The Alchemical Fire Circle is a magical invitation to drummers, chanters, dancers, music-makers, poets, ritualists, mask-makers, visual artists and dream-weavers to delve into a remarkable evening-to-dawn journey of creativity, collaboration and communion with each other, nature, and all that is holy in life.
We converge around the sacred fire with the intent to manifest our prayers and dreams through artful play. Our fire circle is a unique world, free from distraction and intoxicants, within which we engage each other in the myriad passionate ways humans express life. We share in song and chant, trance and ecstatic dance, drumming and sacred sounds, adorning our bodies and creating community artwork. Your individual and group offerings of prayer, song, poetry and ritual theatre are eagerly awaited by all!
Many cultures have healing practices or rites of passage organized around ordeals. Whether they involve pain, non-stop dancing, sensory deprivation or other mechanisms, all ordeals share a common thread of challenging the celebrants to stay present, maintain focus and participate fully for the purpose of personal and community transformation. You deserve an ordeal because that's what it takes to transform death into life, confusion into choice, and old patterns into new possibilities. To grow and transform, to really feel life pulsing with the passion of waves upon the shore and the infinite depth of a starry night, we must choose to do something differently.
We often use the expression “Bring It On” as an enthusiastic invitation for people to look within themselves to find an expressive gift that they could offer to the group. Examples might include a song, a memorized poem, an exquisite costume or mask evoking a particular archetype, a prayer, or an especially delicious food offering. We all have a wide variety of skills and creative expressions. When we “Bring It On,” we draw from these, for the delight, education and inspiration of the fellowship.
Consider the portals of Music, Voice, Movement and Service, and how each of these are channels for “Bringing It On!” We invite you to create offerings which other people can participate in, rather than just witness. For example, a call-and-response spoken word piece... or a new chant we can all learn together in the flow of the moment. We remind you that “brevity is an art, and the soul of wit.&lrdquo; All in the circle enter with the intent to engage with, and breath life into each offering. Sing Loud! Play Strong! Dance Free! It's not performance; it's a form of deep group improvisation, as themes emerge and inspire further wonders!
There are several things you can begin doing to prepare your offering. Now is the time to begin memorizing that poem you love. Tomorrow morning is the time to practice singing in the shower, or to begin thinking about exotic adornment, props or special gifts you could offer. Let your unfettered imagination be your guides.
If you'd like a little aid in envisioning the possibilities, come and witness a Circle.
The unique Alchemical focus of this Circle means you will want to attend the Orientation session in order to gain an understanding of the collective intentions and workings planned for the long night. The Orientation is fun, energetic and interactive; come prepared to have a great time, meet new and interesting people and discover many ways to access the possibilities our Circle offers you. And if you know in advance that you won't be able to attend, then you will be well served by reading The Ceremonial Orientation.
Together, each night, we will work the balance of chaos and cosmos, freedom and form, in a potent magical brew. For example, drummers or percussionists who wish to participate in the Musical Magic of our journey will learn about Alchemical Rhythmatism: a powerful collaborative method designed to guide individual music makers of all skill levels towards deep connection with each other, service to the circle as a whole, the incredible possibilities of "The One Groove," and conscious identification with the alchemical implications of their own artistic process. The method is designed to be self-facilitating within the cyclic nature of the Circle, which requires a delicate balance between meticulously structured music making and totally open free form jamming.
In celebration of the precious spice of our diversity, we want to make a special point of encouraging everyone to bring the full range of their sonic delights: singing bowls, didgeridoos (oohh yes, please bring the didgeridoos), gongs, bells, chimes, claves, shakers, frame drums, doumbeks, talking drums, congas, jaw harps, bird whistles, dancing crickets, fairy dust, moon beams, and conch shells brimming over with ocean waves. Bring your poems, your ritual theatre, your chants, and your ears and eyes to find the perfect place for each in the natural flow of the night. May each of these offerings emerge fluidly as a breeze from the woods, swirling around the circle, uniting players, dancers, and witnesses, and then dissolving away like stars at dawn. Even silence, that most precious gem in life's golden chain, will find its sacred place among us. Who we are is, in part, what we sound like when we are together. Let us bask in the full reflection of our diverse mysteries.
As is true with many forms of sacred practice, there are boundaries and guidelines that all celebrants are expected to respect within the architecture of the Alchemical Fire Circle. These include:
As we remain devoted to our mediation/play/work together, we generate personal and collective energy that is channeled towards increased presence with the rhythms, feelings, and motions of life. At the fire, the dance of the heavens above is re-created as we flow around the Circle heart-fully, mind-fully attending to each moment. Our practice is to fully engage with each other as a way to discover more about ourselves, our relationships, and our own highest vision. Our intention is to celebrate and inspire each other. We look for ways to contribute our energies, our innate gifts and practiced talents. Our aspiration is to encourage each other to stretch and let go into our spontaneity and inventiveness. Together we travel into uncharted territory, where mundane life can be understood from fresh perspectives.
... and over the course of the evening, when our minds begin to drift and the brilliance begins to fade, a deep work begins. In order to stay present and engaged, it is helpful to remember that we are each other's inspiration. To find and renew this inspiration we need only to discover and rediscover the mysteries within our relationships. We create and explore relationship through our artful interactions in the circle.
If you are someone interested in more in-depth exploration of the mythology, philosophical foundations, and practices of the Alchemical Fire Circle, you are encouraged to visit these libraries of lore: