Lifeways Programs of the Sacred Fire Community
Summer/Autumn 2007
SFC Lifeways Initiation into Womanhood
Initiation into Womanhood is a sacred rite of passage that offers a foundation from which to embark on a deep inner journey towards self-awareness. This ritual ushers a girl or young woman through a sacred portal where the expressions of the feminine are sought and learned, and the value of womanhood is honored. In claiming the Sacred Feminine in her life, the young woman will discover her inherent gift to create, and in doing so, become the person she was born to be.
The most recent Young Women's Initiation took place August 4-11, 2007 in Northern California. The 2008 initiation will be in June, and will be in western Colorado.
For more information contact Jessica De la O at jcdelao@gmail.com or Deanna Jenne at djbutterfly5@gmail.com
SFC Lifeways Young Men's Initiation into Adulthood
Our ancestors knew that latent inside each young person is a spiritual force that is waiting to be transformed by appropriate community and ritual. Once released, the young person gains status, perspective and heart connection to the world around them, triggering the seeds of maturity, responsibility and wisdom to begin to grow.
The Sacred Fire Community announces that it is offering Young Men's Initiation into Adulthood. This ritual will be open to young men from the ages of 16 to 25 by application process. The ritual will be guided by David Wiley, community elder, ritual leader, and healer in both the Huichol and Nahuatl traditions. He will be assisted by Dan Sprinkles, who is also a shaman in both of these traditions and supported by a cast of men volunteers from the community.
For more information please contact Dan Sprinkles at dansprinkles@gmail.com or phone at 845-810-0200.
SFC Lifeways Men's Retreats
David Wiley
facilitates Men's Retreats, For information please contact Gary Weidner, 970-241-7256 or
redtail@acsol.net
David Wiley has been leading these retreats since their successful inception at the Blue Deer Center in 2006. As a Mara'kame (shaman) in the Huichol tradition, as well as a Granicero (weather shaman) in the Nahuatl tradition, David brings great gifts to these gatherings. (For more information on David Wiley's work go to his website www.keepsthefire.org.) The retreats are meant as an opportunity for men to step back from their everyday commitments, and reflect on their roles as partners, providers, fathers, sons, and brothers, where modern life has blinded us from this perspective.
Come join the circle of men--those who are learning how to be in the world in an authentic, heart-felt way which is grounded in ancient wisdom!
David Wiley will facilitate a second 2007 Men's Retreat in northern California, scheduled for October 5 - 9th. For more information, contact Larry Messerman at (707) 237-4192 or
lmesserman@gmail.com
SFC Lifeways Women's Retreats
Deanna Jenne and Sherry Boatright facilitate these retreats. Next program is February 27-March 2, 2008 at the Mt Peale Resort, La Sal, Utah, near Moab. Contact Jennie Davis, Lifeways Women's Retreat Coordinator, at jenniedavis@gmail.com or 828-252-1378.
SFC Lifeways Death and Dying Center
The SFC Lifeways Death and Dying Center's forum offers community members a chance to connect with one another while exploring the mysteries of death and the opportunity that final transition opens for us in life.
SFC Lifeways Neikame
Neikame welcomes anyone who is interested in bringing the sacredness of birthing back to our people.
Please Join us for Neikame
(SFC Lifeways Birthing Group)
For our new offering
Open Forum Calls
4th Wednesday of each month
8-9:30pm EST
(319) 279.1000, code 248207#.
Neikame (nee-ah-kom- ay) is corn when she begins to burst forth from the ground. When corn emerged, her voice was so tiny and pleading. She said "please tell the people to come and make offerings to me." The locust heard the faint voice of Neikame and with his big voice was able to sing to the rest of the people so that they would come and make offerings. Contained in the seed of corn is the design of her life gifted by the Gods and revealed over time as she is nourished by the earth, watered by the rain, guided by the moon, sustained by the sun, touched by the winds and loved by the offerings of the people. And so too... the seeds of our people.
It is time for us to remember and revive the mysterious yet simple, sacred and natural part of life called Birth. Neikame is the Sacred Fire Community Lifeways Birthing Group whose purpose is to come to know the sacredness of birthing, help calm the fear that surrounds our current birth culture as we help our people in reconnecting with and remembering the value, wisdom, heart and joy in bringing life forth and sustaining it. We have heard the Locust sing on behalf of Neikame. We respond with the following offering (thus far and more to come):
The open forum call invites both men and women to explore the mysteries of birthing including but not limited to; fertility cycles, conscious conception, pregnancy, birth, parenting, pregnancy loss and trauma, other "birth passages" and any other inquiries related to this very natural, important and often misunderstood cycle of life. Bring your questions, experience, stories and inquiries to the group call on the 4th Wednesday of each month from 8-9:30pm EST, dial (319) 279.1000, code 248207#. Calls are facilitated by experienced members of the Neikame Council .
Questions? Contact lisalichtig@main.nc.us or 828-768-3302
Neikame Council
Annie Furze, anniefurze@juno.com
Bri Brownlow, brownlow888@yahoo.com, (707) 542-0280
Kathy Reid, kathyareid@gmail.com , 801-878-7196, 970-623-1297
Kristie Wells, motherkind@hotmail.com, (919) 732-1797
Lisa Lichtig, lisalichtig@main.nc.us, 828-768-3302, 828-645-0166
Shelley Harrison, shelley.Harrison@sympatico.ca