Healing Energy in Taitung! Relaxation in Hot Springs and a Stroll Among the Stars During the Taitung Spirit Festival
(中央社訊息服務20231113 16:52:07)The Taitung Spirit Festival, a brand of recreation and aesthetic for the body, mind, and spirit created by the Taitung County Government, held Purifying the Heart, a journey of deep release and therapy, at the Zhiben hot springs area on October 28 and 29 and at the Luye Highland on November 4 and 5. The event was originally slated for late August and mid-September but was delayed because of typhoons. Despite summer being over, there was no decline in enthusiasm, as nearly 100 people came to Taitung over the two weekends to experience the healing power of hot springs and the energy of the stars as fall turns to winter.
There were differing themes for each of the two weekends. The first, Zhiben Hot Springs, Deep Release: Six Ways to Love Yourself, offered six classes: Slowing Down, Introspection, Sense of Ceremony, Trust in Life, Opening Up, and Eating Properly. Yoga and mindfulness practitioner Wei Ching-Ru, horticultural therapist Eunice Chiu, performing artist Lin I-chi, theater and body-mind art lecturer Queena, and owner of the local brand Tribe Walk & Work Tseng Yu-tung took turns leading activities. Attendees participated in walking meditation, hot spring hydrotherapy, stretching, making incense by hand, and eating local delicacies, providing them with spiritual release by unraveling the physical tension caused by daily life. These exercises in putting aside habitual behaviors that have been programmed into the mind allowed participants to return control over the body to the spirit so that they might become reacquainted with themselves.
Stroll Among the Stars, the event which just finished at the Luye Highland, was themed on the night sky, which is clearly visible there thanks to the geography. Collaborating with local brand Imagine Star, activities held included the Alien Psychological Test, Guided Talk on the Stars, and Special Planet Blend, as well as the mystery-infused activities of making floating candles by hand and a class on understanding human design diagrams. Also, local yoga practitioner Monkey Lin and hang drummer ET Chen led a yoga-hang drum therapy experience. In addition, Oneness (a crossover band focusing on sound wave therapy of which Chen is a member), spiritual dance lecturer Lahinna, and electronic music producer Utingling put on a therapeutic music and dance party, giving attendees two days of a fantasy-filled journey of spiritual exploration.
The Taitung county government said that Taitung is a precious piece of land filled with energy and that she hoped the festival would spread this energy to more people and allow them to feel the therapeutic allure of Taitung. Also, she wanted more local organizations to become involved and connected in jointly releasing exclusive content rich in both local features and healing energy. Whether it be the past event of ocean art therapy put on by a local essential oil brand or this year’s hot springs therapy in Zhiben and journey among the stars in Luye, all are manifestations of Taitung’s deep therapeutic power.
The 2023 Taitung Spirit Festival will continue with more therapeutic events, including a community empowerment event at the National Museum of Prehistory on November 20 and 21, and one for those in helping professions and education at the Taitung St. Mary’s Health Farm on November 18. Everyone is welcome to come and experience Taitung’s unique energy and maintain it as a form of support and motivation in daily life. For more information, please visit the official Taitung Spirit Festival website or related social media pages.