    
spinner (spinner)
Registered Non-Member
Username: spinner
Post Number: 3
Registered: 03-2005
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, April 21, 2005 - 05:18 pm: | 
|
Greetings to the Fires Rising Family of Fire...
What inspires the offerings at our Alchemical Fire Circles? When this question was asked to Dr. Joshua Levin at the recent Mysterium conference, he insightfully responded, "Alchemy is a map that my friends are interested in... and I am interested in my friends." We, like Joshua, are interested in our friends, and in Joshua's friends, too.
We refine the question, what is your offering that you bring to our sacred fire, to our sacred play? We burn the maps, and the books, and the illusions and all the agendas that lead us away from each other. We place our heartsongs and offerings upon the sacred pyre.
What is your offering?
It need not be alchemical, heretical, or even ecumenical.
Could be geological, botanical, angelical, nonsensical?
It can be street-smart, hip-hop, free-fall-spoken-word,
it could be dead pan, serious, tongue in cheek, or absurd.
It could be something tasty, trashy, flashy, or
holy guacamole.
C'mon...
Bring It On!!
An offering doesn't have to be given during the night in the fire light,
it could just be a hug, the swat of a bug, a little snug or even a shrug when the sun is burning bright,
So reach in, dig deep, what you sow is what you reap.
Find the diamond hiding in your own sacred skin,
breathe it out and breathe it in,
so come along, bring it on, it won't be long til we're dancing til dawn
what is your offering?
Below are a few of our pre-fire offerings.... some thoughts on alchemy, for your perusal... may they inspire your gift to the Fire.
In the Mystery of the Family of Fire,
Spinner & Jeff
Alchemy is the ancient art of transformation. Alchemy presents a paradigm of transmutation, from the leaden to the Gold, from the gross to the subtle, from the raw to the cooked, from the first matter to the philosopher's stone. It transcends all religious and cultural boundaries, and is an accessible map for seekers. By drawing on metaphors from alchemy, we are better able to understand the deeper workings of the fire circle. -Abbi Spinner McBride
The Alchemical Fire Circle explores the metaphors and symbols of Alchemy to create an experiential laboratory for safe and sacred play. We enter the vessel as individual elements. As we dance the sacred Fire, we separate ourselves from that which separates us from ourselves and others. Dancing the Fire, we deepen our relationships and forge lifetime connections. By playing, praying and blending together, we share our heart songs, offering our joys and tears, individuals dissolving into a solution. As we refine our work and play, in the liquid embrace of rhythm and community, we discover the deepest mystery, a mystery that has been called the elixir of life, and the philosopher's stone. The Fire of Nature accelerates our growth, transforms our consciousness and lovingly evolves those of us participating in this Great Work. We drink deeply of this holy fountain. Alchemy is the magic by which we are transforming the leaden or heavy experiences of our lives into golden realizations and spiritual illuminations.-J.Magnus McBride
So, just what do you mean by "alchemy," anyway?
"Alchemy is the gentle acceleration of growth through the use of the fire of nature."
--Paracelsus
"Alchemy is the process of changing lead into gold; at least this is its most popular definition. It was practiced in many countries throughout the world for hundreds, maybe even thousands of years. As a result, alchemy has many definitions. It meant one thing to an Egyptian high priest and quite another to a fifteenth century apothecary..." --Thom Cavalli, Alchemical Psychology
... or to a fire circle enthusiast.
"The philosopher's stone is a divine spark within us all, which can become a candle to illuminate our whole self. It is the embryo of our subtle body which lives on after the decay of our flesh. It is a crystal in the cave of our consciousness. It is a seed which can put forth golden shoots and blossom into a golden flower. It is a symbol of the wholeness and fulfillment to be attained when our body, soul, and spirit sing together in unison, when the stars within dance with those without, when the sun and the moon lie in tender embrace, and when the original harmony between heaven and earth is finally restored.
As the ancient alchemists said, the philosopher's stone is a stone and not a stone. It is the most precious thing in the world, and the most common, the most difficult, and child's play, to be found nowhere and everywhere. If allowed to grow, it will indeed bring everlasting life and untold riches, both here on Earth and in the world around the corner.
Whatever may happen to us in our lives, we can all be transformed from dead stones into living philosophical stones, of that I am certain."
--Peter Marshall, The Philosopher's Stone}}
Fire of Creation, Fire of Purification,
Fire of Transformation, Fire of Illumination!!
|
Closed: New threads not accepted on this page
