Feeling good about feeling good!
I am stoked!! My application to lead a wellness workshop at the Kingston O+ Festival was accepted. It feels so good to be doing workshops again. I just love it. And I love what O+ is doing. Check out their mission from the O+ About Page.
The Annual Kingston O+ Festival is happening from October 11 — 13, 2024.
MISSION
Through the exchange of art and music for medicine, O+ empowers communities to take control of their collective well-being . When artists and musicians thrive, so do culture and our communities as a whole.
VISION
O+ envisions thriving, diverse, creative communities through the establishment of a culture of care wherein an individual’s value is based on their contribution to the collective, and everyone has equitable access to the healing power of both art and medicine.
VALUES
Radical: We are committed to building more equitable and just models of care that value the contributions of each individual to communities as a whole.
Compassionate: We recognize the dignity and humanity within each individual and take action to create meaningful change in our communities. We operate on principles of mutual respect, collaboration, and empathy.
Creative: We are a group of artists, musicians, and makers. We value curiosity and seek out innovative ways to support creative communities.
Kingston ExplO+re Wellness Workshops 2024
My Workshop: I am Divine Love – a Playful Affirmation of the True Nature of Self
There is a saying – “How we perceive the world is how we receive the world.”
We have choice — we are not only shaped by our culture, we are also the builders of our culture.
In the book, Making the Gods Work for You, Caroline Casey says, “Visionary activism invites us to participate actively in shaping and creating our personal and collective reality by embarking on an adventure of joyful maximum self-cultivation.”
Small actions (can) lead to big shifts in our collective consciousness. Our unique life experiences, our stories, our self-expression, our creativity make ripples in our personal and communal evolution. We are all meant to be here and we are all creators — right here right now. As artists, (sometimes) we know this.
Sometimes we need to be reminded: Just by being alive we are not only worthy of love – we are love!
Every day we create our reality. What if we experiment and take a few moments in the day to see and feel our lives (and the world) through the lens of love? What if you are love? How would that affect your tiniest actions?
In this workshop we experiment with the energy of Divine Love through playful movement, mantra, imagination meditation, and relaxation.
We will:
- loosen our bodies with simple, powerful, somatic movement and sound;
- declare our right to live in joy;
- open up space in our nervous system to allow the flow of curiosity, connectedness, and playfulness;
- recognize, allow, and direct Love in ourselves, in others, and in the environment through mantra and visualization;
- relax and integrate our experience with yoga Nidra;
- have fun; and
- shine on!
Prepare to let go, release tension, get silly, perhaps laugh, and to see yourself and the world in a warm, loving light.
Dress comfortably (loose clothing is best), bring water, and a yoga mat or blanket
Festival Theme for 2024: NO+ise
Does this offering relate to the 2024 Festival theme NO+ise, and how so?
Despite the noise, and, because of the noise — we are not only shaped by our culture, we also create it. The work we do as artists, musicians, writers, healers and activists is a necessary response, reflection and construction of humanity. Taking the time to recognize love, playfulness, connectedness and curiosity can make all the difference in how we engage with our selves (our bodies, minds, emotions), our ideas and work, one another, the environment, and the world. When we take the time to slow down and notice our own mental chatter, we can explore whatever noise coming at us with consciousness, nuance, and subtlety.
Practioner Bio
Holly Troy is an artist, writer, teacher and musician, whose work explores forms for “deep play.” Her passion is to create positive transformation through imagination, movement, pranayama, co-creation, and playful embodiment.
Holly envisions a world where people have the tools and resources to be their authentic selves as conscious creators contributing to a renaissance of human potential that uplifts all of humanity and every being on the planet.
Holly came of age as a musician on the Lower East Side, New York City in the 80s and 90s. She earned her yoga teaching certificate from Sivananda Yoga Vedanta Center in 1996. She holds a degree in Creative Writing and Studio Art from Hunter College. Her painting has been the subject of solo shows in the USA and is held in private collections across the US, Europe and Australia. She is based in upstate New York.
~ ~ ~ ~
Applicants were asked to offer a wellness tip. Here is the one-minute video for my application:
This is going to be an amazing festival!
Put it on your calendar now – it is not to be missed. Wristbands are “pay what you can.”
I’m looking forward to all the amazing music, art, literature and wellness — and to seeing you there!
xo – Holly
July 9, 2024
Hudson Valley, New York
Discover more from holly troy ~ sacred folly
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
holly troy ~ sacred folly 
First, I AM so happy to hear about your upcoming “playshop” on Divine Love. I have a previous engagement that weekend, but I have a client/friend who lives in New Rochelle, and I think she would enjoy attending.
Second, WOW! I did the Root/Base Chakra exercise along with you, and I felt so invigorated; I could almost feel my Aura buzzing! The next time I need to feel alive and awake and wake the heck up, this is what I shall do.
Finally, I cannot tell you how often I have been in the Hudson Valley area of New York State for the last several years, so it is only a matter of time before we see each other in person again.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Robert!! Hurray! You are the best. I’m so glad you liked the root chakra exercise – it’s surprisingly powerful.
And yes! I know we will see one another soon. We are in each other’s orbits now.
Hurray hurray!! 🩷🩷🩷
LikeLiked by 1 person
I love that the somatic exercise was so good for you! It is good for me, too – that’s why I share it. And so simple!
Big LOVE! You are Divine Love my sweet friend!
LikeLiked by 1 person