Vision Council notes, Phoenix Fire 2008

Vision Council Notes Phoenix Fire 2008

 

Members of the Fire Family Council opened the vision council with information about why we have been looking at moving to a new site. Challenging logistics (especially getting food delivered, as well as other things) have made it difficult for the organizers. Input is sought from the larger community, though people are also welcome to speak about anything they want.

 

Each bullet represents a new speaker, not named unless specific commitments were made. Comments are paraphrased.

 

• Registration policies need to be rethought. Keep it open longer. Last-minute people were turned away.

 

• Who is in new location, is there a core of people there? Concerned that local (i.e. Santa Cruz) people won’t come.

 

• Less dusty would be good

 

• Would like a place where the sun rises during the ritual

 

• Place where Boy Scout rules aren’t restricting us

 

• It could be anywhere – it’s about the people

 

• Website needs work. Let’s get off Yahoo groups, put everything in one  place. Tabitha has ideas and will work with website people to get things set up.

 

• High priority to prevent burnout of the folks who work to organize the gathering. If they think we should move, let’s move.

 

• Love the rituals. Would love to see the first night’s ritual involve newcomers. Likes that different groups do the rituals.

 

• Concern about medical issues with this site, distance to hospital

 

• Registration guidelines and deadlines weren’t strictly enforced this year.

 

• Drawn to the event because of the place, want to stay here

 

• This is the population center of CA

 

• Have not been impressed by lack of detail in the financial statement.

 

• Have had a strong attachment to being here but think it’s time for a change. People will travel. Confident that the right people will come. If it’s less work, people will participate more.

 

• I don’t like change, but it means growth. Echo that it’s important to support the people doing the work. What matters is what makes it keep going on.

 

• It’s about coming home – but that means it’s about the people more than the place. Moving is not forever. We are all empowered to make things happen.

 

• This is a tribal experience, but not really because it’s not on tribal land. To be on rented land restricts the relationship we can build with the land.

 

• New site = more travel time for some. Set it up to allow travelers to come in early. How to deal with newbies. Some leave early; how to get them hooked in right away.

 

• Would like to see plant workshops and other land-based offerings. Appreciate using reusable dishes. Mary wants to get more involved in greening the gathering.

 

• The organization’s books are available for anyone to see, they are kept by the treasurer and may be inspected in detail on request.

 

• Make it longer, more days. But then need flexibility for people to come in. Balance need for $ with quality of event and how that is affected by people coming in and out. It works best for the magic to have a closed container.

 

• Some people have complained about lack of handicap access. They don’t complain directly for fear of being labeled “complainers.”

 

• Ways to connect newcomers ahead of time; buddy system, preconference call. Personally love this place but it has to work for the workers. Maybe 2 events? Can we have it all? What does Spirit want?

 

• We need to think more about integrating newbies. Orientation should be in amphitheater, make it entertaining (like FD). Probably not a good idea to have Wed. night fire, just have an informal fire at village on Wednesday night.

 

• Shape of fire circle not working for me. What’s keeping me here is people. Don’t like track behind the drums.

 

• Love this land, personal choice would be not to leave Cutter, but it’s about the greater good. Like the old technology of the circle. Has heard feedback about concentric circles.

 

• In magic space, simple shapes are better i.e. circle. Any space with trees is sacred, anywhere we go will work as soon was we do our magic there.

 

• I brought 3 new people. They need “rites of passage” orientation. Circle shape also really important.

 

• Going behind the drummers works for a lot of people

 

• Blown away by the magic we do together. It can happen anywhere and in any shape we choose. Concern about how much work needs to be done at new site. How to get to a place where we can put down roots for the long haul.

 

• One of the reasons for this site was the community of redwoods. But we can do our magic anywhere. Vision/goals: set up a non-profit, community run, not run by any individual. Getting our own land. The circle shifted to accommodate the drummers – now where are the dancers? They need more room. Take down the throne!

 

• Proud of what we did this year to get more community involvement. How to bring it out to the world?

 

• Installations are hard to do here, but had amazing participation. Probably easier at a new site. Orientation is too much talking at people. We need something that engages people, so they get to know each other before meeting in sacred ritual space. The merge lane is challenging and the space between the drummers and the fire feels tight for dancing.

 

• This year people are working out things better, communication is better, the bullshit level is down. We can make magic anywhere. Important to keep beginners mind, not be attached.

 

• Love having the drummers in the circle as a dancer. Dance is about flow, so it’s good to have ways to flow. Part of what it’s about is being together in the space. Orientation is not just for newcomers. We need dialogue about what the fire circle is about, there is hunger for this. What are different ways of doing this? Performance/trance trade-off. Salon is step in the right direction, for this dialogue. Vision council also important.

 

• Feels like the Phoenix has landed – core energy knows what it is – will continue no matter where we go.

 

• Santa Cruz local thinks it’s doable to move. It’s not about the site, it’s about the community.

 

• Deborah Opperman will work with newcomers, along with Ember and Rich Raffles (other people signed onto that committee later are Venee and Kai)

 

• “People of all religious faiths welcome” excludes agnostics. Brought by the drum, stays for the people. “Welcome home” makes me think “cult.”

 

• Food was amazing

 

• What if we put the drummers in the center with the fire and danced around them?

 

• “Taking it home,” some sort of afterglow

 

• Loves council process. Grateful for honesty.

 

• How to ripple it out to the world

 

• Every conversation here goes to unconditional love.