Rodný kruh

Abstract

Rodný kruh (Native Circle) is the oldest and largest Native Faith (contemporary Slavic Pagan) community in Slovakia, led by Miroslav "Žiarislav" Švický since 1995. Emerging initially in Bratislava and Trnava, the early community primarily consisted of humanities students, enthusiasts of authentic folk culture, Euro-Indians, and individuals from the alternative spiritual scene. The movemetns has two forms - spiritual and cultural. Rodný kruh is anchored by a spiritual philosophy called vedomectvo ("consciousness-ism"), which aligns with broader Native Faith and reconstructionist Pagan movements, such as Romuva, Dievturi, or Rodzima Wiara. As an ethnic form of Slavic Paganism, vedomectvo relies on historical and folkloric sources regarding Slovak Slavic Paganism, while maintaining spiritual parallels with Hinduism, Taoism, and Native American shamanism. Practitioners revere nature as a sacred, living entity and pursue self-development through meditation, breathing, and physical exercises designed to expand human consciousness and restore balance. The level of the engagement various across the membership - they are worshippers deeply interetest in the spiritual dimension of Rodný, others are more attracted by the idea of national and cultural revival. Additionally, Rodný kruh embraces nineteenth-century romantic-revivalist ideals, advocating for Pan-Slavism and the spiritual revival of the Slovak nation through its folk culture. Operating as an underground countercultural movement, Rodný kruh critiques the consumer way of life and, as an alternative, offers a holistic contemporary Pagan philosophy and cultural revival. Švický relocated to the countryside in the early 2000s and adopted a traditional farming and shepherding lifestyle. Žiarislav co-founded the "Gazdovská obroda" (Farmers' Revival) project, launched alongside other independent farmers in 2015. Community cohesion is sustained through public solstice celebrations, music concerts by his band Žiarislav a Bytosti, and digital networking.