The Tibetans describe a type of hell in which souls with tiny mouths are afflicted with enormous, insatiable bellies. These inhabitants are considered 'the hungry ghosts.' Michael Imperioli's directorial debut THE HUNGRY GHOSTS portrays an eclectic group of New Yorkers in search of spiritual and emotional fulfillment. Frank (Steven R. Schirripa, The Sopranos, Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas) a late-night radio host, is trapped in a tenuous relationship with his son, Matthew (Emory Cohen in his screen debut.), as a result of Frank's drug addition and gambling problems. When Matthew storms out of a therapy session with his father, he becomes lost in the labyrinth of New York City. With Matthew missing, Frank is forced to confront his ex-wife, Sharon (Sharon Angela, The Sopranos, Tony & Tina's Wedding), over his fractured relationship with his son. While searching for his son, Frank meets Nadia (Aunjanue Ellis, Ray, True Blood.) Nadia recently left her destructive, alcoholic lover Gus (Nick Sandow, Connie & Carla, Third Watch) and is trying to get her life back on track. She turns to spirituality to help her find peace as Gus aggressively tries to win her back. THE HUNGRY GHOSTS deals with the intersection of several perishing lives stuck in a cycle they wish to escape, capturing the zeitgeist of our post-millennium New York City, in which the desperation of the West collides with the religious teachings of the East.

Visual Tibetan Art Collage precedes session

What if you could talk to animals and have them talk back to you?

Anna Breytenbach has dedicated her life to what she calls interspecies communication. She sends detailed messages to animals through pictures and thoughts. She then receives messages of remarkable clarity back from the animals.Anna can feel the scars hidden under a monkeys fur, she can understand the detailed story that is causing a birds trauma, she transforms a deadly snarling leopard into a relaxed content cat - the whole animal kingdom comes alive in a way never seen before - wild birds land on her shoulders, fish gather around her when she swims, and wild unfamiliar baboons lie on her body as if she is one of their own.

This Session SPONSORED BY: Inga and Jack Canfield

500 miles on foot. Bunk-beds. Blisters. Stunning landscapes. World-class snorers. Hot searing sun, freezing cold rain. Kindness from strangers. Debilitating injury. Unexpected romance. No toilet paper when you really need it. Profound grief and deep doubt. Hunger. Laughing with new friends. Total exhaustion. You are guaranteed to experience all of this when walking the ancient pilgrim path, the Camino de Santiago.Across Spain, this sacred path stretches westward to the city of Santiago de Compostela where the bones of the apostle St. James are said to be buried. The Camino is world-renowned; UNESCO named it a World Heritage Site and the Council of Europe declared it the first European Cultural Itinerary. Millions of people from all over the world have traveled this trail for over 1,000 years – in 2010 alone, over 270,000 people attempted the arduous trek – each one a seeker of something.In the Middle Ages, pilgrims sought forgiveness of their sins and admission to heaven. The Camino remains, for many, a quest of faith. Others begin with no spiritual impetus in mind, but nevertheless are drawn to examine their personal beliefs and life purpose. And others are in it simply for the intense physical challenge. Whatever their motivation, no one can predict just how their path will unfold, who they will meet, what personal demons or angels they will face, or what transformations they will undergo by the trail’s end.Walking the Camino is an up-close look at one of humanity’s most time-honored traditions. By following pilgrims from all walks of life as they attempt to cross an entire country on foot with only a backpack, a pair of boots and an open mind, we witness the Camino’s magnetic and miraculous power to change lives. Driven by an inexplicable calling and a grand sense of adventure, each pilgrim throws themselves heart-and-soul into their physical trek to Santiago and, most importantly, their personal journey to themselves.

This Session SPONSORED BY: Centers for Spiritual Living

Dying to Know

Depressed and frustrated with his life, Dr. John Kitchin abandons his career as a neurologist and moves to Pacific Beach. There, he undergoes a radical transformation into SLOMO, trading his lab coat for a pair of rollerblades and his IRA for a taste of divinity.

This Session SPONSORED BY: Bingalls School of Somatic Happiness