Fire Tribe Gathering

Winter Solstice 2003 Fire Tribe Gathering
Gratitude and Reflections

a letter from mz. imani

Aloha...

While this is long overdue, it is in time for the most discounted fares available. I hear that March is when you get the best rates to fly to Hawaii.

I wish to take a moment to extend my gratitude and appreciation, in the public forums of the Fire Circle Community, for the work and amazing events of the community that calls itself the Hawaii Fire Tribe. First and foremost, thanks to Michael and Evelyne for traveling and exploring what has been happening within the mainland Fire Circle Scene and bringing the "bug" back to the islands. It seems as though this bug is one that manages a balance with the environment, the people and the spiritual energy of its "hosts", so I imagine that it will continue to grow in a good ways as this bug has proven itself to be so mutable on the mainland.

I watched Michael and Evelyne step up to the plate in many ways, and I also watched them step back, many, many times. Without a doubt, it was proven to this mainlander that the Hawaii Fire Tribe is run by a council of peers. It was awesome! Not only was it awesome, it has effected my perspective on how I look at the infrastructure and ease that is available to the organizers and supporters (and participants) of gatherings. Thank you to the council who worked and played together expressing the genuine "Aloha Spirit" the Islands are known for.

As an organizer, I know and appreciate the importance of a good team. A team that wants to be in service to the work and the play of the Fire Circle is crucial to any events success. It is what makes an event run so smoothly as Fire Tribe Winter Solstice. This team is what provides the modeling for the guests of the event. In many ways, the team co-creates the spiritual, emotional, physical and rhythmic transfusion, or the renewing life blood, that is the conduit between spirit and human experience.

It is always a profound moment for me when I clearly see the lineage of this Fire Circle energy moving forward into the next generation(s) by witnessing or working with someone younger than myself. I had some very strong chills (in a good way) several times at the Winter Solstice Fire Tribe Gathering. Malia is a young woman who stepped up to the plate (with very short notice) to guide us in the ceremony of recognizing and appreciating the solstice. The ceremony was sweet, community oriented and magic was in the air. I look forward to being guided in ceremony for years to come by you, my dear!, and I look forward to you coming to the mainland to visit other gatherings and joining the Mojo Mama's as we do our thang!

In addition to experiencing Malia beginning her path as a priestess of the Fire Circle, Alicia gifted me with the opportunity for nurturing moments (beyond belief, at times) with a young man named Daniel. Alicia orchestrated Friday night's opening ceremony, you remember the one that was for SpiritFire, then CTS!...? Well gang, it finally happened, and it was worth the wait, and perhaps another opportunity to be experienced.

My moments with Daniel were grand, especially while holding space and singing The Union of Opposites. This was "planned", and like most ceremonies, there is always something that happens that you do not expect. While holding the chant so that everyone could be smudged in, Daniel and I started to move around the circle. We were a "Union of Opposites". Here's this little guy, and me, doing ceremony together. I had tears in my eyes, and a big wide grin! I do not fully comprehend this, just that there was a huge amount of healing that came to me that night — it literally reset my own experience of life.

It becomes so evident and clear that the work and the play we are involved with will continue, when the Hawaii Fire Tribe and other gatherings co-creating openings and ritual events where folks like Malia and Daniel are given opportunities to express their natures in ceremonial play. It was a joy, an honor and a privilege to support Alicia and Darren in bringing the intensely dynamic elemental dance of fire and water to the Fire Circle of Fire Tribe.

What fills me most in the work I have done in my life is the simplicity to co-create a space that is tangibly filled with the connections, and the commitment, to the future generations. I see it as one of the most important things a person can do. The comfort and the grace that I witnessed in Daniel's and Malia's eyes, soul and body, and the ability to "go with the flow" in the midst of ceremony is a testament to their home life, spirit and the community that supports their growth.

I am quite certain that there are other young ones within this community that are BEACONS of brilliance and the future leaders of our circles, the community and quite possibly the world. I have formally offered my support to help all the children feel welcome to co-create, and be involved in some ceremony. Either in helping the kids to facilitate an opening, or helping them plug into the general fun and chores associated with opening ceremonies. I guess you can see that we will be back next December, eh?

Saturday night's ceremony was so splendid that words are hard to find. Thank you to all who built the fire, laid the rangoli and inspired spirit to come forth. Una and Katlyn, you'd be so proud!!! The rangoli represented the ocean, and the fire was built like a volcano. We had the microcosm right there in the sacred zone of the Fire Circle. Thanks go out to Shaker Man Bill, who held open the space for the community to co-create the space, the ceremony and the magic. I do not remember everyone's names who were involved, but it so inspiring; my heart is still full from that night.

It was truly one of the highlights of my Fire Circle experience, ever.... I shall always remember moving around, in and outside of the circle with our sister BlackHawk. This gathering is in the middle of paradise! So even with a sore back, it is hard to complain and easy to remember how to heal. Pele came to visit us that night, and I am forever blessed by those moments of sisterhood with Hawk. We shared moments of seeing the goddess face to face, and we witnessed a process of renewal. There were moments of humor with the Pluto Priest and Priestess clan, as BlackHawk held the outer reaches of the universe, due to her slow moving steps and her back being in pain.

As always, the artistry and complexity of Shara's body painting, consistently blew me away over the weekend. With Shara's artwork, Bill's intention of Saturday's opening ceremony and Owen's humor and body, Shara managed to turn my beloved into a 747! When I look back on the images of our time together, I can still see "Lord Ratwing" reminding us of our connection to technology and the 747 (hint, hint, wink, wink, nod, nod call Owen "Ratwing", or "Lord Ratwing" and you are sure to get a smile) ... I will leave it to you to ask him to tell you the story though. Anyway, I digress, back to the point of this email: Fire Tribe Gathering!

If you could see my face, you would see a dreamy smile and a contented heart. I am so very grateful for the filling of my spirit, the spirit of my beloved and the spirit of resting in the arms of my beloved and the land and waters of Hawaii.

You have all changed my life, my perspectives and my life is lighter and more relaxed. You have really affected my ideas about event management simply by encouraging me to accept time and space to just hang out.

I highly encourage all of the Family of Fire to make plans to attend a Fire Tribe Gathering. It is something that (IMO) will change your life and renew your spirit.

Love and blessings, Mahalo

imani

Text: ©2003 mz imani. No part of this may be reproduced in any form without express written consent of the author.