The Tribes of Spoutwood

In the time before time, people lived in family groups and friendship groups, supporting each other in times of struggle and rejoicing in times of celebration.  They sought a balance between work and rest, toil and play, and they watched as the balance between day and night changed through the year.  In the time before time, people watched the sun rise in the east and set in the west, noticing the importance of the four directions to planting. Because their lives were closely tied to the land and to the time of year, they celebrated each season in turn.  Thus a custom evolved of celebrating May Day, the midpoint of spring. In that tradition four tribes represented the four directions and the four seasons, each bringing something special from their tribe. A King and Queen of the May were chosen each year, and all the tribes came to make merry, dance around the maypole, and sing.   In that custom Spoutwood Farm has four tribes.

All are invited to "join" a tribe and march with us to the daily midday ceremonies. There are no requirements, paperwork or dues. Simply find the tribe that "fits" what your heart tells you and join us in celebration!

Unite, unite let us all unite for summer has come unto day, unite unite let us all unite for the merry month of May. These words echo on the winds throughout the British Isles at this time of the year,  as people gather to sing in the May. Here in Glen Rock we add our voices to the joy of stepping into the light half of the year. The May festival is often thought of as the coming of spring, to the ancient Celts this is the coming of Summer. Everything happens in the sub conscious before it arrives in the conscious. It is at this time of the year that throughout the Celtic world a May King and Queen are chosen. This ‘union’ is symbolic of the ancient marriage of the high king to the land. It was believed that when the leader lived in right relationship with the land,  all would prosper.

Here at Spoutwood we gather to celebrate this ancient rite, and as in old Ireland, all of the tribes come to gather to witness the oath of the Royal Court. If this is your first visit to the Faerie Festival 
make plans to join the colorful throng as the tribes wend their way to the Royal Stage by the Maypole.

The four tribes carry the ancient faerie treasures of Ireland. The largest of the tribes is the River People. Just like the River Boyne in Ireland, this dazzling throng of merrymakers  flows serpent like 
in a continuous procession that magically feels like there is no end. It is no surprise that this large contingent swells and threatens to overflow the riverbanks, for they represent the East and they carry with them the Cauldron of the Dagda. This is the place of community and prosperity, their leader will recite an oath on Sunday to hold space for the community to grow in abundant ways. And we the people  can look to our own lives and ask how are we living in our communities? How are we fostering prosperity for all beings in our lives?

The Meadow tribe sweetly skip into the court. Their number is small and yet they are not diminished as their song is rich. The Stone of Fial is presented to the gathering and their leader will swear an 
oath upholding the virtues of the South. This is the place of our music, song, poetry, dance, laughter, our story. We carry both our history and our herstory, for we are all unfolding our stories into a collective Celtic weave. The Celts say this is a good day to die, and in being fully present with this, it is a good day to live. Here in the south we are challenged to dance the passion of our own story, to  live the vibrancy of each note in our unfolding poetic song.

The Woodland tribe complete with their oak knowledge acorns, a token gifted to all tribe members from their fearless leader,  twirl, jump, 
and wildly chant their way to represent the West, the Vision and Hope of all beings seen and unseen. They carry the Spear of Lugh, and an oath is made on holding a bright vision for a glorious future, and a  resplendent now, in this moment, the present, most important moment of our lives. So I encourage each of us to ask; Are we willing to face our own fears, our own shadows, and walk through them into our  own highest vision?

The Mountain tribe, march vigorously into the sangha, their voices echoing on the winds of truth. They carry with them the Sword of Nuada, the wisdom of the North asks the leader to swear an oath on how they stand in the battle to live their life. As beautiful and exquisite as life is, it is also hard. Each of us experiences the struggle to go once more into the fray. Are we willing to speak our truth with courage and authenticity?

In the center we stand looking at the horizon. Is there an horizon beyond the horizon? Each of us is on a journey to expand our horizon. In the very center of the Celtic world is Sovereignty. Do we live in  sovereignty with ourselves and the land? Or do we live in dominion over it? Our King and Queen will swear an oath on how they will live their lives in the next year to help hold balance in the world, and in so doing help the balance in the world of faerie. As their oaths grace our ears, giving us all hope for ourselves and the children yet to come, we can all make an individual oath. In the Celtic world  oaths are taken very seriously, so we invite you to consider an oath along these lines; I swear to serve my community, bringing the depth of my song, story, to create a phenomenal vision of authentic truth  in all the lives that I touch, and when I fall down and forget, I will climb up again, and remember to remember who I am.

-The Gathering of Tribes Ceremonial Text by Andrew Steed

Meadow

We represent the open fields, the first flowers of spring, the lucky shamrock, and the laughter of children playing in the grass.  Before the coronation ceremony, members of the Meadow tribe gather by the brick home, on the edge of the meadow where the Gossamer Stage is located. Look for a banner of a young girl.  We hope you will join us.

Mountain

Mountain Tribe meets at the top of Frodo's Hill, 15 minutes before each midday ceremony. We are the lovers of the high hills, the guardians of the Red Dragon, the fairies of the air. Whether you love the mountains, live in the mountains, or long for the mountains, you belong with us! Plus, we give out good stuff. MEKA LEKA HI MEKA HINEY HO! SPIRITS OF THE MOUNTAINS LET’S GO! THE MOUNTAIN ROCKS!!!!!!!

River

So you want to join River Tribe do you?  Well you will have to pass a rigorous testing period.  How loudly can you scream?  Can you jump? sing? clap hands? make sily faces? dance badly?  Well if so then this might be the tribe for you.  We at River Tribe embody the motion and and enthusiasm of rushing waters.  Life is unpredictable, things are constantly in motion and so are we.  We love the rush of things the joy that comes in movement and dance.  Join us, shout with us, dance with us, spin circles along the river banks with us, bring a friend or 30!   We make noise, we scream for dun, we dance to the music we make in the world around us.  Nothing is constant and neither are the waters of the worlds around us.  When the drum beat works it's way down to your feet and you can't stop them from moving, that is River Tribe, when the music touches you deep in your soul and you have to dance, that is River Tribe, when your breath catches at the sight of the sunset, that is River Tribe, spinning around a bonfire, racing for the sheer pleasure of the wind upon your face that is River Tribe.  The squish of mud between your toes, the scent of lilacs on the wind, a smiling wet dog, the laughter you can't choke back, that is River Tribe.  Find us, we're out there.  ( we meet prior to coronations at the crossroads of the farm entrance road, we can also be found with our friend dragon, Lestrythis on Frodo's hill.

Woodland

The Woodland tribe complete with their oak knowledge acorns, a token gifted to all tribe members from their fearless leader,  twirl, jump, and wildly chant their way to represent the West, the Vision and Hope of all beings seen and unseen. They carry the Spear of Lugh, and an oath is made on holding a bright vision for a glorious future, and a  resplendent now, in this moment, the present, most important moment  of our lives. So I encourage each of us to ask; Are we willing to  face our own fears, our own shadows, and walk through them into our  own highest vision?

The Woodland Tribe gathers in front of Dogwood House 15 minutes before each midday ceremony.