What We Believe

The Hemlock Vales Protogrove follows the Polytheology of ADF as its guiding spiritual principle. 

This is not to the absolute exclusion of other paths nor in a spirit of superiority to other ways of knowing, but as a focus for our spiritual and religious work as a community. This is actualized by a set of key ideas and practices:

• Hemlock Vales Protogrove is a Pagan community and prioritizes Pagan theologies, interests, and spiritual practice. 

• Rituals performed by Hemlock Vales Protogrove are done using the ADF Core Order of Ritual 

• The spiritual focus of Hemlock Vales is on the 3 Kindreds as defined by ADF. Specifically, the Godden (Shining Ones or Gods), the Hidden Peoples (Land Spirits, Fairies, etc.), and the Ancestors (Mighty Dead, etc.). We are therefore polytheistic in our beliefs and practices.

• Hemlock Vales recognizes the 3 Realms cosmology in its liturgy: This is the tripartite division of the cosmos into the Upper World of Order, the Middle World of the Living, and the Lower World of the Dead. 

• Hemlock Vales focuses its practices and spiritual path on Indo-European cultures as an ADF Protogrove meaning that it restricts itself to the practices, worship, and beings of the Indo-European cultural family in an attempt to focus its practice and avoid appropriation. 

• The primary ritual principle of Hemlock Vales practice is Ghosti, meaning reciprocity. We are a sacrifice-focused spiritual path. We give gifts to the Kindreds and they respond in kind. This never includes blood or living beings as sacrifices.

• A more in depth exploration of ADF’s core beliefs and practices can be found on their website.