Entertainment: Carly Thomas

Carly Thomas is the epitome of a worldly person: she’s lived everywhere from Argentina and France to Thailand and Canada. Aside from her powerful lyrics, Thomas’ music is characteristic of various sub-genres including modern folk, rock, and country. And it shows. Thomas brings her experience to all of her songs, offering listeners her words of wisdom through heartfelt lyrics and beautiful acoustic guitar lines.

Thomas grabs listeners’ attention with gutsy stories of love and witty onstage banter. Her earthy undertones and honest lyrics, will likely have you wanting more. A welcome change from the typical, but with a voice which is easy to relate to, she has that something which makes folk-ish music interesting and intelligent. Her live performances are known for being dynamic and ever-evolving.

Her strong, clear voice is always thick with emotion, which adds to both the sincerity and beauty of her soft indie folk songs. Her tunes drip with truthfulness, as she isn’t afraid to expose her heart in order to help her listeners mend theirs.

Having played everywhere from street festivals in Paris to the folk circuit in Manhattan, Thomas is a seasoned performer with 3 studio releases under her belt. Her albums to date include Distance (2003), Up This High (2009)and Explode (2014).

Spending almost a decade on Canada’s west coast, Thomas has recently returned to familial roots in London, Ontario where she received the 2015 Jack Richardson Music Award for Contemporary Singer/Songwriter. The return to Ontario’s music scene has been a welcome homecoming. Explode, was nominated for EP of the Year by CHRW radio. She has shared the stage with countless artists such as Matt Barber, Trent Severn, and Jenn Grant, and has also performed at several festivals including Home County and NXNE.

As an independent artist, Carly Thomas continues to enjoy success and creating an impact in the Canadian music scene. She has also gone on to participate in various outreach projects and released a single in 2014 “I Remember You” in support of world suicide prevention day with all sales going directly to The Canadian Mental Health Association.

Check out her sound Here.

You can catch this amazing performance at the Spirits of the Earth Festival on Friday evening.

Entertainment: Foxwood Rhythms

Let’s first admit that we all like to sing. We often sing in the car, while having a shower and so on, but the sensation that you are singing in a public place, knowing that everybody is watching you is quite different. Singing takes your troubles away and is relaxing, that’s why so many people get addicted to it.

Tameika and Fox will be spinning some fun on the opening night of the festival. Karaoke is always full of fun and great music! There are a lot of great undiscovered singers out there. A little courage and some back up music, and you’re off!

If you really don’t like to sing, well you can always get up on the dance floor and shake it. Being a singer myself, it is always great when people are dancing in front of you. Come join us and release all of your stresses from the mundane world, in preparation of an amazing spiritual experience that the week ahead has in store for you!

Karaoke Dance Party hosted by Fox and Tameika will be on Thursday night following the concert.

Entertainment: Tara Rice

Weaving a god’s eye. S’mores over a fire on a brisk autumn night. Tara Rice, Toronto-based vocalist, songwriter and guitarist, conjures gothic romanticism between layers of spirited storytelling. Though the majority of Rice’s latest EP, Panorama, was written, recorded and performed in her Bloor Street apartment, the mood of this alternative folk-rock album transcends the concrete city vibe.

The songs, along with Tara’s multifaceted, distinctive voice, sweep and shape-shift through genres and influences (a bit of PJ Harvey grunge here, some Sandy Denny folk there). By times the songs summon psychedelic pastoral vistas, and at other times conjure crisp, cool, dark forests. Tara Rice’s music leads the listener into an evocative and welcoming world that possesses a modern mythical perspective wholly its own.

Check out her sound Here.

You can catch this amazing performance at the Spirits of the Earth Festival on Thursday evening.

May-24 Camping 2017

Date: 19-22 May 2017
Time: Arrivals 4pm on Friday
Cost: $20/adult, $10/child (0-4yrs Free)
What to Bring: Camping gear, drums, BYOB/Crafty Supplies, anything else you would like to dabble with.

REGISTER

May long weekend is here and camping season has officially started. We welcome you to join us for a weekend of fun which will include craftiness, prop building, body painting, drumming, dancing, organic impromptu ritual, fire breathing and other fun activities to prepare for the upcoming fest season.

CRAFTY MAGICK MAKING: Feel free to bring whatever you are working on, new things you would like to learn, or something you saw on Pinterest that you would like to try your hand at… in a fun, supportive and empowering environment. Or just hang out with us, give some feedback and help others with their projects.

Come together as COMMUNITY, as we prepare for the upcoming Spirits of the Earth Festival.

DRUM CIRCLE: “Tribal breath fueled by the primal heat. Ancient rhythm carried by the vessels chosen. Sun drenched bodies illuminated by the flames of the fire. Voicing the melody of the Mother” ~ Lupa Bardy (quoted with permission)

Saturday night we invite you to join us in a drum circle. These are great for releasing the stresses of everyday life, or for attuning yourself to the natural rhythms of the earth. Great for all experience levels. Instruments are not required. Children are welcome. Drumming, dancing, singing, and chanting.

NOTES: This is a rustic outdoor event so please be prepared (lawn chairs, blanket/sweater, bug repellent, etc). There will be an outdoor kitchen area…check out our FAQ’s. Please feel free to bring a tent if you plan on having a few drinks.  The house is strictly off-limits.

Change is in the Air

Have you felt the change in the air?   I have felt its refreshing essence swirling around me over the past few months.  Initially this created some feelings of unease, and maybe even some fears, not knowing what exactly was brewing.  After frantically searching for a “why” or “what, I chose to embrace grace, and open my heart. I chose to let go and have faith that these changes would carry me where I need to be, and reveal my purpose. Being well connected to Spirit enhances and enriches my life on every level, yet sorting out what exactly the Gods intend for us and SOTEF has been quite a journey.  Fox and I have embarked on an adventure of transition. Taking a step back to deeply reflect and dedicate the time to receiving these integral messages.

We shared this experience with our closest kindred, and it opened some empowering discussions. As it turns out they too have been feeling a definite surge/calling; We realized that our energies are in sync and it’s together that we must move forward.  This got me to thinking, are you too feeling this huge shift in our current reality? Feeling like there is something more, but you can’t quite put your finger on it?

We decided to reflect on what means the most to us, and came to realize that YOU are our reason.  With the way things have been going we have not had the time and energy during the event to give you the one on one attention we would like.  It is the deep connections to our Tribe that fuels us to grow, support, and challenge not only ourselves but everyone else in our community. Being with our kindred, beautifying our surroundings, and enjoying creative activities, infuses each moment with an attitude of joy and awe. We sense that is what You, as our tribe is also craving more of.

When you take others into consideration while making decisions, you acknowledge that the people around you have needs and are worthy of respect. Today we consider the needs of our staff and the community, and anticipate that our new direction is one that fulfills everyone’s needs.

After much inner reflection and consideration, we collectively reached the decision that Spirits of the Earth must change along with us.  It’s not time for Spirits of the Earth to sleep…in fact she is transforming; her energy frequency is elevating and growing.  We have always known that “Spirits of the Earth” was not simply an event…but an ideal, a lifestyle, and a community that carries an energy all its own.

We are in a society that has fewer and fewer opportunities to really connect; to feel part of something greater; to be heard and understood. There is such an abundance of large festival events these days that there is no longer a ‘need’ to fulfill.  We are being guided to create a gathering that cultivates a more intimate environment. One that offers intensive and practical style workshops. One that focuses on building and strengthening bonds. A place that will help shift our community into a higher level of understanding and empowerment, as we find the magick deep within ourselves.

Spirits of the Earth currently hosts multiple events a year, and the festival was the apex.  We have heard the calling to deepen our connections with the earth, our guides, and our fellow kindred spirits.  Like a butterfly emerging from its cocoon, it has come time to make a transformation and spread our wings.  The July festival will experience the most change in this shift.

What are the changes for the Festival?
It will now be hosted at OakHaven, verses renting a campground.  This will give us greater continuity with future dates, and allow us to offer rates that are economical for both individuals and families.   The first thing to note is that there will be a date change….this year the festival will be taking place on 13-16 JULY 2017. Our theme is “The Fire Within”, and will continue to host nightly revel fires complete live entertainment, drumming and dancing. This event will be limited to 50 attendees, allowing us to place a greater focus on individual experience.

It is said that everything we do is imprinted with our energy, which others can feel when they see or touch our work.  Keeping this in mind helps us to understand how important our attitude can be when engaged in any activity we pursue.  While a neutral mindset might help us create a positive outcome, a joyful mindset is more likely to create an amazing one.  Simply by choosing to infuse everything we do with enthusiasm, we can create more beauty, love, abundance, and joy that will radiate out to enhance not only our lives, but the lives of all who encounter our work.

We are inspired to use our imaginations to create more beauty in our lives. To enhance our surroundings and better express our creativity. Since one of the most powerful emotions in the creative process is JOY, we plan to enhance our mindset by choosing to feel joyful and happy at every possible opportunity. With our new attitude of fun and enthusiasm, we set a positive example for others, and everyone ends up winning.  We create a victory for ourselves and others by simply choosing to enjoy the time we spend together.

We Call all SOTEF Kindred & Like-Minded, Nature Lovers!
This is a very exciting time for the Spirits of the Earth community and we are beaming with the possibilities.  We shall build lasting memories within sacred space that is judgment free, supportive, encouraging, and uplifting; We look forward to reinforcing our relationships and building a strong, energetic, unified community; One that places value in honour, loyalty, commitment, integrity, and personal growth. We welcome you to join us on this adventure, share in the experience, connect with others on a deep spiritual level, share your passions, and inspire others…as we laugh, dance and sing our way through this wonderful journey called life.

Love & Light,
Spirits of the Earth

Spirits of the Earth 2017


We have confirmed our 2017 dates!!!

13-16 JULY 2017

Add it to your calendars folks. We’ll dance with the spirits, and revel in the energies once again!

What is SOTEF?

Calling all Like-Minded, Nature Lovers
Spirits of the Earth community is beaming with limitless possibilities. Join us as we build lasting memories within sacred space that is judgment free, supportive, encouraging, and uplifting; Reinforce your relationships and join a strong, energetic, unified community; One that places value in honour, loyalty, commitment, integrity, and personal growth. We welcome you to join us on this adventure, share in the experience, connect with others on a deep spiritual level, share your passions, and inspire others…as we laugh, dance and sing our way through this wonderful journey called life.


THE DREAM:

It was a warm sunny day, as the gentle breeze played with my hair and the branches of grandmother willow wrapped her arms around me, that the spark was created…16yrs later Spirits of the Earth Festival is still an energy all her own, inviting and transforming all who join her in the sacred dance.

In the beginning, we heard the call to fulfill a need within the community.  At that time there were only 3 larger pagan festivals in Ontario. WiccanFest in June, Kaleidoscope Gathering (KG) in August, and HarvestFest in October. Sacred Circle Gathering (formerly Whisperfest) was a smaller event held mid-August in the Paris, ON area that ran for 5yrs and disbanded in 2002, when the organizers made a choice to create a family of their own. This is when Spirits of the Earth was conceived; It quickly became apparent the she was constantly transforming; her energy frequency elevating and growing; Spirits of the Earth was not simply an event…but an ideal, a lifestyle, and a community that carries an energy all her own.

After connecting with the other festival organizers at the time, we decided to place our dates in the month of July.  It was our intention to serve the Southwestern Ontario area, however this intricate web of festival dates allowed us to reunite with our broader community monthly.

Spirits of the Earth was founded by Tameika and Fox in 2002. Since that time we have also offered various earth-based, spiritual events such as Festivals, Seasonal Ceremonies, SAMHAIN: Feast of the Dead, Mystic Roots Conference, Drum Circles, Camp-outs, Beach Parties, Road Trips, and more!

Our goal is to bring like-minded individuals together to form a sense of community. We welcome all earth-based open-minded individuals to join us in a sacred space where communication of life, love and spirituality is available without fear or prejudice. We form a network to share knowledge of our ways with each other, creating unity between old friends and providing an opportunity to meet new ones. We offer access to a wider variety of specialized vendors and holistic practitioners that may not otherwise be readily available. Come and learn how to bring spirituality and positivity into your every day life, and how to put aside “sacred time”, as we practice techniques of meditation to center one’s self with the energies of the earth.

THE FESTIVAL:

As for the FESTIVAL….What an empowering retreat we have in store for YOU!!! We encourage you to venture forward….to indulge in the gifts that nature has to offer in this 4 day camping experience, and to be surrounded by drummers, percussionists, dancers, and magick makers, of all ages. Imagine days filled with development of your skills (or maybe learning some new ones), evenings around a roaring revel fire as your only light, the beating of the primal drums, and swaying silhouettes of dancing bodies encircling the energies. The smell of the in the morning dew, and the magickal essence of fireflies as we submerse ourselves in everything that is mother earth.

Beneath this same canopy of magick we will witness the songs of inspiration, passion, excitement, and awakening of spirit. Priding ourselves on bringing you a wide selection of concerts by talented local and new-age musicians.  Let the mundane drift away in an evening of Karaoke . Partake in a variety of Rituals, join a workshop, channel your own talent by entering our Bardic circle or afternoon Jam sessions. The mojo doesn’t stop there, join other Kitchen Witches stirring up some magick to fuel your body, as you fuel you mind and spirit!

The excitement and energies are building, the creative juices are flowing, and the inspiration is lifting the ROOF! I simply cannot wait to fill you all in on the incredible experiences coming this year, and to warmly embrace our kindred this July. Warm up those drumming hands and hips. All are welcome to come and join those of like mind, as we celebrate life, the earth, and each other! See you soon 😉

THE SHIFT:

In 2017 I felt change in the air… its refreshing essence swirling around.  Initially this created some feelings of unease, and maybe even some fears, not knowing what exactly was brewing.  After frantically searching for a “why” or “what, I chose to embrace grace, and open my heart. I chose to let go and have faith that these changes would carry me where I needed to be, and reveal my purpose. Being well connected to Spirit enhances and enriches my life on every level, yet sorting out what exactly the Gods intended for us and SOTEF was quite a journey.  Fox and I stepped back to deeply reflect, and dedicate time to receive these integral messages; The SOTEF kindred joined us as we embarked on an adventure of transition.

When you take others into consideration while making decisions, you acknowledge that the people around you have needs and are worthy of respect. It was time to consider the needs of our staff and the community, and anticipate that our new direction was one that fulfilled everyone’s needs.

We decided to reflect on what meant the most to us, and came to realize that YOU are our reason.  With the way things had been going we did not have the time and energy during the event to give you the one on one attention we would have liked.  It is the deep connections to our Tribe that fuels us to grow, support, and challenge not only ourselves but everyone else in our community. Being with our kindred, beautifying our surroundings, and enjoying creative activities, infuses each moment with an attitude of joy and awe. We sense that is what You, as our tribe is also craving more of.

We have become a society filled with distractions, and fewer opportunities to really connect; to feel part of something greater; to be heard and understood. With such an abundance of large festival events these days there was no longer a ‘need’ to fulfill.  We shifted our focus to create a gathering that cultivates a more intimate environment. One that offers intensive and practical style workshops. One that focuses on building and strengthening bonds. A place that will help shift our community into a higher level of understanding and empowerment, as we find the magick deep within ourselves.

It is said that everything we do is imprinted with our energy, which others can feel when they see or touch our work.  Keeping this in mind helps us to understand how important our attitude can be when engaged in any activity we pursue.  While a neutral mindset might help us create a positive outcome, a joyful mindset is more likely to create an amazing one.  Simply by choosing to infuse everything we do with enthusiasm, we can create more beauty, love, abundance, and joy that will radiate out to enhance not only our lives, but the lives of all who encounter our work.

We are inspired to use our imaginations to create more beauty in our lives. To enhance our surroundings an better express our creativity. Since one of the most powerful emotions in the creative process is JOY, we plan to enhance our mindset by choosing to feel joyful and happy at every possible opportunity. With our new attitude of fun and enthusiasm, we set a positive example for others, and everyone ends up winning.  We create a victory for ourselves and others by simply choosing to enjoy the time we spend together.

What an incredibly exciting and rewarding journey this has been.  One that has enhanced my skills, faith, vibration, and most importantly the incredible connections! I am honoured we have crossed paths, accept the gifts and inspirations you share, and my heart fills with gratitude knowing that I made a difference. Thank you 🙂

Where people can learn and grow not only as people but as spirits!

Earth Hour Drumming 2017

Need to warm up those hands and drums for the upcoming festival season? Want to learn some new beats, or how you can participate in a drum circle? Have a yearning to be surrounded by a loving and supportive community, where you feel like one of the family? Well…here’s your chance!!!

We will be hosting an open drum circle for Earth Hour 25 March 2017,  7-11 pm.Come to Drum, Dance or simply to absorb the magic. Everyone welcome to join us for a night of drumming and feasting… all while enjoying great company!

Note: This is a BYOB/Potluck event!

From Magick to Divine: SOTEF 2016 was a Blast!

One full nights sleep under my belt, now where to begin?13775830_1110423849029050_9006861599548354412_n

Now that my friends was an incredible week of magick, healing, empowerment, love, laughter and community.  One harmonious week filled with uplifting conversations that fuelled our creativity, productivity, expression and vitality. My heart is about to burst with love and gratitude. My energetic body has increased in size and frequency.

Fox and I thank each and every one of you for making the Spirits of the Earth what it is today.  Each of you has left your mark on our hearts and on the legacy that is Spirit of the Earth.  We only hope that the sacred space we dreamed about and manifested has shown you the positive side of life.  One where your level of enthusiasm is high, you feel that opportunities are endless and that anything is possible.

A special thanks to our performers Scott Brunelle, Rose Cora Perry, Doghouse Rose, Kate Channer Band, Sharon Knight & Winter.  Our presenters Becca, Charlene, Deb, Donna, Fallon, Gita, Kimi, Lindorm, Sarah, Tabi, and Zibby.  None of this would be possible without our incredible full time volunteers, Diana and Jessica for greeting all of our attendees with smiles, Rick for holding the space and creating warmth within and without, Kimi for ensuring that bathroom breaks were as enjoyable as possible, Britt for teaching our littles, and Philos for diving in with both feet and helping out where even you were needed.  Fox deserves a huge kudos for dealing first hand with my crazy and putting up with my ‘unique’ ways of bringing my visions into fruition. I have to extend recognition to Becca and Deb, who although the have been on staff in the past, were not officially on staff this year, they never left my side, and were there to assist, offer a hug, and pull together some organic magick right when it was needed.  I love you my spirit sisters more that I could ever say, and I am humbled by your love, trust and loyalty. Special mention to Kris who’s help in the kitchen and clearing the feast was an incredible gift that I am so grateful for.  Finally a shout-out to the park rangers who were amazingly open-minded and supportive…even offering the golf cart for trucking gear from the revel fire. P.S. You looked great spinning the poi 😉

Congratulations to our 2016 bardic winners Josh who is mastering the hula hoop at such a young age and Rebecca for creating an intriguing story on the fly that kept us intrigued and sharing in laughter.  Special mention to our bardic runner-ups Ben and Lindorm, bravo!

As we transition back into our daily routines, our memories may shift into daydreams of our week together.  Remember to live in the present moment, capturing the beauty of the moment and understand that there is no happier time then now.  You have that energy within you.  When you feel you might start to disconnect, pick up your stones that we charged all week long, and reignite your spirit, love, and power within.

We look forward to the next time our paths cross…whether at one of our drum circles, bonfires, weekend campouts, feast of the dead, open rituals, or next year’s festival.  Stay tuned to the website and the Spirits of the Earth Productions facebook page. Be the first to know about upcoming events, stay in touch with our community or checkout our weekly divinations. Until then the love we shared and the memories we made will fill our hearts.

Brightest of Blessings,
Tameika

www.spiritsfest.com
www.facebook.com/spiritsfest

 

 

Entertainment: Sharon Knight

SLIDER-SharonKnight16Sharon Knight and her longtime collaborator Winter are nationally touring musicians in the Mythic-Celtic vein.  Their penchant for combining fierce an gutsy bravado with ethereal beauty, a hearty dose of fantastical lyrics, and an obvious love of storytelling has inspired their own style, “Neofolk Romantique”.  They often sound less Celtic and more “Folktales that ran away with the Faeries at the turn of the century and took cover in an old trunk bound for the circus, which was then commandeered by pirates.”  This suits them fine.

The music of Sharon Knight combines a love of antiquity and romance with an affinity for the haunting and melancholy, adds a hearty dash of feistiness, and reminds us that we can all see the world through the eyes of enchantment.

Check out their music Here.

You can catch this amazing performance at the Spirits of the Earth Festival on Saturday night.

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