Three days of purple haze

According to alternative healing methods, visualizing the color purple will help you connect to your spiritual self. It is no wonder then, that the name of Israel's only festival dedicated to meditation and love is called Sagol, Hebrew for purple. This is the sixth year in a row that the bi-annual Sagol Festival is being put on, making it the 12th time that Israelis will gather in nature - this time at Ganei Choga Springs near Beit Shean - to practice alternative methods of movement, awareness, and healing. Held every year on Sukkoth and Lag Ba'Omer, the festival brags of a calm and family-oriented atmosphere with a plethora of treatments and workshops led by professionals from all over Israel and the world. Some of the workshops being offered - of which there are over 200 in over 15 subject areas - are meditation, yoga, Tai Chi, various forms of therapy, music, theater, Tantra, Reiki, and more. This year they have also added a workshop on the relationship between men and women. Judaism's take on self-awareness and awareness of our surroundings will also be addressed in the sections of the festival dedicated to Kabbala and Zohar, run by Rabbi Mordechai (Marc) Gafni, founder and head of the holistic Bayit Chadash movement. Make sure to enter the haze with a pillow, towel, and socks to allow participation in all treatments and workshops. The Sagol Festival takes place from May 11-13. Tickets are NIS 250. Children under four get in free, ages 4-12 NIS 10. The price includes participation in all workshops and activities as well as camping. Tents should be brought from home or lodging reserved beforehand. For more details see www.sagol.org, Tel. 08-9933960/50.