 or May Day

Ganesh Chaturthi

Ganesh Chaturthi is one of the most popular of Hindu festivals. This is the birthday of Lord Ganesha. It is the day most sacred to Lord Ganesha. It falls on the 4th day of the bright fortnight of Bhadrapada (August-September). It is observed throughout India, as well as by devoted Hindus in all parts of the world.

From Hindu Fasts & Festivals by Sri Swami Sivananda.

Read more here: » Ganesh Chaturthi: Hindu Festivals - Ganesh Chaturthi

Krishna Janmashtami

THIS IS THE birthday of Lord Krishna, the eighth Divine Incarnation. It falls on the 8th day of the dark half of the month of Bhadrapada (August-September). This is one of the greatest of all Hindu festivals. Lord Krishna was born at midnight. A twenty-four hour fast is observed on this day, which is broken at midnight.

From Hindu Fasts & Festivals by Sri Swami Sivananda.

Read more here: » Krishna Janmashtami: Hindu festivals - Krishna Janmashtami

Radha refers to either one of two figures in Hindu religion. By far the most important is Radha, the gopi, who participates in the Rasa Lila with Krishna. Radha - The Mahabharata. Radha - Radha the gopi. In the story of Krishna, as told in the Puranas and the Mahabharata, she is one of the gopis (cow-herding women) of the forest of Vrindavan, and was brought up in this community with Krishna. In the orginal story she is briefly mentioned as one of the gopis who Krishna plays wit ...

Including:

• Radha - The Mahabharata
• Radha - Radha the gopi
• Radha - The foster mother of Karna
• Radha - Radha the Gopi in later Vaishnava traditions
• Radha - Festivals
• Radha - Radha the most important Gopi of Krishna
• Radha - Radha the beautiful one

Read more here: » Radha: Encyclopedia - Radha

The Attic calendar is the calendar that was in use in ancient Attica, the ancestral territory of the Athenian polis. This article focuses on the 5th and 4th centuries BC, the classical period that produced some of the most significant works of ancient Greek literature. Because of the relative wealth of evidence from Athens, of all the Hellenic calendars it is the best understood. Viewed from the standpoint of the modern Gregorian calendar, this ancient system has many peculiar features. This is a part of its appeal: as a cultural artif ...

Including:

• Attic calendar - Local focus of the system
• Attic calendar - More than one calendar
• Attic calendar - Festival calendar
• Attic calendar - List of months
• Attic calendar - Lunisolar calendar
• Attic calendar - Names of the months
• Attic calendar - Days of the month
• Attic calendar - State calendar
• Attic calendar - Manipulation of the calendar
• Attic calendar - Dating long range events
• Attic calendar - Sidereal calendar

Read more here: » Attic calendar: Encyclopedia - Attic calendar

O-bon (Jap. お盆) or only Bon is a Japanese Buddhist holiday to honor the departed spirits of one's ancestors. This Buddhist festival has evolved into a family reunion holiday during which people from the big cities return to their home towns and visit and clean their ancestors' graves. Traditionally including a dance festival, it has existed in Japan for more than 500 years. It is held from 13th of July to the 16th ("Welcoming Obon" and "Farewell Obon" respectively) in the eastern part of Japan (Kanto), and in August in the ...

Including:

• Bon Festival - Bon Odori
• Bon Festival - Festival in China

Read more here: » Bon Festival: Encyclopedia - Bon Festival

Hanukkah, also known as the Festival of Lights or Festival of Dedication, is an eight day Jewish holiday that starts on the 25th day of Kislev, which generally is in December, or sometimes, late November. The festival is observed in Jewish homes by the kindling of lights on each of the festival's eight nights, one on the first night, two on the second night and so on. In Hebrew script, the word Hanukkah is written חנכה, ḥănukkāh, or חנוכה, Including:

• Hanukkah - Commemoration
• Hanukkah - Historical sources
• Hanukkah - In the Talmud
• Hanukkah - In the Septuagint
• Hanukkah - The story
• Hanukkah - Hanukkah rituals
• Hanukkah - Kindling the Hanukkah Lights
• Hanukkah - When to light the lights
• Hanukkah - Blessings over the candles
• Hanukkah - Additions to the daily prayers
• Hanukkah - Traditional Hanukkah foods
• Hanukkah - Hanukkah games: Dreidel and Gelt
• Hanukkah - Dreidel
• Hanukkah - Chanukkah Gelt
• Hanukkah - Interaction with other traditions
• Hanukkah - Alternative spellings based on transliterating Hebrew letters
• Hanukkah - Background
• Hanukkah - Chronology
• Hanukkah - Battles of the Maccabean revolt
• Hanukkah - When Hanukkah occurs
• Hanukkah - Hanukkah's dates in the Gregorian calendar

Read more here: » Hanukkah: Encyclopedia - Hanukkah

The Berlin International Film Festival, also called the "Berlinale", is one of the most important film festivals in Europe and the world. It is held annually in February (in 2006 from February 9 until February 19) and has been arranged since 1951. The jury always places special emphasis on representing films from all over the world, from the former Eastern Bloc countries as well as from Western countries. The awards are called the Golden and Silver Bears (the Bear is the symbol of Berlin). Berlin Film Festi ...

Including:

• Berlin Film Festival - List of winners
• Berlin Film Festival - Golden Bear

Read more here: » Berlin Film Festival: Encyclopedia - Berlin Film Festival

The Carneian festival (Κάρνεια) was one of the most important religious festivals in ancient Sparta, held in honor of Apollo Carneios, who was worshipped in various parts of the Peloponnesus. There were nine major festivals on the Spartan calendar, the most important of which were the Carneia, the Gymnopaedia and the Hyakinthia held at Amyclae. The Carneia began on the seventh day of the month of Carneios (the Athenian Metageitnion) and lasted nine days. Nine tents were pitched near the city w ...

Read more here: » Carneian festival: Encyclopedia - Carneian festival

Anima Mundi, translated as "the soul of the world" from Latin language, may refer to one of the following. Anima mundi, a philosophical concept Anima Mundi, a 1991 documentary film directed by Godfrey Reggio. Anima Mundi, a Brazilian video and film festival Other related archives1991, Anima Mundi, Anima mundi, Brazilian, Godfrey Reggio, Latin language, documentary film, film festival

Read more here: » Anima Mundi: Encyclopedia - Anima Mundi

Aluva (Alwaye ആലുവ) is a town north of Kochi in Ernakulam district of Kerala state in South India. It is one of the more industrialised town in Kerala. It is famous for the Aluva Sivarathri festival at Manal Puram (land with sand) on the banks of Periyar River. Other related archivesAluva Sivarathri festival, Ernakulam, Kerala, Kochi, Periyar River, South India

Read more here: » Aluva: Encyclopedia - Aluva

The Winter Solstice Festival (Chinese: 冬至; Pinyin: dōng zhì; "The Extreme of Winter") is one of the most important festivals celebrated by the Chinese and other East Asians on or around December 22 when sunshine is weakest and daylight shortest, i.e. on the day of the winter solstice (see also jiéqì). The origins of this festival can be traced back to the Yin and Yang philosophy of balance and harmony in the cosmos. After this celebration, there will be days with longer daylight hours and therefore an increase in positive energy flowing in. The philosophical significance of this is sy ...

Read more here: » Winter Solstice Festival: Encyclopedia - Winter Solstice Festival