Manifest - A skeptics review
TLDR: Its not all woo woo bollocks, it’s about understanding and driving towards your goal. If you have an open mind and goals you are struggling to achieve, you will find a supportive and energising environment with like minded people and no one is going to try and convert you to a cult! Listen, take from it what you want and you will come out better for it, I certainly did.
Well thats it - the last batch of photos from Manifest are batched and links sent, I can now move on to other jobs that are backed up!
Some major lessons learned from a photography perspective on the job, especially around culling, editing, organising and dissemination, but thats the subject of a different post.
I wanted to talk a little about what Manifest meant to me.
Anyone who knows me even just in passing will know that I am healthily skeptical about the efficacy and truth of manifestation, crystal therapies, tarot, witchcraft and others of the same ilk.
But I do have an open and questioning mind.
I first met Mart a few months ago at a networking event when I approached him and asked to take his portrait.
I wanted some male subjects for my portfolio, but secretly I wanted to have a conversation about crystals and whether they work or not because I don’t see how they can (I appreciate the closed mindedness of this view). Plus he had a decent following so the couldn't do me any harm either :)
We had a great chat; anyone who has actually met Mart will know what a good communicator he is and whilst I was not converted, our conversation enforced my belief in the power of using something as a focus for your intentions, for channelling your energy to keep you on track with a goal or a vision.
As a coach in training, how crystals are used echoes the coaching practices of aligning to a vision and reaffirming progress on a daily basis, so I know that this works.
I was looking forward to photographing Manifest, to meeting the speakers and exhibitors and seeing what the whole thing was about. I confess though, I did think it would be a little hippyish and what I have since had described as woo woo! More to come on this later on….
As far as an event goes it was brilliantly organised and packed with so much for the attendees to do, 6 speakers a day, 5 workshops a day and a host of various exhibitors, from Canny Crystals providing a plethora of different crystals for various needs, to witchcraft, tarot, aura cleansing, astrological chart creation, jewellery, skincare, books and even a tattooist!
The talks were all packed out. I was able to get so many crowd shots of them clapping, listening intently, meditating, tapping, laughing - it was clear that they were all being intently watched and listened too.
The speakers covered a range of subjects that had the crowd in states from meditative relaxation to being up and about singing and dancing.
The workshops ranged from Witchcraft to sound therapy. At one point I went up and there was a Primal beat playing with a room of participants all moving in tandem and the energy from the room was palpable, as was the shaking of the floor underfoot!
Then there were the exhibitors! too many for me to show them all but here is a selection of images to get a flavour:
And then of course there was the firewalk, a spectacle from the point at which the fire was lit to when the final coals were laid down - this whole process probably took up almost 800 images alone! Hundreds must have walked the coals, some more than once over a period of 90 minutes or so and was a real treat to photograph. There is something fascinating and compelling about photographing fire as it is, a very primal connection I imagine. I can’t show them all but these should give you a flavour of what it was like.
So what was my conclusion……
I’m not converted by any means.
But I can see the impacts that various techniques were having on the people around me. The intentions being made, the connections being formed, the positivity that flowed throughout the 2 days. I never saw a single disagreement or altercation between over 40 people over 2 days.
There is no forcing of views, no attempt to assimilate into a cult, just point of view expressed and advice provided. The great thing about advice is that it is just that - advice. You don’t have to take it, but you can think about whether it can help you.
I think Manifest is a wonderful environment for anyone who want to understand the direction they want to take, or enforce and empower themselves to pursue that dream. It’s not magic. It’s hard work. The one thing all those successful speakers had in common was they worked long and hard to get what they have. Yes they use different methods to empower and drive them, to motivate and energise them, to stay on point and on focus. But they also believe in what they are building and reaffirm that belief every day.
So thats my take away. Understand your dream, focus on it every day and don’t let anyone or anything stop you. If you want to use a crystal to help, or a meditative trance or tapping to help the energy of your body flow, go for it. Whatever works for you.
And don’t let anyone else persuade you not to - its YOUR life, live it your way, mistakes and all because thats what makes you YOU!
Manifest is a great festival - be open minded and you will not be disappointed! Here’s looking forward to 2027s festival and another 4000 images to edit (!)
