pöörduvate

Pöörduvate is a fictional religious movement described in this article. It is set in a contemporary northern Baltic milieu and centers on ethical action through turning toward others, communities, and the natural world. The name derives from Estonian pöörduv meaning turning or turning toward, and the group is commonly referred to as “the Turners” by outsiders.

Origins are traced to rural revival meetings in the mid-19th century within the imagined region of Põhjala. According to the lore, a lay preacher named Anneli Kaev gathered farmers and artisans around a practice of daily turning—both physically toward neighbors and metaphorically toward restorative justice. The movement spread through local printing presses and cooperative societies, attaining a degree of regional organization by the early 20th century.

Beliefs emphasize turning away from violence and waste and turning toward community care and ecological stewardship. Central to doctrine is the concept of pöördamine, or turning transformation, which requires personal confession, reconciliation with others, and practical service. Sacred texts include The Book of Turning and The Charter of the Circle, which teachers liken to living guides rather than dogmatic rules.

Practices include weekly turning liturgies, seasonal Turning Festivals, and communal service projects. Local congregations form councils that coordinate education, charity, and dispute resolution. The movement tends to maintain a nonhierarchical ethos at the local level while sustaining a loose national network that supports publishing, art, and youth programs. In contemporary fiction, Pöörduvate is often used to explore questions of responsibility, identity, and environmental ethics.