The spring equinox is one of the four great solar festivals of the year. Day and night are equal, poised and balanced, but about to tip over on the side of light. The spring equinox is sacred to dawn, youth, the morning star and the east. The Saxon goddess, Eostre (from whose name we get the direction East and the holiday Easter) is a dawn goddess, like Aurora and Eos. Just as the dawn is the time of new light, so the vernal equinox is the time of new life.
In many traditions, this is the start of the new year. The Roman year began on the ides of March (15th). The astrological year begins on the equinox when the moon moves into the first sign of the Zodiac, Aries, the Ram. The Greek God Ares is equivalent to the Roman Mars for whom the month of March is named. Between the 12th century and 1752, March 25th was the day the year changed in England and Ireland. March 25, 1212 was the day after March 24, 1211.
Although we saw the first promise of spring at Candlemas in the swelling buds, there were still nights of frost and darkness ahead. Now spring is manifest. Demeter is reunited with her daughter, Kore (the essence of spring), who has been in the Underworld for six months and the earth once again teems with life. The month of March contains holidays dedicated to all the great mother goddesses: Astarte, Isis, Aprhrodite, Cybele and the Virgin Mary. The goddess shows herself in the blossoms, the leaves on the trees, the sprouting of the crops, the mating of birds, the birth of young animals. In the agricultural cycle, it is time for planting. We are assured that life will continue.
Eggs are one of the symbols of this festival since they represent new life and potential. Folklore tells us (combining two themes of the season) that eggs balance on their ends most easily at equinox. Z Budapest in Grandmother of Time says that eggs were dyed red (the color of life) on the Festival of Astarte (Mar 17). The beautifully decorated eggs from the Ukraine (pysanky) are covered with magical symbols for protection, fertility, wisdom, strength and other qualities. They are given as gifts and used as charms.
Seeds are like eggs. While eggs contain the promise of new animal life, seeds hold the potential of a new plant. In ancient Italy in the spring, women planted gardens of Adonis. They filled urns with grain seeds, kept the in the dark and watered them every two days. This custom persists in Sicily. Women plant seeds of grains — lentils, fennel, lettuce or flowers — in baskets and pots. When they sprout, the stalks are tied with red ribbons and the gardens are placed on graves on Good Friday. They symbolize the triumph of life over death. Choose seeds which represent the things you want to grow during the new year- — wisdom, understanding, patience, etc. Visualize those qualities coming into full bloom in your life as you plant your seeds.
Blend ideas from the many traditions described above to create your own ceremony to honor the spring. Decorate with budding twigs, flowers, willow catkins, sprouting bulbs. Red and green are the colors of this festival. Red represents blood, the blood of sacrifice and life. Green symbolizes the growth of the plants. Honor various spring deities with their flowers: Narcisus and Hyacinth with those blooms, the red anemone for Adonis, violets for Attis, roses and lilies for the goddesses.
This is the traditional time for a great spring feast and the decoration of the table is as important as the food. There are many traditions from which to choose: Nawruz, Passover, Easter, St Joseph's Day, Maimuna — all are variations on the theme of the spring feast, in which every item is symbolic.
Love and Light,
SarahFae
Friday, March 18, 2011
Monday, November 22, 2010
Hello all, hope you are entering into winter gently!
Please read and help spread the word -
Due to circumstances beyond our control, SpiritFire dates announced earlier (on our Yahoo List) have been changed. The days we reserved (well in advance) for SFF 2011 at our gathering retreat were overbooked, and the folks there are unable to revert to what was originally scheduled. While it was our wish to remain on our originally announced dates - we tried our best - we have by necessity moved the gathering to later in July.
The confirmed SpiritFire 2011 dates are: JULY 20 - 24 (Wednesday - Sunday) with the usual optional individual camping night on the night of the 24th for those wanting down time.
I apologize to those who have already begun to make plans based on our earlier announcement, and to those who may be inconvenienced by these dates. We would really have preferred to keep the dates where they had originally been reserved, but this just wasn't an option. Next year we are intending to return to earlier in July if possible.
Please help spread the word if you can, and I look forward to seeing you around many fires this spring and summer.
Blessings, Josselyne and the SFF staff
http://spiritfirefestival.org
Please read and help spread the word -
Due to circumstances beyond our control, SpiritFire dates announced earlier (on our Yahoo List) have been changed. The days we reserved (well in advance) for SFF 2011 at our gathering retreat were overbooked, and the folks there are unable to revert to what was originally scheduled. While it was our wish to remain on our originally announced dates - we tried our best - we have by necessity moved the gathering to later in July.
The confirmed SpiritFire 2011 dates are: JULY 20 - 24 (Wednesday - Sunday) with the usual optional individual camping night on the night of the 24th for those wanting down time.
I apologize to those who have already begun to make plans based on our earlier announcement, and to those who may be inconvenienced by these dates. We would really have preferred to keep the dates where they had originally been reserved, but this just wasn't an option. Next year we are intending to return to earlier in July if possible.
Please help spread the word if you can, and I look forward to seeing you around many fires this spring and summer.
Blessings, Josselyne and the SFF staff
http://spiritfirefestival.org
Friday, May 28, 2010
Festival Season
What is it about May through October that makes me so happy? Festival season! I can hear the familiar drum beats and chants surfacing, and find myself tapping them out on the desk, a wall, a car steering wheel or a keyboard. I start singing the chants throughout my daily activities, quietly at first, and louder as I am packing my garb and tenting supplies.
The air changes from cool winds to warm breezes, and the sun stays out longer and longer each day. The amount of clothing becomes increasingly less, and I start wearing face paint as I am doing my regular dane activities. Who doesn't want to wear swirls of flowy fabric and swig some cider out of a tankard during this time of year?
The fire pit in my yard is lit on a more regular basis and my djembe is brought outside playing to the beat within my heart and soul. I give thanks for each of the things of nature I see - blooming flowers, trees at the greenest, birds greeting the day with their sweet, sweet songs, the sun sets of pinks and oranges and purples...
The count down until July when SpiritFire will be here is bitter sweet - I don't wish to rush through the Spring and Summer days, but oh do I long to see my Tribe. The warm hugs, the beautiful smiles, the bliss that resides in the mountains, and the sacred container shared by the Sufi, and loved and fed by us all.
Looking forward to seeing familiar and new faces, and returning HOME.
Namaste Beloveds, Namaste.
Love and Light,
SarahFae
The air changes from cool winds to warm breezes, and the sun stays out longer and longer each day. The amount of clothing becomes increasingly less, and I start wearing face paint as I am doing my regular dane activities. Who doesn't want to wear swirls of flowy fabric and swig some cider out of a tankard during this time of year?
The fire pit in my yard is lit on a more regular basis and my djembe is brought outside playing to the beat within my heart and soul. I give thanks for each of the things of nature I see - blooming flowers, trees at the greenest, birds greeting the day with their sweet, sweet songs, the sun sets of pinks and oranges and purples...
The count down until July when SpiritFire will be here is bitter sweet - I don't wish to rush through the Spring and Summer days, but oh do I long to see my Tribe. The warm hugs, the beautiful smiles, the bliss that resides in the mountains, and the sacred container shared by the Sufi, and loved and fed by us all.
Looking forward to seeing familiar and new faces, and returning HOME.
Namaste Beloveds, Namaste.
Love and Light,
SarahFae
Wednesday, March 31, 2010
Last day to register at early rates!
Hey folks - just a quick note, it's the last day (March 31) to register at early rates for our 2010 gathering! You can do so at:
http://spiritfirefestival.org/register/read_me_first
http://spiritfirefestival.org/register/read_me_first
Wednesday, March 17, 2010
Scholarship Applications are due April 1st!
Just a reminder - if you know of folks that would like to come but might need a
bit of help financially, or you might be in that position yourself, please be
aware that the absolute deadline for scholarship applications is April 1st. You
can download the form from the website: http://spiritfirefestival.org
100% of the scholarship funding comes from community-contributed donations and
the fundraisers we do each year (the raffle, etc.) at the gathering. We can
only give out as many scholarships as we have funds for, which of course depends
on how many people apply and how much is donated.
If you can spare a bit of extra when you register, or can send in a little
separately, you can also find out how to do that on the scholarship page - the
folks who are able to come because of your generosity will be ver grateful!
Thank you in advance... and looking forward to being around the fire again with
all of you.
Josselyne
bit of help financially, or you might be in that position yourself, please be
aware that the absolute deadline for scholarship applications is April 1st. You
can download the form from the website: http://spiritfirefestival.org
100% of the scholarship funding comes from community-contributed donations and
the fundraisers we do each year (the raffle, etc.) at the gathering. We can
only give out as many scholarships as we have funds for, which of course depends
on how many people apply and how much is donated.
If you can spare a bit of extra when you register, or can send in a little
separately, you can also find out how to do that on the scholarship page - the
folks who are able to come because of your generosity will be ver grateful!
Thank you in advance... and looking forward to being around the fire again with
all of you.
Josselyne
Sunday, February 28, 2010
Registration for 2010 is OPEN!
Hello folks,
A few days ago, we quietly opened up registration for this coming gathering, which features a brand new system - hopefully, registration will be easier, smoother, faster, and more streamlined. So far so good!
We had the staff and a couple of folks volunteer to test it and it worked great, so the next phase is YOU. If you're ready to register, the door is open at http://spiritfirefestival.org - we would love to have some more of you try it out, test out the reg system, and let us know what you think.
While you are there, check out the revamped site! Some of the presenters are up, as well as a beginning outline of this year's festival (to be built up over the coming months as usual).
When you register please note: YOUR OLD ACCOUNT/LOGIN INFORMATION IS NO LONGER VALID. You will need to create a new account and password (this is a result of us changing to a different platform, which works much better, so it's worth it!).
Lastly, after registering, please do send your feedback if you have any. You can email me (OFF list please) or the webmaster, Janet, with your questions or comments about the site or registration process.
Looking forward to seeing you in the glow of firelight!
Joss
A few days ago, we quietly opened up registration for this coming gathering, which features a brand new system - hopefully, registration will be easier, smoother, faster, and more streamlined. So far so good!
We had the staff and a couple of folks volunteer to test it and it worked great, so the next phase is YOU. If you're ready to register, the door is open at http://spiritfirefestival.org - we would love to have some more of you try it out, test out the reg system, and let us know what you think.
While you are there, check out the revamped site! Some of the presenters are up, as well as a beginning outline of this year's festival (to be built up over the coming months as usual).
When you register please note: YOUR OLD ACCOUNT/LOGIN INFORMATION IS NO LONGER VALID. You will need to create a new account and password (this is a result of us changing to a different platform, which works much better, so it's worth it!).
Lastly, after registering, please do send your feedback if you have any. You can email me (OFF list please) or the webmaster, Janet, with your questions or comments about the site or registration process.
Looking forward to seeing you in the glow of firelight!
Joss
Monday, February 22, 2010
2010 Gathering update
Hello all, hope this finds you well!
Just a quick update on how things are shaping up for this year... we are in the flow of ramping up the flow of organization here and it's looking to be a spectacular year. And hopefully a dryer one, too!
First, the dates - July 7-11.
Second, registration - Janet has been working hard to revamp the entire website and we are just switching software (for you geeks out there, we're going to Drupal) so that the page displays, registration and other processes work smoother and with fewer glitches. We should be opening in a matter of a day or two, if all goes well - send us good vibes!
Please do take a stroll through the new website when it goes live and let us know what you think. There are new photos, new areas to explore, a slightly different look, and a registration system that is much more friendly to folks wanting to register as a group/family.
We also encourage you to keep tuned to the Yahoo Group, where a lot of smaller announcements that don't make it here are posted and discussed. Drop on over and introduce yourself, it'd be great to meet you!
Some 2010 highlights include:
-New and returning presenters to help us go deeper along each of the four pathways
-A revised meal option to make meat meals easier and more fulfilling for those who want it
-New approaches to the nesting areas, rituals, and possibly a new workshop schedule/structure
Stay tuned for an announcement both here and on the blog when the new site goes live. See you soon!
Just a quick update on how things are shaping up for this year... we are in the flow of ramping up the flow of organization here and it's looking to be a spectacular year. And hopefully a dryer one, too!
First, the dates - July 7-11.
Second, registration - Janet has been working hard to revamp the entire website and we are just switching software (for you geeks out there, we're going to Drupal) so that the page displays, registration and other processes work smoother and with fewer glitches. We should be opening in a matter of a day or two, if all goes well - send us good vibes!
Please do take a stroll through the new website when it goes live and let us know what you think. There are new photos, new areas to explore, a slightly different look, and a registration system that is much more friendly to folks wanting to register as a group/family.
We also encourage you to keep tuned to the Yahoo Group, where a lot of smaller announcements that don't make it here are posted and discussed. Drop on over and introduce yourself, it'd be great to meet you!
Some 2010 highlights include:
-New and returning presenters to help us go deeper along each of the four pathways
-A revised meal option to make meat meals easier and more fulfilling for those who want it
-New approaches to the nesting areas, rituals, and possibly a new workshop schedule/structure
Stay tuned for an announcement both here and on the blog when the new site goes live. See you soon!
Saturday, February 13, 2010
SpiritFire Mosquito Net Raffle Winners!!!!
Congratulations to the following folks - and our deepest gratitude for the gift of health and life that you helped spread in Ghana.
1 net/$25 discount: Congratulations to CONSTANCE DEAN of Ashland, OR!
2 nets/$50 discount: Congratulations to LISA BRUMBY of Dudley, MA!
4 nets/$100 discount: Congratulations to DAWN DEZAN of Palmer, MA!
Please note that each of you will receive a special email with a code that you can use when registering online, or you can just make a note of your raffle discount when you send in a mail-in application.
Again, thank you!
Tuesday, December 29, 2009
Full Moon o're New Year's Eve
Each of us has our our interpretation of the time of year we hold our New Year's Eve celebrations. For some it is in October, for other's it is the month of December, but depending upon where you are located in the world, the dates may vary. Typically though, the majority of the population celebrates New Year's Eve on December 31st, when at midnight, we all marvel at being together in some fashion when the date turns to January 1st.
This year we celebrate not only the ending of the old year and the beginning of the new, but we also will see the ending of a decade. What has the last ten years of life looked like for you? Have you found love? Lost love? Started a family? Changed jobs? It is a time of reflection and resolution most assuredly.
In beautiful fashion, we will have the Full Moon to watch over us and brighten the skies for us if we should be granted a clear and cloudless night. It comes a short 8 days after the Winter Solstice this year, the shortest day of the year. Each passing day we will begin to see more daylight and so the Wheel of the Year continues to turn. It is an excellent time for magick and celebration.
The naming of the Full Moons were given to us by the Native Americans of what is now the northern and eastern United States. It was the Tribes' way of tracking the seasons by giving distinctive names to each recurring full Moon. Their names were applied to the entire month in which each occurred. Since the lunar month is only 29 days long on the average, the full Moon dates shift from year to year.
As taken from the Farmers Almanac's list of the full Moon names is the Cold Moon:
• The Full Cold Moon; or the Full Long Nights Moon - December •
During this month the winter cold fastens its grip, and nights are at their longest and darkest. The term Long Night Moon is a doubly appropriate name because the midwinter night is indeed long, and because the Moon is above the horizon for a long time. The midwinter full Moon has a high trajectory across the sky because it is opposite a low Sun.
So no matter how you are celebrating, remember to take your gaze to the sky and receive your blessings from the magick of the moonlight. Happy New Year to you!
Love and light,
SarahFae
This year we celebrate not only the ending of the old year and the beginning of the new, but we also will see the ending of a decade. What has the last ten years of life looked like for you? Have you found love? Lost love? Started a family? Changed jobs? It is a time of reflection and resolution most assuredly.
In beautiful fashion, we will have the Full Moon to watch over us and brighten the skies for us if we should be granted a clear and cloudless night. It comes a short 8 days after the Winter Solstice this year, the shortest day of the year. Each passing day we will begin to see more daylight and so the Wheel of the Year continues to turn. It is an excellent time for magick and celebration.
The naming of the Full Moons were given to us by the Native Americans of what is now the northern and eastern United States. It was the Tribes' way of tracking the seasons by giving distinctive names to each recurring full Moon. Their names were applied to the entire month in which each occurred. Since the lunar month is only 29 days long on the average, the full Moon dates shift from year to year.
As taken from the Farmers Almanac's list of the full Moon names is the Cold Moon:
• The Full Cold Moon; or the Full Long Nights Moon - December •
During this month the winter cold fastens its grip, and nights are at their longest and darkest. The term Long Night Moon is a doubly appropriate name because the midwinter night is indeed long, and because the Moon is above the horizon for a long time. The midwinter full Moon has a high trajectory across the sky because it is opposite a low Sun.
So no matter how you are celebrating, remember to take your gaze to the sky and receive your blessings from the magick of the moonlight. Happy New Year to you!
Love and light,
SarahFae
Friday, October 30, 2009
SpiritFire Mosquito Net Raffle!
It’s the SpiritFire Mosquito Net Raffle!!!!
Many of you are aware that I’ll be taking a group (6 students, a colleague and her partner) to Ghana, West Africa this coming winter, from December 18 – January 12. The students – some of them from my drum ensemble, and some who just want to learn more about Ghana – have worked hard to raise the money to go, each paying about $3300 or more for the trip (not including their visas, immunizations, etc. – it’s a lot of money!)
We’ve successfully raised enough money to cover travel and other expenses, but as you can imagine, it doesn’t leave a lot over for other things for many of them. They are really interested in doing service work while in Ghana, and have come up with a couple ideas, the most effective one being the distribution of mosquito nets. If you don’t know about the plight of people in Africa regarding malaria and a ton of other mosquito-born diseases, you can read about it here:
http://www.mosquito.org/mosquito-information/mosquito-borne.aspx
Personally, throughout my years of visiting Ghana to study music and dance, I’ve known many families who have lost children (who are partiularly vunerable) to malaria. The less expensive anti-malarial drug (chloroquine) is no longer affective against the strain in Ghana, and wasn’t really affordable to the average village resident anyway. Now the only drugs available cost as much as $5 a pill – these folks might make $1 a day, if they are lucky. The only way to really combat malaria is to help people avoid contracting the disease in the first place.
We, as a group, are now trying to gather donations for the trip once more. But not money – we want mosquito nets!
SpiritFire would like to help with this endeavor, and we are hoping you will want to help, too. So to help encourage folks to donate nets, we’re having our first (and hopefully not last) SFF Mosquito Net Raffle!
Here’s the deal: Buy a net, get a chance to win discounts on your SFF registration, or even a free entry. Of course, if you aren’t able to go to SFF this year we’ll gladly accept net donations anyway! But it’s our way of giving something back and adding some spice to the mix.
How does it work?
We need a very particular kind of net – one that will fit two people (doubles), and they need to be the square kind, as opposed to the hanging round/canopy styles (which are hard to transport and don’t work well for multiple people sleeping together). Nets must be new – we cannot distribute used nets.
If you have access to large stores with camping equipment, you can probably purchase these there – but nets can easily be purchased on the web. Here is the kind we’re looking for - campor.com seems to have the best prices:
http://www.campmor.com/outdoor/gear/Product___86663
We’d like you to send us nets, straight to the college address below if possible, so that they arrive BEFORE December 10th.
For every net you send in, you get a chance at a severely reduced or free entry to SpiritFire!
Send in 1 net = 1 entry in drawing for $25 additional off your SFF fee
Send in 2 nets = 2 entries in drawing for $50 off your SFF fee
Send in 3 nets = 3 entries in drawing for $75 off your SFF fee
Send in 4 nets = 4 entries in drawing for $100 off your SFF fee
Send in 5+ nets = equal amount of entries in drawing for FREE 2010 SFF registration!
You can either purchase the nets and have them sent to us directly (at the address below), or ship them yourselves. Please make sure to email me and tell me: how many nets you bought (please include a tracking number or order number, if possible), when they were bought/shipped, and who you would like to enter in the raffle. If it is for yourself, we’ll use your email to notify you if you win. If you’d like someone else to win the discount/entry, you can specify that as well.
ALL DONATIONS MUST BE RECEIVED BEFORE DECEMBER 10th, so we know how much we have to pack!
Ship to:
SMC in Ghana
c/o Professor Josselyne Price
St. Michael’s College
Box 345
1 Winooski Park
Colchester, VT 05439
Thank you in advance, and an update will be sent out before the trip, and then one after to share how it went.
In Gratitude,
Josselyne/SMC in Ghana
Many of you are aware that I’ll be taking a group (6 students, a colleague and her partner) to Ghana, West Africa this coming winter, from December 18 – January 12. The students – some of them from my drum ensemble, and some who just want to learn more about Ghana – have worked hard to raise the money to go, each paying about $3300 or more for the trip (not including their visas, immunizations, etc. – it’s a lot of money!)
We’ve successfully raised enough money to cover travel and other expenses, but as you can imagine, it doesn’t leave a lot over for other things for many of them. They are really interested in doing service work while in Ghana, and have come up with a couple ideas, the most effective one being the distribution of mosquito nets. If you don’t know about the plight of people in Africa regarding malaria and a ton of other mosquito-born diseases, you can read about it here:
http://www.mosquito.org/mosquito-information/mosquito-borne.aspx
Personally, throughout my years of visiting Ghana to study music and dance, I’ve known many families who have lost children (who are partiularly vunerable) to malaria. The less expensive anti-malarial drug (chloroquine) is no longer affective against the strain in Ghana, and wasn’t really affordable to the average village resident anyway. Now the only drugs available cost as much as $5 a pill – these folks might make $1 a day, if they are lucky. The only way to really combat malaria is to help people avoid contracting the disease in the first place.
We, as a group, are now trying to gather donations for the trip once more. But not money – we want mosquito nets!
SpiritFire would like to help with this endeavor, and we are hoping you will want to help, too. So to help encourage folks to donate nets, we’re having our first (and hopefully not last) SFF Mosquito Net Raffle!
Here’s the deal: Buy a net, get a chance to win discounts on your SFF registration, or even a free entry. Of course, if you aren’t able to go to SFF this year we’ll gladly accept net donations anyway! But it’s our way of giving something back and adding some spice to the mix.
How does it work?
We need a very particular kind of net – one that will fit two people (doubles), and they need to be the square kind, as opposed to the hanging round/canopy styles (which are hard to transport and don’t work well for multiple people sleeping together). Nets must be new – we cannot distribute used nets.
If you have access to large stores with camping equipment, you can probably purchase these there – but nets can easily be purchased on the web. Here is the kind we’re looking for - campor.com seems to have the best prices:
http://www.campmor.com/outdoor/gear/Product___86663
We’d like you to send us nets, straight to the college address below if possible, so that they arrive BEFORE December 10th.
For every net you send in, you get a chance at a severely reduced or free entry to SpiritFire!
Send in 1 net = 1 entry in drawing for $25 additional off your SFF fee
Send in 2 nets = 2 entries in drawing for $50 off your SFF fee
Send in 3 nets = 3 entries in drawing for $75 off your SFF fee
Send in 4 nets = 4 entries in drawing for $100 off your SFF fee
Send in 5+ nets = equal amount of entries in drawing for FREE 2010 SFF registration!
You can either purchase the nets and have them sent to us directly (at the address below), or ship them yourselves. Please make sure to email me and tell me: how many nets you bought (please include a tracking number or order number, if possible), when they were bought/shipped, and who you would like to enter in the raffle. If it is for yourself, we’ll use your email to notify you if you win. If you’d like someone else to win the discount/entry, you can specify that as well.
ALL DONATIONS MUST BE RECEIVED BEFORE DECEMBER 10th, so we know how much we have to pack!
Ship to:
SMC in Ghana
c/o Professor Josselyne Price
St. Michael’s College
Box 345
1 Winooski Park
Colchester, VT 05439
Thank you in advance, and an update will be sent out before the trip, and then one after to share how it went.
In Gratitude,
Josselyne/SMC in Ghana
Saturday, October 17, 2009
SpiritFire 2010 Dates are set!
Hey folks,
We have shifted SpiritFire to slightly earlier in July to meet the scheduling needs of quite a few of our staff and others - sounds so far like this has been a really good move. The new dates are:
Wednesday, July 7 - Sunday, July 11, 2010
Hope you will be able to make it!
We have shifted SpiritFire to slightly earlier in July to meet the scheduling needs of quite a few of our staff and others - sounds so far like this has been a really good move. The new dates are:
Wednesday, July 7 - Sunday, July 11, 2010
Hope you will be able to make it!
Tuesday, September 22, 2009
Blessed Mabon! Happy Fall Equinox!
Today is the Fall Equinox, or to some Mabon. A celebration of the changing of the seasons once again, an appreciation for the bounty of the harvest, and all of those wonderful things that go with it. The changing of the leaves, the crispness to the air with the bit of summer warmth subtly lingering in the breeze. Apples! Pumpkins! Cider! A great cornicopia of foods and traditions to be had. However you celebrate, may you find many blessings along the way.
I'll share with you this Grateful Dead song that I've been humming on this beautiful morning, and hope you enjoy it! Hooray for Fall :)
Sunrise
Gazing at the fire, burning by the water
Before he speaks the world around us quiets.
With eyes as sharp as arrows and turning to the fire
He clears the air and cuts it with a feather.
Many in a circle slowly 'round the fire
When he is gone I want to know him better.
No one is forsaken, no one is a liar,
He plants the tree of life on our foreheads with water.
He hums, there are drums, four winds, rising suns,
We are singing and playing, I hear what he's saying.
I remember breezes from winds inside your body
keep me high, like I told you, I'll sing to them this story and know why.
Love and light,
SarahFae
I'll share with you this Grateful Dead song that I've been humming on this beautiful morning, and hope you enjoy it! Hooray for Fall :)
Sunrise
Gazing at the fire, burning by the water
Before he speaks the world around us quiets.
With eyes as sharp as arrows and turning to the fire
He clears the air and cuts it with a feather.
Many in a circle slowly 'round the fire
When he is gone I want to know him better.
No one is forsaken, no one is a liar,
He plants the tree of life on our foreheads with water.
He hums, there are drums, four winds, rising suns,
We are singing and playing, I hear what he's saying.
I remember breezes from winds inside your body
keep me high, like I told you, I'll sing to them this story and know why.
Love and light,
SarahFae
Sunday, August 9, 2009
Where in the World is the SpiritFire T-shirt?
So SpiritFire 2009 is over. That can only mean one thing … SpiritFire 2010 is on the way. But what to do until next summer to help remind ourselves that all the magic we felt was real? How to stay connected? Well, there’s lots of ways: study a pathway, stay in touch with the people you met, deepen your spiritual practice in whatever form Spirit calls to you, and … what for it … wait for it …
Play “Where in the World is the SpiritFire T-shirt?”
(Sung to the tune of “Where in the World is Carmen Sandiego?”)
Yes. You guessed it. Where in the world is the SpiritFire T-shirt. Over this coming year, take a picture of yourself in your SpiritFire T-shirt in some really interesting location. A foreign country. A national park. Hang gliding. Volunteering in your local community. For example, here’s a picture of me in my SpiritFire T-shirt just a few weeks ago in Salzburg, Austria.
Send your photos to the list labeled with your name and location. Where in the world will all the members of the SpiritFire community travel in the next 12 months? What are all the interesting things we’ll do? How many lives and places will the SpiritFire community touch? Let's find out.
I’ll do something interesting with all the pictures for the next festival. What will that be, you ask? Well, we’ll just have to see how many pictures come in and how good they are, now won’t we. The first part is up to you. Until then ... get out there, and keep the magic alive!!
Thursday, August 6, 2009
Soul Expression 2009
At SpiritFire this year, we held a poetry jam on Friday night. From my perspective, it was WILDLY successful. People brought it in big time: laughter, tears, passion, pain. Original work, Robert Frost, Leonard Cohen, the back of a sugared ginger box ... and so much more.
Poetry speaks to us in deep ways. It says what we've always meant to say but didn't quite know how to articulate. It reveals connections between us and others that we may have kept hidden. It takes off our rose-colored glasses. It shines light into dark corners. It shows us that the darkness has wisdom to offer.
Speaking only for myself ... and knowing that I am saying this LONG before we've done any planning for SpiritFire 2010 ... I think it's safe to say that Soul Expression will be back next year.
So here are some questions ...
What about the circle (set up, guidelines, timing) worked and shouldn't be changed?
What should be done to improve the experience?
How can we keep the magic of the circle alive through the rest of the year?
Comments are welcome. This IS a blog, afterall!
Poetry speaks to us in deep ways. It says what we've always meant to say but didn't quite know how to articulate. It reveals connections between us and others that we may have kept hidden. It takes off our rose-colored glasses. It shines light into dark corners. It shows us that the darkness has wisdom to offer.
Speaking only for myself ... and knowing that I am saying this LONG before we've done any planning for SpiritFire 2010 ... I think it's safe to say that Soul Expression will be back next year.
So here are some questions ...
What about the circle (set up, guidelines, timing) worked and shouldn't be changed?
What should be done to improve the experience?
How can we keep the magic of the circle alive through the rest of the year?
Comments are welcome. This IS a blog, afterall!
Monday, July 20, 2009
New Moon and Solar Eclipse Ritual - 07-21-09
It's a very real, very scientific, astrological and tangible experience we can all see and feel. The New Moon combined with a Solar Eclipse! Some of the best magick can be worked in the time of the New Moon leading up to the Full Moon, when the energy surrounding us is growing in the positive.
So what can we do to celebrate this magickal moment in time? The answer lies withing you. Do the spiritual work yourself, because it is as indivually sacred as unique for you as you are. Spiritual work is not something you can achieve by reading a ritual laid out for you to follow and get the same results as anyone else.
What is it that you want to achieve at this time? Is there something you want to see come to fruition that is deeply important and special to you? Is there something you have been meaning to let go of and embrace the new as you watch two heavenly bodies align as one?
By thinking on these things, or saying these things aloud as you stand or sit under the blanket of stars in the Summer night's sky, hold these feelings close to your heart, and lend your energy to it. Picture those dreams or ideas becoming real. Feel the energy within every fiber of your being, and give that energy out to the Universe. Request gently for the Universe to hear your call.
Eclipses tend to bring big changes. You can see that throughout history how often eclipses have been considered omens and the events that have been linked to eclipses, whether they happened as a result of a natural build-up of forces or people used the eclipse energy to force the event. Astrologically, they tend to have the regenerative effect of Pluto conjunct a House or Planet, sometimes decimating what was there before to remove it from your life and moving you forward to rebirth that area of your life.
Think of a massive light focused through a lens and burning across an area of your life–it will either sear it or illuminate it. Use the time of the eclipse to guide you as to how long your personal ritual will be. Sometimes starting at the beginning of the eclipse, and moving with the enrgy through the duration until its completion helps you achieve the best results.
Whatever you choose to do, whatever you want to achieve, or however big the life change you envision, it is all yours to decide how you lend your energy to it. Many blessings to you, and as always, love and light.
SarahFae
So what can we do to celebrate this magickal moment in time? The answer lies withing you. Do the spiritual work yourself, because it is as indivually sacred as unique for you as you are. Spiritual work is not something you can achieve by reading a ritual laid out for you to follow and get the same results as anyone else.
What is it that you want to achieve at this time? Is there something you want to see come to fruition that is deeply important and special to you? Is there something you have been meaning to let go of and embrace the new as you watch two heavenly bodies align as one?
By thinking on these things, or saying these things aloud as you stand or sit under the blanket of stars in the Summer night's sky, hold these feelings close to your heart, and lend your energy to it. Picture those dreams or ideas becoming real. Feel the energy within every fiber of your being, and give that energy out to the Universe. Request gently for the Universe to hear your call.
Eclipses tend to bring big changes. You can see that throughout history how often eclipses have been considered omens and the events that have been linked to eclipses, whether they happened as a result of a natural build-up of forces or people used the eclipse energy to force the event. Astrologically, they tend to have the regenerative effect of Pluto conjunct a House or Planet, sometimes decimating what was there before to remove it from your life and moving you forward to rebirth that area of your life.
Think of a massive light focused through a lens and burning across an area of your life–it will either sear it or illuminate it. Use the time of the eclipse to guide you as to how long your personal ritual will be. Sometimes starting at the beginning of the eclipse, and moving with the enrgy through the duration until its completion helps you achieve the best results.
Whatever you choose to do, whatever you want to achieve, or however big the life change you envision, it is all yours to decide how you lend your energy to it. Many blessings to you, and as always, love and light.
SarahFae
Thursday, June 4, 2009
Why I think drummers shouldn't call breaks
I admit it, the title of this post is deliberately provocative. Few rules should ever really be absolute. But one of the agreements we tend to have at most fire circles--including SpiritFire--is that the drummers shouldn't just simply call a break and bring a rhythm to a sudden, screeching halt. I've felt that this is a good, logical agreement for several years now, but I observed a perfect example of exactly why it is good at the Rites of Spring last month.
The setting should be familiar: a fire, a dance track filed with dances, and musicians on benches at one end of the circle. The drummers, although few in number, were laying down a fairly decent 12/8 rhythm, exactly the kind of groove that promotes trance in dancers. Although the rhythm could have been a little bit tighter in terms of musical precision, several of the dancers were getting pretty deep into the groove. I was watching this with a fair amount of satisfaction from the edge of the circle, taking a turn as a fire tender. Decent rhythm, good response by the dancers, and the appearance of synchronicity between dancers and drummers.
Then, out of nowhere, one of the drummers simply called a break, and everything came to a crashing halt. And I do mean crashing. The dancers were given no warning and no gentle landing. The musicians were done, finito, sayonara baby Elvis has left the building. The dancers were left to fend for themselves, several of them apparently needing to shake themselves back into direct awareness of the circle.
And why did the musicians do this? From where I was standing, it seemed to be because one "alpha" drummer was dissatisfied that the rhythm was not as tight as his musical sensitivities would have liked it to be, and he simply decided that it was time to end the whole thing. He was either unaware of the dancers or simply didn't care about what a break would do to them. The only thing that seemed to matter to him was that he wanted something better, and if he couldn't have it, then the rhythm needed to end that instant. Rather than trying to simplify his playing to help less experienced drummers create a tighter groove, rather than slow the tempo so that everyone could keep up with the pace, rather than fade out, and rather than walk away, he called a break.
We talk a lot about the importance of musicians recognizing that, when at a fire circle, the musicians are playing in service to the dancers. I got to witness why that's so important and exactly what happens when a drummer forgets why he or she is really there.
The setting should be familiar: a fire, a dance track filed with dances, and musicians on benches at one end of the circle. The drummers, although few in number, were laying down a fairly decent 12/8 rhythm, exactly the kind of groove that promotes trance in dancers. Although the rhythm could have been a little bit tighter in terms of musical precision, several of the dancers were getting pretty deep into the groove. I was watching this with a fair amount of satisfaction from the edge of the circle, taking a turn as a fire tender. Decent rhythm, good response by the dancers, and the appearance of synchronicity between dancers and drummers.
Then, out of nowhere, one of the drummers simply called a break, and everything came to a crashing halt. And I do mean crashing. The dancers were given no warning and no gentle landing. The musicians were done, finito, sayonara baby Elvis has left the building. The dancers were left to fend for themselves, several of them apparently needing to shake themselves back into direct awareness of the circle.
And why did the musicians do this? From where I was standing, it seemed to be because one "alpha" drummer was dissatisfied that the rhythm was not as tight as his musical sensitivities would have liked it to be, and he simply decided that it was time to end the whole thing. He was either unaware of the dancers or simply didn't care about what a break would do to them. The only thing that seemed to matter to him was that he wanted something better, and if he couldn't have it, then the rhythm needed to end that instant. Rather than trying to simplify his playing to help less experienced drummers create a tighter groove, rather than slow the tempo so that everyone could keep up with the pace, rather than fade out, and rather than walk away, he called a break.
We talk a lot about the importance of musicians recognizing that, when at a fire circle, the musicians are playing in service to the dancers. I got to witness why that's so important and exactly what happens when a drummer forgets why he or she is really there.
Tuesday, May 26, 2009
Chanting....
Hello all,
Just back from Rites of Spring. For those of you who are newer to SFF, our fire circle is deeply rooted in the fire at Rites (which, in fact, is arguably the root of most fire circle events now running). What a sweet week.
The best part of the circles for me, which were all pretty mellow and a bit smaller, was the chanting. Rich harmonies. A diversity of songs with no jingles, no pop or theater pieces - but plenty of mantras, affirmations, chants, and some new ones that I hadn't heard before. While sometimes the songs would start up and not quite get going, many of them went strong for a loooong time.
Things I noticed about this - first, the drummers gave a lot of time/space for chanting before they started to play and then when they did play, it was with great care not to overpower those in the circle. True music-making!
Such a simple road to beauty. We win!
Just back from Rites of Spring. For those of you who are newer to SFF, our fire circle is deeply rooted in the fire at Rites (which, in fact, is arguably the root of most fire circle events now running). What a sweet week.
The best part of the circles for me, which were all pretty mellow and a bit smaller, was the chanting. Rich harmonies. A diversity of songs with no jingles, no pop or theater pieces - but plenty of mantras, affirmations, chants, and some new ones that I hadn't heard before. While sometimes the songs would start up and not quite get going, many of them went strong for a loooong time.
Things I noticed about this - first, the drummers gave a lot of time/space for chanting before they started to play and then when they did play, it was with great care not to overpower those in the circle. True music-making!
Such a simple road to beauty. We win!
Tuesday, May 19, 2009
A favor, if you would...
Hello all,
Well before we head off to Rites, I figured I'd write in and say hello! I hope your spring is beautiful and getting warmer.
Registrations are going great for SpiritFire, and there are many unexpected surprises with folks deciding to come this year - wow. It makes me so grateful!
I am writing to share an experience or two from last year, when I had a couple of unfortunately sad but necessary issues at the beginning of the event, and I'd like to ask your help in making sure we don't have to repeat the scenario. Basically, folks become more and more open and ready for fire circles and family as the summer progresses, and often don't find out about an event until very close to it's start. Last year I had some very wonderful people contact me either directly or on behalf of friends who decided they wanted to go - but registration was closed, and I'd already sent head and meal counts to our gracious hosts. It was unfortunately not possible to "squeeze them in" at that point.
On Wednesday after closing circle, I was also approached by a beautiful soul who had been invited to come along to the event by another registered person, who assumed their friend would be able to register on site. It broke my heart, because despite the person's long journey and transportation issues that arose, I wasn't able to accommodate them. Telling them this was a very hard thing to do, but no other ethical option was available. I hope this person finds their way to us this year in time!
My request to all of you is this - if you know of folks who might want to come, let them know about SpiritFire earlier on, and encourage them to register earlier too! Once registration closes, we cannot add more participants. Please do not invite them to just show up on site, or encourage them to write after registration has closed. It causes us much heartache to turn folks away, when some pre-planning could have created a different outcome.
Our final, last minute, absolutely solid deadline is July 25th. From July 16 - 25 we can accept ONLINE registrations only, and will not receive mailed applications in time to add them. If folk aren't sure about their plans, please do direct them to our website -- http://spiritfirefestival.org -- and again, encourage them to register early so they can be a part of the bliss!
Thanks for your support and help spreading the word and helping folks find us in time - see you very soon!
Love, Josselyne
Well before we head off to Rites, I figured I'd write in and say hello! I hope your spring is beautiful and getting warmer.
Registrations are going great for SpiritFire, and there are many unexpected surprises with folks deciding to come this year - wow. It makes me so grateful!
I am writing to share an experience or two from last year, when I had a couple of unfortunately sad but necessary issues at the beginning of the event, and I'd like to ask your help in making sure we don't have to repeat the scenario. Basically, folks become more and more open and ready for fire circles and family as the summer progresses, and often don't find out about an event until very close to it's start. Last year I had some very wonderful people contact me either directly or on behalf of friends who decided they wanted to go - but registration was closed, and I'd already sent head and meal counts to our gracious hosts. It was unfortunately not possible to "squeeze them in" at that point.
On Wednesday after closing circle, I was also approached by a beautiful soul who had been invited to come along to the event by another registered person, who assumed their friend would be able to register on site. It broke my heart, because despite the person's long journey and transportation issues that arose, I wasn't able to accommodate them. Telling them this was a very hard thing to do, but no other ethical option was available. I hope this person finds their way to us this year in time!
My request to all of you is this - if you know of folks who might want to come, let them know about SpiritFire earlier on, and encourage them to register earlier too! Once registration closes, we cannot add more participants. Please do not invite them to just show up on site, or encourage them to write after registration has closed. It causes us much heartache to turn folks away, when some pre-planning could have created a different outcome.
Our final, last minute, absolutely solid deadline is July 25th. From July 16 - 25 we can accept ONLINE registrations only, and will not receive mailed applications in time to add them. If folk aren't sure about their plans, please do direct them to our website -- http://spiritfirefestival.org -- and again, encourage them to register early so they can be a part of the bliss!
Thanks for your support and help spreading the word and helping folks find us in time - see you very soon!
Love, Josselyne
Sunday, May 17, 2009
What Distance?
We are having a strangely beautiful and transformative weekend. The magic began with a gig on Friday night. Everyone in the band was connected - to each other, to the audience, and to the music. It was both effortless and powerful, and it seemed everyone was reflecting that back to us. Connection.
Several of our beloved friends joined us at our home after the show where the music continued. There we performed our latest favorite by Tina Malia, a song called "Heal This Land." The energy of the song filled the room. Our beloveds became a part of the song and together we experienced the song playing us. We were connected.
Lillith Avalon's call from Vegas this morning thrust us deep into the vortex of this phenomenon. She had just left Mayfire and was crackling with raw, naked energy. After relating her powerful and transformative weekend to us over speaker phone, Lillith announced that she was sending her extraordinary energy to us. Here's where things got a bit strange. Somewhere between Lillith's breath and the silence that followed the trees began to bend with a sudden breeze, and a Baltimore oriole began to sing very loudly close to the deck where we sat...then another chimed in, and then another. They were singing to us! In that moment, those of us on the receiving end of Lillith's transmission became fully aware of our connection - not only to Lillith, but to the land, to the sky, to the world, to the universe. The distance between us melted. We wouldn't have been any closer if she were sitting with us on the deck.
Deep in our hearts we know we are all always connected. But the magic becomes engaged upon the awareness of that connection. Those of us who were present when Lillith breathed her fire magic from Nevada to Massachussets received a transformative reminder that we truly do live in a realm of unlimited possibilities. Worlds open when we open, when we recognize our connection.
So, where exactly lies the distance between us?
Lisa and Brett
Several of our beloved friends joined us at our home after the show where the music continued. There we performed our latest favorite by Tina Malia, a song called "Heal This Land." The energy of the song filled the room. Our beloveds became a part of the song and together we experienced the song playing us. We were connected.
Lillith Avalon's call from Vegas this morning thrust us deep into the vortex of this phenomenon. She had just left Mayfire and was crackling with raw, naked energy. After relating her powerful and transformative weekend to us over speaker phone, Lillith announced that she was sending her extraordinary energy to us. Here's where things got a bit strange. Somewhere between Lillith's breath and the silence that followed the trees began to bend with a sudden breeze, and a Baltimore oriole began to sing very loudly close to the deck where we sat...then another chimed in, and then another. They were singing to us! In that moment, those of us on the receiving end of Lillith's transmission became fully aware of our connection - not only to Lillith, but to the land, to the sky, to the world, to the universe. The distance between us melted. We wouldn't have been any closer if she were sitting with us on the deck.
Deep in our hearts we know we are all always connected. But the magic becomes engaged upon the awareness of that connection. Those of us who were present when Lillith breathed her fire magic from Nevada to Massachussets received a transformative reminder that we truly do live in a realm of unlimited possibilities. Worlds open when we open, when we recognize our connection.
So, where exactly lies the distance between us?
Lisa and Brett
Thursday, May 14, 2009
Gifts From The Universe
Often times when life gets going too fast, I find that sitting outside and looking up at the trees and sky is so helpful. It reminds me of how small I am in the Universe, yet how important, as we all are, on the imprint of time. We leave our mark in some way on the world with our abilities, no matter what they might be. Different art forms in music, fire spinning, painting, teaching, listening... these we all contribute to each other while allowing ourselves to open our hearts and our gifts with ourselves.
Listening to the rain drops change the rate that they are falling, and the sound they make as they come in contact with the leaves and the ground is so calming. It brings a bit of the drumming we do when gathered at fire circles together to mind. It encourages me to pick up a djembe and rock out with the symphony nature is creating and inviting me to participate in. It reminds me to listen to the world around me, as I often may forget to do when the every day routine gets a bit too much to bear.
I had a moment a week ago when the afternoon sun was so warm and the sky was free of clouds, to get outside and just be in the moment. So I did. I sat down on the grass, kicked off my shoes, tilted my chin up towards the sky and closed my eyes. I heard the birds chirping when I hadn't noticed them before. I heard the water from the grass hissing slightly as the sun was evaporating it. I heard my breathing become slower and steadier and at that moment I realized that I was relaxing. Mother Nature sure knows her stuff!
So when you find yourself in those moments where you don't know what else to do with what you are feeling, find a nice comfy spot outside. Close your eyes, relax, and begin to receive your gifts from the Universe.
love and light,
SarahFae
Listening to the rain drops change the rate that they are falling, and the sound they make as they come in contact with the leaves and the ground is so calming. It brings a bit of the drumming we do when gathered at fire circles together to mind. It encourages me to pick up a djembe and rock out with the symphony nature is creating and inviting me to participate in. It reminds me to listen to the world around me, as I often may forget to do when the every day routine gets a bit too much to bear.
I had a moment a week ago when the afternoon sun was so warm and the sky was free of clouds, to get outside and just be in the moment. So I did. I sat down on the grass, kicked off my shoes, tilted my chin up towards the sky and closed my eyes. I heard the birds chirping when I hadn't noticed them before. I heard the water from the grass hissing slightly as the sun was evaporating it. I heard my breathing become slower and steadier and at that moment I realized that I was relaxing. Mother Nature sure knows her stuff!
So when you find yourself in those moments where you don't know what else to do with what you are feeling, find a nice comfy spot outside. Close your eyes, relax, and begin to receive your gifts from the Universe.
love and light,
SarahFae
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