I have chronicled the skin tingling, ascent up Haleakala Crater to the tunes of Chris Berry and Panjea. That cosmic climb was in August 2008.

Fast forward to February 2009 and I’m in stocking feet dancing with an eclectic mix of eccentrics on a wood-floored gymnasium at 3 in the morning. Chris Berry sits before us on the make-shift stage beneath a basketball hoop overflowing with fountainous flowers. Michael Kang is at his side, the organic alter of crystals, Ti leaves and sweetgrass at their feet. Several other incredible percussionists are with them on djembe, mirimba and rattles. Together they are playing the African-inspired Panjea jams to a crowd of about a hundred festival goers.

It’s the Mystic Garden Party on Maui and we’ve taken over Camp Keanae on the Hana Coast for 4 days of music, art and dance. Aligned with the stars, this event is occurring while the prophesy made public by the classic “Aquarius/Let the Sunshine In” song is fulfilled. The planets are falling in step with the famous chorus as I sway in time with a crowd that mirrors the movie set of “Hair” to perfection. I’m living the musical in the beauty of Maui but this gathering of souls are in this place nearly 50 years after the Hair crew crooned through Central Park.

This evening is a highlight. About half-way into the set, Chris Berry expresses that in honor of the celestial occasion he is feeling called to do something special. He wants to call in the ancestors. He and the band take a 5 minute break and leave the building to pray. When they return, they begin a chant that permeates the gym and swirls in the throats and through the hearts of everyone present. Berry’s strong ties to Africa’s musical and spiritual traditions are palpable and bring the evening (which is now early morning hours) to a whole new level. Smiles abound.

Somewhere in the dancing, I reflect on that moment on Haleakala with my little iPod. I’m experiencing the chicken skin, heart-felt vision I had of sharing this music with a multitude of happy souls. As I glance about to random participants – some slip sliding on the floor, some women gliding about in topless freedom bliss – the crowd is freakier than I had imagined. But the intention is genuine and the love is present. The mantra this weekend is “we are one” and I reach down deep (well, not that deep) to release my own inner freak as the musicians before me conjure the spirits to bless us.

Just when I thought it could not get more powerful, Youssoupha Sidibe, a master Kora player, joins them to bring even more dimension and soul. The crowd is estatic, transformed. For me, the rest is just a blur of moving feet, swinging arms and huge grins. By 4:30am we were breathless and looking at each other in awe. Not clear exactly what kind of juju had gone down, those that were there knew something had happened.

This night with Chris Berry, Michael Kang, Youssoupha Sidibe and friends may have proved some kind of vision-realized for me. But this evening of music was only one highlight of many that took place at this event. Not only did we share the music of Freedom, Sasha Butterfly Rose, Lynx & Jamie Janover, Blane Lyon, Mollie King, Fantuzzi and many others, we also were graced by visionary artists Alex and Allyson Grey and the beautiful soul of Ram Dass.

If you attended this garden party, leave a comment and share your experience. If you missed this one, there’s still opportunities to get your loving freak on. The Mystic Garden party is going nation-wide with talk of taking it global. Each equinox and solstice are covered. Check out their website for details. Up next is the Spring Equinox in Portland, Oregon March 20 -22. It’s bound to be mystifying…