FIRE CEREMONY

  •    Prepare the fire:  begin by placing the kindling in the form of a southern cross in the center of your firepit, add newspaper, then build a teepee of wood using kindling and larger sticks and then logs.

 •    Open sacred space by calling in the directions.

 •    Start the fire by lighting it from the East; one person should care take the fire for the evening.

 •    Begin the chant to call upon the spirit of the waters beneath the earth.

Nitche Tai Tai, N-U-Y

Oro Nika  Oro Nika

Hey Hey … Hey Hey

Oh Eu I

The following is not a literal translation, but it does express its essence:

O Great Mother, Mother of our Waters

We call on you, waters of our birth

Waters of our sustenance

Waters that cleanse us on our death

Waters of life.

•    Feed the fire with olive oil three times:  offered first to the four directions, then heaven and earth, and last connecting the circle with the fire by honoring “all” those present   

 Olive oil is used as an offering during the taming of the fire.  The moment the fire becomes friendly; it changes color and burns in a different manner.  This change should be learned from direct observation and experience with the fire

•    Test the fire for friendliness - or put another way, we wait until we come up to the temperature of the fire. 

 •    When the fire is friendly, the space holder leads the ceremony of offerings by blowing their intentions into each light arrow.  We then approach the fire and silently put our offering into it.

Create an offering of burnable materials.  This “lite arrow” represents the issue or something you want to let go of, or something you would like to manifest in your life.  The “lite arrow” is to focus attention in an active meditation.

 We put our hands briefly through the fire, drawing the energy of the fire into our belly, then into our heart, and then into our forehead.  The only protection when touching the fire is to come before it with a pure heart.  You can touch it lightly, or go deeply into the flame. It is not meant to be sensational or dramatic, but rather a way to focus our attention and energy upon our transformation.

 Students are asked to view this information as the “heart” of the ceremony.  The style of one’s own teacher is not to be literally imitated, but rather it is the beginning point to find one’s own unique ritual to add to this essential ceremony.

 •    All others make their offering coming in from four directions, with one person holding space behind them. 

 •    Meanwhile, the Pachamama stick is passed around the circle for all to place their blessing.

 •    After all the offerings are made the oldest person and youngest person places the Pachamama stick in the fire

 •    Close the space

  There is a two-week period following a fire ceremony in which “instances of opportunity” appear.  These “instances” provide the opportunity to translate your intent for healing into reality.  You are advised to think of the fire ceremony, not as an instantaneous magical change, but rather an opening for healing distinctive habits and patterns.  Recognizing this “opening” and seize the opportunity to change your behavior in the real world.   Then let the universe take care of the details.