Currently, Earth Folk is a ritual celebrant of the Wheel of the Year. We are currently in the process of expanding our services, which will include Ways of the Earth, Earth Ceremonies, Councils, and Vigils. We are growing into our identity as both community and fellowship. As we expand, we maintain our focus on inspiring holistic growth and embodied action for the renewal of the broader Earth community. We believe it is through deep connection with the Earth that we discover our own profound identity and purpose in the interconnected web of life. In other words, we are seeking to be in ever deepening fellowship (a learning-focused community) in which we actively develop a mutually beneficial relationship with the Earth while engaging in personal growth for the betterment of self, the human community, and the broader Earth community.
Is Earth Folk a religion?
No, Earth Folk is not a religion nor does it promote any religion, including paganism. In ritual, Earth Folk strives to balance secular and sacred practice so that people can choose freely to engage secularly and/or spiritually. This is made possible by the belief that we can and ought to engage with the natural world with gratitude, reverence, and personal relationship but that worship does not need to be part of that engagement. Earth Folk does teach and practice the philosophy of ecological humanism, which states that humans have the capacity and responsibility to live in a mutually beneficial manner for both humanity and Earth's life systems. You can read more about this philosophy at the blog Cultural Ecology. Related and relevant philosophies include ecopsychology and depth ecology.
Do I have to believe in anything to be part of Earth Folk?
From a religious or spiritual perspective, no. From a philosophical perspective, yes:
You are capable of and responsible for your learning, behavior, and growth.
You want to connect more deeply with nature.
You are a part of nature, even if you don't know how to express that feeling/belief.
You have a calling to create good in the world beyond yourself, even if you don't know how to engage with that responsibility.
How did Earth Folk get started?
While living for a month in a Buddhist ashram in Portland, Oregon, Earth Folk's founder Angela Bristow decided to begin hosting rituals for the Wheel of the Year. This was initially based on her interest in connecting with her English heritage as well as in her values of community engagement and environmental justice. The first year of Earth Folk was spent learning about each successive sabbat with the primary focus being on its history, mythology, and historical traditions. After that first year, Angela began looking for ways to create personally meaningful traditions and correspondences regarding the Wheel of the Year sabbats. After the second year, Angela's focus shifted to the development of methods of ritual engagement that were sacred rather than spiritual. Now, Angela has come to more deeply understand the goals of Earth Folk outside of the seasonal rituals--to create community-based fellowship for the study and practice of engaging deeply with the broader Earth community for the betterment of the world.
What is a typical event like?
If we are gathering in-person, we meet in Vancouver, Washington at Lewisville Regional Park's Cedar Shelter from 10am to 12pm. For all in-person gatherings, we share a meal together before beginning the ritual. After eating, rituals last about one hour. With the meal and ritual, an in-person gathering is typically one and a half to two hours. If our ritual is online, we gather through Google Meet typically in the early afternoon around 2pm.
The rituals have three components: opening, ritual working, and closing. The opening and closing remain the same between all rituals whereas the ritual working is designed for the specific seasonal ritual. The opening consists of an invocation, sanctification of space, cleansing of self, honoring of elements, and reading aloud of the opening mantra. The closing consists of centering, shielding, and opening self to the world; reading aloud the Wheel of the Year mantra; and ending with a dedication of merit.
What meals do you share?
We enjoy a brunch before ritual. When sharing food together, everyone is invited to bring a seasonal, vegetarian dish or side. More information is included on the specific ritual's RSVP page.
How can I participate in Earth Folk?
Currently, Earth Folk is further developing its offered programs. For the last four years, we have been following the Wheel of the Year as a means of connecting with nature. Going forward, we will be moving away from the Wheel and toward more personalized programs. There will likely be gatherings for community input as program ideas come together. These gatherings will only be scheduled with people subscribed to Earth Folk. If you're interested in what we're trying to create, please subscribe!