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Spirit Fire Watcher

Packing List

Here are some packing suggestions to help you have a more enjoyable festival.

Clothing
SpiritFire is an outdoor event. It's camping, but it's comfortable. The festival site is in the Taconic mountains. Average temperatures are in the seventies during the day, fifties during the night (roughly 21-12 Celsius).

Though the road up to the site is steep, the fire circle and merchant areas are flat and grassy. The camping area is light woods with paths. There's hiking in the surrounding woods if you want to explore.

Suggestions:
  • both shorts and long pants
  • clothing that can be layered
  • light jacket
  • sweater
  • rain gear
  • at least two pairs of shoes
  • extra pairs of dry socks


Home Sweet Home
A few attendees stay in cabins, and most stay in tents. We've been lucky most of the time, but come prepared for rain. There's no electricity in the cabins. No fire of any kind is permitted in camping areas.

Suggestions:
  • warm bedding
  • pillow
  • tent
  • ground cloth
  • rain fly
  • ground pad, air mattress
  • tarps for your instruments
  • extra stakes and cord
  • battery-operated lantern
  • earplugs for sleeping at night - the drumming isn't intrusive, but it's audible
  • eye mask for sleeping during the day


Food
The retreat serves brunch and dinner daily; no dishes are required for the meal plan, but we suggest bringing a labeled travel mug of your own for ease. Dishes are not available for private camping needs, so bring what you need for your personal food stores.

Critters are a concern, but you may keep food at your campsite if it's in a sealable, latchable container. There is no refrigeration available.

Suggestions:
  • snacks in a sealable container to keep you going through the fire circle or in the afternoon
  • extra protein - canned tuna, canned chicken, nuts, peanut butter
  • any special food or tea you need
  • water bottle
  • travel mug


Toiletries
The site has running water, hot showers, and flush toilets. We encourage biodegradable shampoos and soaps, since the showers drain onto the ground.

Suggestions:
  • regular toiletries and medications
  • biodegradable soap
  • two towels (one can get pretty damp)
  • washcloth
  • band aids, sports tape, and basic first aid supplies


Outdoor comfort
SpiritFire is an outdoor event.

Suggestions:
  • flashlight and extra batteries
  • sunscreen
  • mosquito repellent
  • backjack or folding chair
  • a blanket to spread on the ground during fire circles


Workshops and Jam Sessions
Check workshop descriptions for anything special they might require, such as a blanket or particular instruments. You may bring a tape recorder to record chants and songs, but for everyone's comfort it is expected that you ask before recording. Workshops descriptions are listed here.

Fire circles run from midnight until dawn. Each night has a different theme; descriptions are here.

Suggestions:
  • clothing you can layer and move in comfortably all night long
  • a blanket or folding chair to spread on the grass so you can take a break
  • water bottle or travel mug
  • rhythm instruments: drums, rattles, singing bowls, didgeridoos, rain sticks, chimes, etc.
  • festival clothing, especially things that fit the theme of each fire circle. You might wear colors that reflect the parts of a fire circle you are particularly drawn to: red for music, blue for motion, yellow for voice, green or white for service, and black for mystery.
  • face paint
  • decorations for any of the several altars: the four elements, the ancestor altar, and the friends and family altar
  • finger foods to share at the food table: fruit, nuts, chocolate, cookies, bread, stored in airtight, sealable containers. SpiritFire will take care of storing community food.


Miscellaneous
Suggestions:
  • cash for a massage or merchant goodies
  • cash for the scholarship fund raffle or work shift buy-out. Scholarships were awarded to a dozen people this year thanks to the generosity of the community.
  • journal/pens
  • fliers for your community fire circle event
  • small gifts for those new and spontaneous friends
  • an extra pillow, blanket, camp chair, or decoration for the hang-out space
  • poi, diablo sticks, or other spinning toys
  • a watch or alarm clock
  • citronella oil for the torches would be appreciated


Things to leave home
Please do NOT bring these:
  • pets
  • illegal substances
  • camping stoves, candles, or incense; due to past accidents, the site does not permit any open flames at campsites.
  • drum sets, plastic timbales, or other similar instruments. They tend not to balance with the rest of the circle and take up a lot of space.
  • valuable or breakable items that you don't want to risk losing


We hope you have a happy, safe, and comfortable festival.