By Phil Roberts
As a Firekeeper and Plant Spirit Medicine healer, I have been holding Community Fires and building my healing practice in my local community on the west coast of Australia for several years.
In October, I was invited to share both of these experiences with a new audience on the other side of the country. Queenscliff is a beautiful seaside town on the south-east coast that doesn’t have a Firekeeper or any Plant Spirit Medicine Healers. Not yet anyway!
In the afternoon, over 35 people gathered to listen to and share stories about the wonderful gifts of the plants. This was followed by a community fire in a local indigenous garden that night. I met a wonderful collection of people that night, with a terrific diversity of ages, from young children right up to the elderly. There were so many people already doing great heart work in their community, gathering around the fire and building connections in a new way.
There was much joy and laughter and wonderful discussion, but there was one aspect to this night that really stood out to me. This was the healing capacity of community fires.
One man attended the fire who had a tremendous impact on me, and I’m sure the same is true for everyone else who was there. Reg is an old-timer in every sense of the word. As one of the last remaining old-fashioned fisherman you can almost see the salt water that must run in his veins. But that was a long time ago, and Reg’s present day frailty was clear to us all. As we went around the circle introducing ourselves, Reg spoke about the serious health and personal problems he was confronted with.
Later in the evening, I invited Reg to tell us more of his story. We all sat in rapture as we listened to Reg speak of the history of the town, of the old ways of fishing in hand-crafted wood boats, built for staying upright in the waves of the Southern Ocean.
His son joined in and spoke about a chance encounter a few years ago, where he was able to re-purchase one of the old fishing boats and restore it. How it is now proudly anchored in the river. Reg spoke more about his views on sustainability in fishing and in life, born in him long before the word became fashionable.
The more Reg spoke, the more the colour returned to his face, the more vitality came through his voice. I half-expected him to begin doing a little jig around the fire. Before he left for the night, Reg spoke about the sense of restoration he felt from his time around the fire and how healing it had been for him to tell his story and for it to be heard. Slowly, reluctantly, people began leaving the fire one by one, returning home to their beds for the night. The last remaining few of us sat around the fire listening to the wind singing its message through the trees and watching as the stars and moon broke through the clouds.
I reflected on how much had occurred that night. I had witnessed a community begin to galvanise together in a new way around the fire. I had seen children play and be entranced by the fire. But what stayed with me the most was old Reg’s story. Even though I was a stranger to this town, hearing his stories connecting everyone to this place helped me feel more connected. It wasn’t only healing for him telling his story. Somehow there was healing in the listening as well, for me, and I suspect for everyone there.
Reconnecting to a practice that is old as time itself: there is a powerful healing available in the simplicity of community fires. Sharing our stories with the warmth of the fire, feeling the presence of the world around us, connecting with one another, beginning to feel at home. This was the first community fire in Queenscliff, but it won’t be the last. The spark will ignite and a new fire will be born.
Discover more about Firekeeping.
Experience our community fires.
Learn about Community Fires and the Dance of Deep Community.
Hi Phil,
It is beautiful to hear about the fire in Queenscliff. I’d love to let some of my friends in that area know about the next fires as they happen.
I am loving my life. I have a wonderful new partner, Stephen. I have been teaching on two First Nation reserves.
I am also loving my community fires and my Sacred Fire Community here in Toronto.
Much love to you, Zoe and family!
Judy
Hi Judy, It’s so nice to hear from you again. I’m glad to hear of the good news in your life at present. It would be wonderful if you could pass on information about upcoming fires and events in Queenscliff. Please let your friends know that they can contact Bruce via email bruce@nulljustwatersolutions.com.au and he can keep them informed.
I’m sure I’ll be back there again a few times next year. Lots of love to you, Phil.
The man Reg mentioned in the article is my Dad ……it was an amazing experience the night of the fire……Dad rang me from the Nursing home where he had not long been a new resident…he was very distressed…till I got him and bought him to the fire.
Next morning when I returned to the site to spread the ash onto the garden beds….I looked towards the fire which at first seemed out seemed out… to my surprise.a small wisp of smoke appeared….. the fire seemed to greet me on my arrival….then a small flame. I took a hot stone from the edge of the fire and wrapped in an old piece of towel and took it to my Dad. He sat quietly in the chair for ages nursing the warm stone. He still has it next to his bed wrapped in the cloth.
Hi Deb, Thank you so much for the update on your dad. I’m touched that he had such a great experience. It was a great fire and it was a pleasure to meet you and your family. Please send my best wishes to Reg, I look forward to catching up with you all around the fire when I’m next in Queenscliff.
With love,
Phil.