ShaktiRising

“Love, when it is pure, has a revitalizing effect upon others, and in the presence of a truly loving person, others grow and expand into a healthier state of being.”
— Vatsyayana, Kama Sutra

ON THE RESPECT & APPRECIATION OF CULTURES 

We aim to create an event which celebrates the monumental culture of Ancient India, and helps both expand our collective appreciation - and our selves. Perhaps more than any other, Indian culture has been instrumental in expanding our consciousness and rebalancing the skews of Western civilisation; to ignore its contribution is to itself fail to credit and pay homage. India demands our attention and gratitude.

We are humble explorers, investigating the capacity of worlds to enlighten and transform us, kneeling before giants, in awe and reverence. We approach these traditions with respect and curiosity, acknowledging our deficits, seeking to learn. Our approach is neither cavalier nor academic, but authentic and artistic, sensual rather than intellectual, and as syncretic as the traditions themselves.

We welcome constructive feedback, and all those that can help us improve this project and event to most deeply celebrate this extraordinary culture that has suffered immensely at the hand of the West over the centuries.

“In India most creeds are deeply rooted and acknowledged fervently. Virtually the whole population practices some form of devotion… Incomparable and inimitable she is, India is also our great paradigm.”
Geoffrey Moorhouse

Q: What is your intention with this event?
A: We seek to learn about and celebrate the extraordinary culture, mythology, sensuality and spirituality of Ancient India, and rediscover the paths it offers us to peace, pleasure and wellbeing. As with all our events, our intention is to facilitate connection, liberation, and transformation.

Q: Why of all themes did you choose Ancient India?

A: Ancient India birthed a number of sensual and devotional practices that are foundational to the ways we want to live and operate. For example, we always host a range of Tantric practices at every Fox&Badge event to enable our community to explore conscious touch and the sacredness of sexuality. Ancient India offers the clearest path of enlightened sensual self awareness - and infinite other guidance and inspiration.

Q: Why did you choose the name “Shakti Rising”?

A: We as a community celebrate and centre the Divine Feminine, and have explore this energy across a multitude of events and cultural explorations. Shakti best exemplifies her, offering a deeply rich archetype for us all to learn from. We considered “The Maharani’s Garden” - but it suggested a little too much Raj-era opulence and extravagance, rather than the everyday essence of Shakti-inspired empowered femininity. NB this is not a Hindu-themed event, but one that explores the great melting pot that Ancient India represents - vast diversity , yearning for oneness - and the more universal archetype that Shakti now represents.

Q: How can it be Ancient if you play Techno?

A: Everything ancient was once young and new. Conversely, when we blast out digital data on Heaven’s glorious L Acoustics sound system, we are always engaging in the ancient practices of collective effervescence, community attunement, rhythmic movement, entrancement and enchantment. We have as much to learn from the Old Ways as the realms we haven’t yet experienced.

COSTUME

Q: I’m not South Asian; is it OK for me to wear Indian-inspired clothing?

A: Absolutely. If the clothes are divine, and so are you - it’s a match made in Heaven! Our extensive experience in this - though we cannot remotely speak for everyone - is that the South Asians we’ve canvassed generally enjoy appreciative enjoyment of their culture - and adaptation to their dress style. In a dismal age where all identity dissolves in a mass of shapeless jeans and Tshirt leisurewear, celebrating an inspiring sartorial culture is redemptive and unifying. Issues arise with misplaced tone or intent, & a lack of interest to humbly learn. We ask only that you dress with joy and respect; that you learn and research the facts about what you choose to wear. Some items need extra care and respect.

Q: Are there any types of clothes that I need to be more cautious around?

A: Yes - definitely e.g. anything deemed sacred - or anything that needs to be earned. Almost all Sikhs will be offended by you dressing as a warrior if you are not (much like the Native American War Bonnet needs to be earned in battle, not casually bought).

Q: I’m a little uncertain if my proposed outfit is OK or good enough - how can I check?

A: Check with your mates - or anyone that’s been; post a query on our various social channels. If you email us a picture to foxandbadge+dresscode@gmail.com , we’ll do our very best to get back to you (confession: we’ re underresourced on comms, and not prompt in response). We’re all here to help each other; to operate from love, not fear - and to try & do our best.

“When there is harmony between the mind and the heart, action becomes worship.”
- Swami Vivekananda

SEXUALITY

Q: You touch on spiritual issues yet seem to be overtly sexual - isn’t this a conflict?

A: Absolutely not. We believe and experience that sexuality is sacred, and connects us with the divine, and we seek to share and expand this joy, overcoming fear, shame and all our various speciatl conditionings. We believe we are all deviants-in-waiting; all have our kinks; all have personality - and we applaud and support this, and find honour and dignity in it. We believe sexual expression is a revelation of the soul. We are not righteous, pious or holy; we are humble, flawed, kinky, loving humans who unite in reverence and joy. We kneel and pay homage to the great mystery. We revere eros, creation and love; each invokes spirit.

Q: Does “Tantric” mean this is a sex party?

A: No, sex is neither licensed nor permitted at our events. We hold lovemaking as something sacred, and in the past we experimented with occasional playrooms. Yet they never felt sufficiently reverent. We came to feel that we could not offer a context beautiful or intentional enough to truly honour intimacy - and at times, the mere possibility of sex invited energies that felt acquisitive rather than devotional. Our deepest devotion is to the collective: to shared eros. The dancefloor is a public, communal space - a rare realm beyond the private cloisters of our homes - where we gather not for private consummation, but to dissolve into a unified field of sensual presence and expressive freedom.

Q: How important is consent?

A: It is the most important. It is the guarantor of community. It is the cord that connects us. To defy consent is to break trust and trash the delicate garden that we all grow and tend together. We would prefer to operate on trust; to know that each guest arrives with the best of intentions and sweetest of gifts - rather than have to laboriously re-educate our members with emails, constant posts, and even door briefings. We take it on trust that you have read our house rules (a requirement of each ticket purchase; more at https://www.foxandbadge.com/house-rules); will help manage any friend that turns obnoxious; leave the unsavoury at home.

Q: Is nudity allowed?

A: Yes! & encouraged. It’ll be almost summer. And definitely warm inside. Clothes will not be needed.

Q: Is this event inclusive of South Asians from different religious backgrounds (Hindu, Muslim, Sikh, etc.)?

A: Absolutely! India’s incredible diversity is a key touchstone and inspiration for us. NB with the reference to Shakti, we are not remotely proposing e.g. a Hinducentric event; Shakti both pre-dates Hinduism (itself a modern and somewhat fluid category) and is a key reference in many cultures outside Hinduism. We seek to unite, not divide; to learn, share, exchange - and bring people and culture together in love and peace.

TEAM

Q: Are you working with and consulting the South Asian community?

A: Yes we are. This theme has been developed in steady conversation with a Steering Group containing almost 20 advisors from various South Asian backgrounds - some Fox&Badge regulars, and some who have never been. They have been incredibly supportive and helpful, and continue to share, express and educate us in all kinds of ways, and generally bring a reassuring level of excitement that their culture is being respectfully celebrated. 

We're exploring the ways traditional art forms sit alongside techno  - and are inviting in deep involvement from South Asian communities to lead in all our teams, from DJs to live music, performances to workshops, door to welfare. If you know anyone that'd like to get involved, we'd love to hear from them!

Q: I’d like to help out - is there any way I can get involved?

A: Yes please! We need a crew of about 250 people to run our nights, and are deeply reliant on an army of brilliant volunteers across all teams. It might be the most beautiful thing about our nights - the collective gift of so many people’s massive generosity, priming the space with love. We’d love to hear more about you and your interests via this form: https://bit.ly/fandbhelp . We’d particularly like to welcome more members of the South Asian community to co-create this event with us - whether as DJs or musicians, performers or immersives, meeters and greeters or temple guardians.

Thanks for reading this mini epic!

"The unity of India has been and shall always be a unity in diversity".