ECOBARDIC PRINCIPLES

 

The ethos of Awen Publications can be summed up by the five ‘ecobardic’ principles, as expressed in An Ecobardic Manifesto by Fire Springs:

 

  • connecting with our own roots in time and place while celebrating the diversity of other cultures and traditions.
  • daring to discern, discriminate, and critique in order to provide cultural leadership.
  • respecting and dynamically engaging with one’s audience as a creative partner.
  • cultivating the appreciation of beauty and excellence through well-wrought craft
  • re-enchanting nature and existence as filled with significance.
                                                                       An Ecobardic Manifesto, Fire Springs Awen Publications 2008'Ecobardic' has been defined by Fire Springs as:

 

‘an evolving artistic approach that recognises the centrality, in our time, of the relationship between humankind and the global ecosystem and harnesses certain qualities of ancient and modern bardic art’.[i]

[i] Adapted from Anthony Nanson, ‘Points to include in the Fire Springs manifesto’, planning document, 10 January 2005, quoted in the outline of ‘eco-bardic principles’ in Kevan Manwaring, The Bardic Handbook: The Complete Manual for the Twenty-First Century Bard, Gothic Image, Glastonbury, England, 2006, p. 294.