Written by: Chelsea Kwon
Mindfulness. Have you heard of it? You’ve probably seen it pop up while you doomscroll on your Instagram or TikTok, recommended by authors like Yung Pueblo, or gently nudged for you to try from your therapist. As a fellow neurodivergent, mindfulness can feel difficult at times. If you could peek inside my brain, you’d see probably 10-15 tabs open all at once and a whirlwind of distractions. I constantly find myself sidetracked throughout the day, procrastinating on things like homework by organizing my room or finding any other “productive” detour (stay tuned for more ADHD content coming soon!). Okay, now… back to the topic, Mindfulness is the basic human ability to be fully present, aware of where we are and what we’re doing, and not overly reactive (Mindful Staff 2025). Mindfulness is a meditative skill that anyone can practice, empowering your to help you stay present—noticing your thoughts and feelings without judging them, recognizing and understanding your emotions and your actions, and help you experience life with more presence and awareness. This same practice can also be applied to the dancefloor.
Fundamentals of Mindful Raving
- Setting your Intention
- Before a rave or festival, setting your intention (either with yourself or with your group) involves getting into the right mindset. Maybe you want to get out of your comfort zone by either wearing something that you want to wear but are afraid of how others may perceive you but decide to do it anyway. Maybe you want to get out of your cute bubble and talk to people if you are shy and socially awkward like me (hehe). Maybe you want to live in the present and experience the artist you are about to rage to and be less on your phone or yapping with your friends. Maybe you want to go solo instead of with a group. Maybe you want to go sober (highly recommend) instead of partaking in drugs or alcohol. Setting your intention is about taking some time before your event to get in the right headspace and thinking about how you can be more present.
- Awareness & Presence
- It’s important to be mindful and aware of yourself, your movements, the ravers around you, and your surroundings. I can get super feral at times and there’s been times I have accidentally bumped into someone or stepped on their toes etc. and immediately apologized. If you get feral like me, especially during those filthy drops, and accidentally run/dance into someone, make sure you apologize because not everyone dances or gets down like you do and some people just stand and thats completely fine too. Always say excuse me when passing through the crowd instead of pushing, shoving, or elbowing your way through.
- It’s so easy to get caught up filming on our phones—I’ve definitely found myself doing it plenty at shows and festivals. The more that I rave, the more I’ve come to realize that I never even look and rewatch all the videos I record and they are just sitting in my phone taking up storage. This made me realize that it’s better to just enjoy the show and be on my phone less. Looking back, I always wish I’d been dancing and getting down at the drop instead of trying to capture it on my phone. A compromise you can make is maybe taking a couple videos and then just dancing and vibing the rest of the show or festival. If you do film or are taking cute fit photos, make sure you keep the flash off to respect the people around you.
- Freedom & Movement
- As a chronic overthinker and semi-retired people pleaser, I can definitely get in my head and get anxious especially when I’m solo and overstimulated by people and the lights. Raves can be so healing because it is a safe space to let go of your fears, dress how you want, be true to yourself, and let your inner child run free. Don’t be scared to talk to people, compliment someone if you like their outfit or think they’re beautiful, dance with a group you vibe with (highly recommend!), and connect with people through dance without saying anything. Sometimes, words aren’t even necessary—just a nod, a smile, a playful wink, fanning others, and looking after people around you. When you’re surrounded by other Techno lovers, you’re already synced together in the same frequency, electric wavelength, and 140-160 bpm.
- Surrender to the rave. Pause the urge to film—this moment isn’t meant to be lost in your camera roll. Techno is meant to be experienced and felt, not recorded. Let the photographers & videographers capture the night while you lose yourself in the music. Slip your phone away, tune into the energy, and let every beat and drop move through you. Be fully present—you deserve to feel each beat, kick, drop in your techno heart.
- Leave everything that you are stressed and worried about out the door. None of that matters for the next couple hours. It’s all about the techno, the energy, the community, letting yourself go and moving freely. It’s okay and safe to let go, fully immerse yourself, and be free to dance however weird, feral, and untamed you want to be.
- Safety & Community
- Safety is the most important. If you are partaking in substances or alcohol, be real with yourself and know your limits. One night of fun is never worth harming your body. Don’t mix booze and drugs with SSRIs and other medications, and don’t skip your medication just to party that night. Be mindful of what you consume and don’t rely on your group or others to take care of you, as that will impact their experience too. Sadly not everyone in the rave scene are genuine and have good intentions. There are, unfortunately, people who go out with the intention to steal from, drug, and hurt others. Don’t take drinks and substances from people you don’t know and don’t leave your drink/water etc unattended. Look after and protect youself, your group, and others. If you see something sketchy like dudes being creepy or predatorial, alert staff and talk to security. If you see someone who doesn’t look okay or is tumbling or passed out, don’t ignore them—ask them if they are okay, if they need help, and get them help and talk to security. With everything that’s going on in the world right now, we must look after each other and keep each other safe.
- Respect & Consent
- I’m writing this with a lil rage—there’s nothing worse than when I’m in my own lil dancing bubble vibing and having fun and (let’s be honest, its usually men) a guy or a group of guys (yes that happened) will corner in on me and intentionally invade my space and stand there just staring or trying to corner me. Such a fucking vibe killer. Just because a girl or a guy is alone does not mean it’s an invitation to hover and force a connection that isn’t mutual. Just because someone is alone does not mean they are looking for unwanted attention. You can always greet someone respectfully without getting in their personal bubble, and touching someone without consent is never okay. Respect others’ boundaries—some people just want to dance solo or keep to themselves, and that’s totally fine. Don’t be that person who makes others uncomfortable. Respect people’s space. And if you notice this happening to someone else, check in or get security involved. We all deserve to feel safe and free on the dancefloor.
- Raves are a way to heal your inner child, express yourself, and dress however you want that is authentic to you. Whether you show up in vibrant costumes, minimal clothing, or something totally unique, the dancefloor is a judgment-free zone designed for creativity and individuality. It’s a space where you can truly be yourself, both in the way you move and the way you dress. What someone chooses to wear—no matter how revealing—never gives anyone permission to touch, grope, or stare uncomfortably at them. Please never touch anyone without consent. Clothing is not an invitation; respect personal boundaries and remember that everyone deserves to feel comfortable and safe, no matter what or how little they are wearing.
- Not only should we respect others, but we should also respect staff and the venue itself. Instead of throwing your drinks and trash on the floor, throw it away in the trashcan or fold the cup in your purse and throw it away later. Respect the dancefloor and clean up after yourself.
- Radiate good vibes—don’t be afraid to hype someone or a group up, spark up a conversation with someone new, or trade kandi and little trinkets. Remember, we all shape and contribute to the energy on the dancefloor—fan others, have a good vibe, uplift those around you, and let’s rage together to the beat of Techno
Happy Raving,
Your Feral Techno Demoness
References
Mindful Staff. (2025, May 15). What Is Mindfulness?. Mindful Healthy Life Healthy Mind. https://www.mindful.org/what-is-mindfulness/