Patti Hawse is always thinking. Whether it is for an invention, a movie, or even a festival, this Pylesville resident never
looses her enthusiasm for the next big idea. Even though she admits she “has been like this most her life,” she finds
that lately, her ideas are coming to fruition, which she attributes to support from her family and her own perseverance.
Talking with her, you’ll find her latest passion is “karma”. For Ms. Hawse is not only the founder of KarmaFest, Maryland’
s Holistic/Psychic/Yoga Festival being held June 7th and 8th at the 4-H Campground in Rocks State Park in Harford
County, she is also the writer of a new movie project entitled “Karma and Grace.”
KarmaFest sprang from an idea she had two and a half years ago. “It all started when I went to Louisiana for Katrina
Relief with the Red Cross,” Patti explains. “There, under all the stress of working in such negative conditions, I found
myself anxious and depressed. I cried myself to sleep the first two nights I was there. On the third night, however, I
joined in a yoga and meditation class held in the Red Cross Resident’s shelter designed to help relieve the relief
workers. After the yoga, my body relaxed. When I awoke from the meditation, my mind was at peace. I’ve been happy
ever since! On my departure from Louisiana, I vowed I would spread the word about these simple, yet profound, life-
changing tools that are available for all to enjoy. That is how I came up with KarmaFest – to help get the word out about
yoga and meditation!” KarmaFest hosts those very people who changed her life: LEOTHA, a Shamanic Practitioner
from San Diego, CA, and Heather Lilly, the ISHTA Yoga Instructor who will be conducting yoga classes during the
festival.
The movie, Karma and Grace, is another exciting topic for Ms. Hawse, for it is the story of her hero, Edgar Cayce, a
psychic and medical intuitive who was popular in the 1940’s. “Edgar Cayce,” explains Patti, “was not only a great
psychic, but is often considered the father of holistic medicine.” Last year Ms. Hawse started an Edgar Cayce Study
Group in Stewartstown, PA. She is also a distributor of Edgar Cayce products, such as Castor Oil packs to relieve
aches and pains, and Lime Water that is thought to alkalize the body to keep colds and infection away. “He was really
ahead of his time,” she explains. “For example, Edgar Cayce talked about how almonds cure cancer, and now research
proves it.” As a result of the movie idea, Ms. Hawse began a new business venture, Soul Purpose Productions, with her
brother, Jim Rhodes, and their niece, Jessica Kollar (a Hollywood movie producer). The business will be a vehicle for
Ms. Hawse's holistic product ideas/inventions and a production outlet for movies and television shows related to their
interests.
When Patti is not making movies or organizing festivals, she works as a Research Monitor for a North Carolina based
company. Prior to that, she worked for over 18 years at The Wilmer Eye Institute at Johns Hopkins University in
ophthalmology research. She admits to changing jobs so she can have more time to pursue her other interests. “Now I
can work from home and travel to do the monitoring, so it is a perfect fit for me.” Ms. Hawse recently became certified as
a Reiki II practitioner (energy healer). In addition, she holds a Master’s Degree from JHU in Developmental Psychology,
and is working on a second Master’s at JHU in Clinical Counseling, so she can one day use her knowledge of meditation,
holistic remedies, and spirituality to help depressed woman and teens. “I’ve always wanted to be a therapist, simply so I
can tell people to turn off their televisions and live their lives more fully. Now, however, I’ll tell them to not only turn off
their TV, but I’ll help them tune into their body, their heart, their soul, and their spirit.”
Patti is also a Certified Ophthalmic Medical Technologist who was recently published in The British Journal of
Ophthalmology for an article entitled “Blocking the Blue,” about how blue light exposure during dilated ophthalmic exams
contributes to the development of macular degeneration. She recently presented her paper at The Wilmer Nurses
Conference at Johns Hopkins. “It took a long time for anyone to listen to me about that idea,” she states with a smile.
“But with a little perseverance, they are now listening.”
To contact Patti Hawse about KarmaFest, or any of her big ideas, you can call her at 410-446-2569, or email her at
hawsejourneywithin@yahoo.com, or go to the KarmaFest website at www.karmafest.com.