From Thursday 16th January 2025 I'll be starting a free monthly community fire circle for women called The Enchanted Hearth on Thursday evenings at 7.30pm in Caterham, Surrey. There is room for 6 of us in the little area I created at the top of my garden some time ago. It's a space that has been waiting patiently for the moment when women will arrive from this community and beyond to gently fill the space around the hearth.
I was introduced to fire circles through a Mexican organisation called Sacred Fire and attended a session in Lewes, as they have trained Firekeepers from all around the world. My plan was to train with them too, but I discovered it’s 4 years, a lot of money, and a commitment to hold 10 years of monthly fire circles – something I could not commit to! But in those I attended, along with other circles I have taken part in as part of a 3-year programme I am doing in Wales called Dadeni, I have come to understand how spending time around the fire together in the evenings sharing jokes, stories, songs music, our hopes and concerns is quietly magical. And at times such as these, we need a little magic and community in our lives!
The idea is to offer this small space to the local community (and even beyond, if called for) to experience the joys and sacredness of sitting around the fire together. Fires open up a particular space that facilitates deep connection with each other, our own hearts and path in life, and most of all with the energy of fire which provides warmth, joy, transformation and light. In our increasingly hectic world, despite all the technology available to us, many people feel more isolated than ever. In my experience the fires allow us to slow down, switch off our overactive minds and enable us to hear our hearts voice more clearly whilst building a sense of community and having fun!
What are "offerings"?
We will be working with the celtic traditions and Old Ways of Britain by giving sacred offerings to the fire using Mugwort to represent Air (direction: east), Fireweed (Rosebay willowherb) to represent Fire (direction: south), Ladies Mantle to represent Water (direction: west), and Mushroom to represent Earth (direction: north).
The Sacred Connection Between Humans and Fire
Fire holds a profound and sacred connection to humanity, symbolising both our survival and our spirit. Across cultures and millennia, fire has been revered not only for its heat (warmth) and alchemy (creating tools), but as something sacred imbued with the properties of mystery, transformation, and sacredness.
Fire as Life-Giver and Sustainer
From the earliest days of human existence, fire was a life-giving force. It provided warmth against the cold, light in the darkness, and a way to cook food, making sustenance more nourishing and accessible. This practical connection with fire evolved into a spiritual reverence, as it became a symbol of protection and survival—a literal and metaphorical hearth around which communities gathered.
Fire as a Symbol of Transformation
Fire has the power to change those who sit with it, as with all the elements. Wood becomes ash, raw metal becomes tools, and ingredients are transformed into nourishing meals. This alchemy inspired ancient people to view fire as a gateway to transformation, mirroring the human ability to grow, adapt, and transcend challenges. In many spiritual traditions, fire represents purification, burning away the old to make way for the new.
Fire as a Divine Element
Fire is often considered a sacred gift from the divine. In Greek mythology, Prometheus gave fire to humanity, symbolising knowledge and enlightenment. In Hinduism, Agni, the fire god, is a mediator between humans and the heavens. Fire rituals, such as lighting candles or maintaining eternal flames, signify a connection to the divine across faiths. The flickering flame embodies the soul’s light, guiding us through life's uncertainties.
Fire as a Gatherer of Souls
The communal aspect of fire is deeply sacred. Throughout history, humans have gathered around fire to share stories, celebrate rites of passage, and offer prayers. The fire circle is a space of unity, a place where individuals connect not only with one another but with the ancestors, the cosmos, and the sacred within themselves.
Fire as a Dual Force
Fire’s duality as both creator and destroyer has always captured human imagination. While it sustains life, it can also take it away. This duality reminds us of our own power and fragility and the delicate balance required to respect forces beyond our control.
Modern Reflections on Fire
Even today, fire retains its sacred essence. Bonfires mark celebrations, candles symbolise remembrance, and fire circles invite connection and introspection. In a world of increasing disconnection, gathering around fire brings us back to a primal, sacred bond with nature, with each other, and with ourselves.
Fire is more than an element; it reflects the human spirit—passionate, transformative, and eternal. By honouring fire, we honour life itself and the sacred energy that fuels our journey through life.
Nominal fee of £10 to cover time and materials. Max 6 people. If you live in Caterham or nearby locations in Surrey and would like to join us, please email me on justine@wonderbreath.co and/or book here: https://www.wonderbreath.co/product-page/the-enchanted-hearth-women-s-fire-circle
If you're considering coming, this article may be of interest (and certainly of use) to you: https://www.kosmosjournal.org/kj_article/deschooling-dialogues-on-initiation-trauma-and-ritual-with-francis-weller/
Kommentare