Fire-free festival still glows
The sun is beating down on the revellers at Canaan Downs, near Takaka.
It’s hot, and very dry. Wacky hats are wedged on heads and scarves are draped over bare shoulders. Others are more cavalier and wander, barechested, between the festival’s workshops and musical acts.
The wind has kicked up a bit of dust, but no one’s complaining. In fact, everywhere you look at Luminate, people are dancing, laughing and hugging.
But there are serious conversations going on, too. The ultra-dry Tasman landscape is on everyone’s minds.
‘‘We’ve been talking about it a lot,’’ says James Alker, as he watches his his son, Enzo, throwing hoops around. ‘‘We have got to become more aware of how we live. Climate change is getting more and more real.’’
At Wednesday’s welcoming ceremony, Luminate’s organisers had to break the news to 3000 gathered revellers that for the first time since the festival began in 2008, fire would not play a part in the eight-day event.
Fire is central to Luminate’s ethos, which coincides with Lu´ nasa, an ancient Irish harvest festival marked by celebrations and bonfires. But with the desperately dry conditions, organisers felt they couldn’t risk disaster.
Co-director Jules Harper said she had felt nervous about the crowd’s reaction. ‘‘But people were on board, clapping and cheering, it was amazing.’’
Georgia Duder-Wood, who runs the Sound Healing Sanctuary, said it simply meant a new relationship with fire.
‘‘The land is calling is to connect with fire in a different way. Mother Earth is dry because of what we are doing to her, and she’s inspiring us to be mindful. Instead, we have fire within us.’’
On the edge of the forest, a dragon staff workshop is in full flow.
Alina Storto deftly shifts her staff from arm to arm. Dragon staffs usually leave a trail of fire, but today, the wicks are hidden by baby socks. ‘‘I’ve tamed the dragon,’’ she says.
The young German has been ‘‘flowing’’ for more than a year. ‘‘I felt the call to start spinning with the dragon, and from there I started with my journey. You evolve your own flow, and now I flow whenever I can.’’
In the circus arena, Ernie Pokel is attempting to juggle three pins. ‘‘It’s been a long time,’’ he says.
Pokel lives in Germany, and visits New Zealand each year to spend time with his grandchildren. It’s his first Luminate, and it reminds him of some of the festivals he went to in the United States in the late 60s.
"You don’t see garbage anywhere here. It gives me a lot of hope. There’s a good feeling here, a lot of good vibes, it’s easy to walk up and talk to people.’’
To the rhythm of the dark beats pulsing from the electronic stage, Chris Stead from Christchurch makes a slow spin. He’s wearing an eye-catching ‘‘business in the front, party in the back’’ ensemble: a sharp suit cut away at the back, revealing an expanse of skin, red underwear and suspenders.
‘‘It’s on its second outing, there aren’t many occasions for it.’’
Stead is enjoying the acts and workshops. ‘‘There are some seriously good workshops. I went to one on women’s sexuality for men, it was great, so funny and informative.’’
The land is calling is to connect with fire ina different way. Georgia Duder-Wood