Meghan is co-founder, director and producer of the Spirit Bali festival and saw the mission of the festival by Karma Yoga (selfless service) sharing the spirit and the energy inherent in the festival.
You're from New York and started doing business at a young age. Tell me about it.
I was an only child who grew up in New York. Be alone all the time, I had to keep me busy and art was my solace. I was always creative, spend Sunday with a painting by local artist in his studio. Ever entrepreneurial, at the age of nine, I started my first small business, selling plants to my neighbors to face our garden beautiful building - New York, beauty among the cement is coveted. My second company has been creating and selling great sculptural jewelery - I made it up to 14 or more. In high school, I worked for a travel agent who turned me on to travel and event production, and at 17 I started taking my friends International Travel and parties to launch. I was lucky to have been at the International School of the United Nations in New York, a heart-opening, multi-cultural experience that shaped who I am today.
Why did you choose to come to Bali in 1992?
A happy Meghan in a yoga pose
I turned 21 in Bali in 1992. I am in the third year of my degree in art history, anthropology and Asian studies at Beloit College, Wisconsin, United States, when I discover Indonesia through the department of anthropology. Fortunately for me, the department head was a "Indophile and ME was blessed with the opportunity to come here for a semester abroad and focus on art and Indonesian culture; especially Balinese. It was then that I met my future husband, so it was natural for me to finally settle here.
Why have you decided to stay here?
I do not come with the intention of staying. But when I came to this wonderful Balinese man, Kadek Gunarta (also known as Dek), the future was determined. Although we tried to settle in northern California hippie city, Ubud has continued to make us return sign. Now, 20 years later, we are still together with two children who go to school Pelangi fabulous, a small community school in Ubud we helped create. Dek is my life partner and also the co-founder of the festival. He runs his own business and is active in our mutual efforts in the social sector.
How is the Bali Spirit Festival born?
In 2007, we recently launched The Yoga Barn in Ubud and has worked in the nonprofit sector. On a whim, I took a trip to the WOMAD experience, an incredible music event of the world, and I returned to Bali jazzed to inspire others with a similar event here. Growing up in New York and going to the International School of the United Nations, I love the music world. In 2008, I thought bringing this multi-cultural energy in Bali and Bali Spirit Festival was born with the help of a brainstorming session with our third co-founder, Robert Weber.
The festival is rooted in Hindu Balinese concept of Tri Hita Karana. Can you explain what that means?
Hita Karana Tri refers to harmony with God, the community harmony and harmony with nature, inspiring us to use our resources and energy to achieve balance in his daily life and the environment.
Meghan, Kadek and Rob, founders of Bali Spirit Festival
It is said that you are living the mission of the festival, or Karma Yoga (selfless service). What other companies and NGOs Are you part?
Under the Bali Spirit Festival, BaliSpirit.com (an online directory for holistic Bali) and our other brick and mortar businesses, Dek and I launched Yayasan Kryasta Guna, a foundation to support the community, culture, health and the environment. With this foundation, we run an awareness program on HIV / AIDS (Ayo! Kita Bicara HIV / AIDS), a bamboo reforestation program (Bali Regreen) and a multi-cultural artistic performance program.
You are a certified Yoga teacher since 2002. How yoga improve our energy; ? Individually and collectively
Yoga is an internal practice; I think it is a practice based on awareness and certain values. I do not actively teach asana (the art of yoga sitting), but I practice and teach seva (selfless work). I believe that yoga improves all areas of our positive life, and consciousness is the driving force behind Bali Spirit Festival and all I'm doing.
Tell me the highlights of this year's festival in early April.
The festival has increased about 20% from 2014 - it is becoming more global, with participants coming all the way from Estonia and Central China . This year, we had nine pavilions of the workshop, a dynamic market, the program an incredible daily children, magical healers and day music program improved on Coco Love scene. At One World One night concert stage (at Agung Rai Museum of Art), a big highlight was the spirit of the Hornbill Dance Academy who flew over central Borneo to run and represent the rainforest . In addition, a special guest appearance by 90s singing mermaid Toni Childs was fabulous. 2015 was the best ever
Can you tell me your philosophy of silver
There is a sentence:. "Conscious capitalism"
I believe that generosity makes the world, and money is made to be used wisely; not to get rich, but to enrich the community.
business should be win-win and when you put good energy, you get it back!
Do you have new plans for the future?
to gather a group of people who want to see the quality of life for Ubudians improve and, most likely, to create more spaces and community events.
Thank you, Meghan! For more information, see www.balispirit.com