PEGI EYERS
Celebrating the European Old Ways and building a movement to reconnect with earth-emergent wisdom means reaching out to other spiritually-bereft diasporans, who are also seeking alternatives to Empire. Brilliant leaders, authors, ceremonialists and seers in Celtic Reconstruction, Ásatrú, Norse Heathenry, Sinnsreachd, Faery Faith, Druidry, and others who have been on the path for decades, are perfectly positioned to mentor and promote European Ancestral Knowledge to the culturally-deprived, as we participate in our collective journey to authenticity.
With the beautiful renaissance of ancestral connection happening today, we need to “go wide” with our learning and sharing, and reach out in our community-building. There is a model from ancient times to follow, whereby religious and community leaders would offer up their powerful talents, knowledge, guidance and mysticism for the greater good, and this dynamic needs to be stepped-up in today’s world.
Going beyond the Christian notion of proselytizing, becoming proactive in informing those with shared heritage that a thriving movement of cultural reclamation is possible, is exciting and fulfilling work. Paradoxically, it is our privileges that have given us the leisure to recover our European Ancestral Wisdom in the first place, and these same entitlements may induce us to cling to the knowledge we have so painstakingly collected. Yet if we can bypass our internalized conditioning in regard to cultural insularism, intellectual detachment or spiritual materialism, we can naturally and organically help to build, and restore, ancestral-sourced community.
With the beautiful renaissance of ancestral connection happening today, we need to “go wide” with our learning and sharing, and reach out in our community-building. There is a model from ancient times to follow, whereby religious and community leaders would offer up their powerful talents, knowledge, guidance and mysticism for the greater good, and this dynamic needs to be stepped-up in today’s world.
Going beyond the Christian notion of proselytizing, becoming proactive in informing those with shared heritage that a thriving movement of cultural reclamation is possible, is exciting and fulfilling work. Paradoxically, it is our privileges that have given us the leisure to recover our European Ancestral Wisdom in the first place, and these same entitlements may induce us to cling to the knowledge we have so painstakingly collected. Yet if we can bypass our internalized conditioning in regard to cultural insularism, intellectual detachment or spiritual materialism, we can naturally and organically help to build, and restore, ancestral-sourced community.
People are starved for European Indigenous Knowledge (EIK), and letting go of the tendency to over-protect means learning from one another, sharing our gifts, and connecting with kindred spirits as we return to our Sacred Ways. Reconstructionists and Traditionalists who are adept with EIK after years of immersion have the unique opportunity right now to assume major leadership roles, and by declaring themselves fully representative of their pre-colonial ancestral culture, speak for those of European identity at conferences, symposia, and even gatherings of Indigenous peoples.
As those of European descent become more adept at declaring ourselves to be part of the worldwide circle of diversity, our appearance at tribal gatherings will not be as host, or financier, or apologizer, or journalist, or scholar, or anthropologist, or collaborator, or spectator, or as a wannabee aligned with the lifeways of a tradition not our own, but as an equal and full participant, secure in our own ancestral knowledge.
If those of European heritage have also done their uncolonizing work by rejecting the memes of Euro-domination, and are clear about holding a position in solidarity with all those decimated and oppressed by Empire, this will naturally form the circle Mother Earth in Her infinite wisdom has been waiting for, as we express our mutual love in Earth Community.
As those of European descent become more adept at declaring ourselves to be part of the worldwide circle of diversity, our appearance at tribal gatherings will not be as host, or financier, or apologizer, or journalist, or scholar, or anthropologist, or collaborator, or spectator, or as a wannabee aligned with the lifeways of a tradition not our own, but as an equal and full participant, secure in our own ancestral knowledge.
If those of European heritage have also done their uncolonizing work by rejecting the memes of Euro-domination, and are clear about holding a position in solidarity with all those decimated and oppressed by Empire, this will naturally form the circle Mother Earth in Her infinite wisdom has been waiting for, as we express our mutual love in Earth Community.
“Attuning ourselves to the long-forgotten tides of moon and season, sun and sea, of land and circling stars - our connections with the cog wheels of
creation have deep roots in antiquity and are our oldest inheritance.”
Marian Green, The Elements of Natural Magic
creation have deep roots in antiquity and are our oldest inheritance.”
Marian Green, The Elements of Natural Magic
| Read more on social justice, ethnocultural recovery, re-landing, rewilding, ancestral connection, sacred land and animism in "Ancient Spirit Rising: Reclaiming Your Roots & Restoring Earth Community" by Pegi Eyers. Available from Stone Circle Press or Amazon |
