Myth, Mischief and Magic
in the French Countryside
Astral Plans is a five-day festival gathering 300 participants for an immersive journey into consciousness, creativity, and connection. Set in a castle outside Paris, the festival explores magic and transformation through art, workshops, ceremony, and community. I discovered the open call serendipitously and pitched an offering that would bring a mythic framework to the experience using storytelling and ritual to deepen the space and help hold the archetypal process participants were moving through.
a french gatheringThe Approach
After being selected, I collaborated closely with the creative producer, Lyric Harmony, to co-design meaningful, context-sensitive contributions that would meet the moment. I drew from a wide mythic repertoire, combined with ritual process design and group energy work, to support the festival’s vision. In the lead-up, I joined multiple planning calls to make sure I was aligned with the wider experience design and could serve as both a solo performer and collaborative guide.
The Work
I offered three key inputs and held ceremonial space throughout:
Opening Night Myth
I performed a story at the opening ceremony to mark the beginning of our collective journey. Despite heavy rain shifting the plan indoors and delaying the start, I adapted in the moment, leading the group in a playful rainmaking ritual and choosing a more intimate myth better suited to the mood.
Evening Performance
I delivered a solo performance of the Enuma Elish, the Babylonian creation myth, as part of a sensual, story-rich experience themed around the Opium Den. The storytelling added a depth and grounded gravitas to the dreamy, otherworldly environment.
Archetype Ritual Facilitation
I was the designated guide for the “Trickster” group, one of four archetypes participants were assigned. I led 60 participant through a nighttime ritual, including call-and-response, collective gestures, and a torchlit procession into the forest to offer symbolic gifts at an altar, accompanied by live performance.
The Results
The storytelling and rituals offered participants a powerful mythic container, helping them access new parts of themselves, connect to shared symbols, and explore transformation in community. Many said it was the first time they had experienced live oral storytelling in this way, and they felt creatively opened and emotionally grounded. The Trickster ritual in particular created a sense of group coherence, wonder, and mischief, while holding enough safety for people to bring their authenticity forward.
The experience affirmed my ability to co-create emergent ceremonial spaces, adapt to changing circumstances, and bring a balance of play and reverence to festival environments. As one of many artists and facilitators holding space, I collaborated fluidly with the team and remained in active dialogue throughout, supporting both individual discovery and collective magic.
“I loved Lily's passionate spirit and her intelligence. She was easy to collaborate with and did an incredible job working with my creative themes and delivering them in our experiences in beautiful ways. She was flexible, adaptable and flowed with the team and need's of the event. She also became a friend and ally and is someone that I look forward to continuing to work with in the future.”
― Lyric Harmony, Lyric Events
Work with me
Astral Plans reminded me that magic happens when myth meets intention, and when we're willing to adapt, collaborate and hold space for the unexpected. If you're creating festivals, retreats, or gatherings, I'd love to explore how we can work together.
If you need someone to craft ceremonial experiences, perform transformative stories, or hold space for groups moving through change. I co-create with curiosity and play, weave ritual into reality, and help people access parts of themselves they didn't know were there.