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Message |
    
Christopher P Wallace (foxfire)
4QForum Active Member
Username: foxfire
Post Number: 235
Registered: 03-2004
| | Posted on Thursday, June 04, 2009 - 11:50 am: | 
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To the Tribe,
having touched upon some administrative details i.e. the need for planning, how to keep FR going, etc. I would will move from a position of coordinator in this post, to share with you a personal experience.
On Saturday night, we had a good start, everything was moving along. Then my own personal lead started to surface. My perspective clouded, emotions of fear attempting to overwhelm me. I felt hurt, betrayed....in fact the emotions which cause suffering took center stage for me. In this parts of the personality 'fall to pieces'. This is an example of the Shamanic journey. The person loses the integration of the Ego. The Shaman is dismembered.
Due to the inspired ministrations of several of our tribe mates (you know who you are), I was supported, reinforced, and given a new perspective. This part of the journey is when the Shaman is 'made whole again.' I wish to thank Spirit, the Divine, and how it manifests through the actions of caring people.
After this personal journey which took 1/2 to 1 hour, I was then able to reconnect with what my tribe needed and support the beauty , Art, and fun we were all experiencing.
This is what I have seen and experienced at other Alchemical Fire Circles. Now in retrospect I can see how that because things were done in a good way, because Spirit was made to feel welcome, that it had a home with us in our circle and in our hearts.
The magic and mystery which we were a part of is still 'here', and I believe it will continue to affect us in the weeks and months to come. Assisting and supporting us to find the good road to travel thru life.
well thats my story...lol and im sticking to it 
peace
fox |
Jenifer Trout Osborne (ziona)
4QForum Member
Username: ziona
Post Number: 5
Registered: 06-2007
| | Posted on Wednesday, June 03, 2009 - 09:15 pm: |
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I will be eternally grateful to each and every one you, my brothers and sisters of the fire tribe, and especially Fox, for the opportunity to experience the birth of Eco-Alchemy, 4QF style! The smaller and more organic feel allowed each person to step out and really give without judgement. The "performance" aspect of past Fires was removed and in its place was left only the spiritual aspect. The participants truly had room to grow. Thank you to all who served and all who witnessed. It was a transformational experience for me and I will send each of you gratitude and blessings for all the days of this life.
I am very firmly committed to growing and maintaining the tradition of what we have birthed together on the land.
Peace and love to you always!
Ziona |
Jon Noll (argonlovage)
4QForum Member
Username: argonlovage
Post Number: 27
Registered: 09-2007
| | Posted on Wednesday, June 03, 2009 - 12:16 pm: |
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Tara,
Did you happen to leave behind a black hoodie sweat shirt, zipper in the front with the word, "element" in pink and white? If so, Sarah and I have it (we found it at the Fire Circle) and can arrange to meet somewhere, sometime to get it back to you.
Jon~ |
Rosalie Kunsman (spring)
4QForum Active Member
Username: spring
Post Number: 52
Registered: 11-2008
| | Posted on Wednesday, June 03, 2009 - 10:59 am: |
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I would like to add my 2 cents. First of all I want to thank my kitchen staff for working so diligently and pushing out good and wholesome foods for the weekend. I am not sure that some understood the menu. When I went to Chris for planning he wanted to localize the menu. Cook what our ancestors would have in the day. The area was/is mostly german and pa. dutch. so therefore them menu items. I had so much fun creating the magic in the kitchen with my tireless staff. You guys Rock. As for the future of FR. I for one am in favor of doing this again. Now that we have had a year under our belt as 4QF hosted, we need to begin to get the word out and encourage more of the tribe to participate. Fox and staff did a great job. For the things I was able to get a glimpes of and participate in, they were very meaningful. Get working on ideas for next season and encourage others to take part. I am sure we can do it again. Let us see where the fires take us and our dreams of the flames will remain. Blessings to all. See you soon!!!!! |
Tara Travia (mayaplay)
4QForum Member
Username: mayaplay
Post Number: 21
Registered: 08-2006
| | Posted on Tuesday, June 02, 2009 - 02:38 pm: |
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What an amazing weekend. I learned so much about myself and about others that I cannot imagine having missed it. To Fox and all who presented, thank you for your wisdom and gifts of food, knnowledge, and practical art. The atmosphere was relaxed and wonderful. I have attended alchemical fire circles in a number of different venues and I truly believe each is sacred in its own right. The Family of Fire as a Collective Spirit makes these events what they are. And we are this Family. I am going to Wisteria in a few weeks to do it again for three days and nights and I will tell anyone who cares to listen that this Fires at 4Q was done in a good way. I hope to see you all on some Road soon as I will know you by the fire in my heart. Much love to you all. Tara |
turnbull (turnbull)
4QForum Member
Username: turnbull
Post Number: 30
Registered: 03-2008
| | Posted on Tuesday, June 02, 2009 - 10:27 am: |
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AND..... A HUGE THANK YOU to all who donated their time, energy, and gave up sleep/nap time to volunteer at the Dragon during Fires! Couldn't have done it without you!!
Bright Blessings!!
Dave and Dawn |
turnbull (turnbull)
4QForum Member
Username: turnbull
Post Number: 28
Registered: 03-2008
| | Posted on Tuesday, June 02, 2009 - 10:20 am: |
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Wow!! What a ceremony!! This was my first Fires - and I will do my part to make certain it is not my last. Service prevented me from doing much besides the Saturday evening ceremony - but how powerful it was!!
Thanks to all who organized, staffed, workshopped,and attended!!! Without each and everyone of you it would have been a lesser thing!
Fox - I really really enjoyed the more ceremonial style of Saturday eve - very High moment not only for this event, but of the two years I've been coming to the farm.
Love, blessings, and good health to All,
David |
Jon Noll (argonlovage)
4QForum Member
Username: argonlovage
Post Number: 26
Registered: 09-2007
| | Posted on Monday, June 01, 2009 - 10:52 pm: |
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Hello Family of Fire,
I too would like to add my thanks to Fox and everyone else who was present to make Fires Rising 09' what it was. We may not have had the largest attendance, but we certainly made the most of what we had at our disposal.
Many thanks to all who presented workshops throughout the Gathering. I also want to express my gratitude to those who gave that little something extra on Saturday Night and helped push the Tribe through those cold, difficult, pre-dawn hours.
I think we have laid a nice foundation to be built upon for future Fires Risings and have learned many lessons to make next year (and there will be a next year if I have anything to say about it) even better.
The variety of presentations was excellent, if a bit daunting to read on the schedule. Let's work on the timing of these workshops and have specific meeting locations printed on the schedule for next year so people aren't wandering around wondering where to look for the Elemental Affinity Groups.
Honestly, things went much smoother than I had expected and it was wonderful to see familiar faces back and new ones emerge. Thank you all for making this a magical weekend.
Jon~ |
aase wiborg (speedquail)
4QForum Active Member
Username: speedquail
Post Number: 145
Registered: 04-2005
| | Posted on Monday, June 01, 2009 - 09:14 pm: |
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HI EVERYONE!
WE DID IT! Thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you to everyone. I could list so many thank yous but listing it all individually would take too long and besides then i'd have to come up with an order for the list and that's too much structure for me right now....
So i want to thank you ALL for your commitment to this process. For everything you did to make it a success, for all the energies you gave, for the music you made, the offerings you contributed, the risks you took, the discomfort and even pain you pushed yourself through, for the guts and the dedication to face the fire together and push it into the sunrise.
And i definitely want to say thank you to our presenters for the gifts of their skills and knowledge and wisdom. For words and workshops that gave gifts of inspiration and insight - i received something precious from each and every one of you that inspired me around the fire and is still inspiring me out here. Big time. The workshops alone made a big difference for me.
And while we were fewer people than we've been in the past around this circle, you were so many to me, and i feel like there was time to learn something about you all, in ways that we just don't have time for when the land is fuller. I have at least one memory of each and every one of you, and for this i am so deeply thankful.
And my mind is still buzzing with drumbeats and chants and fiddle music and pennywhistles and harmonicas and guitars... And i see your faces in the faces of the strangers that i meet, and this is good, good, good.
And Chris - fire circle is my church too, so if there's will and time to have it happen again next year, i'll be right there making it so. I think it's deeply worthwhile.
With an attitude of gratitude -
Aase (Osa)
"My name is Bobadilla Brown, and the mackerel on my hat is immortal."
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rdehwyl (rdehwyl)
4QForum Member
Username: rdehwyl
Post Number: 18
Registered: 04-2009
| | Posted on Monday, June 01, 2009 - 09:04 pm: |
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Just dashing off a quick note to say "Thanks!" to everyone who attended; the energy was (and still is) awesome for me, and I truly feel rejuvenated by what I experienced. Needless to say, I will be back for future events, and look forward to meeting all my new friends again -- and making even more!}
"Leave the world better than you found it. I intend to..." "Exos Integro, Sugiliato Curatio, Y Femellas Amo Cicatrix"
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Admin (admin)
4QForum Administrator
Username: admin
Post Number: 771
Registered: 02-2002
| | Posted on Monday, June 01, 2009 - 04:05 pm: |
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Orren here
I of course did not attend the event, but I do ask questions!-smile
My general impression was that folks were very pleased, the atmosphere was open and intimate, as was the intent for this Fires Rising. I want to complement Chris for bringing all of the pieces together in a good way, it was his first solo effort and I think he did well. Much thanks to everyone, your individual participation and gift giving showed. Much thanks to Rosalie and kitchen crew who ran a seamless kitchen, sharing food is a key component to building real spiritual community.
As Chris has said, if folks step forward and make commitments of support I am sure Fires Rising will happen again next year.Just like with Body Tribal, the folks who love it will make it grow.
all the best
opw |
Chelsea Matej (chelseam)
Registered Non-Member
Username: chelseam
Post Number: 3
Registered: 07-2008
| | Posted on Monday, June 01, 2009 - 01:49 pm: |
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The attendance was smaller than previous years but it was a great event. I personally was able to take a more active role in making things happen as well as building stronger relationships with others.
The initiations and ritual to start saturday evening were meaningful and everything was tied together with universal spirit.
My highlight was hearing the chanting in welsh. Thanks so much to Robert for teaching us. The hebrew chanting was beautiful as well and that is the type of thing that creates community. Everyone sharing their individuality and celebrating that together as a community.
The schedule was filled with lots of good workshops and discussions. The only bad thing about having a full schedule such as that is if something starts or ends a little late, then the whole day gets confusing and it can cut into rest time.
Loved the event and will be sad if it is not held again. |
Sophia Shultz (badgersoph)
4QForum Member
Username: badgersoph
Post Number: 13
Registered: 08-2006
| | Posted on Monday, June 01, 2009 - 01:33 pm: |
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I would like to say that I think that, despite the difficulties
presented to him, Fox did a very good job with this year's Fires
Rising. His program was original and compelling, and he was a tireless
leader. To be truthful, I liked his version of alchemy much better
than I liked Magnus'. His inclusion of a blacksmith was innovative
and added fresh energy to the event. I am certain that you will hear a
lot of wailing and gnashing of teeth about things that Fox did/did not
do, but from my vantage point I felt that he was doing a better than
adequate job with a lot less help than he had expected to have. I hope that we have Fires Rising next year, and that I will be able to contribute even more to the event.
Sophia |
Christopher P Wallace (foxfire)
4QForum Active Member
Username: foxfire
Post Number: 234
Registered: 03-2004
| | Posted on Monday, June 01, 2009 - 12:45 pm: |
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Greetings,
I wish to personally thank everyone who attended Fires Rising this year. It was by your involvement which made it a success for each of us present.
From our work/playshops and their presenters, to those who danced, played and participated in the Fire circle and rituals. It became obvious that the responsibility of turning the Lead into Gold was not only an individual affair, but one which would take us to learn how to function as a Village or Tribe in order to make it happen.
Our meals were lovingly prepared by Rosalie and her staff, our basic infrastructure needs handled by 4Q ground staff, and the event itself given a venue to happen by Four Quarters Interfaith.
Fires Rising is the only event that focuses on the Fire Circle as the stimulus for Spiritual growth. In this....it offers a unique opportunity which is unavailable in any other gathering held at 4Q.
The Fire Circle is my personal vehicle for learning , growth, and healing. I learned years ago, that a Fire Circle can be held in a back yard or living room with candles, and have a similar effect of reinforcing the lessons learned, and open doors to new wisdom to emerge.
I invite the Tribe of Fires Rising to keep its spirit alive in their own lives and in future visits to 4Q or other events.
Due to the economy, and other real world facts, I am not sure at the time of this writing whether Fires Rising will be held in the future, or whether I will be involved in assisting it happen. Much of this will depend upon membership and it's interest. I am personally committed to the Spirit of the Fire Circle, but would need to see those of you who feel the same way make a commitment as well. In part this means getting others interested in making this event happen again. Specifically meeting, planning, looking for more attendance by spreading the word, and finally by coming to the event.
But in either case...as I am decompressing and getting ready to go back to the punch a clock world in which we live I wish to remind everyone.....when it comes to the Fire Circle "We are always HERE!"
Please feel free to post your thoughts, opinions, and descriptions of your High and Low experiences. What worked? What didn't?
In Heart, Mind and Soul,
Christopher 'Fox' Wallace |
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