Bon Fire Structure
We had such a wonderful fire ceremony this past Sunday at Peter Miller’s beautiful farm, which is only a short drive from ClearPoint. Peter and I, along with friends, have been working on clearing the woods of dead trees and downed branches. With this material we built a huge pyramid structure 25′ high. Later in the evening it was a towering inferno 40′ to 50′ high.
Peter told me that as he’s gotten older, he feels inspired to leave behind a reminder of his Lithuanian routes that honors ceremony and nature’s splendor. A few years back he surveyed his land to find the perfect spot to build the sacred circle. He got out his backhoe and started with a circle of boulders, each one placed 33′ from the center. When he was finished, he had unknowingly placed 33 boulders around the circle.
Entrance to sacred circle
In the center he set a tall yet slender sight boulder where you can look out to see the Equinox line that matches the path of the setting and rising sun. On the west side of the circle is a fire altar. The entrance is fitted with an arch- way and a charming figure made of twigs and stone.
In Lithuanian culture, making sure that there’s an oak tree within the center is crucial, as the mighty oak is what connects the heavens to the earth and vice versa. In certain parts of Lithuania, oak trees are so sacred that roads are built around them.
Peter has an incredible story and heritage to share. He feels that many of us have forgotten about our ancestral and community building traditions. We can take time to honor nature, the unseen, and each other.
Peter is welcoming everyone.
Natalie Shope Griffin was our guest shaman who is trained in the traditional Peruvian ceremony. She is an incredible guide who fully embodies her work. She shares with passion and deep reverence the Peruvian tradition of Fire Ceremony. The first part of the ceremony is making the Despacho prayer bundle. Natalie had some great helpers with this, as the children gathered around the blanket to help out.
Making the Despacho
In this prayer bundle called a Despacho, we use elements of nature to anchor our personal prayers and prayers for the healing of the Earth and all of its inhabitants. Then we dispatch our prayers to Spirit on the smoke from our sacred fire.
In the Sacred Circle
When we came together inside the circle we started with singing the Witchi Tai Tai song to honor the water spirits deep within the earth. “Come and make this fire friendly, dear water spirits.” This is done so that when you go to the fire, get down on your knees and release what ever is no longer serving you, you can safely reach into the fire to pull in its transformation energy, it also helps to come with a full heart.
Youngest and Oldest
This was a beautiful moment during the closing of the circle where our youngest and our oldest elder, 86 years young, Kirby Judd assisted Natalie in placing the final prayers into the fire.
Lighting the BIG fire!
A sacred being came out from the woods with a lit torch that was carried down to ignite the big fire. It was an awesome sight to witness.
I keep bringing my mind back to the ceremony where I left behind some of my residual fears and worries. I see the fire in my minds eye and feel the courage and strength that I asked for. The fire keeps me centered, full of passion with a glow and warmth in my heart. The fire ceremony united traditions, celebrated beauty, honored ancestors and created space for community to gather. Ah ho!
The full album from this event can be found here.
