Today we’d like to introduce you to Judy Bazis.
Judy, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
I’ve always had an interest in the spiritual side of things. I began collecting rocks and crystals when I was only nine; later in life, I learned about the healing properties of crystals and why I naturally felt drawn to them. As a young mother, I was lucky enough to have a nearby neighbor who had an interest in holistic health and spirituality. She opened the door for me and I became aware of alternative forms of healing modalities, like Reiki and energy work. I tried lots of different things such as acupuncture, sound healing and cranio-sacral therapy. Stress relief was paramount at the time. I found there were lots of different ways to calm my frazzled nerves and open to a peacefulness I hadn’t known before. Different things work for different people, so it’s good to try lots of different modalities. That’s part of the message that I really want to share now.
When I went back to work, I developed my skill set in PR and marketing. In 2011 – after the kids were older and more independent – I volunteered to run an annual event called “SpiritFest” for my local Unity church. As part of creating the event, I interviewed all the exhibitors and asked for sample sessions with the intuitives and mediums. Then the curious thing was, there was a consistent message. I was told – across the board, through all these sessions with different practitioners – that I was being called to do this event on a larger scale – and that once I got the ball rolling, I would see it grow. They said things like, “You know you’ve been called to do this bigger, right?”
One Sunday morning, I made the time to stop and meditate on the idea… sort of an appointment with God or Spirit or however, you might name the loving force of the universe. And, I saw it. I am so grateful that I was gifted with the vision of what the festivals should be.
I went back to my Unity church and told them, “I guess I have been called to do this bigger!” They gave me their blessing to take the event as my own and run with it. I’ve stayed with the model of doing a personal interview with every exhibitor for the most part… it’s important for me to have firsthand experience, especially with the intuitive readers. There are subtleties with the way people read, and I have a very clear sense of what we need at each event. I feel that spirit guides me to know who will be a great fit for each event; we don’t just accept practitioners first-come, first-served. I meditate on it and really focus on pulling together the best possible mix of applicants for each festival.
Part of my mission is to dispel myths regarding alternative healthcare modalities and remove the stigma and cultural stereotype of intuitive readers. There’s an old-fashioned connotation of carnivals and gypsies that just doesn’t fit the present times. Yes, there are still some bad apples that try to prey on customers’ weaknesses, but that happens in every business, unfortunately. That’s why I vet exhibitors, to ensure that festival attendees experience the best of who’s available.
Has it been a smooth road?
Finding the perfect event space is a challenge… we are presenting a boutique festival, nothing outdoors in tents and bad weather. We want a spa feel; clean, safe and filled with interesting choices. There are so many amazingly gifted people out there – giving them all an opportunity to showcase their talents is another challenge. I try to find a great balance of practitioners and vendors for each event. We do our best to showcase local exhibitors – so, the people who are exhibiting have an investment in their own community.
Our exhibitors are diverse in every way, and they all have different needs for their booth spaces; we do our best to make each exhibitor comfortable, so attendees get the best possible experience. We want to keep the energy light and bubbly in the events, so a lot of effort goes into making the space harmonious. we use feng shui principles (the Chinese art of creating harmony with the environment) to design our floorplans, so those of us who are sensitive to energy flow continue to feel good throughout the event.
So, as you know, we’re impressed with Illuminate Mind-Body-Spirit Festivals – tell our readers more, for example what you’re most proud of as a company and what sets you apart from others.
We are known for the upscale vibe, a clean spa feel and a joyful energy within the festival. It’s a welcoming, inclusive space where people who may not be familiar with alternative modalities can come in and experience Reiki or acupuncture, sample oils or have a particular crystal’s healing properties explained to them. I ask exhibitors to offer sample sessions at special festival rates, so that attendees may experience something they might not try otherwise. We also offer free workshops all afternoon, every hour on the hour, so there are lots of opportunities for learning – everything from how to use essential oils to accessing past lives to shamanism to angel messages. They’re amazing!
There is so much ambient stress and uncertainty all around us; I hope that we can offer some options for those who can come and give it a try. For example, some hospitals now offer Reiki as a pain mitigation option. It’s been studied and shown to be effective on both pain and anxiety. So many people struggle with health care – we are not giving medical care here, but we may offer someone relief from the stress that’s associated with many conditions. People need alternatives… this is old knowledge, tried and true over many generations. It’s a part of our heritage, like tribal knowledge from the whole human tribe.
Let’s touch on your thoughts about our city – what do you like the most and least?
We are so blessed to have a wonderful community of vendors and practitioners forming around the festivals. That part has grown as we circle back to our locations over the years. I’m really committed to keeping the events affordable for both attendees and exhibitors; our whole point is that this is for everyone, not just the affluent or the avid believers – we want to open the door to anyone who’s even mildly curious.
I’m a reiki practitioner as well as healing crystal collector and I have my background in PR and marketing… so you might say that, I see the business from both sides of the table. I feel so strongly that I’m called to make connections, introduce people, create community and not simply sell booth space or tickets.
Pricing:
- $4 discount admission for ticket purchased online
- $6 admission at the door
Contact Info:
- Website: illuminatefestivals.com
Getting in touch: VoyageATL is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.
