Culture
JAN 2025
“Waking Life is a midsummer festival, a landcare project, and a year-round dojo for creation, experimentation and play.
A weeklong party is an invitation to participate in a new pedagogy of revelry. An inquiry into what maturing hedonism looks like, or how embodied revolt feels. It can take the shape of a rite-of-passage or a bad trip. It may be an auditory feast or an erotic expansion.
It could just be a deep hangout, leading to group exploration of vibey ways of living, learning, loving, listening.
We are made up of an emergent, tensional community, converging and reconverging around solstice, building up a temporary autonomous zone that then breaks down and fuels an evolving rural micro-ecosystem in Crato, Portugal.
It is a paradoxical space where Alice can feed her head and where a collective body can imagine the worlds we could garden when there is freedom to break from default reality.”
Outro Lado
I had heard of Waking Life from trusted sources and so was overcome with excitement when a week before the festival a friend mentioned there was still space in his group’s tent. My business partner, Cordelia, and I had recently decided to join forces to create a Funga product together in the UK, and the idea of attending a festival renowned for its psychedelic adventures felt like the perfect test for any long-lasting, intimate partnership… we smashed it!
What we discovered that weekend was beyond anything we’d experienced before – or could have anticipated. Set up around a beautiful lake in Crato, Portugal, where festival-goers can cool off during the heat of the day, Waking Life is more than just a gathering of music lovers and free spirited souls – it’s truly a space to disconnect from the noise of the world and reconnect with yourself, others, and the moment.
The feeling is reminiscent of the early days of Burning Man, before it became the phenomenon it is today. No flashy sponsors, no overwhelming schedules to keep up with – just a community of people drawn together by curiosity, creativity, and a shared sense of wonder.
One of the most special things about Waking Life is the lack of phone service. It’s not a place to scroll through Instagram or respond to emails but instead, you’re fully present. This “forced” disconnection is the biggest gift. It changes how you experience the festival – everything feels more real, more alive. It’s a reminder of how much we miss when we’re constantly attached to our screens and how joyous it is to feel a shared sense of presence within a large community and crowd.
For that reason, I dont have too many pictures to share and you will just have to take my word for it.
There are also workshops and talks that dig deeper into topics like mindfulness, sustainability, and creative expression. It’s not just a party – it’s a place to think, reflect, and grow. Art is also everywhere at Waking Life. Similarly to Burning Man, installations pop up across the festival grounds, blending into the environment that they feel like they’ve always been there. Click here to learn more about my favorite artwork from the days in Crato.
As for the music… Unlike big-name festivals with massive headliners, Waking Life feels refreshingly free of ego. The lineup is full of underground talent, the sets feel organic, with a focus on creating a mood rather than chasing a peak. You’ll wander into a stage and hear something completely unexpected – hypnotic techno, dreamy ambient beats and very groovy moments mixed in-between that will send you flying. I am not exaggerating when I say it’s some of the best music I have ever heard.
What really sets Waking Life apart is the way it fosters connection. Without the distractions of phones and notifications, people are more open, more present. Strangers become friends over shared meals, random conversations, or dancing until sunrise.
At the end of the festiveal, there’s a bittersweet feeling of not wanting to leave but knowing you’re taking something special with you. It’s not just the memories of the music or the art but the sense of presence, connection, and freedom that Waking Life gives you. It is little piece of tangible magic on earth and I can´t wait to go back again and again and again!
WAKING LIFE