Fire Tribe Gathering
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Fire Tribe Gathering |
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Chanting the Fire CircleThe chant element of the fire circle is an opportunity to create and celebrate our shared mythology through words and music. We encourage everyone to learn and participate fully in singing the chants that are shared around the fire. Old fears and conditioning about our voices can be shed as everyone contributes focused intention — intoning words of power. Release any fear, and sing your spirit! The chants we share become charged with our collective energy, and can be channeled for personal and planetary healing. Chanting harnesses five elemental powers.
Chants with a number of themes will emerge around the fire. We will share fire lighting chants, heart songs, circle chants, and songs that celebrate the elements or Mother Earth. There will be chants to honor the ancestors, make declarations or affirmations, nurture us or focus our attention and intentions. Transformation through passionate prayer and devotional invocation; all are a part of the melodic magic. We encourage everyone to really listen to both the words and melody before joining a chant. There’s no hurry — take the time to hear and feel the melody and words so that adding your voice strengthens the magic. Feel free to contribute harmonies, descant parts, or sonic effects such as drone sounds, laughter, or wails as the energy rises. Avoid "monkey mind" — impatience and distraction. Be willing to linger, build the song into inspired prayer... and then let yourself go! Chanting is a powerful form of meditation. Many people combine chanting with chakra visualization or breath work to enhance their personal transformational practices. Notice that the simple act of singing a song together brings us into a shared breathing cycle. Breathe in the excitement and delight, and breathe out in song from the center of your soul. Leading a chant is easy — begin by allowing one to surface from within you, from the silence, or the soft rattling around the fire. Take a moment to consider the words and how they will affect the energetic flow and dynamics already in motion. Patience is Power! Introductions or explanations are unnecessary and tend to break the trance — simply get centered, allow a deep breath to enter — and begin! Remember to project both your voice and intention to be heard when you are the person offering a new chant. The ideal is for everyone to hear you clearly enough to be able to learn the chant "on the fly." It helps to stand near the fire, as the light helps others see you speaking the words. Conscious gesturing can help transmit your words — and remember to move so that both sides of the circle can see and hear you. Another way to teach a chant is to use the "I Sing — You Sing" method demonstrated in the orientation. Remember that simpler, shorter chants are easier to learn. "Less is More" — people must be able to learn and use a given chant as a tool while already in an altered state. Although sounds uttered in any tongue carry transformational potential, we encourage people to offer songs and chants in our shared language — English. This supports our collective understanding, and enhances emotional connection to the words. (If it is your will to offer a chant that is not in English, you are certainly free to do so!) The drummers will respect the unfolding of the chant by waiting to join in rhythm until the song has been learned, and its power has blossomed. If you’d like a simple heartbeat to help guide the song, just gesture to the bass drum players. Once the chant takes hold, the circle dance is reborn, as the energy of the song begins to move us around the fire. Let the words inspire your movements; give the words, intentions and emotions of a song or chant life through spontaneous choreography. As we circle in song, remember to celebrate our connection by sharing smiles and eye contact with the other dancers and drummers. If you feel the spirit move you, it’s fine to begin singing on top of an established groove. Just take care not to hurt yourself trying to shout above high volume percussion. Melody is not a required part of chanting. This opens the possibility of creating spontaneous chants, inspired by the moment. For that matter, pure sounding such as toning OM is another place where the tribe can gather in sonic prayer. Welcome such offerings! Spoken word offerings such as poems, invocations, prayers or ritual theatre that do not allow for active participation by everyone should be brief — no more that two to three minutes. Magic of this type is best delivered in a concise, strong, and focused way that adds momentum to the overall energy of the ritual, as opposed to bringing things to a halt. Many practices and beliefs will be represented in the circle, as we converge from our various spiritual paths and traditions. Remember to choose chants and songs that are inclusive to everyone; with only occasional invocations that are specific to a particular deity. In general, most traditions have chants with themes broad enough to be appreciated and understood by all. Speaking words with intention begins a process that triggers the transformations described by the chants. Together we find our common ground, create the safety to open and surrender, and build the group mind. Sing with abandon, project from your diaphragm and allow the chant to resonate through your entire body! The Fire Tribe Chants eGroup http://www.nightpath.org/chants.html Chants Archive
Text: ©2004 Fire Tribe Gathering. No part of this may be reproduced in any form without express written consent of Michael Wall. For information on upcoming Fire Tribe events please contact 808-864-1701 or visit http://www.firetribehawaii.org/ |