Imagine a lush forest covered with autumn trees. As you journey into the wild wood you find a dirt path, which you find inviting and intriguing. As you follow its winding design, up ahead you hear sounds of people. As you approach the opening at what seems the end of your path you find a village filled with life. Rustic homes made of simple materials placed strategically within the land. A few mounds chained together to the south small chimneys billow their grey smoke as small ones mingle with Humans and Moon Elves as they make their daily trades or work together farming fields to the east. Yurts and tipis dot the landscape across open fields teaming with activity. Further into the forest one would find nestled deep and well hidden from the many eyes of the mundane world, high within the tallest treetops of the woodlands lays a village deep in the boughs and branches thick with rich green foliage. The sounds of light laughter from children can be heard as one would draw near to the bases of these old, worn trees. Nearby a water fountain bubbles endlessly, venting its waters to the surface then dissipating into the well of fresh water, then further falling into a small swimming pool just below it. Torch lights glow and flicker as the evening comes to pass silently, bring with it the warm, orange glow of the sunset. This is the dream.
But for now we are striving for the first level of this ideal and have are looking for people into the same basic desires and come together to talk, craft, meal together, and eventually have a Fantasy faire of our own. Having a place to hold ritual, gatherings during the month for classes or group discussions.
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Our History
Welcome To The Woods Of Wyrd
Photo by Lana Gramlich. All Rights Reserved.
The seed that began the long journey was planted in the autumn of 2005 by Treyah Autumn Wolf, working on its core principles and teachings of Mystic Shamanism and after 30 years of research and dedication it has grown from a dream into a reality. But for all extensive purposes, the Mystic Shaman tradition deals with various aspects of self expression, which includes magic and shamanism. For me it is truly the Way of the Mystic Shaman. While we live on distinctions of difference, they are necessary to define what our opposing attributes are. However when you truly examine all paths they lead to the same ideal: Faith and belief that something exists beyond the mundane world. The Mystic Shaman in each of us is always different with each individual because each of us is quite different in personality and beliefs. You must be able to see all sides of a vessel to understand its beauty. And in order to become the teacher one must be the student first.
The Autumn Wood hosts many pagan events, scheduled services, and social gatherings. We also have plans for the future of hosting Seminars, Retreats, as well as The Sanctuary of Wyrd which will offer Hand-fasting services as well as other Life Cycle services, Counseling, and other services. The Dragons Hearth Academy will offer courses in Paganism, centralizing on the Mystic Shaman tradition. The training in Mystic Shamanism includes required reading and writing, participation in leadership workshops and group instruction, completion of coursework, organizing and conducting public ritual, a ministerial training of at least one year, and the writing of a spiritual journal. The Clergy Program is similar in nature to the basic Seminary Programs in existence, but the structure of the Academy has some different methods and requirements. The Dragons Hearth Academy will also offer several graduate degrees, certificates, short courses for general interest, and a series of lessons for incarcerated Pagans, and continues to evolve based on the needs of our students and the overall Pagan community. All details are noted with the Spring Glade Academy.
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The Sanctuary of Wyrd which is fundamentally about serving the ‘congregation’ and community in contrast to being primarily about serving the Gods, as in Priesthood. The two go hand in hand but it is worthwhile to discuss them separately. The metaphorically upward movement of priesthood differs from the downward movement of ministry. This is usually delivered while learning the ‘Arts of Ministry’ and also through a process called ‘Clinical Pastoral Education’. The result is a professional servant of the religious population or ‘congregation’ who is knowledgeable and skilled in liturgy, institutional and community development, and pastoral care, as well as sensitive to the critical or ‘prophetic’ leadership role they are in.
We also have a charity called Mission Of The Hearth which gathers clothing, food, blankets, and other necessities for low income families, individuals, and elderly persons. The Mission Of The Hearth is now currently accepting donations for our charity to service those in need - from grants, housing assistance, food, or other necessities. We welcome your tax deductible financial donations as well as clothing, pantry supplies, and blankets. When these services are ready for distribution we will open application processing on our website. For more information please consult the MOTH page.
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In the future we also wish to have The Summer Glen Festival. where much like a mix between a Faery Festival and Renaissance Festival where we would have performers, musicians, and more for a weekend event. Games of chance, tavern foods, contests for kids, spots to trade and sell homemade gifts, LARPing and orc-head soccer for kids. Everyone remains in "character" during the whole event. No mundane talk would be restricted for those running the venue and performing, just like the Renaissance Faeries across the globe. It is a huge task but one we would love to accomplish.
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Lastly, in the far distant future maybe some day we would make another dream a reality - to build an intentional community which consists of off-the-grid, or semi-off-the-grid living. So subjects of this topic are most welcome. The end result of this goal will be a rural and rustic village to love, work, and play in called The Winter Vale. Gathering eggs, milking cows, fishing, baking bread and tilling the good earth would be a part of daily life within the community. Think of the opening scenes of The Shire in Lord Of The Rings, with all welcome to live within its confines. It would have some modern conveniences without over-whelming the landscape, which makes life easier but we wish it to be well hidden and at a level where it does not overwhelm the senses like the way we live today in apartment buildings, houses in the center of heavily populated suburbs, and so forth.
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This organization is located currently in Stamford, New York and our wishes are to find members with similar interests. We hope you will come join us on this adventure!
