Emelia Symington Fedy’s spiritual journey has taken her to places that were nice to visit but she wouldn’t want to live there.
“I’ve been in a room of crystal bowls where the spiritual guide opened up the cosmic grid to talk to my angels about my destiny,” says the Vancouver actor, yoga teacher and “professional seeker.”
When her angels gave her bad advice, it was on to the next great guru.
She estimates that $70,000 has flown out of her bank account to fund what her husband calls “spiritual capitalism.”
“There’s an inherent longing to have this sense of place, of tribe,” she says of her search for inner contentment and peace.” I just want so badly to know something is true and that I can trust it.”
But every time she attains one of the goals that believes will lead to true happiness, she finds that she keeps raising the bar on her definition of happiness. “The grasping just gets bigger and bigger.”
As serious as this journey is, it doesn’t stop her from being able to laugh at how silly it can sometimes seem.
From April 23 to 27, she’s leading a hugely funny one-woman theatre experience called Through the Gaze of a Navel. Directed by and co-written with her friend and long-time The Chop Theatre collaborator Anita Rochon, it is presented by Boca del Lupo in a small second-floor room overlooking Granville Island’s market.
Fedy plays a yoga teacher leading her class – the audience – on their own inner journey. Getting to the destination, she says, will induce laughter and joy.
Although she’s leaving herself open to accusations of having “low vibrations”, she’s also very well qualified to expose when the emperor – or empress – is not wearing lululemon.
“I’m playing with a bigger version of my real self,” she says of the 45-minute scripted play-within-a-yoga-class. “It’s a satire about yoga and all the ways I’ve tried to heal.... The show feels like we’re trying to bring a little levity to a culture that takes itself very seriously. I do a little poking.”
There will be chairs for the audience but she thinks most people will gladly take their seat on the yoga mats as they follow along with her “teachings.”
Comfortable clothing is advised.
Through the Gaze of a Navel is at the Anderson Street Space (1405 Anderson on Granville Island) twice daily from April 23 to 27. Tickets are $10. For details go to BocaDelLupo.com.
