Entertainment: Foxwood Rhythms

Let’s first adSLIDER-FoxWood16mit 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.

10 Things You Don’t Want to Miss at the Spirits of the Earth

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  1. COMMUNITY
    Whether you are looking at creating deeper connections with your friends, experiencing quality time with  family, or meeting new folks that just get you. You are sure to experience first hand a sense of community and make lasting connections along the way.

    “Community – meaning for me ‘nurturing human connection’ — is our survival. We humans wither outside of community. It isn’t a luxury, a nice thing; community is essential to our well being. Appreciating that community is essential to human well being calls us to a particular kind of courage: walking with our fear of exclusion in order to stand up for inclusion.” ~ Frances Moore Lappe

  2. CONNECTION
    It’s easy to take for granted the importance of green spaces in our lives. It has been proven that taking time to reconnect with nature enhances your self-esteem, reduces stress, enhances personal performance, and improves a sense of well-being.  It also contributes to healthy, active living both physically and emotionally. Green spaces are gathering places that create close-knit communities… so come hug a tree, and join our family.

  3. ACCEPTANCE
    Belonging to a group was most likely helpful for our ancestors, after all their survival probably depended on it. For some reason, in our modern world we think it’s quantity over quality. But as we gain life experience, we recognize the importance of having friends who are authentic and genuine – people who love, respect and support us. Acceptance starts with ourselves. We understand who we are, where our strengths lie, we know what we want, and are comfortable with our place in this world. Lets share that amazing feeling with other attendees, explore our inner selves for a new-found confidence, and embrace our true natures as we increase our sense of empowerment! There is no judgement at Spirits of the Earth.  Our moto is that we all have our strengths, but only when we stand together will we be stronger. Let’s lift each other up, so the entire world can see our majesty.

  4. ENTERTAINMENT
    Music has incredible power.  It can alter our moods, help us focus, offers positive effects on pain management, boost immunity and increase physical performance.  What I find most fascinating is the ability to create an emotional bookmark in our lives.  Have you ever heard a song on the radio, and suddenly are flooded with memories so strong you feel like you have been transported back in time. Beneath a canopy of magick you will witness the songs of inspiration, passion, excitement, and awakening of spirit. As your body sways, and your heart opens to the sound of North America’s most talented eclectic musicians.

    “Music is the Medicine of the Mind”

  5. RE-ENERGIZE
    With the hustle and bustle of modern life, we sometimes feel we are pulled in a million different directions at once, like blowing the fluff off a matured dandelion. Reducing stress in your everyday life is vital for maintaining your overall health, as it can improve your mood, boost immune function, promote longevity and allow you to be more productive. Take this time to ground/release that which no longer serves you, and recharge your batteries with the ultimate energy source….by following your roots back to nature!
  6. EXPERIENCE
    To ‘experience’ is to be affected by or gain knowledge through involvement in or exposure to an event. At Spirits of the Earth you will experience feelings of acceptance, compassion, love, tolerance and understanding.  By the end of the week you will feel renewed, energetic, and happy . You will be able & willing to take action; to pursue whatever it is you want to attain and achieve.
  7. LEARN
    We have made it our mission to help people become even more independent and self-sufficient.  Its this feeling of self-sufficiency that empowers those within our community to give back, sharing their knowledge and experiences.  When you have a strong foundation beneath you, it provides the perfect opportunity for giving. Join in on this unique opportunity to learn from our communities passionate leaders.
    Great leaders are like the best conductors – they reach beyond the notes to reach the magic in the players.
  8. FOOD
    It is hard work to transform our minds and create positive change in our lives.  In an effort to create overall balance in our wellbeing we invite you to partake of our incredibly delicious and healthy meals that fuel your body, as you fuel your mind. We also host our Community Feast on the Friday night which is open to all attendees!
  9. TREASURES
    Have you been on a quest to find that perfect unique addition to your altar?  A colorful one-of-a-kind piece of clothing to add to your festival wardrobe? Perhaps a personalized oil-blend made just for you by a skilled aroma therapist?  Maybe you are not seeking anything in particular, but all of a sudden you are called to something that resonates with you.  We encourage you to embark on a treasure hunt with our local creative artisans located in our Merchant Alley to find that rare gem.
  10. REVEL BONFIRES
    Come and be surrounded by drummers, percussionists, dancers, and magick makers, of all ages. Imagine laying in the middle of the forest, where stags roam free, a roaring revel fire as your only light, the beating of the primal drums, and swaying silhouettes of dancing bodies encircling the fire. The smell of the dew, and the magickal essence of fireflies as we submerse ourselves in everything that is mother earth. The heat of the fire warms our skin, as it fuels our spirit within. You can expect to be part of this nightly phenomenon, as we revel in our diversity and allow our authentic selves to radiate.

“Set a fire down in your soul, and seek those who fan your flames”

Even though you may have missed out on the Early Bird sale, have no fear!  The team at Spirits of the Earth festival is offering you another opportunity to save with a Pre-Registration sale. This deal offers you a $30 discount off an Adult Full-Week registration.  Act quickly to guarantee your spot as this offer will only be available until  July 1st, 2016.

Love & Honour,
Tameika & Fox

A New SPRING in Our Step!!

Temperatures are warming up, the snow is melting (here in SouthWestern Ontario anyways), and spring clean-up has begun. Whether it’s preparing your gardens for seed, raking up the leftover leaves, or just getting out the patio furniture…nature is calling us to come out of hibernation.

With the the arrival of spring, the opportunities to get out and experience life begin to heat up, too. This is the time when we begin to plan our summer adventures. Our personal plans this year begins with a May 24 campout at Oak Haven, an empowering time at the Spirits of the Earth Festival, many other impromptu adventures, which will end with an excursion to Iceland to explore our Norse roots.

Spirits of the Earth Festival 2016 will once again be hosted at the beautiful PeaceKeeper Park. I love the features of this venue, which include free access to Lake Whittaker for a refreshing swim on those hot afternoons, the cooling pine forest, rustic camping areas, community cook-fires throughout the park, an activity area for the kids/adults, and a secluded Revel Fire perfect for dancers and drummers alike.

So let me tell you what we have been up to at Spirits of the Earth HQ. Connecting, planning, booking, inspiring, divining, manifesting, and spreading the word. We have also created a new user friendly registration section on our beautiful website. It’s so crazy for me to hear that even after 14 years, some folks in the London area still have not heard of Spirits of the Earth Festival. I know crazy, right? But this means we have room to grow. Help us to get the word out, and let us know where you typically look for upcoming events!

A quick reminder before we sign-off…The best time to save on your registration is NOW! Early-Bird registration of $125 (30% discount) for an Adult Full-Week, is only available until May 1st, 2016. We have new payment options (including installments), and a new registration program to make it simple for you to guarantee your spot.

Love & Honour,
Tameika & Fox

 

Spirits of the Earth 2016

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We have confirmed our 2016 dates!!!

19-24 JULY 2016

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

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.

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