Category: Flashes

Fires Are Spreading: Welcome to New Firekeepers

Fires Are Spreading: Welcome to New Firekeepers

by | Jan 8, 2020 | , , , | 0 |

In early December 2019, seven dedicated women and men were initiated as Sacred Fire Firekeepers. This was the culmination of a long period of preparation and training–for some over a year and a half–and marked a lifetime commitment to their work and service on behalf of community.

Our new Firekeepers represent a diverse worldwide group! We now have sacred fires burning in Edinburg, Scotland and Corfu, Greece, tended by new Firekeepers Sylvia Law and Vivian Menjiver, respectively. There are two new Firekeepers in Australia (Sofia in Perth, Western Australia, and Liz O’Leary in Melbourne, Victoria). Tibrata Gillies now tends the hearth in Ontario, Canada. In the United States, Chris Griffin and Faye Townsend will hold Sacred Fires in New Hampshire and Florence, South Carolina.

These seven join a family of Firekeepers in ten countries, on four continents. Each provide a safe, reliable space for people to re-discover what has been forgotten, to connect with each other and to be renewed.

Welcome Chris, Faye, Liz, Sofia, Sylvia, Tibrata, and Vivian!

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Part 5: Firekeepers, I Love You for being good role models, being committed, and for seeing the big picture

Firekeepers, I Love You: Part 5

by | Aug 19, 2019 | , , | 4 |

Sacred Fire Firekeepers, you are unique individuals who have some very special qualities that help you to do what you do. You open your homes and hearts to people just like the readers of our posts—people who live in communities in seven countries (and growing)—to come and be human beings together around the fire, just as we humans have always done. Thousands of people each year come to your Sacred Fires for community, connection, healing and growth.

In this final podcast in her series, fire-goer Erin Everett shares three more qualities that Sacred Fire Firekeepers possess and model for her and for their communities.

If you happen to be reading this and listening to our podcasts, feel free to tell your story of what fire or Firekeepers have done for you in the comments of this post.

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Part 4: Firekeepers, I Love You for your mistakes, your sacrifice, and your learning

Firekeepers, I Love You: Part 4

by | Jul 15, 2019 | , , | 3 |

Who do you know who is good at making mistakes? Do you know people who put their community before themselves or value life-long learning? In her fourth podcast, Erin Everett, who attends Sacred Fire community fires, shares her experience of these qualities in the Firekeepers she knows.

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Prosperity Ritual June 3

Prosperity Ritual June 3

by | May 28, 2019 | , | 0 |

For a healthy community, prosperity is about far more than money in the bank. It expresses itself as the deep satisfaction of working with others on a common cause, and of seeing talents and efforts received with gratitude. It is about building relationships that develop into deep friendships, those that can weather storms even in times of need. It is also about having the wisdom and support we need to blossom fully into who we are meant to be, and in turn, to provide a way of living that ensures these opportunities will continue for the generations that follow.

On June 3rd, Sacred Fire will participate in the seventh cycle of a Prosperity Ritual, held in Tepoztlán, Mexico. Sacred Corn will be planted and tended toward harvest and sharing in the fall. Through our prayers, we hope that many can discover Sacred Fire, and be enriched by–and also enrich–our growing international community. You are invited to light a candle starting at 11 am Eastern and join us in giving thanks for the great abundance that we have already been blessed with as a community, as well as gratitude for whatever abundance that you and your loved ones have received.

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Part 3: Firekeepers, I Love You for Encouraging people to think together

Firekeepers, I Love You: Part 3

by | May 3, 2019 | , , | 0 |

Have you sat around a Sacred Fire community fire? Many of you probably have, since they’re held every month in over 40 locations in 7 countries. Erin Everett has attended quite a few, and in her third podcast in this “Firekeepers, I Love You” series, she shares her appreciation to these dedicated volunteer space-holders training in the time-honored ways of Fire Work. They make this sacrifice so that we can gather around the fire as human beings have always done—to share, laugh, and to “think together” about our lives and our personal and shared challenges, supported by the timeless medicine of Fire.

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Ireland is Sending a Hundred Thousand Welcomes

Ireland is Sending a Hundred Thousand Welcomes

by | Apr 16, 2019 | | 0 |

by Sacred Fire Ireland

With growing excitement and anticipation, we’re glad to announce that it is only two short months before we will be extending the Irish traditional Céad Míle Fáilte (Hundred Thousand Welcomes) to many of you for our second Sacred Fire Las Tine an Chroí (Ignite Your Heart) event here in Ireland. This land, as Grandfather Fire told us, “was reserved for the gods” in a time before awareness forgot.

As an international community, we are so blessed to have found each other and our beloved elders. We really hope you can come to reconnect face to face, arm in arm, to catch up, make new friends, to sing, dance and play in the soul of this sacred land, to hear more wisdom teachings from Grandfather Fire about our lives and their challenges, and also about the deep, hidden secrets and stories of this mystical land that is my home, Ireland.

At our last event in 2017, people from nine countries came to hear the voice of Fire. Memories were created by experiences attendees had in our magical land, where quite a few wide-eyed community members reported things like the ancient oak trees in the adjoining wood growing faces and talking to them (giving messages to pass on to others), and reports of fairies dancing on the stone wall and around the field where we gathered(!)

This connection to each other, to Fire and our land restores a sense of purpose, joy and meaning to our lives. To hear the timeless truth of the ages spoken goes straight to the heart and leaves us refreshed and wanting more. We would love to meet and share with you either again or for the first time — to celebrate our beautiful land, songs, stories and music with you. Many of you have ancestors from here, so you will be coming back to a place you may feel you know, that your spirit knows. We send out a huge Céad Míle Fáilte to you all to come and join us for Las Tine an Chroí.

LIGHT the FIRE in your HEARTS!

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Year of the Earth Pig

Year of the Earth Pig

by | Apr 9, 2019 | , | 2 |

According to the Tibetan Buddhist calendar, each year resonates with one of twelve animals plus one of the five elements, Earth, Fire, Water, Metal and Wood. February 5, 2019 marked the beginning of The Year of the Earth Pig. Grandfather Fire has granted an audience in Tepoztlán, Mexico in honor of the Tibetan New Year every year since 2002. 2019’s audience happened on March 3, during which the lucky crowd heard about the important qualities of the year ahead.

Characteristics associated with Pig were mentioned: pigs are reliable, intelligent, hardworking, with strong energy and determination but without a very strong creative expression. They are willing to take on projects and work on them even if these are somewhat boring. Pig energy includes honesty, optimism and enjoyment of material things that can be held and appreciated.

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Part 2: Firekeepers, I Love You for Giving Voice to the Voiceless

Firekeepers, I Love You: Part 2

by | Mar 13, 2019 | , , , | 0 |

If you spend time around the Sacred Fire, you’ve experienced the specialized work of a trained Firekeeper. In her second Love Letter to Firekeepers, Erin Everett speaks for many of us when she offers appreciation to these dedicated volunteer space-holders who hold fires every month in their 50 communities in 7 countries. They make this sacrifice so that we can gather to share, laugh, and be transformed by the medicine of Fire like human beings have always done.After you listen to Love Letter 2, please take a moment to listen to Erin’s first Love Letter, which is about how much Sacred Fire Firekeepers value relationships.

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Part 1: Firekeepers, I love you for valuing relationships...

Firekeepers, I Love You: Part 1

by | Feb 13, 2019 | , , , , | 2 |

This Valentine’s Day was the perfect day to express our love for the most important people in our lives. For those of us who spend time around the sacred Fire in lands near and far, our local Firekeeper is often at the top of that list! Where would we be without the supportive nest of community? Somehow our lives are mysteriously enriched and deepened by the dance with other people and the sacred world at our local Sacred Fire community fires, men’s fires and women’s fires. This is only possible because of our Firekeepers: they hold the space so well.

How do they do this monumental task, month after month? How can we possibly thank them enough?

In this podcast, Fire veteran Erin Everett, who has been attending Fires and observing Firekeepers since she was in her 20s, shares the Firekeeper-love in this first of nine “love letters” to the 62 Firekeepers (and growing) who have dedicated their lives, time and learning to holding space for the fears, hopes, grief, love, laughter and transformation of their communities.

To learn more about Sacred Fire’s Firekeepers or to learn how to become a Firekeeper, visit sacredfire.org.

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With Gratitude for Abundance

With Gratitude for Abundance

by | Jan 14, 2019 | , | 0 |

Executive Director Larry Messerman stood for the Sacred Fire Community at the December 22, 2018 Prosperity Ritual corn harvest, joining representatives from the Blue Deer Center, Sacred Fire Foundation, traditional Huichol medicine and Nahua Weather Work groups, and the local Tepoztlán (Mexico) Sacred Fire community.

The corn was planted on June 13 with a humble petition for ongoing abundance of resources, wisdom, courage, creativity and joy “so that we may feed the great spiritual hunger of our people.” The harvest was abundant indeed. In addition, those present felt blessed by the presence of a brown scorpion (which is associated with corn) that appeared right by the fire as those present began de-graining. A special thanks goes also to local corn maestro Don Rupert.

Four of the best ears were kept for seed for next year’s planting, and then two of these were exchanged with ears from the other groups. The rest of the good corn was de-grained. Some was roasted immediately and eaten by those present, a happy circle of about 40 people. The rest will be further dried for future eating.

We are extremely grateful for the resources we have been provided, including many talented and passionate individuals who have joined our volunteer staff this past year, and all our generous donors. Thank you!

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Tepoztlán Protection Ritual: Divine Help, Community Action

Tepoztlán Protection Ritual: Divine Help, Community Action

by | Dec 3, 2018 | , | 0 |

by Erica Cohen and Ana Cortés

Communities around the world are facing challenges related to imbalance and misuse of power, including economic, racial and gender discrimination. This is leading to destruction of the environment, of cultural traditions and of peaceful ways of life. Grandfather Fire has often told us that His presence is both good and bad news. Good because He’s here to help us; bad because when He shows up, it is because that help is urgently needed.

Here in Tepoztlán (Mexico) we have had the privilege over the past decade of receiving extra help in the form of a Protection Ritual that is included as part of our annual year-end Grandfather Fire audience. This offering arose in response to the local community’s request for protection as Mexico, and specifically the state of Morelos where we live, had become a more dangerous place to live. Violent crime, including robberies and kidnappings, had skyrocketed. Because we live in a sacred valley where the local mountains and divine protectors still have a strong presence, the ritual calls on them to watch over us.

While crime continues to be a serious issue, and drug cartels are strengthening everywhere in Mexico, our town has recently organized to protect itself better through neighborhood watches and other grassroots responses. Also, this year, a huge, well-financed development project that would have had many detrimental effects on our town was strongly and effectively opposed and cancelled. Many of us feel a sense of trust that Grandfather Fire’s protection is helping us, even as we are also accepting responsibility and putting in the work to do our part.

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Wildfires, Courage and Community

Wildfires, Courage and Community

by | Oct 1, 2018 | , | 0 |

Grandfather Fire is our friend, our common heart, our warmth in the night, our cook for our food. He brings us together in surprising ways to accomplish the work of heart.

He has given us the task to build community with our neighbors, but we have not been so good at achieving that. So, He manifested as a forest fire that threatened to consume the Mesa Life Project land, causing us to reach out for help and forge deep connections.

Thank you, Grandfather, for your helping us strengthen our connections!

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Sparks: Coming Soon

Around the Fire

Around the Fire is the newsletter of Sacred Fire and is published monthly.

If you’re new to Sacred Fire, here are three ways to learn more:

  1. Find a local Fire and experience it first hand.
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Around the Fire is published by the Sacred Fire Outreach team:

Director
Sharon Brown

Strategic Direction
Karen Fernandez
Lawrence Messerman
Sharon Brown

Editorial Team
Erin Everett
Christine Staub
Linda Azar

Web Publishing
Sally Casper
Britt Espinosa

Graphic Design
Leticia Gamboa
Sylvia Law

Social Media
Erin Everett
Abigail Murray-Nikkel

Database Administrator
Linda Felch

Event Support
Heidi Griswold

Web Design and Development
Malowany Creative
Living Magic LLP

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