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spinner (spinner)
Registered Non-Member
Username: spinner
Post Number: 8
Registered: 03-2005
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, June 07, 2005 - 07:44 pm: | 
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Beloved Tribe of Spirit and Skin,
"It rises from earth to heaven, and descends again to earth."
Today, we have descended, back down through the veils, through the gate, through the stars, ...through the vehicles, through the suddenly flourescent lights, through the rain, the dry cleaners, and then through a solid night's sleep-- we have descended. We find ourselves in New Jersey.
At this moment, we are breathing deeply and taking a moment to write about Fires Rising, the gathering we've just returned from in Artemas, PA. We're getting down the dreams and the visions, putting it all back together again, re-membering our Selves, as Isis did for Osiris. We find we are whole. The entire weekend was one long "now" of deep authenticity, of truest selves and highest visions, of courage and Willingness, of joyful hearts and willing spirits, of seeing and being Seen, of soft bellies and light hearts, of unshakable faith and purest Gold. Yes, Magic is Real. Yes. This fire circle technology works. Yes.
The land at Four Quarters Farm is absolutely phenomenal. The grounds are well-tended; there are hot showers, some great swimming holes, plenty of good food, beautiful campsites, with a friendly and helpful home crew. The Stones are alive, and the philosophers gather there on a regular basis. Deep gratitude to everyone at Four Quarters; we look forward to seeing you again soon.
May I share some of my many golden moments ? I had never seen the Goddess come dancing into the circle, fully veiled, eyes to fingertips, with a flaming candelabra atop her head, and then speak to us as HER. I received the message, and am made better for it. How blessed I am, and how grateful-- Mother, be Thou adored.
...Never had I heard billiard balls used as percussion instruments, coming together like the planets colliding in the skies-- Father be Thou adored.
...When the gorgeous young dakini danced up to me and spoke her words of dedication and commitment to Goddess through me, I could feel the Great Heart singing.
When the Bee goddess spread the honey on the wood to consecrate it with the alchemical elixir made from earth, water, seed, flower, bee, and magic, I had a good feeling that it was going to be a sweet time.
When I asked the Tarot for a 3 card oracle for the last night's working, I received the Wheel of Fortune, the 3 of Cups, and the World... I interpret this in a very positive way.
I know what I know, based on my own direct experiences. I learned and experienced a lot this weekend and now I know more than I did before. I know that when we are seeing things we've never seen or been able to imagine seeing before, or when we hear things we've never in our lives heard before --an accordian/violin duet, for instance, at Fires Rising-- then our brains are growing new grooves, and our imaginations are evolving, and our souls are moving forward.
We have learned some valuable new technology in our quest of evolving toward musical excellence, toward excellent expression of the Sacred. We engage in ART, Song, Music, Dance and Service, in sacred play--
When the gods engage in sacred play, it is referred to as Leelah, in the Sanskrit language.... Perhaps you've heard the women of our Family of Fire uluate-- that high pitched call that sounds like "LiLaLiaiLiLa" Maybe that's where it comes from. Consider trying it, it's fun.
Why do we make the sounds that we do? What does becoming one with the Beloved sound like to you? hOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOMMMMMMMMMMMMM? To me, it feels like when the celebrants in the Fire Circle Shrine all blend into the One in Harmony, that's where the transformation and the real magick happen.
Eyes to eyes, hearts to hearts, hands to hands, minds to Mind.
We are One.
My soul is fed by hearing about your golden moments, insights you've received or awarenesses you had while at the Fire Circle or at any of the gatherings. Tell me a story about something that lifted your heart and sparked your soul-- if you care to share. By nurturing orur virtual web with nuggets of Gold we maintain our Fire burning-- a virtual log, if you Will?
Until that time when we shall join again together. We'll hope to see many of you at the Starwood Festival, where we will be doing a workshop, on Wednesday, about the Alchemical Ritual Theater of the Fire Circle Shrine. This is where the Family of Fire will gather.... at the upper Fire Circle on Wednesday at sunset, and weave our magick, music and heartsongs together until sunrise and beyond. You know who you are; you know what to bring. Awaken the Mystery....
We look forward to reconnecting the strands of our web with you soon, and to making new friends to play with.
New magical engagements, festivals and fire circles are popping up like wildfire. Check our website at http://www.mcbridemagic.com on our tour schedule; we'd love to see you if you're nearby...
Eternally Burning,
Spinner & Jeff
)0( )0+
Fire of Creation, Fire of Purification,
Fire of Transformation, Fire of Illumination!!
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admin (admin)
4QForum Administrator
Username: admin
Post Number: 505
Registered: 02-2002
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, June 07, 2005 - 09:05 pm: |
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Twice previously in the eleven year history of Four Quarters I have felt that significant developmental portals have opened for the future direction and growth of the Land and our Tribe. Our new constitution and re-incorporation as an InterFaith Sanctuary of Earth Religion in late 1997 that we now know set us upon our true path as a church. And the hurricane that transformed Stones Rising of 1999 into what has now become five days of individuals in ceremonial community; in service to something much larger than themselves.
I believe that the events of this past weekend represent another portal of the possible through which we now find ourselves moving. A ceremonial framework that is almost the inverse, and thus the mirror image and magical twin, of the ceremonial context of Stones Rising. For here we have found the means to celebrate the gifts of the individual and ride a chariot of personal transformation; in giving and receiving from heart to heart and hand to hand, without the dross of ego, but with the gold of Spirit. And as with Stones Rising, it is clear to me that the technology of Alchemical Fire Circle is based on reciprocal gifting and receiving; of holding tight and letting go. The magical challenge of purposefully creating an environmental matrix that will support our fearlessly giving and receiving from each other. This challenge is well met. A portal has opened.
Their are many thanks that are due and I speak them to all here, and will again when we meet. And I think other posts are a better place for me to discuss my own experiences and hopes for what is to come. For those who have wondered, yes; Fires Rising is a Four Quarters Church event and will be back next year. The intervening twelve months will provide plenty of time to prepare our own reciprocal gifting to the Circle of Fire.
But what I want to close with is this. Four Quarters has been gifted with a breathing magical tradition, offered to us in trust and in respect. I am most honored to be a part of the People and the Land that received this gift in magical trust. I am most honored to have been a part of the People and the Land that wrapped this gift in their warm hands and blew their breath upon it gently, to return the gift undimmed and shimmering in new color.
To our guests from the Fire Tribe, now our own Tribes Women and Men, I offer my most heartfelt thanks for this gift. And hope that they know this precious magical child seed will find a warm, moist and loving home to grow within the Land of the Standing Stones.
For we are pregnant.
Orren
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dougiepgh (dougiepgh)
4QForum Active Member
Username: dougiepgh
Post Number: 142
Registered: 02-2002
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, June 08, 2005 - 07:05 pm: |
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I sing of the Standing Stones, And of the fire so pure. Of burning that which was burned, Curing what needed cured.
A temple rises, amid the functions. Our thoughts, our intentions, our wishes. Visible lines falling where once only energy stood. I sing of this too.
I sing of the dross we bunt away. I sing of the gold in the night. The process, the ritual that brought us here. I sing a new tech to my friends of old.
I sing of hard work, and triumph. Melding, combining, becoming new. Beauty so dear, love so true. A new beginning, joining-changing the old.
I sing of combining, of changing. Of time passing, the future. I sing the Etenna. I sing for our land.
I sing and dance with my ancestors, Two answer the call, Hat goes flying, I lift up and fall.
Rising, Papa Legba riding The horse is willing. Now two look through my eyes. Legba now skirting sage, tending fire.
I laugh through the night, Singing - Dancing Shaking, swaying, rattling Sharing my light, my joy.
There were days and nights And days again. We started Continued and started again. Always building on what came before.
Time passes, and all things must end, Though we did keep going, Eventually leaving Faces still glowing.
We are changed, We have grown, And been reforged. We have dispersed to the four winds, And bear the seeds of our pregnancy.
I sing of my gratitude, To those who have come and shared. I sing for a moonlit walk, And the sharing of gentle conversation.
~Gunga Doug |
firesinger (firesinger)
4QForum Moderator
Username: firesinger
Post Number: 478
Registered: 02-2002
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, June 08, 2005 - 10:56 pm: |
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I have always had an affinity with fire. I have had an inherent knowledge of how it burns different things and how I can make it do what I want to do. I know full well that fire is a life giving source of heat. I appreciate that fire can stop bleeding, kill unwanted germs, destroy plants in short order, and leave a lasting mark on anything it does not fully consume. I understand all this as if it was always a part of me and will be with me always.
This weekend, however, I saw fire in a slightly different light. I knew, in my head, of the transformative properties of fire, both physically and spiritually. But, the fires the burned on the land this weekend past were some of the gentlest transformative fires I have ever seen. They did not rip apart the wood and fall in on itself like fires of old that I have tended. No, these fires gently consumed the wood and were in a constant slow state of retreat. The base of the fires did not have the "sprawl" problem I have seen too many times and the center of the fire took on the full weight of the largest pieces of wood I could put on it.
The fire, though at times going well onto 8-9 feet high, was under control at all times. It kept the people warm and moved the dancers in all the right ways. It did bite me once, but normally, I would have no hair left on my arms from a fire that large. Instead, I still have hair on my FINGERS. Now, those of you who have never fed a large bonfire may not find that amazing, but I put my hand in the middle of the flames at times to adjust the burning logs just right and to have hair survive that heat and direct contact with flames is just not normal.
So, two nights of tending, no persistent burns, no total loss of arm hair, not a single splinter in my pampered city boy hands, and no major fatigue in my arms and back. I don't know how that happened, but this weekend had much more going for it than just the Temple. I am so glad I chose to tend fire instead of running as a healer. While I would have enjoyed healing, I had a calling to the Fire.
Now, I am also glad that my OSO JoAnn decided to come up to the fire with my wife Elissa and I and stayed long enough to enjoy that first night some. If she hadn't she might not have gotten to get lost in the moment the next two nights and danced truly like no one was watching. We all got touched by the fire in some way this weekend. I am happy it was a gentle fire, because a harsh one would have ripped that world apart.
I now have no doubt in my mind the Phoenix, with all of it's tranformative energy, sings in my heart loud and strong. I am transformation personified at times. Be real careful how close you get. Sometimes the fire is not a precise agent and takes some good with the bad.
Firesinger
"Those who do not learn from the past are doomed to repeat it." - George Santayana.
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tigre (tigre)
4QForum Active Member
Username: tigre
Post Number: 185
Registered: 02-2002
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, June 09, 2005 - 02:01 pm: |
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I am ever so grateful to the Fire Tribe for coming to the land of Four Quarters and blessing our fire circle with such an amazing magical gift and seed for future magical transformation of our fire circle experiences.
The drum, dance, song and service was a beauty to behold and to be a part of. The songs and chants, so many voices in such beautiful harmony sent my soul rising into the sky above the circle. The drums, the core of my path and heart, are still pulsing in me as I walk in my urban home of Washington DC. It was an honor to play and share the language of rhythm with you.
I am still processing thoughts and feelings, downloading the experience, memory by memory, waking to a chant, singing in the shower, and drumming in my soul.
The article for PagaNet will appear in the Sept-Mabon issue. I will take great care to encompass all the feelings and afterthoughts we share to reflect the group experience and profound gratitude of this sacred event.
I look forward to seeing you and sharing in the magic at our fire and at others with the family of fire.
Ashe, Ashe, Ashe
Tigre
Fanga Alafia! Ashe Ashe!
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rainbow_spider (rainbow_spider)
4QForum Active Member
Username: rainbow_spider
Post Number: 34
Registered: 01-2005
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Friday, June 10, 2005 - 12:44 am: |
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Through total trust in the process and two mornings of light rising from above our communal fire after long nights of intentional drumming and dance I have been forever changed. Most that know me might say I am never short of words... but for now I am still processing so much...
I hear the ringing of the bells and continue in silence...
I will write and write and share about the incredible transformation I have experienced in the last week when I am ready...
For now I will just say... to all my brothers and sisters who shared our sacred circle; to Spinner, Magnus, Michael, Joshua, Billy Bardo, Miguel, Meredith, Penny Goody and the rest of the Fires Tribe that brought us this safe cauldron for experimentation and alchemy; to Orren, Patrick, Finger, Ariel and the rest of the 4QF staff that prepared the land and staffed the weekend; and to Abraham, Missy, Jessa, Joy and the rest of the healers who recharged us and caught us when we needed to fall (in trust)...
Many thanks and blessings,
Moshe
Rainbow Spider
Open Mind, Abandon Fear, Embrace Hope - Namaste -I honor the lights shining bright within you all
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alan (alan)
4QForum Moderator
Username: alan
Post Number: 368
Registered: 03-2002
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Friday, June 10, 2005 - 08:43 am: |
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"Water and fire are incompatible, but when there is a cauldron between them, then they can be used to blend flavors..."
"What is tilted is easily overturned,
what is leaning is easy to push over.
When something is almost done, it is easy to help;
when the climate is humid, it readily rains."
Lao-tzu
Alan
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