Summary: The Zendo Project and Dance Safe are highlighted in a recent article from Everfest covering the upcoming Lightning in a Bottle. The Zendo Project and Dance Safe staff and volunteers provide harm reduction at festivals around the world. Come visit the Zendo Project if you, or anyone you know, is undergoing a difficult psychedelic experience.
Read the full article here.
We could have filled each letter of the alphabet multiple times over with all there is to do, see, hear, touch, and taste at Lightning in a Bottle (LIB). For the last 16 years, the inimitable Do LaB creates an immersive playground filled with music, art, learning environments, silly adventures, delicious food, and wellness activities unique and diverse enough to dazzle even the most seasoned festival-goers among us. And still, somehow, every time we go we find more things to add to the already crazy-long list of things to love about this California festival.
With LIB right around the corner, we decided to jot down a shortlist of what’s in store for attendees once they get through the gates.
Zendo Project
Harm reduction has been an integral part of LIB’s ethos for years now. The Zendo Projectleads the way. Since 2013, the Zendo Project has offered a safe retreat for those overwhelmed by any particular LIB experience, no matter what it’s caused by. Zendo staff and volunteers, aka trained “trip-sitters,” are on hand 24/7 to help festival-goers through difficult psychedelic experiences, often in partnership with DanceSafe.
Dance Safe
To be clear, Lightning in a Bottle is a drug-free event and does not promote or encourage the use of drugs. However, an abstinence-only approach to drugs works as well as an abstinence-only approach to sex education. That’s why LIB has hosted DanceSafe, a nonprofit harm reduction organization, since 2013. Festival-goers can stop by DanceSafe’s booth for unbiased education on drugs, safer sex, and other health and safety issues such as protecting your hearing at a festival. They also offer drug testing for those who need it. Most importantly, don’t forget that California has “Good Samaritan” laws, so if your friends need help, don’t hesitate to get it.