Sacred Arts Circle Orientation

Thank you for honoring our group by carefully reading this introduction. Because the Sacred Arts Circle is an intentional group practice — in contrast to a workshop — your care in learning about the nature of the evening will empower you to participate and contribute fully, as well as show consideration for the existing fellowship.

The Sacred Arts Circle is an environment of active meditation; an arts-focused social/spiritual practice harnessing participatory movement and sound to focus and alter consciousness. Our goal within the Circle is to enhance our relationships with self, others, and our world through deep engagement and playful interaction. Most Circles include chanting, eclectic movement, percussion, spoken word, sacred sounds, ritual theatre — and many other forms of artistic magic. There are a number of conceptual underpinnings useful to understand:

  1. A shared intention to nurture a healthy, conscious community, by meeting regularly to play, learn, create and heal together.

  2. A leaderless process based on group co-creation and contribution. There are a variety of "space-holder" roles available each week. A space-holder is someone who commits to serving a particular group need such as organizing the opening or closing ceremony, creating a shrine or altar space, setting up the Feast Table, or collecting donations at the door. Since none of us make any money from the Circle (the $5 donation goes directly to the venue), all are expected to help make it happen.

  3. A container within which we are creating our own sacred culture. Many of us have studied the sacred music and movements of other cultures, all the while longing for something deeply "our own". A number of reference articles are available at http://www.firetribehawaii.org that reflect much of the core approach of the Sacred Arts Circle.

  4. The central focus is on the practice of Deeply Engaging and Relating — refining our skills and ways of interacting with each other through music, song, movement and spoken word. The Sacred Arts Circle is a form of active, shared meditation. We bring our attention to each other and to the process of discovering — and RE-discovering — ourselves anew. Through this practice we strengthen the energy of our magic and inspire each other!

  5. Some of our traditions are based on our own group’s history, and others have been modeled on Joshua Levin and Deborah Nervig’s Drum and Dance Meditations in Las Vegas.

The Circle is a metaphor for living. Most anyone would be entertained by being in the Circle, but deep satisfaction and fulfillment are not a function of being a "spectator" in life. Your choice to enter the Sacred Arts Circle signals your intention to be a co-creator, and co-contributor to the energy we build together. Here are a few things we have committed to, in order to find on-going value at the Sacred Arts Circle:

Service – each of us comes to the Circle with something to share that everyone can be a part of. This often means making time between gatherings to research, prepare and practice! We do this knowing there is no guarantee there will be time for every potential offering. In addition, all the refreshments, flowers, candles, and decorations are sourced by each of us individually.

Learning – Since new chants, dances and music are offered every week, it’s understood that part of our process includes engaging in learning. The Circle is a safe space- there is no performance pressure, expectations to live up to, or "minimal skill level" required. Slightly awkward moments, and a wide range of skills, are normal.

Relating – If you feel disconnected at any time, actively seek to interact and engage with others. Eye contact, singing together, intentionally and purposefully interacting through dance or music — all are portals through which we discover each other. The meditation is to be involved in energetic inter-play for the duration of the Circle. Avoid just watching, feeding on what is there. GIVE something, and share in juicing up the Circle!

Stepping Out – The Sacred Arts Circle is a place for you to BRING IT ON! We are eager to witness and become a part of your creativity, passion and art. Over time we are discovering new ways to merge personal expression with the group’s emergent, and ever changing culture. We are committed to holding a supportive, accepting and encouraging environment where we can share with one another what is inspiring to each of us.

We use the metaphor of planting and nurturing the growth of a tree as a way of describing the Sacred Arts Circle. Thus, we offer you these basic "con-Seed-erations":

  • The space which contains the Circle is our Sacred Ground for the evening — a holy place. Remember that Magical work is in progress, and take all casual conversation and other distractions outside — and well away.

  • There are a limited number of chairs in the Circle, and these are reserved for people actively making music on instruments. There is more information about the musical architecture on the Music and the Sacred Arts Circle page (link below).

  • Any instrument left in the Circle is assumed to be available for all to play.

  • The flow of energy moves within the Circle. If you wish to be still, please pause near the outer edge.

  • Please be sure to bring a delicious contribution to the Finger Food Feast.

  • Our Circle honors diversity. Remember to allow opportunities for quieter musical instruments to shine... and may we also be blessed with periods of silence!

The evening flows like this…

4:45 pm – The Spaceholders for the Circle arrive.

5:00 pm – Everyone else arrives, deposits their $5 donation, and begins to create the sacred environment. Bring beautiful fabric, banners or tapestries to hang on the walls, fresh flowers, candles, altar items, or items sacred to you. We set up the musical architecture, the Feast Table and whatever other surprises people might bring. Please note that this is the beginning of the Circle, not a "set-up time" that someone else does because they are presenting an event you attend.

5:30 pm – The Entry Portal Closes (We lock the doors!) Who knows how we’ll be "doing" set-up? In Song? With Poetry? Auming? If you arrive late, Please Don't Knock — and please do join us next time!

5:45 pm – A brief group discussion is held, during which ideas about refining our practice are explored. (Note that everyone is encouraged to also share their thoughts between Circles by posting to the FireTribeDiscussion eGroup.)

6:00 pm – The Opening Ceremony for the Circle begins… and away we go!

7:30 pm – The Circle closes and we all join together in the Finger Food Feastival!

8:00 pm – Everyone helps pack up, and clean the facility.

PLEASE NOTE: In order to foster stronger connections, Open Sacred Arts Circles only take place when the group agrees to welcome new friends in at the next gathering. This ensures that there is a strong foundation prepared to guide and support new celebrants. The invitation which was extended to you is for you alone — if you choose to be a part of future Circles, there will be other opportunities for you to bring a guest. Most Circles are not open to new people, thus allowing us to build on what we have learned at previous gatherings without having to focus on facilitating new people.

The Sacred Arts Circle is a smoke, drug and alcohol free gathering.

If you intend to play ANY musical instrument at the Sacred Arts Circle, PLEASE be sure to read the Music and the Sacred Arts Circle page!

If you would like to join us, please email firetribeinfo@yahoo.com or call (808) 737-3786 for information on the date, time and location of the next open Circle.