In the space between art and persona there is magic. Marya Stark lives there. Drawing from influences as diverse as Classical, Broadway, Indie-Pop, Storytelling and Folk, Marya crafts a sound that is wholly original. As a multi-instrumentalist and multi-media enchantress, she creates the way she breathes; without choice or hesitation. She is a carrier of myth, mystery, and medicine songs with which she embarks to create a ceremony of the human condition, taking her audience on lucid journey's through the caverns of the soul. Marya is dedicated to the art of voice, song craft and archetypal embodiment, supporting her students in the joys of Courting the Muse. She is enchanted by kindness, nuance, synchronicity and soul remembrance, and is a life-long chaser of waterfalls.
Mystic Minstrel, Chad Wilkins, is an American/Australian singer-songwriter bringing heart-songs that reveal a better way for a generation in transitional times on our planet! From his lively, progressive grooves, to his deeply prayerful chants, spanning many genres, Chad’s rootsy folk anthems carry themes of love, gratitude, risk, honour, and pure vibrant LIFE – giving voice to our cry for spiritual transformation, harmony with the Earth, and hope for a bright future.
Chad guides his listeners through an interactive journey ranging from dancing celebration to mindful meditation to sing-along declarations.
We are Pavus, an oud-violin duo exploring the musical traditions of Turkey, the Balkans, and Medieval Europe.
Wade Evans is a multi-instrumentalist who has traveled the world in search of The Sound. Wade is formally trained in Hindustani classical sitar, and has studied extensively in Varanasi, India for 20 years under Pandit Shivnath Mishra, a world- renowned sitar master. Another of Wade’s primary instruments (among many) is the Turkish oud, which he learned while wandering the Middle East. His extensive travels have bestowed upon him not only an inextinguishable love for Eastern classical music traditions but also an incredibly diverse repertoire.
Julie Margueritte Taquin is a classically trained violinist who has become enraptured by the music of Eastern Europe and Turkey. Her fascination with a variety of cultures and musical genres allows her to transmit subtleties through her playing that are at once authentic and imaginative. Recently, Julie has immersed herself in Middle Eastern, Turkish, and Balkan rhythms with the frame drum.
A collaboration with music artists, space holders, and Malarie Reddoor our sacred fire tender. We'll be lighting the sacred fire, calling on the directions, and creating a clear container to open the festival. We'll create an altar, move to music, and watch as a fire is lit traditionally with friction. This is an opening ceremony not to be missed! So arrive early to set up camp, then meet with your pod and enjoy some dinner before the Fire Ceremony begins.
Wielding a style that blends organic instrumentation and vocals with deep bassy beats, expansive effects, loops, samples, and turntablism, CodeStar’s sets and productions are inspired by an invigorating love for music and dance. He brings a live and unique flavor to every occasion, activating the dance floor with tasty Bass, saucy grooves, House, DnB, world spice, and always the fresh cuts. In addition to being a seasoned Event Producer, MC, and Ecstatic Dance DJ, he has shared the stage with many talented artists, including Random Rab, Captain Planet, Geometrae, DRRTYWULVZ, Orenda, Beat Kitty, David Starfire, Chmura, Mfinity and more. CodeStar is a conduit for bringing magic into the moment, and spinning music into motion!
Be a part of the music! We realized how many amazing musicians and artists we have in our community, so we created a time to share your musical magic. We'll make it clear when to sign up for this opportunity. It'll happen just before Ecstatic Dance with Codestar. If there isn't enough time for everyone, there is always sharing by the fire at night!
Kinde is a Wilderness Rites of Passage Guide and Integral Coach. Since 2014, she has held Community Grief Tending Rituals twice a year at the Great Salt Lake. Kinde was introduced to Community Grief Tending in South Africa at an International Wilderness Guides Gathering, and felt a call to offer this important and powerful ritual in her own Salt Lake City community. Kinde has experienced the transformational energy of Grief when it is allowed in and to move through an open-hearted and willing group of individuals. She believes our capacity to grieve well together is critical in these wildly changing times.
Celest Fest welcomes Kinde back- she's a staple!
Zeff is a multi-faceted facilitator & creator. In essence, he guides deeper connection with Presence, Self, and Nature, carrying a dynamic synthesis of experience within him—from deep pain to expansive joy; from rigorous psychotherapeutic studies to indigenous shamanism; from regenerative food forestry to deep wilderness connection.
Family Constellations is a profound divination practice used to uncover the loving intentions behind deeply rooted patterns—and lovingly rework them. This happens through a form of cosmic role-play, in which people from the group temporarily embody a person's family members and ancestors.
The dynamics shown in a Constellation help us find the positive intentions underlying specific subconscious patterns, protective mechanisms, trauma responses, etc, which are often passed down through family lineages. This opens opportunities for clarity and deep healing, both for the individual and the group as a whole. Each ceremony starts with a connection practice, a guided group meditation to set intentions and speak with ancestors, then we dive into the Constellation practice.
Billy and Shelley, husband and wife as well as new parents, are a dynamic duo serving you with movement activations, breathwork, and sound bath journeys, to help you reconnect with yourself in a beautiful way. Their classes blend movement, vocal warmups, play and transformational breathwork together for an empowering experience. Shelley, a certified Wim Hof instructor and massage therapist, uses sound bowls and her voice to restore balance, while Billy, a multi-generational musician, utilizes the drum, shakers, rattle and enthusiasm to awaken all your senses. Together, they create an unforgettable time filled with music, energy, and renewal—perfect for those ready to enliven, enjoy, and have some fun!
Rachel Hodge is a Certified Forest Bathing Guide through the Association of Nature and Forest Therapy (ANFT) and founder of Suni-ai Forest Bathing. She currently guides walks in Ogden, Park City, & Salt Lake City, Utah. Throughout her journey as a guide, Rachel has found comfort in knowing the forest is devoid of layers of artifice and judgement that we tend to have in our society.
Deep listening (or Suni-ai) is a state of being we seldom practice with the relentless pace of this world. Yet, the forest gently reminds us we deserve moments to pause, breathe, and simply be. So, whether you are seeking a moment of stillness amidst life’s chaos, a reconnection with your inner wisdom, or simply a chance to indulge your senses in the beauty of nature, know you are invited and supported here.
A powerful force of healing and sound, LaDonn embodies passion, play and precision in her work. She’s a devoted kundalini practitioner, singer, mother, sacred space holder, and a bit of an organizing guru. She believes that everyone carries songs and has a voice that deserves to be heard. She seeks to create sustainable & equitable communities by utilizing her passion for negotiating and gardening.
Joy creates her food medicine from the heart. She creates health-conscious meals with only quality ingredients. Each meal she creates is crafted with intention and love, considering each step of the process, from source to serving. She's been sharing her food and magic in Utah and Costa Rica: cooking and space-holding for ecstatic dance, retreats, ceremonies, and other intentional gatherings. She cooks because it brings her joy to feed people & share.
Introducing pods: small group circles for authentic relating games and time to share! Pods are like the glue that helps create our village. Many people on our team will be a pod facilitator (roughly 12 people per pod). They will create a safe container for their group to listen with an open heart and practice taking ownership of their story. The people you meet in your pod will be a great anchor point during Celest Fest. Pods will meet 3 times during the festival, and each person will have a chance to speak, to be heard, and to listen. Many thanks to Maizy Anderson for helping to create the structure of these pods and Kandice Knoelk for organizing the pod facilitators for this Celest Fest.
When a person feels connected to community, seen, heard, and experiences unconditional love, it creates room for transformation. During Celest Fest, people are really present with themselves and one another. The present moment is all we have, and when we can stay present, magic occurs.
In this experiential workshop, Marya will guide you through a series of exercises in connecting to the spirit of your creative muse through vocal alchemy, guided imagination, refining your intention, and exploring the sense fields. Through this process, you will learn about the art of tending creativity from spark to fruition, and how to navigate the bumpy road of an artist. dedicate deeper to your craft, your unique creative voice, and come immerse yourself in the aliveness available to you in devotion to the muses.
Songs of the heart, songs of Love-source. A musical journey of playful interaction with the human experience, touching on the deeper things of life through the lense of a mystic. Come listen, join in, and be inspired to love more deeply.
Our bodies are designed to sing with a full range of story, pitch, emotion and tone. Freestyle singing engages your instrument on all these levels. Participants will learn various techniques for entering into freestyle singing flow states and practice them with instrumental accompaniment. With over a decade of experience freestyling as a performer and teacher, James creates a robustly safe container, compassionately supported for self-exploration. This work can be as fun as it is deep, tears and laughter are commonplace. So, come ready to relax and approach your edges with curiosity and love. No experience needed, all levels are welcome!
Saro Lynch-Thomason is a song leader and folklorist based out of Asheville, NC, traditionally known as ᏙᎩᏯᏍᏗ "To Ki Ya Sdi" (The place where they race). She loves to use traditional songs and new compositions to connect folks to the vibrant, animist practices of their ancestors. In this song session, we'll learn several of Saro's parts songs, rounds and more inspired by pagan traditions of Northwestern Europe. We'll sink into some harmonies, movement and history as we sing to deities and praise the animate world.
