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Children Festival in Aid of Eden, 6 Body Mind Spirit first in Malta, Metageum Temples Conference

Remembering Our Past Festivals & Late Nirvana Azzopardi

by Nataša Pantović

Remembering Gzira Children Festival in aid of Eden Foundation

If you have ever organised a Festival, you know how hard the management of all the logistics are, working hard, day after day, contacting authorities, sponsors, adverisers, offering stalls, scheduling hour by hour activities, building the stage, sound equipment, chairs, security, auditioning kids for performances, preparing jury, prices, etc. I can still feel the buzz related to it all.

Children Festival 25th and 26th Sept Poster of Events

Again, if you have ever organised a Festival, you know that a Festival earns only when it is fully established, all the beginings are done for charity. So for the love of , for the love of , for the love of , for the love of , we have decided to included Eden Foundation as the main benefitory of all the entrance fees. My memories recall 1,000s of people, kids and parents loving every bit of the program, screams, laughter, entertainment, but also some last minute mis-haps. At one point, a security guard did not show up, so I had to personally stay a night without a policeman, protecting all the drinks and equipment, spending that night in a car, as a 30-years old woman, patrolling the Gzira open Gardens. Locals who know Gzira at night, at that time, would know what that means. In the middle of the night I was faced with a drunken drug addict who tried to carry away a crate of beer, and had to convince him to let it go.

The PR and Stage Hosting of the Children Festival was done by Nirvana Azzopardi. 

Nirvana Ciavola Azzopardi has died in 2013 after a two-year battle with breast cancer. The 40-year-old mother of two aged 10, and five, was a TV personality when she joined our team. In her 30s, full of life and enthusiasm, I was more than happy to entrust her with the management of the event's PR and with hosting the Stage programs.

We were invited on different Radio and TV shows, working many hours a day marketing the Festival at my home that servered as an office. Getting to know her, was a privilage and an extraordinary experience!

AoL events Children Festival 2 days of workshops stage stalls 25th Sep and 26th Sep at Gzira Gardens in aid of Eden

 

Volunteering Organsed by Nataša Pantović

Oct 1999 International Vegetarian Festival, One of 10 Organizers

Organised by Malta Vegetarian Society for the first time in Malta, it has invited speakers from the fields of health, nutrition, exercise, animal rights and the environment to present during this five days Festival full of fun, education, and vegetarian and vegan food.

FIRST EVER BODY MIND SPIRIT FESTIVAL IN MALTA

6 yearly Body Mind Spirit Festivals of 3-5 days long.

The Mind Body Spirit Festival is the original festival that first took place at Phoenicia Hotel Centre in Valletta in 1998. It was founded by dr Rudolf Ragonesi (Founder of Gaia Foundation), together with Rudolf Ragonesi, Geraldine Camellieri, Laurence Chisholm, and Mark Wood. Nataša Pantović joined the team a year later. One of 5 Main Organisers in charge of the Events and Workshops Delivery + Managing the Stage. At time having from 2 to 20 volunteers reporting to her. The theme of the Festival was the relationship between body, mind and spirit as seen by various religions, with an emphasis on natural healing, consciousness and personal growth with the aim of making these ideas more accessible to everyone. Today 100s of visitors from Malta join the fest attracted by an interesting mix of musicians, international and local workshop leaders, some new and some best-selling authors, dancers, martial artists and cutting edge Body Mind and Spirit exhibitors. The leading authors and NGOs giving lectures and workshops, as well as a mix of music and performances. Exhibitors included Good Earth, Alison White, all local NGOs, Astrologers, Tarot readers, vegetarians, vegans, t'ai chi groups, the meditation groups, Yoga practitioners, homeopathic practitioners, Wellbeing and sports trainers.

First Ever Body Mind and Spirit Festival in Malta with 20 presenters each day from 3 to 5 days long

June 1999  2nd Body Mind Spirit Festival, 5th June - 7th June 1999, Hotel Le Meridien Phoenicia, The Mall, + 3 workshops / talks / demos venues, Nataša was 1 of 5 Main Organizers

Events and Workshops Organiser, 2-30 volunteers reporting to Nataša +

Led the Workshop: The Science of Yoga

The Science of Yoga, with Malta TV One

June 2000   3rd Body Mind Spirit Festival, 10th June - 11th June, Hotel Le Meridien Phoenicia, The Mall, 1 of 5 Main Organizers

Events and Workshops Organiser, 2-30 volunteers reporting to Nataša + managing 30 workshops per day and stage.

Led the Workshop: Stillness within Sacred Movement

 

Secrets of Meditation by Nataša Pantović

June 2001 4th Body Mind Spirit Festival, now renamed Gaia Fest, Events and Workshops Organizer, 1 of 3 Main Organizers

Workshop: Goddess Symbolism and Ancient Art

June 2002-5  GAIA Fest: The Festival of Holistic Living, 3 days event, 1 of 3 Main Organizers

With stalls and exhibition spaces, and 3 workshops venues: Hermes Path, Athena Room, Aphrodite Corner and the main stage Amphitheatre, with the back to back workshops, presentations, music events, featuring 4 Lecturers per venue per day and Music for the evening. Guests from abroad and local / world renowned experts.

June 2002 Talk: How to Practice Conscious Creativity

"Yin and Yang states of consciousness within Yin and Yang charged environment. Each one of us, as a soul incarnated to experience different states of Consciousness Manifestations, tries to understand the positive applications of Yin (Intuitive) combined with Yang (Reason) states of Consciousness. Applied together within what I call Alchemy of Love or Alchemy of Soul or Alchemy of Humanity these Forces direct us towards the implementation of Clear Ratio Guided by Intuitive Wisdom. This is the highest implementation of Intuitive (by definition Yin) Truth (by definition Yang) within Humanity's learning implemented so far."

Nataša Pantović. Conscious Creativity: Ancient Europe's Mindfulness Meditations

June 2003 Talk: Alchemy of Soul and Alchemy of Humanity

June 2004  Workshop: Poetry and Practices of Meditation

June 2005  Workshop: Conscious Creativity, Poetry as Spiritual Growth Tool

June 2006  Workshop: Creativity, Meditations and Spiritual Work

June 2007  Workshop: The Ancient Worship of Goddess

Nov 2007 Metageum: Exploring Megalithics, One of 4 Organisers of the 10 days International Conference + Leading the Workshop entitled "Ancient Spirituality and Goddess in Malta". Organised by Peter B Lloyd, Nataša was 1 of 4 Main Organizers.

Metageum’07 was a week-long event that includes an international conference, guided visits to sacred sites, and workshops exploring the “consciousness of the Megalithic Temple Builders”, held at The Caraffa Stores, Birgu. An international, inter-disciplinary conference with a series of workshops enabling us to make the imaginative leap into the Neolithic worldview. Speakers at the conference ranged from archaeologists, psychologists and artists, to researchers in esoteric subjects. The conference presented new results of research, and encouraged further debate and discussion.

Nataša Pantović Presentation at the Metageum Conference:

Exploring the consciousness of the Megalithic Temple Builders, during an international, inter-disciplinary 10 days conference in Malta, Metageum07, inspired by a long list of renowned guest speakers, likes of Graham Hancock, Dr Louis Lagana, Erik Davis, archaeologists, psychologists, artists, and their new line of research, during the experiential thread of the Conference that included daily esoteric workshops, poetry writing, story telling, spiral walking, trance-dancing, shamanic activity within the 20+ Temples. A specially formed team of researchers was recording the sounds vibrations of various modern and ancient instruments within Hypogeum, Maltese 11 meters underground 7,000 years old carved in stone Temple. Nataša Pantović, as one of the Organizers, was privileged to be meditating inside the Oracle Room during these spiritual experiments.

Also Check Activists Unite Presentation

21 Symbols Stamps of Neolithic European Archaeological Findings

Neolithic Wisdom Symbols and Sound Frequencies of Balkan Barbarians 6,000 BC https://artof4elements.com/entry/255/21-symbols-stamps-of-neolithic-european-archeological-findings

Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.co.uk/NatasaPantovicNuit/

Wikihow Articles https://www.wikihow.com/User:Nuit

NARD2022 Malta Nataša Pantović Live Speech

Nataša Pantović. Organised by Animal Liberation Malta. Unfortunately the LIVE recording of the following speech failed the organizers; stopped after 30sec..., "The fight for conscious living has been with the humankind since the beginning of time. We have an honor to be predecessors of giants like #Pythagoras who 2,500 years ago gave us (Europe) music, mathematics, and the noble vegetarian fight. I will share with you positive stories of conscious people involved in changing the world & good omens: This year, I met a 70 years old conscious artist & farmer when hiking through Serbian hills managing his organic farm (and a community center), next to a stream, as a vegan, mindfully; Blessings to his work!🙏When consulting in the UK, visiting a client, a car in front of me suddenly hit the breaks, with a car behind me causing a chain accident, 4 cars bumped into each other. The cause was a duck with its ducklings crossing the British country road; None of us minded! 🦆☯ After a 100 years volunteers have helped a turtle hatch on a Maltese beach. It took many sleepless nights for this to materialize. Hope she comes back again. 🥰 One of our Authors, a Founder of NGO Gaia has personally planted his 10,000th tree. ✌️👍🤝I call this to be a good OMEN. We can together help Gaia be healthier, & our animals live happier. Let's do it!"

Sharing with you all this and Nirvana's Last Message:

Having cancer doesn't come with many perks. However, there are a few. One is the chance to tell people you care about that you love them and are grateful for their presence in your life. Another is the huge learning curve you go through. Being faced with your own mortality gives you perspective, lots of it. It aligns life and sets about creating order in the 'what matters and what doesn't ' department. Yet another perk is that people really listen to you because every word you utter could be your last one, I guess! So I have taken these three advantages and used them to write this letter to all the people who care enough about me to be here today. A letter to thank you and give you some advice. And because these ARE actually my last words, I really hope that you will listen!
 

The first piece of advice I give you is not to wait till you are sick to tell the people you love that you love them.

 
Even better than telling them, show them. Spend time with them. Write them little notes, buy them little thoughtful presents, surprise them, shower them with hugs and kisses and try and be there for them, no matter what it is they need.
 

Forgive.

 
If there are people who have wronged you, and there always are, even if they have not shown remorse, forgive them anyway. Someone once told me that holding on to anger is like holding on to a hot piece of coal, waiting to throw it at someone. In the meantime it is you who is getting burnt. Let go. Forgive.
Put work in perspective. Yes we all need to work to earn a living, but not all of us need to work so hard. Work to live; don't live to work. It's not worth it. And it's when you get sick that you realize how insignificant that 'important' report was. How further from 'life or death' that deal actually was.
 

Stop smoking.

 
There is NOTHING good that we get from smoking. Only disease, bad breath, yellow fingers and a suppressed immune system. Quit. Today. When you leave this church. No excuses.
 

Love yourself. Love your self sick. Feed your body good stuff. Take exercise. Find time to do the things you enjoy.

Every day. Try to dedicate 20 minutes a day to yourself. Doing what you enjoy. Make yourself a cup of tea, put your feet up and read a magazine. Have a relaxing bath. Do some gardening. Go for a walk. Spend time with your pets. 20 minutes a day. It's not a lot, really.
 

Do not stress.

 
Yes you can do it. Stress is how we choose to react to the problems in our lives. I went through a period of extended stress before I got sick. I am sure, beyond any doubt, that this stress was a major contributor towards my illness. It's just not worth it. No matter who does what to you or your family, don't let it stress you. It will just make matters worse.
 

Trust your instinct. You know better.

 
If you ever sense that something is wrong, make your doctors rule out your fears with tests, not opinions. Had I done that I would probably not be writing this letter and you would not be here bidding me farewell.
Connect with God. Now. Not when you need a miracle. Have faith. Believe in Him. Believe that even though you might not understand it, the universe is unfolding the way it should. He's got it under control.
 

Count your blessings. Daily.

 
I found so much more to be grateful for after I got struck with a terminal illness, it's quite sad really. I always tell my children, life is not about what you have, but how much you appreciate it.
 

For you parents out there. There is nothing you will do in this life that is more important than bringing up your kids.

 
They are the future; your legacy. Put that phone down. That message can be sent after they go to sleep. Close your laptop. Playing with your child is more important than seeing what rubbish everyone is posting on Facebook today. Enjoy them to the full, give them time, take in their beauty, learn from them, make beautiful memories with them. That is what will matter in the end. Tell them they are wonderful and special and show them that they are loved and valued.
 

So those are some pearls of wisdom from someone who learnt a lot about life while facing her death.

 

And now I would like to say some thank yous.

 
I can assure you these prayers were not wasted. They gave me much strength in my darkest moments. For all of you who helped in practical ways, financially and emotionally. To strangers for random acts of kindness.
To all my friends, you know who you are, for the constant flow of home made food, outings for my children and foot rubs! You made the unbearable bearable and I will be eternally grateful. To my children's godmothers Fran and Essa. When I chose you, I didn't know it would come to this but I know now that I could not have made a wiser choice. Thank you girls. I pass on the baton with a happy heart and a peaceful mind.
To my wonderful parents who went through what no parent should go through with courage, strength and dignity. Words will never be enough to express my gratitude but I hope you know that there is nothing you could have done better. Thank you.
 
My soul mate Marius for enduring endless days and nights of torment, threats of being turned into a dwarf and other similar abuse. You know it was not me speaking because in my eyes you are quite simply perfect and I love you more than Charlie! (The dog)
 
And finally my two heroes. The reasons I fought so hard and the reason I would not let go. My dearest Sam and Noah. The bravest, strongest, sweetest boys ever. I know it was very very difficult to see mummy go through what she did but you two were amazing and I am so very proud of you.
 

I will be in your hearts every second of every day. I am with you constantly.

But there are also many other people who love you and most of all there is Jesus, your protector. He was working through me to protect you, now he will work through daddy and nannu and nanna and Essa and Fran and all of mummies' friends who love you so much.
 

I want you all to leave this church today with a renewed sense of life. Let not a day, an hour, a minute go by without being present to it and grateful for it.

Children Fest in Gzira's Gardens in collaboration with Local Council Gzira in aid of Eden Foundation 

The two days event consisted of creative exploration with clowns, jugglers, magicians, dancers, face painting, balloons, crafts, masks, pottery, painting, soccer shooting competition, games and a Talent Show for kids age 3 to 10 for dancing, singing, playing instruments, performing, with jury and prices for each category. The entrance fee was in aid of Eden Foundation.

AoL events Children Festival 2 days of Workshops Stage Performances Stalls

The Children Festival was extremly successful leading to many more Charity events... 

Thank You Note from the Local Council

       

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