2014 Camp Intention: Earth

“The land we love, Earth who nourishes us.

We learn to live in balance with the land”

Teachers: Riyana Rose-Sang, Barb Hazenveld

 

 

2015 Camp Intention: Air

“The Air who lifts and inspires us with whispers:

We re-learn to trust, to play, and to sing our songs for healing and justice.

Alone we are a gentle breeze, together a howling gale."

 

Teachers: Donald Engstrom-Reese, Gwion Raven, Synnove

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2016 Camp Intention: Fire

 

“We have evolved for ages with fire.

Fire has warmed us, taught us to cook our food and create tools.

Fire taught us that we share the cycle of spark, flame,

ember and ash in our lives, projects and relationships.

 

Now wildfires burn uncontrollably, sour gas flares can be seen across this land. Capitalism consumes and the planet grows hotter.

We burn bright and then burn out.

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We return to the Hearth of our Hearts,

to tend and honour the cycle of fire in our lives.”

 

Teachers: jenika juxtaposed and Thibault

 

Cycle of Fire:

 

Spark: The Cycle of Fire starts with that miracle of spark. That point when idea or inspiration becomes too bright to contain in its present form. The germ of a thought or feeling/ a knowing /the start of transformation. The spark could be a dream, or a new way of looking at something. The SPARK is also in us. What spark do I bring?

 

Ignition: Whether a spark catches or not does not have to be random. We can lay a good foundation. Experienced campers know fire building has its tricks; as with revolution building. How do you lay your fire? Will it help or hinder your spark? Do you have the right kindling to support your spark? Will you have ignition?

 

Flame: How do you want your fire to burn? Will it be well fed and tended, sustainable, or a wild inferno? What would happen if you let your fire go truly wild? Is it a wild fire of joy and celebration? Or a blaze of rage and anger? Both are needed at times to clear out what is no longer of use, whether that is old dead

 

twigs on the forest floor or unuseful thought. But burning bright and hard can lead to burnout. How do we contain harm? Does your fire have a container? A Hearth?

 

Burning: A dampened down simmering fire is extremely useful. A tool that defines humanity. Tamed fire is our hearth and our forge. The hearth has fed us from fire pit to microwave with cooking and comfort. Fire with a container, care and strong intention can be our garden of creativity and alchemical change. Like a forge to a blacksmith. How do I sustain my fire? How do I keep warm and fed and do my craft without getting burned?

 

Embers: There is a point of deciding if something needs to be let go. Is it time to completely dampen down the fire? Is the transformational process waning? Does it need a cooler touch? The flame may have served its purpose. It could be fanned into flames again, if you choose, and if you put in the work. Maybe there is some hidden part that has been revealed in the core of the wood, something that needs to be brought to life. Or is it done and time to let go completely?

 

Ashes: After the fire is out there are ashes. Ashes to be scattered in mourning for some, or a hearty good riddance. But ashes can be useful. We can fertilize our gardens with them. Make an outhouse bearable. In times gone by ashes where the essential ingredient in making soap. They can be cleansing. What has finished burning and now is cleansed away?

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2017 Camp Intention: Water

 

“With reverence to the sacred waters around us and within us,

we begin the work with the waters to heal ourselves,

our communities and the waters of this land.

 

We stand in solidarity with indigenous

water protectors and echo the call,“Water is Life”.

We are learning to be allies and accomplices

in this sacred healing work.

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Teachers: Alex Felicitas (Onyx Moon), jenika juxtaposed 

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Ourselves as the Chalice: We are the vessels holding the water of life. Our tears, blood, sweat, and fluids of our sex are holy. Our bodies mimic the body of the earth. our veins like rivers. water is blood. How do we hold this with accountability?

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Ourselves as the Sacred Spring: We are born to be wild and free and to nourish a world thirsty for the sacred. Underground, overground, shaped by wolves and other creatures. A babbling spring is playful while a geyser tense and surprising. How do we continue to spring and flow and move without getting stuck, stagnant, sour?

 

Ourselves as the Ices: We store emotions and dreams in our bodies. These crystal visions stay safe and frozen until the time is right to share. Slowing down in temperature, in thought, in process. Allowing a deep freeze. Anticipating the thaw. How do we know when to rest, when to slow down? How do we step carefully on the ice?

 

Ourselves as Waters of the Worlds: coming together to bless the land. We make offerings of ourselves to protect water and bless the descendants. All water is connected, all human bodies are connected. How do we connect all bodies of water and all bodies in times of great need?”