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In an era of increasing political polarization and social division, SoulPlay celebrates its 10th anniversary June 12-15, 2025 at Mandala Springs Wellness Retreat Center in Cobb, CA, offering a refreshing alternative: a four-day immersion in cultivating radical belonging, consent culture, and community across differences.
"We believe that playful connection has the power to bridge the divides that dominate our current cultural landscape. For ten years, we've been evolving a container where people from diverse backgrounds, beliefs, and identities can begin to drop their armor and experience a sense of belonging—something many participants tell us they rarely find elsewhere." says Holly Burlet, SoulPlay's founding member and creative director.
The festival's approach combines a substance free environment with boundary-setting education, embodied consent practices, and skilled facilitation to create an environment where vulnerable connection can develop safely. As societal divisions deepen, SoulPlay's commitment to this work has only grown stronger.
SoulPlay offers a diverse lineup of presenters offering experiences from movement and dance to deep relational practices:
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The Irreverent Reverend Dereca Blackmon leads the festival with ceremony and inspiration to rise above differences and deepen our connections
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Z Griss of Embody More Love making offerings at the edge of grief and eros
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Matt Sturm leading us in Joygasm
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Eliza Maroney offering her unique Samba Yoga
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Emma + Fin of Normalizing Nonmonogamy will help us find friends for the festival
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Daway Chou-Ren show us how to make space for our rage
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William Winters of Bonobo Network leading impact play
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Plus so many more...
SoulPlay also brings an incredible roster of conscious music artists to uplift and elevate the spirit and keep things moving and grooving! This year's musical line-up includes:
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David Starfire known as the pioneer of Global Bass music and composer for meditation and psychedelic therapy
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Mystical Joyride and their genre-fluid, psychedelic world-pop band
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Marya Stark bringing mystic worlds to life
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The melodic deep bass and tribal sounds of Agua Mayyim
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Rafe Pearlman inspiring harmony and unity
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Rachel Lark with catchy anthems about taboo topics
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Sing around the campfire with Lauren Arrow
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Enjoy the melodic frequencies with ALIA
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Dance at the pool with DJ Dragonfly, Maya Light, and Qoi
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Hold your tender heart with Scott Elliot Ferreter
"What makes the SoulPlay journey meaningful isn't just the workshops or performances—it's that for four days, 700 people explore together what a more connected society might feel like," adds Misha Bonaventura.
SoulPlay is a unique combination of a retreat and a festival, a classroom and a playground, an invitation, and a dream that we can create more inclusive, more consensual spaces where people find deeper belonging. For ten years, this intimate gathering has been developing transformative experiences focused on heart-opening connection across differences, personal expansion, and play.
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