Festival du feminin is a growing global-awakening sisterhood festival, the 4th edition of which will be held in Bangkok on March 15-16. Founded in Paris, this festival is held in cities all over France and in French-speaking countries (Canada, Belgium, Morocco). It is rapidly expanding internationally (India, US, Colombia, Thailand, Singapore, Hong Kong) with new projects commencing in Indonesia, Vietnam, Kenya and the Middle East. Festival du feminin is a journey of self-discovery that allows women to feel, access and reconnect with the multiple facets of themselves, breaking away from the rigid expectations of peers, parents, colleagues, partners and society at large. Guru speaks to Sylvie Baradel, the Asia coordinator for Festival du feminin.
What is Festival du feminin?
Festival du feminin is a transformative journey for women by women that invites those from all cultures to a two-day journey of deep and joyful transformation. Festival du Feminin demonstrates the sisterhood spirit in women's circles. It is a time and space dedicated to reflect on one's femininity in a safe and uplifting environment. The journey is experienced through 20 interactive workshops, ritual ceremonies and a panel discussion. All senses are awakened through various practices, healing modalities, meditation and arts.
Through an ongoing transformative empowering process, the festival allows women, depending on age and how far they have engaged in their spiritual journeys, to connect to themselves and be interconnected with other women. Festival du feminin is all about connection, sharing and transmission. On a more global vision, Festival du feminin allows and nurtures a shift of consciousness and is part of a global blossoming movement.
It is a platform that understands women and her essence at her very core. It's an event for women to break down barriers, to create a safe space to be open and vulnerable, to gather, to connect with each other and to empower one another. This transformation then carries forward, not only to the families of the women attending but also within their communities.
On the panel discussion, we have Chitsanupong 'Best' Nithiwana, a LGBT activist in Thailand, who recently was a speaker on eliminating violence against women at a UN Women conference and is a UN women voice for the LGBT community.
Explain the term 'multi-facets of the feminine'.
Multi-facets refer to the core beliefs of femininity. It invites women on a conscious and unconscious level to feel, discover and reflect on the in-depth values that have been and are being carried and transmitted by our mothers, fathers, female or male members of our family and our cultural groups.
Workshop after workshop, participants allow themselves to open up and touch some of these trans-generational driven forces in them to allow them to feel fulfilled in their bodies and souls. The multi-facets of the feminine also refer to the balance of the two polarities of the feminine and masculine energies, which are in each person, whether man or woman.
Women empower one another when they connect with their inner selves, with one another and with the world.
Sylvie Baradel, the Asia coordinator for Festival du feminine. Festival du feminine
How has the movement dealt with the #MeToo campaign? Do you think Thailand is ready for such an uprising?
The #MeToo campaign has allowed women to publicly voice out sexual violence. Festival du feminin accompanies women to connect first with themselves, it is before everything -- an inner transformation, which then allows women to feel more confident, more secure to make choices, to live more fully and to be aligned. This then can lead them to voice out when they feel ready. The link can be seen in the festival's expression and forgiveness circles, a benevolent space to be heard, to be healed on personal and family, and transgenerational levels.
Where the #MeToo campaign has awoken awareness on a global societal level through expressions of abuse, suffering, violence, misunderstanding and opposition between men and women, Festival du feminin also fosters an awareness on a more intimate level. Today Europe is developing Festival du feminin and du masculine gatherings, bringing women and men together in a way of understanding and reconciliating.
Though this has taken time, Thailand is no exception and the global shift of consciousness will find its way to be heard and bring about the needed changes. This year, the panel discussion is about relations we have with our body, and social activist and founder of the campaign and hashtag #donttellmehowtodress, which has been called Thailand's answer to the #MeToo movement, Cindy Bishop will be a participant.
What can we look forward to in the 4th Bangkok edition?
Feelings of joy, energy, pleasure, fun, being uplifted, empowered and supported. A sense of belonging to a supportive group. A range of workshops, some more dynamic than others, where we delve into exploring our psyche, emotions, weak points, discomforts and what we have trouble expressing. We will seek healing through rituals and forgiveness circles, family constellations, gong and Tibetan singing bowls. The workshops will be hosted by an array of local and international facilitators who are midwives, energetic healers, artists, psychologists, scientists, coaches, therapists, business executives, writers, etc.
The highlight of this 4th edition is the presence of nine (out of 26 ) inspiring Thai women, leaders in their fields, either as facilitators or panellists, namely: Angeli Jagota, Potchanart Seebungkerd, Sophirat Muangkum, Orapun Parabob, Melanie Giles-Clapp, Rasee Govindani, Cindy Bishop, Hunny Narula and Chitsanupong Nithiwana.
Festival du feminine 2018. Festival du feminine
How do you choose participants?
We don't choose participants, they choose the festival. A few are brought by their friends. Last year, 24 nationalities were represented, a great mix of expats and Bangkokians. Year after year the festival is attracting more and more Thai women and the festival is aimed at welcoming Thai participants.
What does the festival hope to achieve each year?
To witness how the participants leave the event with a heart full of confidence, hope and positive energy to better express their needs and to affirm, transform and live to the fullest their feminine odyssey.
It hopes women leave with a vibrant feeling on being connected to themselves, how they allowed themselves to express their emotions, without denying them or being overwhelmed by them. It aims for women to reclaim their sovereignty and feel empowered about it. g
Festival du feminin will take place at the Swissôtel Bangkok Ratchadaphisek Road (MRT Huay Kwang) on March 15-16, 8am-6.30pm. A two-day pass costs B5,400 and a one-day pass costs B2,700. A 'special buddy price' or 'come with a friend' costs B10,000 for two days or B5,000 for one day for two people. The panel discussion is on March 16, 1.30-3pm and is free charge. However seats are limited and registration is required. To be a participant in the panel discussion email fdfbangkok@gmail.com or call 085-0204-777. Visit www.festivaldufeminin.com/en/bangkok2019 or the Facebook page festival du feminin Bangkok 2019.
