Why a wildfire ritual? Because it’s summer again, and here in the western US, that often means wildfire season. Living in a wildfire zone gives one a different perspective on fire. As pagans, we tend to work with fire as the candle, the match, the bonfire. We experience the fire as purifying and transforming. But we don’t often fully appreciate the out of control destructive power of fire.
This ritual takes us into the heart of fire as wildfire and the lessons of the fire. If you live in an area that has experienced fires, find a location where you can celebrate amidst the transformed landscape of a past burn area. Then come along for our wildfire ritual.
The Wildfire Ritual
Cleansing and Casting
Cleanse with water and salt (Extra points if you can use naturally sourced water from a water source nearby. Yeah, that puddle there counts.)
Purify with air and fire (If you are in the forest or other natural setting, you should consider an alternative to open flame. For instance, a chime or bell has the energy of fire and the lingering tone carries on the element of air.)
Call directions. Because we are focusing on fire at its penultimate, consider calling directions through the lens of fire. These tattvas are an excellent way to dig deeper into the elements and discover the essence of each element within another. Such as:
- East (air of fire) Lightning
- South (fire of fire) Wild fire
- West (water of fire) Hot springs
- North (earth of fire) Lava
- Center (spirit of fire) smoke
Cast circle with a ring of flame (magickal, NOT literal).
Open the ritual and set the intention by singing “Fire of Creation” by Abbi Spinner from her Fire of Creation album.
It starts very quietly, it starts with a spark
It starts in the center, it starts in the heart
Fire of creation, fire of purification
Fire of transformation; fire of illumination
Illuminate us, create us anew
Purify and transform, make us like you
Be the Fire
Invite your participates to “be” the fire using the five senses. First, the group can make the sounds of fire, crackling and popping (not to be confused with the sounds of your favorite rice-based breakfast cereal). Then, look like fire. Dance and move and leap like the flames. Next, smell fire. Since I hope you aren’t in a situation where you are smelling a real wildfire, find a substitute. For instance, I find the aroma of a nice Scotch whisky to be evocative of fire. Now taste the fire. If you’re really brave, a drop of Tabasco on the tongue will leave you feeling the fire. I’d go for the chili chocolate myself. Finally, feel the fire. To avoid first or second degree burns (and a law suit if you’re leading a group), ask everyone to rub their hands together quickly till the heat builds.
Now that you are fire, you should sing “I Am Flame” by Alane Brown (sung by the Crow Women on Crow Magic) and fill in the last three syllables with words or phrases that describe being the fire.
I am Flame (clap, clap)
I am Flame (clap, clap)
Blessed, as I leap
And I shout…From the heat!…Burningly!…Smoke the leaves!…To whisky!…Eat the trees!…Hey!
You get the idea.
Discuss the Experience of Fire
Take a few minutes to let everyone share how fire is experienced on the magickal and spiritual plane. What symbols of fire do people resonate with? What fire deities do we know and what are their aspects? What magic does fire bring us, such as energy, manifestation, purification, banishing or the cycle of destruction and regeneration? Don’t forget sex magic! (Wink, wink.)
But since we are focusing on wildfire, we have to also acknowledge the shadow side of fire. On the physical plane, we can see the devastation it leaves behind. What is the shadow side of fire spiritually? Perhaps you indentify it with tempers and hotheadedness. Maybe its shadow is impulsiveness or burned bridges. Some see the shadow side of fire in indulgence and addictions—the passionate energy of fire run wild and out of control. Help your participants name those places they’ve witnessed or experienced the shadow side of fire in their lives.
Learning from the Forest
If you’ve been able to hold this ritual in an old burn area, now is the time to learn from the experience of the land. Let the participants wander a bit (not too far, we don’t need search and rescue involved!) to talk to the land and the plants and animals upon it about how wildfire impacts them. Depending on how long ago the fire was, you may find it difficult to find the evidence of the flame. Note the impacts and how this area looks or feels different than other parts of the land that haven’t been burned in recent history. You’ll probably find that the area has fewer evergreens and more deciduous trees, shrubs and grass. The fire made way for something new.
If you don’t have access to a fire area (or, as happened with the Crow Women, a torrential downpour has driven you indoors), you can do this activity in meditation and visit a burn area on the spiritual plane. We also had a few pieces of charred wood from a burn area that helped us focus on that energy.
Create fire collage
Using what you have learned from the land, create your own “fire” with simple supplies:
- Construction paper or cardstock in red, orange and yellow
- A piece of poster board or cardstock
- Scissors
- Glue
- Pens
Cut the pieces of construction paper into tongues of flame. On one side of each tongue, write something you want fire to bring. On the opposite side, list what fire must destroy to make that happen. Glue each tongue (“destroy” side down) onto a piece of poster board or cardstock to make a fire. When winter comes, burn the flame in your Yule fire or in your fireplace.
Raise Energy
Bring your wildfire ritual to a close by circling around your fire collage and sing Abbi Spinner’s “Die and be Reborn.”
Be born, live, then die then
Be born, live, then die
Die, and be reborn again
Die, and be reborn
Like the phoenix, and the grain king
Like the sun god, and the moon queen
Close with cakes and ale, dancing around your construction paper bonfire, eating s’mores or singing more fire songs (In the Fire, Ring of Fire, Great Balls of Fire, or Light my Fire).