This week my home was on top of a mountain in Barton, Vermont. The Permatour group came to help set up for a free music festival that would be held there. It was called the Catalyst Festival. The only promotion for the event was by word of mouth, or a private facebook page that you had to be added to. There would be greeters who would sit at the entrance of the path and not allow you in unless you knew the password.
To get there we had to go down a long, winding, dirt road. Along the road there was a tiny path that led into the forest and up to our destination. We all parked along the road and took a hike up the mountain through the woods. It was roughly a half mile. At the top, a clearing opened up with a huge rock near the edge with a view of a beautiful, clear lake below known as Crystal Lake. There was a little wooden building that made up a kitchen and a bar area. Next to the bar was a crescent-shaped, two-story stage with an area for a DJ on the bottom stage.
We had endless amounts of forest to play in and we pitched our tents in various places in the woods on little moss pads that seemed to be there just for us. Throughout the woods there were different lookout points set high in the treetops placed in various places, along with multiple paths and various structures.
One path led to an area called Fern Gully, which was another stage area down in the forest. It had a large dance area with a DJ booth in front of it, and a small waterfall in front of the stage. Part of the work our group had to do here was putting a roof on each stage, along with making them safe. There were wooden parts that we had to paint and help put together in front of the stage to create a screen for a projected display.
Every morning we went down to the lake that was set at the bottom of the mountain. There was a small camping area with a little sandy beach attached, and off to the side was a little spring where we were able to fill our water jugs. Instead of staying on the beach we would walk down a small trail that went along the lake. At the end was a small opening where we would swim and get ready for the day. There was also a large rock there where most of us would sit in the sun.
When I go into water I’m not able to slowly go in. I’m sensitive to the cold, so I would stand on the rock and dive into the fresh crisp water. When heading to the water I would be in such a fog, still carrying the tiredness from the day before. I loved standing on that rock with the sun hitting me, taking in all in before I would run and do a shallow dive into the freezing water. It woke me up in such an exhilarating way.
This Permatour was a lot more relaxed and free than the others. There wasn’t much guidance. We had a whiteboard where we would write all the tasks that had to be completed, and we did them as we wished.
We also had to prepare our own meals. Back at the camp we would take turns with this task. One thing that I had voiced to the group was that I did not know much about cooking, but really wanted to learn. Teg and some of the others took so much extra time teaching me different techniques and skills in the kitchen. Each person who taught me was kind enough to walk me through every step of what was involved, taking time to explain every detail. One of the main things I took from this Permatour was learning to cook, and also letting go of the stress that I had attached to cooking. It became a fun activity instead of a necessary chore.
Along with cooking we did some group yoga sessions. And every night we would gather on the rock that sat atop the lake to watch the beautiful sunset over the mountains in the distance. One of my favorite nights watching the sunset was with Teg. We were sitting on the rock, and as the sun set, it cast an entire rainbow over the sky. The colors blended beautifully together.
While we were sitting there, Teg pulled out one of his special cigars. We smoked it together, taking in the beauty while we paired it with coffee and chocolate, discussing the different flavors they created. After the sunset we went to start cooking dinner. As we were cooking we heard booming noises outside. We came out of the kitchen to see fireworks off in the distance. It seemed like they were out there just for us.
As the week went on everything for the festival was coming together. More friends showed up who were all eager to help. We had many marijuana plants to trim. The buds would be put into different jars on display at the bar for anyone to smoke. While this was being done, others worked on the roofs, trails, and signs so people wouldn’t get lost along the winding trails. The whole time we were getting ready, most of us were barefoot running through the mountains. I loved the feel of the forest beneath my feet.
My friend Galia is the light girl; she spent hours hanging different lights throughout the forest to light the paths. At one point I went into my tent for a nap, and when I arose the entire woods around my tent was twinkling in the night. She had woven twinkle lights through the forest so we would be able to find our tents in the woods. It looked as if a million fireflies were dancing in the night.
The day before the festival I spent most of the time trimming the remaining bud with my new found friend Tia. Others kept trickling in, bringing food and goodies for the festival. At the end of the night Teg, Tia, and I made dinner for about ten of us who had been preparing for the festival. A lot of the food had been brought by a new friend, Ian. He had picked it from his garden.
Another new friend, Eric, also brought many different teas he had made for us to try. My favorite was a reishi mushroom tea. As we were drinking it, he commented that we were all having so much fun together and everything was filled with so much goodness that it would have been enough just being together without even needing the festival. Everyone agreed.
Sitting by the fire that night I was overtaken by a feeling of peace. It all hit me, the realization that this is my life right now. Bonfires every night, dancing and fire spinning on a mountaintop under a sea full of stars that reflect perfectly off the lake below making it appear as if we are engulfed in a galaxy of stars. I was no longer tied down by a regular job or the expectations of society. I was free.
Even though it’s only been a short time I feel as though this is the happiest I’ve ever been. I have everything I could need, which is an interesting concept because physically I have less than I’ve ever had. But inside and spiritually, my cup is overflowing. The endless love and support of my friends is constant, and the world around us is beautiful and forever changing. Part of the beauty of it is that we never stay in one place for too long. We never get used to a place to the point where it loses its magic.
If anyone would like to contribute to my travels my PayPal is teagandavis47@gmail.com thank you all and much love.
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