| Electronic and transformational festivals (ETF) are growing in number and size. This study seeks to understand how these festivals are conducive to transformational experiences and the lived experience of festivalgoers. This is a phenomenological, exploratory study. The data was collected during 10 open-ended interviews from 11 volunteer participants from the Southern Alberta/East Kootenay area. Themes were generated using thematic analysis. A total of 15 themes and subthemes were developed. These themes were grouped according to the following: the physical and emotional environment created, how this environment creates moments of profound bliss, and the overall transformational journey. ETFs create an environment that allows festivalgoers to let down emotional guards and open themselves to new perspectives. Although participants described moments of profound bliss and shifts in consciousness, there was an overall census that theses events act as stepping-stones in a life-long journey of learning and spiritual growth. |
