Please Print your receipts, as they will constitute tickets into the event, or proof of purchase!

Harvest King 2008

Tickets are $35.00 until October, then they will be $40.00 online OR at the gate!
(note:* All payments for gatherings or membership dues collected are donations to ESA and will be used in service to the organization)

NEW! DAYPASSES
Now Available ONLINE

$25.00 Per Person Per Day (children 17 and under FREE)
Passes good for SATURDAYS ONLY,-8AM-9PM membership required, dues charged seperately.

Please Print your receipts, as they will constitute tickets into the event or proof of purchase!

Join ESA and become a part of one of the most exciting, and spiritual organizations in Texas! Membership is only 17 Dollars per adult yearly. (membership required to attend major gatherings)

Time to Renew your Membership?
Renew here for another great year of membership in ESA!

ESA Newcomers Guide

by Med Man



         At every Festival sponsored by Earth Spirit Alliance, or any similar organization, there are always some people who are at the festival for the first time. Often, it may be their first Pagan Camping Festival of any kind. If you are one of those fortunate individuals, then welcome to a group that is very special to us, called “Newverts.” (We use this moniker because we know you are not a ‘con’ or a ‘per’ – vert, but you are a “NEW” vert! – funny eh?)

    Anyway back to the story... We are delighted to have you with us. We remember the magic of our own first Festival, and would like to make yours just as special. Come looking for a good time and you will find it. Come looking to make new and lasting friendships and learn about other's paths, and you will find it. Come looking for spirituality and you will find that too. Remember to keep a positive attitude. Positive people attract positive things, negative also attracts its like. We love positive people, they put off such good vibes!

    This brief guide [Webslinger note: "brief" is in the eye of the beholder] is intended to make certain that you show up at your first ESA Festival with all of the material necessities and mindset to make your first Festival a completely magical event. The first thing that you should put in the car is gas, then your ticket. Make certain that you can find it easily when you get to the gate. With your ticket or at the gate, you will receive a waiver. Everyone in your car must have a ticket, and every adult must sign the waiver. You can purchase tickets online, by mail, or at the gate.

         When you arrive at the Festival, your first act — after wading through the sense of wonder and saying hi to a few clearly visible friends — will be to select a place to camp. Dragon Wylde Ranch is operated by the Earth Spirit Alliance and is being slowly developed as a Festival place and intentional community for the ESA. In keeping with our principles, it is private, serene, and fairly primitive. Let's treat it as sacred ground because it is. There are also sacred areas that no camping is allowed in, but they are clearly marked.

         First, and foremost, you will need a tent. If you do not own a tent, you will need to obtain one. They can be purchased many places, and they can even be borrowed. Whichever, your tent will be your home for up to four days. Select your tent with that in mind. Remember that you will need to enter and exit it often. You’ll sleep there, dress there, "play" there and possibly, in the event of inclement weather, eat in your tent. Check that you have all the tent parts BEFORE you get to the festival. The ground in most of the site is soft sand and occasionally red clay. Plastic and wire stakes will serve, but are not recommended. You should consider obtaining “tent screws” that securely screw down into the sand. A roll of duct tape [Webslinger note: Get real duct tape. The cheap stuff is not waterproof] will work wonders on those forgotten leaks, tears, or seams. Don’t forget a ground cloth (tarp), and rain fly for over the tent in case of rain.

         There are camping areas that are heavily wooded and ‘forest like’ and there are areas that are open, and some with a mix of trees and open space. Take your pick. There are no assigned spaces, just first come first served. Be prepared to make your own shade if you must. A dining fly of your own will go a long way toward making your home away from home a place that you will remember fondly. A camp chair and table will also make your magickal retreat more comfortable. Picnic tables both wood and cement are scattered about the Ranch. The right lighting will finish the decoration; consider one of the citronella options.

    As this is a festival, decorate your camp with a theme or take on the theme of those you are camping with. Remember Festival == Festive! Taking a theme from Burning man, everybody must be a participant, NO OBSERVERS HERE! Become part of the action, and you will have a much better festival experience. Taking another cue from our burning bro’s, remember this is a ‘LEAVE NO TRACE’ event! Even micro trash needs to be cleaned. Clean up after yourself, there is no grounds crew here. Remember, ESA is a member operated organization that cares about our Mother Earth and it would be a sad statement indeed if we trashed our nest at an ESA festival. Remember, LEAVE NO TRACE!

      Parking: None of us want to camp or spend our spiritual holiday in a parking lot, for this reason parking is allowed only in the designated parking areas of Dragonz Wylde ranch. We ask you park only long enough to unload your camping gear/or load as the case may be, and then follow the signs to the designated parking areas. Gathering staff and the Chief Security Valkyrie will be on hand to direct you if you are unsure where to go.

    Persons with medical conditions may email or call prior to the event (see our contact page) for permission to park in their vehicles due to medical needs. We will provide them with a special parking permit sign to be placed in the dash of their vehicles. All others risk the chance of meeting with the Valkryie and her "noodle of shame". Please keep this in mind so that you won't be on the other end of the "noodling".

    Parking is amble and in a good location near to all camping facilities.

         Back to the tent... Inside your tent, you’ll want comfortable bedding and extra blankets. It always gets colder at night than you thought it would. If you don’t need them on top, they make great padding underneath you. If you choose an air mattress, consider an air pump.

    When the Sun sets (at around 7:00 p.m. at Harvest King, and 8:00 p.m. at Maiden Awakens), you will need light. Candles provide a warm and cozy light, but not in a tent. There are no tents that are fire proof, and a candle in a tent is an invitation to disaster. For illumination inside your tent, you should rely on battery-powered lamps, never on any flame.

         Since we all like a good campfire and since campfires are a potential source of injury, ESA must be fairly strict in its enforcement of where and how big campfires can be. Remember even outside your tent, flames should be treated with respect. Examine every flame source with an eye toward safety. Lanterns should be secured so that they are difficult to knock them over. Fires should be kept far from tents and cars and never started under a canopy of trees. GROUND FIRES INCLUDING ALL CAMP FIRES MUST BE IN A FIRE RING. NEW FIRE RINGS MUST BE APPROVED BY A SPIRIT COUNCIL ELDER OR THE FIRE KING PRIOR TO USE!

    Deadfall wood may be gathered but absolutely no cutting of trees is allowed.

         Citronella buckets should be positioned where they will be difficult to knock over, and where swirling cloaks will not pass through the flame, setting fire to a garment and its wearer. Garden torches are particularly hazardous because they contain a liquid fuel. You may bring them, but ESA may require you to relocate them if there is a safety issue.

         In the event of drought conditions, the area could be under a fire ban. If the fire ban is in place, it will have been set by the authorities in Bastrop County, not ESA. We are always careful to observe the burning restrictions that may be in place. The tickets will contain information on any restrictions on burning, though more current information will be available at the site. Subscribe to ESA forum or ESA announce email lists, and be aware of last minute things like this. In the event of a burn ban, we may still have fires but not ground fires. ESA will still have a central “Spirit Fire” each night in a large above ground cauldron, and you may wish to bring or purchase your own above ground fire pit.

        If you have something available, you might wish to confine your campfire to a metal enclosure or grill. If you want a fire on the ground, plan on camping around or near one of the existing fire rings that will be set at the site. If you camp in an area that does not have a fire ring but you think it would be a great place to have one, contact one of the spirit council members and a determination will be made as to the possibility of adding a new ring. There are a few locations on the ranch where underground pipes and other objects may prevent you from putting the fire ring in place.

         Where you have any kind of flame source, consider how you will extinguish the flame when you need to do so. Always keep a water bucket near your fire (if you put a couple of ounces of liquid dish soap in the water, you’ll have a convenient way to clean your hands in a pinch). A last note on fire prevention, a dry chemical fire extinguisher will add an extra measure of security.

    During the weekend you will need to eat and drink. Be certain that you have brought enough bottled water, and other drinks. Fresh drinkable water is available on the land, and comes from a state approved source, but some folks only drink bottled water. Pack according to your tastes. Alcoholic beverages, while good and tasty to imbibe, are not a substitute for your body’s fluid needs. Soft drinks should not be considered a substitute for water either. Dehydration can ruin your weekend. Make certain that your enjoyment is responsible. Nuff said.

         We will have and “Community Kitchen”, (available at this time only for pot luck community meals), open. There is a pagan caffeination station open at each festival located by the Community Kitchen, or at Gaia's Gate (Check in Station). Stay tuned for further details!

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