Fire on the Mountain

For the west coast hippie where the fires are raging all over the land it is hard to do our counterculture activities. Most of us are just trying to save our marijuana crops or our homemade houses.

If things aren’t burning down, there is the smoke that gives us all headaches and it is difficult to think our radical thoughts. The fires are mostly in the wild lands but that doesn’t mean that they are not worth our prayers. Here is a beautiful thought from a fellow Hipster…

Do not forget that the ashes falling from the sky are all that remains of the pine and grass and thistle and bear and coyote and deer and mouse that could not escape. Gather some ashes up in a sacred manner. Take it to your alter. Offer prayers for these beings. Honor their death. Pray for life. Call in rain. Remind Fire that it is full, has gobbled enough, and can rest. May all beings be safe. May all beings be loved. May all beings be remembered. May all beings be mourned.

Life is crazy and it is difficult to imagine where we are going. Many are just trying to escape all the hopeless feelings from politics, to climate change, to economic collapse, to covid. People stay in their houses watching TV to drown out the feelings of confusion. But this is not the time to collapse into hopeless apathy. Now is the time for thoughtful action.

It is overwhelming. Look first at what is in front of us and let us consider who we are if we loose it all. We have or values, our brains, and our hands. If we have to leave our homes, our lives, what is really that important - photo albums, trinkets, tools? Perhaps dedication to a way of life might be of more value than the things we have. It is good to ponder how we could carry on after a disaster.

Radical change is what we need to be doing as a global humanity, but it takes a lot of work to change. How to change ourselves and the old paradigm into a functioning new paradigm? We intuit the way, but doing it takes dedication and vision. With fire, tragedy, and bad news all around us how can we keep focused?

Radical change is what we need to be doing as a global humanity, but it takes a lot of work to change. How to change ourselves and the old paradigm into a functioning new paradigm? We intuit the way, but doing it takes dedication and vision. With fire, tragedy, and bad news all around us how can we keep focused?

We let fear defeat us. But fearlessness is what we need now. Not a stupid, denial fearlessness typified by the rigid right, but an aware fearlessness- face the fire. Be conscious of the needs of others but don’t let their fear or stupidity enter your soul. Keep your psychic shields up. We must stay strong in our convictions and intuitions. Listen to our inner voice. The spirit of the land is supporting us. We need to listen to the crackle of the flame. Fire inspires us to act in ways we have never acted before. It is scary but this is where real growth is created, not just shallow growth like the economy, but rich inner growth- change- it is why we are alive.  

Fire is the energy of destructive release. It has psychic elements to it that can be invigorating. It is a massive release of energy. Just like a protest or an ecstatic dance, fire helps us transform. It is alchemy. Let us make gold from the ashes.