Our People
Earth Ethos is led by Valerie and Lukas Ringland, who have been life partners since 2011. They met Jos Pfitzner in 2023 and soon thereafter started doing ceremony together.
Valerie Cloud Clearer Schwan Ringland, PhD
I am an East Frisian–Sumerian (Jewish) woman born on traditional Shawnee land in the US and living on traditional Yuin country in far southern NSW, Australia. My spiritual name is Cloud Clearer (Wulkenkloorjer) because I facilitate clarity of inner wisdom. Schwan is my First Nations Frisian family totem (swan in German), a shamanic / medicine person symbol across Eurasian cultures. In my Sumerian lineage, I am a law woman with a passion for justice and upholding sacred law / lore.
I am an Indigenous scientist, author, space-holder, medicine woman, teacher, researcher, mother, partner, friend, and community member. I embed Indigenous science throughout my life, personal and professional. I have over fifteen years of experience working around the world (Australia, U.S., India, South Africa and Peru). I have been doing some spiritual practices for over a decade to heal lived experience knowledge of intense trauma, grief and loss, health challenges, spiritual crises, grounding, ancestral communication, and conflict resolution. I have also done apprenticeships in indigenous ceremonial dancing, earthing ceremonies, dreamwork, sweat lodge ceremonies, and sacred circle-keeping. I have a Ph.D. in social work, a J.D. in law, B.A. in maths, and certifications in mediation, restorative justice, and indigenous early child development.
Lukas Ringland
I am an Anglo-Celtic Second Nations Australian decolonising on Yuin Country, the land of my first settler ancestor. I’m on a long journey to unpack the depths of my identity. So much of who I am has seemingly been shaped by the darker and overwhelmed aspects of Judeo-Christianity, masculinity and whiteness. I see it as being of vital importance to acknowledge and honour this darkness, whilst also trying to revitalise these aspects of being.
Through this lens, overwhelmed masculinity becomes the sacred masculine, patriarchal and shame-based Judeo-Christianity becomes an honoured if flawed ancestral belief structure, and obliterating oppressive whiteness becomes a celebrated ethnic and tribal identity, in equal relationship with other tribes.
I know, too, that I must find balance with earth-based, feminine qualities of being and knowing that have for so long been repressed. Exploitation of the earth, and the controlling, patriarchal dominance of the “engineering/fix-it mind” becomes an “earth ethos”, more in tune with emergence instead of forceful logical positivism, and open, intuitive complexity instead of narrow, limiting rationality. In other words, I want to find my Indigeneity once more, complicated as this is by my being a recent arrival on Australian shores in ancestral terms with such deep ties to other places, despite being born here. Destructive and stagnant longing for the old countries, often unconscious, must shift into grief, transition and growth.
My professional life was once defined by a vision of being “the man in the suit” who dominates through his intellect. I may have chosen a “softer” line of work in the not-for-profit sector, but “suit man” remained the vision of success, with all the collateral damage — internal and external — that this archetypal journey through the world entails.
The transition away from “suit man” has been one of the most painful yet vital journeys of my life.
I’ve now come to see my greatest strength as my empathetic heart and intuitive wisdom expressed through interpersonal and community work. I no long define myself in terms of “career”. I am a husband, father, community member, friend and brother. I seek at all times to protect, nurture and teach mind, body and spirit, and that of my community, both those parts that are strong, and those that are healing. I value and respect synchronicity and The Middle Way.
Jos Pfitzner
I was born on Wurundjeri Country (Melbourne). I have predominantly English and Germanic ancestors, and the previous six generations on both sides of her family have all been born in Australia. I currently live and work on Yuin Country (far south coast NSW). I am a mental health worker (25+ years), singer song writer, mindfulness coach and sound journey facilitator. My music is inspired by nature, relationships, love, hope and joy.
For 16 years I lived off grid on Ngunawal Country (Bungonia, NSW) raising my three children, and still feel a deep connection there. I believe when it comes to family and community that ‘it takes the village’ and we are all connected as kith and kin.
Since the age of three I have since been immersed in music, learning to play many instruments, and have spent much of my time in the bush and sea. My sound offerings can take you on a wild ride through time and space, and my original music offers a metaphoric perspective of life that I hope touches your hearts.
I hold a vision of harmonising with the planet and have deep respect and gratitude for the First Nations of the world and their valuable wisdom keeping. My intention is to co-create with energies of unity, peace, love and hope.