Workshops

SpiritFire offers many avenues to deepen your skills in the pathways of Music, Motion, Voice, and the Mysteries.  
We will list workshops as they are finalized. Please keep checking back!  If you are wondering about presenting your work at SpiritFire, check out our Presenter FAQ page. 

In addition to the workshops below, you are invited to take/offer a community workshop on Saturday between 12 noon and 5pm.  You can read more about those on the Opportunities page.
 
Below is the general structural layout of the current gathering workshops.  Each session time generally has three scheduled workshops, and sometimes four if we feel the pull to make room for something in high demand.  The offerings may be shifted into different time slots as we get nearer to the gathering, so keep checking back.  A finalized schedule will be in your program once you are on site.
 
WEDNESDAY:  
 
Evening: For our first evening together, the community will be dividing up into four groups, representing the four active pathways at SpiritFire: Music, Motion, Voice, and Seva.  You can go to whichever one you'd like - we all participate in all pathways in some way throughout the gathering, so feel free to choose the one that calls you that night. After a brief workshop/exploration of how the pathways interact and relate to the SFF Fire circle the groups will each create the traditional opening statements (honoring, promising, requesting) that are addressed to the other pathways during our "Pathways Ritual Fire Lighting".  Check the fire circle description page later on for more information.
 
THURSDAY:
 
Session I

 
Unity In Motion (Josselyne Price): Over the years, there have been a few times at various fires that we have had the opportunity to dance in unison, synchronizing our movements for a time in response to the rhythms being offered.  These times are remembered as ecstatic in their sense of connection and communication.  We seem to really enjoy being able to move in tandem and the intensity that unified movement brings to the moment.  Come and learn a very basic circle dance that comes from the coast of West Africa (Nigeria, Benin, Togo, Ghana) - any level of experience can do it, and all are welcome!  This dance will help us see easy modalities of group movement, and encourage us to create our own movements when we're at the fire so that others will be encouraged to come and dance *with* us.  We'll have live Ghanaian drumming for our experience.  Wear something comfortable to move in, and bring your water with you. 
 
The Art of Being Love and the Fire Circle Ritual (Jonathan Avalon): This experience offers a unique perspective of our reality as we take a look at things through Love’s consciousness. But that is actually the easy part; as we all know the hard part is going "back down-the-mountain”.  We will explore personal practices designed to assist us in maintaining Love’s perspective throughout our daily lives.  How do we keep looking at the world through rose-colored glasses when the world keeps showing us something different? Shift from unconditional love to Loving Unconditionally. Participate in the expansion of Love’s consciousness and help dedicate the Love Shrine as we build a Mini-Fire of Love.'
 
Session II
 
Afro-Haitian Movement (Johnny Scovel): - Back by popular request, dancers of all levels, ability, and experiences are invited to come together to experience the movements of Haitian Vodou and other traditional forms.  The class will use Haitian community dance forms to guide us toward a deeper connection between dancer and drummer, and dancer and Spirit.
 
Sacred Play (Penny Olson): The magical, powerful, and sparkly fire invites us to bring our strong, whimsical, and playful selves.
Play is a state-of-mind that many of us put away as we grew older.  We developed fears and a sense of responsibility that have gotten in the way of approaching life light-heartedly.  Play can be an expression of release, joy, and laughter. Together we will explore the elements of air, water, fire, and earth and how they connect to our playful spirit.  Even our resistance to play can be found in the elements.  Sacred play is a tool for communicating with a deep part of ourselves.  It is a reminder to stop and smell the roses and to have moments when we’re not taking everything so seriously.
This will be an interactive experience that will offer you tools that you may choose at times to bring to your ritual around the fire and out into the world.
 
 
FRIDAY: 
 
Session III
 
Hand Drumming at the Fire Circle (Donovan Arthen): - Donovan returns this year to help hand drummers deepen their skills and technique, including the tones, rhythms, and aesthetics that are part of the SpiritFire circle.  This workshop is open to all levels and is offered to help create a cohesive and confident drumming experience for everyone!
 
 
CHAKRAS AND SHADOWS: A Playshop to enhance your Fire Circle Bliss (Junie Moon): - Are you searching for ways dive more deeply into your fire circle experience? Then come dance your  chakras and shadows. This freestyle, authentic movement playshop will introduce you to the energy centers called chakras and the wisdom they possess.  Along the way you can meet some of your shadows that may show up throughout the night that block you from being fully present for your fire circle pleasure. Come melt into your dance and experience being fully alive! 
 
 
Session IV
 
The American Guedra (Asherah Allen): Come enjoy an ecstatic, experiential, group dance ritual called the Guedra.  In this ritual, you will have an opportunity to be a conduit of Spirit for the benefit of Mother Earth.  Originally the Guedra was performed by the Tuareg villagers of Morocco (Berbers).  The American Guedra has evolved as a grass roots tribal dance experience, traditionally offered for women only; however at SFF the ritual will be open for men and women to participate equally.  Rhythmic chants and clapping are used to induce a trance dance state in each person who desires to sit in the center of the circle of supporters as a center dancer or ‘guedra’.   Supporters sit side by side in the circle forming a solid container.  They offer water, and help to ground the dancers.  The ritual is complete once all participants who wish have had a chance to be in the center.
The guedra is a benevolent dance; its intention is to send good energy out to the world.  The ritual is done in waves that build in intensity for each group of dancers with a calling or acknowledging of Spirit entering the circle.  This is a visceral experience for all dancers and participants holding space.  The dancers will end with ecstatic collapsing on the ground as they ground the energy to the Earth.  Water and veils will be provided, however if you prefer a personal drinking vessel or veil please bring them.
 
 
Dunduns at the Fire Circle (Carl Bridge): The family of Dunun drums (Dununba, Sangban, and Kenkeni) are the baseline of Malinke Percussion; in a traditional setting they create a melodic foundation for ensemble rhythms and dance.
During this workshop you will receive some helpful tools to improve techniques for playing these drums: ergonomics, how bell patterns can aid in more precise playing, and how knowledge of basic patterns can be used as a tool creating your own rhythms.
We will also discuss how to adapt and integrate these instruments in a non-traditional arrangement, such as our larger ensemble at Spiritfire.
 
 
 
SATURDAY:
 
We will be holding space today for a variety of community events and rituals, both planned and spontaneous.  Events could include councils, community workshops (opportunity between 12 noon - 5pm for any member of the community to share their skills and passions), a Village Meet (where you can share your ideas, concerns, questions, and inspirations about this and the next gathering) and more.  Or, you can decide to rest your body with Yoga, hang out in the vending area and learn to spin, drink coffee with friends in the dining hall - it's a day of improvisatory flow.