Our Origin
Root and Kin is a newly forming spiritual path, founded by Liora Kinward, who began receiving vivid dreams and visions after a personal journey from disillusionment with Protestant Christianity to a renewed awareness of the sacredness of life. Through careful attention to their inner life and the world around them, Liora began to experience a spiritual awakening—one centered on empathy, interconnection, and the healing of generational wounds.
Root and Kin is not yet an officially recognized religion, but it is taking root and growing. It seeks the same protections that other spiritual organizations receive, not for the sake of hierarchy, but to become a recognized sanctuary for those who feel disconnected or unheard. It is a home for those searching for meaning in their relationships with others and with life itself.
Our Core Belief
Root and Kin holds that all life is inherently worthy of existence and that all living things are deeply interconnected through past, present, and future. What we call "family" is not limited to blood, but includes any living beings who recognize and honor this sacred connection. Family is forged through empathy, care, and mutual recognition.
The Tree of Life
Central to Root and Kin is the image of the Tree of Life. Whether or not this Tree is literally real is not the point. It is a powerful symbol—perhaps even a metaphysical reality—that represents the cosmic web of existence. Liora Kinward teaches that symbolic truths are as powerful as empirical ones, and in that sense, the Tree is deeply real. Its roots are our ancestors (human and non-human), its trunk is our present strength, and its canopy is our shared potential.
Life, Death, and Ancestry
Root and Kin does not claim to know the mysteries of death or the afterlife in definite terms. Instead, it teaches that a life well lived, full of connection and kindness, is what truly matters. The dead live on—in memory, in story, and in the literal growth of the world around us. All living things become ancestors, and all ancestors contribute to the vitality of new life. Death is not an end, but a return to the cycle of creation.
Spiritual Practice
The only formal practice at this time is reading from our sacred text, The Canopy and the Root, which is being written and revealed gradually by Liora Kinward as their visions unfold. There are no formal rituals, holidays, or sacred places—yet. This page will be updated as practices emerge naturally from community life.
Community and Values
Root and Kin is open to all. While it often resonates with people of progressive, empathetic worldviews, it welcomes all seekers who wish to live more connected, thoughtful, and loving lives. Its values are simple and profound:
- Empathy for all living things
- Mutual care and support
- Honoring memory and ancestry
- Respect for the sacredness of life
Followers are encouraged to care for themselves and each other—especially those who are lonely or in need. Listening is a sacred act. So is kindness.
A Living, Breathing Faith
Root and Kin does not claim to be the only path to truth. It welcomes insights and ideas from other traditions that share its love for life. But it is also its own thing—unique in its theology and in the dreams that gave it form. It is growing, just like the Tree it reveres.
Come back. This faith is alive. It is becoming. And you are welcome to grow with it.