Taking over the

Darkness

Megan Kawa

 

Picture it. The music is pounding. Sweat streams down her face. She dances as if she were mesmerized.

 

You may think this sounds like some trendy rave. However, this is not your average rave.

These raves include yoga, meditation, lectures on Eastern philosophy, raw food, herbal drinks, dance marathons, massages, and the typical electronic music that make a rave.

 

These raves do not allow drugs or alcohol, usual features of media-covered raves.

New age raves are hitting the United States hard.  The first new age rave started in San Francisco about three years ago.  Now, promoters have started these holistic raves all across the country, from Oregon all the way to New York.

 

Not only are new age raves a more healthy way to have fun on the weekends.  They are also a new way to celebrate.  "The idea of experiencing life and a sense of community in a way that is not risking their lives is pretty appealing," said Schofield Clark, author of From Angels to Aliens, a book about spirituality and youth, in Newsweek article "The New Age of Rave."

 

Freshman Rachel Stewart said, "I think you could just go to a spa...but it's kind of neat because it puts a positive spin on raves."

 

Later this year, Robert Wooton will introduce a club called Spirit in New York City.  According to Newsweek, "Spirit will occupy the same building that used to house Twilo, perhaps the world's most famous electronica and ecstasy warehouse" until it was closed down after repeated drug busts two years ago.  Unlike traditional new age raves, "the new club will serve alcohol, but the drug policy will be so tough that Wootton has already spent time with New York police planning security modeled after the club he now runs in Dublin."

 

Wooton said, "If we catch you consuming or selling drugs, we don't just eject you, we call the police and arrest you on the spot."

 

"We're taking over darkness with light," said Wooton.  "I've watched where the rave culture went wrong."

 

Stewart said, "If you want to have fun, you could find something else to do."  We're trying to bring it back to its pure state."