What a trip! Whoops, I mean what an extraordinary spiritual experience. I suspect I’ll be forgiven for my poor phraseology – it’s very much peace and love and acceptance at the Medicine Festival. Either way, I went on quite some journey over the four days – there were peaks and troughs; I was shaken and stirred. 

Back after a fallow year, and with a slightly busier and changed (for the better) layout, this meat-and-alcohol-free festival delivered a powerful punch. It wasn’t always easy. Indeed, I almost left early on the Sunday, having overdosed on sincerity and a surfeit of hipness, but I decided I didn’t want to leave feeling a bit rubbish, so I ventured once more into the fray. I’m glad I did. My chakras were opened (that was the claim of the workshop anyway), I participated in an experimental singing workshop which was, dare I say it, heart opening, and I snoozed through an hour of – what I’m sure was – a superb Yoga Nidra/Sound Healing combo session. 

It was hot. And very dry. The main field could have been Africa. If I’d seen a zebra being taken down by a pride of lions I’d have hardly blinked. Fortunately, there was plenty of shade to be found in the many tented venues and the gorgeous woodland area – which, amongst other hidden treasures, hosts the most stunning main stage I’ve seen at any festival. Unicorns anyone? There was also a well-attended and – rather pointless given the heat – sauna, and more alluringly a swimming pond, which I intended to visit but, you know how it is at festivals, I didn’t get round to. 

For me the best thing about this festival was almost incidental: those moments of connection with others which were found often, for me at least, in the ubiquitous queues. With 10,000 or so people onsite, queueing for food, drinks, loos, showers, workshops etc is perhaps inevitable. Frustrating too. But letting go of this kind of everyday first-world problem is part of the festival’s vibe. There are bigger fish to fry.

At its heart the Medicine Festival is about indigenous wisdom, not least the reverence for nature, spirituality, and the plant medicine that often underpins this. The essential ethos is that we have lost our connection to nature, we are completely out of kilter with it, and it is in connecting to the few indigenous tribes who remain in tune with it that, perhaps, we can reinvigorate it within our societies and communities and live once again in balance. Aho, as they say. 

It is notable, for example, that a prominent force onsite is Kiva, an organisation that gives money and support to underserved communities worldwide. In addition, there are all sorts of other worthwhile organisations in situ, plus – and I very much applaud this – a substantial support area which includes the AA, help for those who may have had difficult experiences with plant medicines, and straightforward psychological support. Top marks. Oh yes, there’s also an exceptional and well-curated healing area, now sited in a quieter spot than previously. A good move.

Medicine is a young festival - the predominant age group is 25-35. And very cool. The shamanic world has always attracted beautiful people of course, in their feathers and far out outfits. I was there back in the day, but with the added ingredients of plant medicines and ubiquitous tattoos it’s now off the scale. I decided not to even start to compete. Shorts and T shirt was my vibe. And I nailed it. Don’t get me wrong though, there are a fair few older people around plus a good smattering of young kids and pregnant soon-to-be mums. It’s not really a festival designed for children in my opinion, but there was what looked like a well-run kids’ area, and they are obviously very welcome. 

There was a feast of workshops on offer. For example, I attended several wonderful singing workshops, one led by Charlotte Church no less (who, soberingly, was unknown to the 25-35-year-olds). She was great, full of infectious enthusiasm, a kind of girl guide energy on speed. I also went to two memorable singing events led by Israelis, who were very much against the abuses going on in their region. One of them was very movingly joined by a Palestinian singer. Another inspiring event was a discussion with Helena Norberg-Hodge, who spoke with great clarity and insight about the actions we can take to achieve systemic change (see https://www.localfutures.org/). For me this practicality is very much needed, as in nouveau-hippie circles it often feels like there’s a lot of talking the talk, but not as much walking the walk. 

There were also plenty of remarkable workshops and activities led by indigenous peoples. Mind you, for those of us who have spent many years becoming an elder (overflowing with extraordinary wisdom which we’re gagging to impart), it’s quite irksome to find everyone is much more interested in listening to the words of a vine or a beautifully painted bloke from South America. It’s a mare for the ego.

Talking of which, in the Being Seen workshop I went to, not one participant chose me as the ‘deepest person’ in the tent. It hurt :). I was fine – only minimally ego triggered – but I did wonder if there is a danger in people without much experience running workshops that can affect people in unintended ways. I’m long enough in the tooth to see that the surface perceptions of others are their own projections, but there were people there who possibly were more vulnerable. This was the exception though.

Bloody hell, I’ve gone this far without even mentioning the music! The line-up was excellent, abundant and very varied, but I can’t vouch for all that much of it as I was preoccupied with workshops and community activities. Music highlights I did get to included: the Zawose Queens, a Tanzanian tour de force who had me dancing down at the front, and the charmingly intimidating Fatoumata Diawara. There were also all sorts of late night, all night, dance venues and chilling and chatting areas. I can’t vouch for the later hours though as my Horlicks was calling to me. 

Medicine has a very specific personality. If you’re after a beer and a hamburger and a bit of a riot it really isn’t for you, but if you are a conscious, nature loving, groove-hipster then you’ll be in your element. You’ll need a bit of dosh mind you, it’s not the cheapest festival, but you do get a whole lot of bung for your buck. And re ‘conscious’, if I might go off on a bit of a tangent here: am I alone in feeling that its overuse, and perhaps misuse, alongside ‘made with love’, ‘spiritual’, ‘sacred’, etc is rather devaluing its meaning and impact? I probably am.

Getting onto the prosaic, there were loads of interesting stalls selling all sorts of – often tribally made – bits and bobs, ethical clothing, as well as a fair bit of art inspired by plant medicines, and the opportunity for people to set up their own ad hoc stalls. The food choice was really good, veggie as mentioned, the drinks too (I had more than a couple of chais), and there was a huge variety of corners to get lost and relax in over the large area of the festival. 

At its heart, Medicine is about fostering a new, conscious (that word again), healthy system to replace our clearly exploitative and cruel existing one. Are the attendees fooling themselves? Is it just another place and way for the ego to hide? For some perhaps, but I feel amongst all the show and ego and studied coolness there is something real going on here. There is a kernel of hope for the future. 

 

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