Notes from the Vision Council at Phoenix Fire 2007

Each bullet summarizes the heartsong of one person. G= Gratitude

·         Very pleased w/energy of PF as a whole, feels basically clean, little trauma-drama, honoring that.

·         Agrees; Council wise to cap @250; should facilitate emergence of this in other locations (w/group insurance & other support).  Also, don’t like Phoenix as name, we have moved beyond that.

·         “Always” rising from the ashes.

·         Really enjoying being here and the vibe; vision is roots and wings—event is the wings, feel still not enough in place for others to learn what they need in order to do the work.  Deepen the roots.

·         When performer vibe left we lost knowledge re: how to design opening rituals in a way that includes, moves energy.  Suggest ritual design considerations , broader participation in design of opening rituals.

·         Gratitude to those investing energy & integrity (hereafter, gratitude = “G”).  Likes evolution from old space, leaves space to discover what fills it.  G Jimi, Morwen. Council.

·         Event very special & sacred; scheduling issues—should be more things in the morning, missed many workshops.  Have pool open, at least.  Not sure would come next year.  I work, have to come up after Friday.

·         G next circle outside of Council who did it because they saw need.  That’s my vision of what we’re doing here.  Sharing resources to make it all work.

·         Feel sweetness of transition to newer form, echo concern re:  lack of moving energy.  2004 was catalytic, huge impact, led me to find Spark.  So:  how to catalyze people, believe will spark naturally when intention is clear, which it isn’t yet, but there has been a clearing in the past two years.

·         Strange that many locals aren’t here.  Much of circle magic is personal stories; maybe put these on the website, get more of a sense of what this is, it’s hard to communicate.  Create a repository—website doesn’t say much.  Have a physical location people can go for information locally—Susan’s store?

·         Please post dates much sooner.

·         Vision:  20 yrs from now, babies here will be in attendance.  Spread lore, build learning.  Ritual technology that moves energy is fascinating to me, we should spread it around, we should all learn it, have workshops in this.

·         Last year birthing new baby, this year Terrible Twos, battling w/communication, hope we do a better job.  Being on staff I’m burnt out already.  Want to communicate face-to-face around the fire, more eye contact, esp. w/drummers in Gratitude Zone.  Stay more connected in the circle.

·         Like to see this happen > 1x/an, but change location—dust, cost too much here.

·         Would travel somewhere else, distance no object.

·         G being here, for this practice, all the hard work, those who are new and gave it a shot, for welcoming my beloved.  This is a new relationship, not one of those “second tries after a breakup” to make the breakup less awful.

·         Heard of FD for years, didn’t want to spend the $, definitely worth it, but lower price would help my friends to come.  Scholarships?  Love to teach youth to drum—important to find ways to engage the young, get them prepared to come to this.

·         Felt like non-staff, non-Council were out of the loop.  Let us know how we can  help, and DISCLOSE  MORE—still a feeling of lack of transparency.

·         G for evolution of listening that has happened as all festivals have matured.  Drummers listening, quieting down for a chant, for example.  Many do not know FD has become PF—I meet those people all the time.  Need to get the word out.

·         Good to be here, be w/old & new friends.  The circle is what we bring to it.  Challenging but worth it.  Ask ourselves, “what can I bring tonight”?

·         New portal location, track through drum zone, V of drum benches work great.  Dance track smaller but area outside is diffuse, talky, chatty—want clarification of what that area is for.

·         Concerns re:  new people.  Need an orientation for them, gives particulars to help people be more comfortable or even a buddy system.  Also:  a phone # to talk to a person about event, instead of just email/website.

·         Liked intro of service groups as a way to develop broader community responsibility.  Hard transition when life already has so many responsibilities, but essential and good.  Should spread burden as widely as possible.

·         What if women and men gathered separately to find out what their individual powers are?  Children?  Then combine—is there a way to do this?

·         Language:  gathering v festival.  Less is more, create container and infrastructure, then let the community fill it in.  There is no one way to bring in new people.  Bring them in many ways.  Success will be when this is still going w/o us.

·         Consider 3-day weekends to accommodate people who work.  Like to explore other venues.  Like to have a facilitated discussion of ritual technology at each gathering.

·         Also 1/2 of the people this year were not here last year.  Have to have a way to communicate what this is—otherwise people just can’t get it—sim. to Burning Man.

·         Curious re:  connection to Paganism—don’t know much about it, what is the connection here?  Some may not come if they see as Pagan, open, accessible.  Need more transparency of relationship—how many on Council are Pagan?  Concern re:  having factory farmed animals in meals, should be only organic.  Incorporate yoga or stretching.

·         Have been witness or party to several conflicts since coming onsite, all resolved through communication.  Have stepped back from email list, glad others stepped up.  Should have some things on website like Considerations for Fire Circle, print and post.

·         G for easy and hard pieces.  Release expectations, personal responsibility, walk one’s talk, deep listening & understanding, acting from a place of kindness and compassion.

·         Rhythmic singing and drumming important for the Earth.  Develop techniques to take this out into the world w/o having to have a festival.  Teach & practice nonviolent communication.

·         Would offer yoga class if good location onsite.  Dust, nonflat site hard.

·         Excited about having a list of people who could be a liaison for new people to talk with.

·         Love to see gathering share more G in community each day, see each other every day together, more community involvement in ritual planning and execution.

·         Will facilitate G circles.

·         Last year wouldn’t go into circle, having newbie group helped, provided support and people to talk with.  Don’t have to do things here, have to be here.

·         G for feedback, support idea of newbie group, surprised there wasn’t one this year.  Scheduling was hard,  hard to make workshops, liked that it was loaded to Th/Fri.  Fire circle service group communicated how the magic works—this information should be communicated to all participants.

·         G to be able to be of service, gathering added so much to my life, glad to be able to give back.

·         G for organizers.  Not a ritualistic person, not here for transformation, like to drum, sometimes feel like whore in church, but respect it.  To me, nothing is sacred—I don’t dress up.  No/few brown people—a concern.

·         [Tells Sufi story]  Upshot is we can spin this experience many different ways.

·         Facilitate connecting during the day as well as around the fire.  Great to invite diversity, other traditions.

·         Love this family and that we keep showing up for one another and will keep doing so.

·         G

·         Love this site, despite challenges.

·         Is there a way to apprentice, learn new roles and responsibilities?

·         Great to be here.  I came for those moments when it feels like we’re all connected by spirit.  What’s most important to me is that this continues.

·         This year I have a clear, distinct piece I’m taking home.  Thanks, G.

·         Take the risk of taking this home—do an event.  Suggest moving date until after Burning Man.

·         Asks us all to be patient and kind to let things improve.  This is a process.  Take action, bring it if you want it.

·         [Invites to party in Redwood City, info @ www.ppulse.com]

·         [Several G expressions]

·         Leadership required—thanks to leaders who help create this.

·         Heart of the community is authenticity—space to be who we are.

·         Suggest Jeff McBride YouTube clip for orientation.

·         Need land of our own to do this.  Echo organic food, scholarships.

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