Free Spirit Gathering 2026 - 40th year: Full Schedule

All are invited to our opening ritual! We will be calling the elements and setting our magical intention for the week. Our ritual work this week will be creating an intention shrine to stay in the labyrinth field for years to come. Over the week we will be creating a temple to this
shrine and filling it with our intentions. At the end of the week we will burn the temple and offer our magical energy to manifesting everyone’s offered intentions.
We will open with calling the quarters and many elements along with them. Our opening ritual will introduce our intention statue and dedicate our temple. The shrine and temple will be available to visit/work with all week.

Wednesday August 5, 2026 18:30 - 20:00 EDT
Main Ritual Field

Ritual

09:00 EDT

Thor Blót

Thursday August 6, 2026 09:00 - 09:30 EDT

Upper Fire Circle

Blót to Thor
This is an alcohol free ritual.

Speakers

Erika Palmer

Please check the Tyr blot submission

Thursday August 6, 2026 09:00 - 09:30 EDT
Upper Fire Circle

Ritual

global Y

13:00 EDT

Introduction to The Restoration of All Things

Thursday August 6, 2026 13:00 - 14:30 EDT

Dining Hall Porch (Front)

In this ritual we find meaning by engaging with opposition and hardship to restore ourselves and the world to spiritual wholeness. The Restoration of all Things was a 19^th century Mormon vision for binding the past to the present to unite all people in justice, righteousness, and in harmony with the Earth. This is a principle from my Mormon origins that still serves me well in these difficult times.
This ritual includes stories, songs, and sharing of foods that are symbolic of the Mormon past. It is structured like a Jewish Passover seder that includes time for questions and discussion.
Mormonism in the 19^th century was a radical//liberal religious alternative to mainstream American Christianity. The principles taught and practiced in those times were rejected by mainstream America and the Mormons were forced to flee to the Great Basin in the West. Decades later Mormonism was forced to assimilate to American mainstream culture. Now is a good time to look at this alternative spiritual path not taken.

Speakers

Bruce Baker

Bruce Baker is the founder of Community Health and Empowerment through Education and Research. (CHEER) a community based nonprofit in Silver Spring and Takoma Park, Maryland. He has experience as a worship associate at two Unitarian Universalist congregations and is active in multiple... Read More →

Thursday August 6, 2026 13:00 - 14:30 EDT
Dining Hall Porch (Front)

Ritual

global Y

15:00 EDT

Haven Healing Circle

Thursday August 6, 2026 15:00 - 16:30 EDT

Tin Can

Haven Healing Circle was part of the Haven Community run by Elspeth and Nybor and a regular feature at FSG for a number of years until health issues forced them to stop. We asked their permission to bring it back to FSG because FSG is so much about community and this ritual is community helping heal community. Please join us if you feel a need for healing, to help heal others or simply to share caring with community, clan/tribe.

Speakers

Carla Stayduhar

She describes herself as a Wiccan and a Shaman of the Light. KelpieKayt started coming to FSG in 1987 and has been coming more or less every year since then. Her training was mainly taking every class or workshop that she could find, especially those offered my Nybor and Elspeth... Read More →

David Stayduhar

A practicing Pagan for 28+ years. He attended his first FSG at the tender age of 28, back in 1996. He and his wife, KelpieKayt, were married under the pines near the dining hall by Nybor and Elspeth of the Haven community in June 2000. Skywise describes his path as eclectic, not following... Read More →

Thursday August 6, 2026 15:00 - 16:30 EDT
Tin Can

Ritual, Adults Only

global Y

18:30 EDT

Queer Empowerment Ritual

Thursday August 6, 2026 18:30 - 20:00 EDT

Basketball Court Pavillion

Times are dark for the LGBTQIA+ community. We face pressure and aggression from the government and, sadly, an upswing of division within our own community. Now, more than ever, we need to come together to celebrate our joys and support one another through our struggles and pain. Join us for a ritual of grief, hope, and empowerment. And remember to keep dancing and keep fighting

Speakers

Erika Palmer

Please check the Tyr blot submission

Rev. Kyle Aaron Reese

Bound By Gleipnir

Kyle Aaron Reese is a proud transgender man and the Associate President of The Troth, as well as on the planning committee for NET. He comes from an academic background with studies in anthropology, political science, gender studies, and a Master of Arts in Human Rights. He is also... Read More →

Thursday August 6, 2026 18:30 - 20:00 EDT
Basketball Court Pavillion

Ritual

20:00 EDT

Global Spirits Service for Unity in the Storm

Thursday August 6, 2026 20:00 - Friday August 7, 2026 00:00 EDT

Tin Can

In following with the theme of this year's festival, The Universal Temple of Spirits presents a service for the Spirits of Unity in the Storm. We will honor our Spirits with drumming, dance, song, and art. The service will begins with a sung litany prayer to set the space. All are welcome to join in with this. And then the drums start. The singing and dancing continues throughout, and we call our Spirits into ourselves to share our celebration.
This is an open circle; you may join late or leave early (although you'll probably miss some good stuff if you do). This is a Pantheistic working, so we will honor Spirits from around the globe and sing in their native languages when possible. Please note that this is not an open drum circle; it is a possession-based working.
We will be limiting the number of Spirits to 15 for the "head table".
The more active your participation, the more exciting the service, so...
Please bring:

Your Spirit of Unity in the Storm [Who would you call when in the storm?...]
A song for them, if you have one
A design for them, as we will all be drawing for our individual Spirits.
Altar objects for your Spirit, if you have them
You may wish to dress in the colors of the Spirit you'll be honoring. Please come with bits covered.
Donations of food, drink, or money for supplies are appreciated, but not mandatory.

The Universal Temple of Spirits is a celebratory group practicing in the Global Spirits tradition. The celebrations welcome all Spirits from around the globe in love. Rituals are theme-based, rather than pantheon-based, and incorporate what we have in common as humans: shared food, dance, song, drumming, art, and possession trance. Global Spirits is a harm-none tradition. No one is required to partake of alcohol. Our website is www.globalspirits.org

Speakers

Firesong

Purring Banshee Studios

Firesong (Eshu Akoni) is a priestess and Pathway initiate at the Universal Temple of Spirits, a Global Spirits pantheistic trance possession temple. She is a traditional and world music song mistress as well as a professional teacher, opera singer, artist, and a root worker with... Read More →

Thursday August 6, 2026 20:00 - Friday August 7, 2026 00:00 EDT
Tin Can

Ritual

global Y

09:00 EDT

Frigg and Her Sovereign Counsel Blot

Friday August 7, 2026 09:00 - 09:30 EDT

Upper Fire Circle

A blot for Frigg and her Sovereign Counsel.
This is an alcohol free ritual.

Speakers

Erika Palmer

Please check the Tyr blot submission

Friday August 7, 2026 09:00 - 09:30 EDT
Upper Fire Circle

Ritual

global Y

09:30 EDT

Ecstatic Breathwork Journey

Friday August 7, 2026 09:30 - 11:00 EDT

Dance Pavillion

Led by Michael Boothby, this journey offers an intimate exploration into the depths of the self, inspired by the ancient Greek Gods and Goddesses. Participants will receive a mythology card from the Classical Greek Mythology Deck, serving as a mirror to reflect their own life's journey and challenges. Michael provides insightful explanations into the symbolism and relevance of each card, setting the stage for a transformative breathwork session.
What to Expect:

Mythological Guidance: Each participant is gifted a mythology card, offering a unique lens through which to view their personal evolution and the session ahead.
Insightful Explanations: Michael offers a brief exploration into the stories and symbols represented by the cards, connecting ancient wisdom to modern paths of healing and self-discovery.
Guided Breathwork Session: An hour-long ecstatic breathwork session, accompanied by a carefully curated soundtrack that moves through the chakras, invites participants to journey within, facilitated by the rhythmic power of the breath.
Sacred Sharing Circle: The workshop concludes with a sharing circle, where participants are encouraged to share their experiences, insights, and revelations, fostering a sense of community and collective growth.

Speakers

Michael Boothby

Michael Boothby is a ConsciousBreathwork Practitioner, Improviser, and Transformational Guide who blends the healing power of presence with the joy of play. Through Conscious Comedy, he invites participants to reconnect with their inner child, release self-judgment, and step into... Read More →

Friday August 7, 2026 09:30 - 11:00 EDT
Dance Pavillion

Ritual

global Y

13:00 EDT

Grief & Trauma Healing Circle

Friday August 7, 2026 13:00 - 14:30 EDT

Tin Can

This Circle has become a mainstay at FSG for over a decade and these challenges continue to haunt so many of us in our community, and in the mundane world. I am honored to hold space for anyone who is struggling with a Loss or a Trauma that is heavy on your heart. Every Trauma also carries some element of loss, and sacred space is a compassionate place to tend to your needs.

As we have every year, we will be building an altar to honor The Mighty Dead, and send them our love. These can be members of the FSG community (please message me if you would like someone honored from our tribe), Elders who shaped your Path and you admired, any family, friends, teachers or creatures who have crossed beyond the veil. Bring pictures or any mementos you see fit, we will add them to the Altar. Then we will make a Circle and send them intentions. We will also have call-outs to those we think of extemporaneously.

This is both a remembrance and a chance for healing advice. If anyone is having challenges or triggers regarding a loss or a trauma, we can discuss those, too. Both Pagan and Mundane support will be discussed, and my grief book will also be available for purchase. Loss changes you – and Free Spirit is an excellent occasion to create new tools to help you adjust to those changes.

This class may be intense for kids – use your discretion…..

Speakers

Claire Luminous

Friday August 7, 2026 13:00 - 14:30 EDT
Tin Can

Ritual

global Y

15:00 EDT

Oracular Seidr Ritual presented by Gràrvölur Seidr Guild

Friday August 7, 2026 15:00 - 16:30 EDT

Adult Space/Bat Barn

Our Seidr (“sayth”) ritual is a modern reconstruction of a Norse Divinatory Rite known as Seidr or Spae (“spau”) in the lore. Like most pre-Christian religions, we’re missing a lot of information about the mechanics of how this ritual was performed. Modern Seidr is an amalgamation of historical information, lore, and seership techniques that come from contemporary sources. This Seidr ritual includes elements from Eric the Red’s Saga, The Eddas, The Saga of Hervor (“hairvore”) and Heidrek (“heydrick”), and more.
Before the Christian conversion, Seidr or Spae rituals were performed for a community by a traveling priestess known as a Volva and her assistants. These rites were an opportunity for people to gain information. People would seek information for their communities, like how to end a famine or plague, as well as for themselves, like when they would marry or have a child. In the contemporary version of this ritual, anyone, regardless of gender identity, can serve as a seer.

Speakers

Shane Amerman

Main Ritual Team

Silver member of the Gràrvölur Seidr Guild, and a long time volunteer and participant at FSG and part of the ritual team for THE Beltane. SIlver was a fixture at FSG in the early 2000's and has come back into the fold since 2018.

Friday August 7, 2026 15:00 - 16:30 EDT
Adult Space/Bat Barn

Ritual, Adults Only

global Y

15:00 EDT

YONI CAVE Womb Healing Ceremony

Friday August 7, 2026 15:00 - 16:30 EDT

Yoni Cave is a community I am in the process of creating. It is a subscription on womb healing and this would be a ritual workshop introducing people to it. This would be a ceremony where meditation, breathwork, womb massage, cupping, and sound are all used to help allow grief to move through our bodies that was trapped in the womb and bring ourselves healing.
Every participant will receive an embodied energy womb healing at the end of the workshop through group transmission.

Speakers

Vivian Dickinson

Hey,
My name is Vivian. I am a certified Body Temple Dance Facilitator, certified womb worker, plant charmer, somatic dance artist, oracle, ancestraless, and ritualistic mentor and spiritual guide. I am looking to teach body temple dance at thisfestival, host workshops for woman and people... Read More →

Friday August 7, 2026 15:00 - 16:30 EDT

Ritual

18:30 EDT

Toasts & Boasts: A Ritual for Joy in Hard Times

Friday August 7, 2026 18:30 - 20:00 EDT

Upper Fire Circle

In dark times it’s vital that we find light and joy to sustain us. The Heathen tradition of ritual Toasting & Boasting is designed to do exactly that. Come raise a glass to someone who helped you when you needed it or announce your wonderful accomplishments to a community happy to raise their glasses to you. We all deserve to celebrate the good parts of life with a crowd of people who yell “HAIL!” a lot! Join Oak the Nameless to toast the ones you love and boast about your victories! Fancy drinking vessels are encouraged. Some beverages (alcoholic and non-alcoholic) will be provided but feel free to bring more!

Speakers

Oak the Nameless

Oak & Lightning LLC

I am a practicing Norse Pagan /Heathen /Northern Tradition Pagan. There are multiple names for people who work with a similar combination of gods, and I’ve certainly cycled through them over the years. I work most closely with Loki, Odin, Angrboda, and Hel but there are a number... Read More →

Friday August 7, 2026 18:30 - 20:00 EDT
Upper Fire Circle

Ritual

global Y

21:30 EDT

Footsteps from the Crossroads: A Night Walk Ritual of Intention & Return

Friday August 7, 2026 21:30 - 23:00 EDT

Vendor's Row

As the Moonlight Market draws to a close, gather with fellow wanderers at the Crossroads to step into a guided ritual journey beneath the night sky. We’ll begin by weaving intention together, grounding our bodies, naming what we seek, and opening ourselves to the quiet wisdom of the land. From there, we walk into the darkness, pausing along the path for reflection, presence, and moments of shared stillness.

Our path carries us along approximately a one-mile hike with two uphill segments, until live drummers will call us further inward as we walk the spiral, guided through meditation and motion, releasing what no longer serves and inviting what comes next. We close as we began, together but changed; feet on earth, hearts attuned.

A shorter, accessible option is available for those who wish to join at the opening and closing rituals without the full hike. Please wear closed-toe shoes, full leg covering, and bring a flashlight and clothing appropriate to the weather. Come as you are, leave as who you are becoming.

Speakers

Lee Harrington

Lee Harrington (he/they) is a spiritual and erotic authenticity educator, gender explorer, eclectic artist, and award-winning author and editor on sacred and sexual experience. A spirit-worker and ritual facilitator dedicated to the goddess Mother Bear with a devotional relationship... Read More →

Friday August 7, 2026 21:30 - 23:00 EDT
Vendor's Row

Ritual

global Y

09:00 EDT

Loki Blot

Saturday August 8, 2026 09:00 - 09:30 EDT

Upper Fire Circle

A blot for Loki!

This is an alcohol free ritual.

Speakers

Erika Palmer

Please check the Tyr blot submission

Saturday August 8, 2026 09:00 - 09:30 EDT
Upper Fire Circle

Ritual

global Y

13:00 EDT

Blot for the Fallen of this Administration

Saturday August 8, 2026 13:00 - 14:30 EDT

Poolside Pavillion

Originally done as a Blot for Victims of ICE, this is now opened to any example you would prefer. It will be done as a single round of toasts with the leader doing an open and close.

Speakers

Eric

I am an ex-military, practicing Norse Heathen and student of Stoicism (20+ years for both) with a strong Anti-Fascist bent. I concentrate on rituals and celebrations to keep people going in tough times.

Saturday August 8, 2026 13:00 - 14:30 EDT
Poolside Pavillion

Ritual

global Y

13:00 EDT

Lammas Ritual

Saturday August 8, 2026 13:00 - 14:30 EDT

Upper Fire Circle

Gather 'round as we celebrate the first harvest festival of the year, Lammas. During this festival, we toast to Danu, the primordial Irish mother goddess of the Tuatha Dé Danann, and Lugh, Irish god of light, skill, and craftsmanship. We will partake of the harvest by sharing an offering of bread and sacrificing a portion in our community fire. We will dance and sing around the fire while giving thanks for our own fecundity, the fecundity of the earth, the light that burns within and without, and the skill and labor of our hands, heads, and hearts. This ritual is offered by the members of the Order of the World Tree, a coven of the Assembly of the Sacred Wheel, a syncretic Wiccan Tradition dedicated to the health of the earth and to all her children in whatever forms they may take.

Saturday August 8, 2026 13:00 - 14:30 EDT
Upper Fire Circle

Ritual

global Y

13:00 EDT

Paying the Rents – A Ritual for Manannán mac Lir

Saturday August 8, 2026 13:00 - 14:30 EDT

Lower Fire Circle

Manannán mac Lir is a sea god most honored in Ireland and the Isle of Man; 'Mac Lir' means "son of the sea". As well as being a sea god, He is a psychopomp and a gatekeeper to the Otherworld. Manannán has strong ties to the Isle of Man, and at Midsummer, the Manx people offer bundles of reeds, meadow grasses and yellow flowers to Him in a ritual "paying of the rent," accompanied with prayers for His aid and protection in fishing. We will gather at the stream and connect with each other and with Him. We'll sing for Manannán and make offerings of reeds, grasses and flowers. We will ask for His protection and thank Him for His gifts. If you wish, you may bring your own biodegradable offerings.

Speakers

Hugh Eckert

Hugh has been a Pagan for more than forty years; he was at the very first Free Spirit Gathering and has attended almost every one since. He is an eclectic Polytheist and member of the Universal Temple of Spirits, a celebratory and devotional group working in the Global Spirits trance-possessory... Read More →

Sundance Metelsky

Jungian Coach, Dream Explorer, Shamanic Teacher, Sundance Metelsky - HeartSong

Sundance Metelsky is a Jungian coach, dream explorer, and shamanic teacher. She has been walking the shamanic path since 1992 and has studied with numerous shamanic teachers over the years, including Rena Yount, Tom Cowan, Nan Moss, and David Corbin. She completed the Foundation for... Read More →

Saturday August 8, 2026 13:00 - 14:30 EDT
Lower Fire Circle

Ritual

global Y

18:30 EDT

Main ritual

Saturday August 8, 2026 18:30 - 20:00 EDT

Main Ritual Field

All are invited to the main ritual field to help complete our temple work and offer our intentions to the shrine. Our ritual work this week has been creating an intention shrine to stay in the labyrinth field for years to come. Over the week we have crafted a temple and many have offered their intentions. For our main ritual we offer a formal space for those offerings. Physical offerings will be available in the form of flowers and plaques and participants will be invited to offer and share their personal intentions. Participants are encouraged to bring personal offerings as well, all are accepted.
When the ritual is complete we will take the temple down to the fire circle, and will burn it as the opening to our Saturday Night Fire. The Temple Burn will take place after the concert.

Saturday August 8, 2026 18:30 - 20:00 EDT
Main Ritual Field

Ritual

09:00 EDT

Closing Ritual

Sunday August 9, 2026 09:00 - 09:30 EDT

Main Ritual Field

All are invited to help close our space. We will say our farewells to the land, the people, the elements, and this event, at least until we merry meet again.

Sunday August 9, 2026 09:00 - 09:30 EDT
Main Ritual Field

Ritual

15:00 EDT

09:00 EDT

18:30 EDT

09:00 EDT

13:00 EDT

15:00 EDT

18:30 EDT

20:00 EDT

09:00 EDT

09:30 EDT

13:00 EDT

15:00 EDT

15:00 EDT

18:30 EDT

21:30 EDT

09:00 EDT

13:00 EDT

13:00 EDT

13:00 EDT

18:30 EDT

09:00 EDT

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