2015: A Whirl-Wind Week

WhirlWindWhat a whirl-wind week…one that has left us with smiles to carry us through til next we meet. Our community….our chosen family never ceases to amaze, empower, enlighten, inform, acknowledge and inspire. Thank you to everyone who attended, or helped to make Spirits of the Earth Festival 2015 an incredible experience.

The new site was a perfect fit for us, and they LOVED US too! Complete with skyclad camping area, lake for swimming, obstacle course which added extra challenges to our Gathering of the Tribes, and a secluded fire-pit with the best fires…ALL HAIL THE FIREKEEPER!

The elemental tribes really stepped it up to bring some fierce competition and powerful rituals, and the Gnome made his rounds this year, making it out in one piece. Lindorm our bard hosted our Viking Sumble, and showed us how easy hula hooping really can be. Our stage was filled with some pretty incredible talent staring with our Karaoke hosted by Foxwood Rhythms, Indigo Crush, Ginger Doss & Lynda Millard, The Devil’s Drink, and Gypsy Ghosts. We had an incredible response to our fantastic workshop presenters, and I even got in some shopping with our friendly vendors with their colourful array of trinkets. I remember every smiling face new and old, but I couldn’t possible remember all the amazing moments that I was a part of this year…not wanting to blink and miss a magickal experience lead to very little zzz’s, perhaps the memories will return once I catch up on some sleep lol.

Congratulations to our Bardic winners, Patrick for being brave and crazy enough to dress-up in stripy tights, rock the antennae and metallic gold skin in a Silly dance. Jessica won for the children’s bardic with her acapella version of Coat of Many Colors.

I want to send a huge heartfelt THANK YOU and BIG PROPS to our amazing staff members Diana, Gene, Tammy, Kimi, Snow, Greg, Lindorm, Britt, Liz…we simply could not make this happen without you. You guys truly mean the world to us.

Signing off with Much Love & Deep Gratitude,
Tameika & Fox

Once Upon a Time…

Once upon a time, there was a couple who drifted off into dreamland. They traveled through a place beyond space and time, only to awaken with a message from the old Gods. This message was to give everything of themselves in service to their community. To empower those who cross our path, raise them up, empower them… all while creating bonds of friendship that would be strong enough to cross the veil.

Spirits of the Earth Festival was born 13 short years ago. Endearingly referred to the Gypsy Festival, as we traverse south-western Ontario, sharing our love and blessings with the lands we celebrate upon. This year we were on the move again…New park, new dates….and then we went LIVE with our NEW WEBSITE!

Clean, fresh, vibrant, beautiful…just like all the spirits that join us in celebration. We pride our selves on bringing you the best musical line-ups, and top quality workshops by our very own. Come and experience community at its finest, and check out everything we have in store for you in 2015!

Entertainment: Gypsy Ghosts

Like grease on a fire… the Gypsy Ghosts stumbled upon a very unique sound. This combination of players and diverse musical influences created an honest, swampy style of gypsy/pirate rock that people can’t resist.  The Gypsy Ghosts, with their unique and high energy show, are suited to play any stage. On top of it all, Gypsy Ghosts have this remarkable chemistry and cohesiveness on stage. Their genuine love for creating and performing their music is unmistakably obvious, and simply undeniable.

Gypsy Ghosts have an uncommon ability to hedge their creative energies further into the ether than most. They’re completely willing to blindly reach into the unknown, and are willing to deal with the consequences of whatever comes back from the other side. There is a sickness in them they desperately wish to cure with their music, and the doses only seem to grow stronger with each new incarnation. When you see them play, the Gypsy Ghosts are the epitome of joy. You can see it in their faces, you can feel it in the air; these guys love life, love each other, and they love the music. Check out their sound HERE.

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

Entertainment: The Devil’s Drink

The Devil’s Drink is a mix of talented musicians, who share a love of all things celtic. In their foot stomping, baby waving, beer drinking set, you’ll find classics from Ireland and Scotland, mixed with high energy contemporary.

Being a four piece powerhouse, we can entertain groups of 10 to infinity, with lots of flexibility of space, energy level, and varying degrees of tasteless jokes.

The Devil’s Drink will be performing at the Spirits of the Earth Festival on Friday night. Check out their music HERE, or their facebook page

Entertainment: Viking Sumble

This year we have decided that we will be hosting a Viking Sumble which will be a POTLUCK event featuring a rotisserie.

A Sumble is derived from a Viking custom of boasts and toasts made the night before an expedition was launched. You do not have to wear a hat with horns while you do it, nor worship Odin, nor get into a longboat when you are done….but why not, it’s FUN!

A traditional Sumble consists of four rounds of toasts. The FIRST round is to Principles, those things that each individual thinks are important.  The SECOND round is to Heroes, real men and women living or dead that particularly inspire us. The THIRD round is of Boasts,  where each participant tells something that he/she has accomplished and is proud of. The FOURTH round is of Oaths, where each participant tells of something they are about to do.  *Note that the oath is something that the individual must have control over – you cannot set goals for somebody else here. There is a meta-rule for the oaths. If it is possible for you to aid another in fulfilling his oath without harm to yourself or your goals, you are honor-bound to do so.

Just to mix things up we will be including a FIFTH round to Roast, this is when a specific individual  is subjected to good-natured jokes at their expense intended to amuse the event’s wider audience. This was created as a mock counter to a toast.  Please take the jokes in good humor and not as serious criticism or insult. This round is intended to bestow honor in a unique way. Be aware that the SOTEF staff/Veterans are fair game, surrounded by friends, fans, and well-wishers, who can receive some of the same treatment as well during the course of the evening.

This is magickal hospitality at its best and is INCLUDED in your registration! Our entertainment for the feast will be our annual Bardic Competition. So start writing, singing, dancing, or preparing your choice of entertainment for the evening! We encourage everyone to help create the atmosphere and participate in the fun by dressing in costume. We are also looking for some volunteers, to help setup/cleanup, and serve great food/fantastic beverages to our rowdy horde.

Song, Poetry, Dance, Drama, Storytelling etc. Come and show off your talents.

The Viking Sumble & Bardic Competition will be on Friday night.

Entertainment: Ginger Doss & Lynda Millard

If you like to feel uplifted by a performance, if you believe in the power of music to heal, transform, and make a positive difference in the world, if you like to dance and drum and allow the energy of music to take you to a higher place then you must come out and see these ladies! Ginger and Lynda strive to do all this and more with their music and the communities they serve…this is how they help the people and the planet they love. The desire for a deeper connection to the divine and the kaleidoscope of adventures has guided the constant inspiration for their music. There is no part of their music that is not touched by spirituality. Their connection to spirit is not limited to any one path and neither is their music. Ginger and Linda recognize the light and power of the universe as unconditional love and you either resist or allow it. One of the most powerful places for them is where music and spirit meet – and sharing it is one of their greatest joys!

Come out and experience this magickal night…a rare opportunity to come hear Ginger Doss reunited with Lynda Millard (formerly Velvet Hammer / DreamTryBe) perform live! They will be joining us all the way from Austin, Texas. Ginger’s music is deeply spiritual with a shaman-rock vibe put to piano and percussion. Her voice is from the soul of the earth, and put together with the talented Lynda Millard, there will be rhythms leading your spirit in a dance of empowerment and connection!

 

You can find out more about Ginger Doss a few different ways: at the WEBSITE, FACEBOOK or check out her MUSIC here. You can find out more about Lynda Millard, Velvet Hammer and Dreamtrybe, or check out their MUSIC here.

Ginger and Lynda will be performing at the Spirits of the Earth Festival on Thursday night.

Entertainment: Indigo Crush

An international acoustic, vocal duet. Entertaining audiences with a cool mix of tunes, new and old, with style and class. Tammy and Gene started singing together in August 2013. When they started playing songs at local open jams, friends began suggesting songs from all different genres.  As their song list grew, Indigo Crush was formed. You name it, they sing it!

Check them out on FACEBOOK, or listen to their music on YOUTUBE.

Indigo Crush will be performing at the Spirits of the Earth Festival on Wednesday night, and will also be hosting impromptu Open Mic Jams throughout the week, so bring your instruments and voices, and let’s make music together!

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 Tuesday night.

Sharing the Love

Good Evening Folks,
What a trick Mother Nature has been playing with us, wouldn’t you agree? I received my first sunburn of the season, only to drift back into hail and chilly temps. But my heart is warmed by all the love in my life…especially from the love of my life. As Fox and I gear up to celebrate our 20th anniversary (May 2nd), we wanted to find a way to share our gratitude with all of you.

So this got me to thinking, with only 4 more days to take advantage of our amazing early-bird pricing…why not share the love, and warm the hearts of all the members of our SOTEF family! Therefore we have decided to extend our early-bird pricing until MAY 15TH 2015! So if you haven’t registered yet, get in on the savings, and join us for the entire retreat.

Blessings of Love,
Tameika

SOTEF Update: We are Family!

OLA!!! We’ve got an update folks… This past weekend, the Rockin’ full-time volunteers of SOTEF, went on a walkthrough of the new park and grounds. We were very happy with everything, and have refueled the creative fires of inspiration within us. We are like Mexican jumping beans, with the excitement of this coming year. The new park addresses previous accessibility concerns. We now have new features inclusive of wheelchair accessibility, and smoother terrain which should be a breeze for most folks, with the option of rustic camping for those looking for a more ‘backwoods’ feel. We also have the opportunity for those looking for adventure, with the incredible obstacle course, and workshop to learn Rock-climbing and Rappelling.

You guys are so important to us, and we are truly blessed to be able to work with such a diverse group that feeds our heart and soul. You guys ARE our spirit family, and we love you for all your awesomeness. SOTEF isn’t just Fox and I…it sparks from us, is fueled by all of our incredible volunteers, and manifested by all of you into a collective experience and energy all its own.

We greatly value your input and would like to know what matters to you…so let’s get some feedback folks! What you would like to see? Will you share your knowledge/experience in the form of a workshop or ritual? Do you want to share you music with our community? How can you contribute? What workshop topics interest you? How can we, as organizers, make this a better experience for you? How can you leave your personal mark on SOTEF? Do you enjoy the Elemental Tributes? Are you interested in helping out with the Tributes/Unity Challenge (High-Noon Games)? Anything else on your mind?

Although SOTEF has manifested into something extraordinary over the past 13years….our goal was to re-live the ease, fun, and simplicity the old days brought to the table. I think with this new park we may have just succeeded in that.

If you would like to assist with building some new effigy’s, special projects for the park, or work any other ideas you may have sparked….we will be having our May 24 campout/Crafty Magick Part II on May 15-18, and would love spend time connecting and celebrating with you all.

Before I sign off I want you all to know, that you hold a special place in our hearts, and we couldn’t imagine Spirits of the Earth without you. For those newbies out there thinking of joining us for the first time…come ‘Home’ where you will be welcomed with open arms, embraced with acceptance, love, and manifestation.

I would also like to take this opportunity to send out a very special thank you to Jade and Kiera for helping me bestow blessings and leave offerings to the land spirits.

So…lets get talking, I want to hear from all of you, since you all have a voice in the Spirits of the Earth Festival!

Love & Laughter,
Tameika

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