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Q.
What is ESA?
A. ESA
is the anachronism for "Earth Spirit Alliance Inc." ESA is
a Texas
Not for Profit Corporation registered with the State Attorney Generals
Office of the State of Texas.
Q.
What is it that ESA does as a Non-Profit Corporation?
A. As a
Non-Profit Corporation, ESA has many options as to what
missions it chooses to pursue. However part of our main focus is
promoting Earth Based Religions and Spirituality through our festivals
and events. Another mission of the organization is the promotion,
education and propagation in the use of Earth Friendly products,
practices and technologies; our goal is the integration of these into
our everyday, modern life as a normal practice. A third branch of
our
mission is to promote, encourage and facilitate intentional communities
following our philosophy of Earth Friendly practices, and
spirituality; a growing trend in today's America amongst many
like
minded individuals.
Q.
How did ESA get started?
A. ESA
started in 2003. ESA is the concept and inspiration of Lugal,
Seneca,
and Joy G, the organization's present sitting Executive Board of
Directors, and its initial founding members. It began after
much
discussion, thought, research, and soul searching among the three
present Directors. In addition, the Directors avidly sought the
advice, and feedback of their concept from spiritual family
members.
It took several months of planning from time of concept to the
application process to form the organization.
Q.
Why did you start ESA?
A. The
Founders started ESA in a response to meet their personal
spiritual/philosophical needs, and those of their extended spiritual
family. The Founders perceived a need for an alternative kind of
Pagan
Spiritual organization other than those already existent within
Texas.
They also formed the organization in response to requests from
spiritual family members who were no longer satisfied with the shallow,
"frat boy" partying type of pagan festival, and toxic pagan political
environments which have unfortunately prevailed recently in some areas
from within the pagan community. Upon deep reflection, they
realized
there was a desperate need within the greater pagan community for an
organization containing a greater element of spiritual depth, a
mission with real life applications, and a compete absence of internal
politics. With these needs in mind, the Founders began Earth
Spirit
Alliance. They based their ideal model on five basic ideals:

These five ideals, are incorporated into
each mission area ESA pursues.
Q. Does ESA own Dragonwylde
Ranch?
A. No,
ESA does not own Dragonwylde Ranch. The Ranch is owned by two of
our
Founders, Lugal, and his wife Joy. They have graciously allowed
ESA to
make a home on their property. Ranch operation and management are
separate from ESA operation and management. A few members of ESA
belong to the ranch management staff, however, that arrangement is a
private one between the owners and those members. Because of the
owners kindness in allowing ESA to use the land, ESA often enters into
joint maintenance/improvement activities on a volunteer basis with
Dragonwylde Ranch management.
Q. So, do I have to be pagan
to be a member?
A. No,
you do not have to be pagan to be a member. All you have to do is
be
tolerant of the ways of others, respectful, and have reverence for the
Earth. We encourage and welcome all those of positive religious
paths
and philosophies to become members.
Q. Are we allowed to party
and have fun at events?
A. You
bet! The only difference is we at ESA don't feel the party should
take
precedence over the spirituality of the occasion. To that effect,
we
work hard to ensure there are holiday specific rituals open to our
entire festival community.
Q. What is ESA's policy on
illegal substances?
A. ESA
complies fully with the laws of Texas, and the United States.
Illegal
substances are forbidden at any ESA festival, event, or activity,
or
within the confines and premises of Dragon Wylde Ranch. Discovery
of
illegal substances will result in the authorities being notified,
expulsion from the festival/event premises, and suspension of
membership in ESA.
Q. What is ESA's policy on
sexual harassment?
A. Sexual
harassment of either sex is
not tolerated by ESA, or at any ESA event or activity. Sexual
harassment includes but is not limited to, unwanted sexual attention,
sexual comments, or innuendo, stalking type of behavior, or forced
sexual acts in any form.
Q. "I heard through the
grapevine that ESA doesn't allow all night drumming at your events, is
this true?"
A. You know, we
wonder how these rumors get started...No, it is not true.
Drumming is an integral part of spirituality for many of our members,
to this end we do not curtail or limit drumming at events.
Q. So, what is all that
stuff about "self-responsibility" that I read in the Newcomer's
Guide? What does it mean?
A. Its
pretty simple really. What we mean and expect in ESA by self
responsibility is that a person is responsible for their own actions,
decisions, choices and good time, at all times- no one else is.
We are
defined by our choices; ESA is confident in its member's ability to
make positive ones. ESA does not regulate good behavior, or a
good
time for its members. We take it for granted our adult members
are
responsible adults.
Q. What does the
"pack it in-pack it out" policy mean?
A.
This
policy means whatever material goods you bring into festival will leave
with you, especially your camp garbage. We do not have
professional
clean up staff, and all festival participants are expected to leave
their areas as clean and free of garbage and micro trash as it was when
they arrived. This includes cigarette butts. We no not
throw them on
the ground, this is disrespectful of Mother Earth, and is unsightly
besides. We recommend you use portable altoid tins, or other
small
receptacles for your cigarette butts. Failing a tin, we recommend
you
field strip your cigarettes (after extinguishing them), and place the
filters within your pocket for later disposal in your camp garbage.
Q.
Is there potable water at Dragon Wylde Ranch?
A. Yes,
Dragonwylde has the convenience of city treated and purified water
available.
Q.
Will we be able to take a hot shower?
A. YES!!
Dragonwylde has fully functioning propane heated hotwater, which
provided ample hot water at festivals past.
Q.
Do I have to be a member prior to coming to festival?
A.
No,
many people become members upon their first arrival to festival,
usually when they are accompanying friends or significant others.
Some
have heard about us through various places and are curious to find out
us.
Q.
Is the admission price the same at the gate as it is online?
A.
There is an additional five
dollar fee at the gate. ESA is doing its best to hold the
line on
high festival prices by doing things in the most efficient, cost effect
manner possible. However, when our overhead goes up, we must pass that
along to the membership in order to keep the organization
solvent.
Each entry fee constitutes a donation for the organization. Every
dollar donated to ESA is spent for ESA's benefit.
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