Each night at SpiritFire, we offer a different focus – a map, of sorts – as an offering to those who would like to engage as a community at the fire circle. The intentions for each fire is developed over the weeks leading to the gathering, usually finalized in the couple weeks before the first night. As they are solidified, we’ll post information here. (Generally fire descriptions are finalized right before the festival starts.) You may see descriptions encouraging things like wearing certain colors, or bringing a mask, or an object that will be used as part of the fire lighting (or in another way during the night.) It’s not a requirement at all, so don’t be shy or worried if you don’t have something we recommend, or if you’d just prefer to not engage in that way. The most important part of these fires is you being there!
As always, the fires are oriented as an invitation to draw you in deeper; to inspire you, encourage you – and sometimes to challenge you – to be fully, wholly present. But there is no requirement regarding how you engage. The program will have more information on timing, where to gather, etc.
Below are the basic descriptions/intentional themes for each fire. Each may offer you an opportunity to wear something or participate in a certain way, but we remind all that these are invitations – not requirements! If you have clothing you prefer for the fire outside of the invited ideas, go for it!
Wednesday: Pathways, Revisited:
We gather together once more on our traditional mountain home – let us sink into the flow together, and remember who we are as a SpiritFire Circle. Together, we invoke the pathways of Voice, Music, Motion, Seva, and the Mysteries and recognize the deep commitments we have for one another in that ritual space. You are invited to wear colors that reflect the pathways – this is not a commitment to only one pathway, but a recognition and celebration of all of them! Voice = Yellow; Music = Red; Motion = Blue, Seva = Green, and The Mysteries = Black and White.
Thursday: Dance For The Earth:
Join us as we gather to drum, dance, chant, and stand in witness to Those Who Cannot Speak for Themselves – the species that we, as humans, share this area and planet with, and who are in need of our understanding, support, and action now. A ritual continuation of the workshop earlier by John Davis, we invite you to come and Be Present, and Stay Present, for these species tonight. While no special colors or adornment is required, we invite everyone to reflect in advance on their close connection with a part of the Web of Life – be it a single species, a group of species, or an ecosystem – that will allow them to deepen their engagement through the night with all of Gaia and to stay present for those who cannot speak for themselves. And if colors or clothing or masks or face paint help you solidify that connection, then we invite you to bring it!
Friday: The Spiral
The journey is a Spiral not a circle.
We move inward
Ever closer, ever deepening, tightening,
honing, tailoring, and coiling toward your deepest core,
poised to spring.
If you feel redundant,
if you look around you and realize,
“Haven’t I been here before? ”
It’s because you have.
You passed it around the curve.
But don’t be discouraged about circling,
because this time you’re in a different lane.
Every time you see the same marker,
You see it with new eyes.
The journey is a Spiral not a circle. We circle here at the fire, around and around, yet we are slightly different after each rotation – tonight, we gather to recognize our individual journeys and the spirals that are part of them.
Saturday: Tributary (full description coming!)
Each night we’ve shared together has been a journey with a singular focus and intention. Each night has contributed towards a deepened understanding of our relationships with each other, with All Beings and those who cannot speak for themselves, and with ourselves as we recognize our journeys as ever-expanding spirals of growth. Tonight we consider that all these journeys are tributaries, tributaries that flow into a larger place, and that can feed greater movements. Tonight, we consider the impact of our collective journeys and how we wish to go forth as we move onward from the mountain.