A Multicultural Peace Fire is lit on the 7th. Day of every month at 7pm.
At Kupidabin Wilderness 7 Lyell Court Mt. Samson.
Everybody welcome – children from 8 y.o. No pets, please.
Come and Pray for Peace for your family and all around the World.
Wet weather Peace Fire will be held in a Circle in the Culture Centre with Candles and an oil lamp.
If too wet to drive – please join us by lighting a candle in your home. Do not forget to put it out.
We do not charge for Ceremonies – $5.00 donation would be appreciated for supper.
Please arrive at 6.30 for a 7pm start.
All inquires and Bookings please contact Maureen TEXT 0402 092 741 or email info@kupidabin.org for more information.
All proceeds from our Events will go towards funding a Wheelie Toilet to enable our facilities to be People Friendly for everyone
Donations are always welcome. Thank you
Maureen Pickstone Trustee for KWCT. 0402 092 741
Check our Facebook page and Web site www.kupidabin.org
The Peace Fire Ceremonies are an old Native American tradition, with the first Australian Peace Fires being started in Queensland several years ago in Tuchekoi, near Gympie.
Ashes from the fire in Tuchekoi were brought to the Lyell Deer Farm by Toki McDonald in 2005 and the Peace Fire has been lit every month since.
The Peace Fire Ceremony is to honour world-wide peace and is commemorated on the 7th day of each month at 7pm, and is performed across all continents. There are approximately eighty fires around the world, with twenty two here in Australia (ours at Mount Samson makes twenty three as far as we know). Another one has since been started in New Zealand.
The Peace Fires start in Australia and are lit at 7pm, following the time-line around the world to end up in Hawaii twenty two hours later. Consequently as the earth rotates there is a constant stream of thoughts and dedication rising from the traditionally constructed fires, with prayers of peace for our loved ones, and prayers for peace around the World.
The fires are built in a square with thirty two pieces of wood. Eight in each of four piles, crossing over each neighboring pile in layers.
These sticks represent the eight Sacred Directions; Within, Without, Above, Below, East, South, West and North.
We meditate as the fire burns down, following which our Talking Stick is passed around for participants to share their thoughts and visions if they wish.
To honour our land and the Ancestral Spirits, on 7th May 2005 we dedicated our Peace Fire to Truganini, one of the last Aboriginal survivors in Tasmania.
For more information contact Maureen Mobile / Text 0402 092 742 Email info@kupidabin.org
STORY of The MULTICULTURAL PEACE FIRE AT KUPIDABIN WILDERNESS
Traditional Protocol
The Participants are smudged ( cleansed ) with Sage before entering the Fire Circle
I would like to begin by acknowledging the Garumngar people, Traditional Custodians of the land on which we gather tonight and pay my respects to their Elders past and present. I extend that respect to First Nation and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
We have an area of land on our property which is protected under the State Government (E.P.A.) Environmental Protection Act as a Rare Eco Region and it is Maureen’s vision to keep this land in its natural state and to honour the land as a Place for Multicultural Inter Tribal Gatherings. The land was blessed by Aboriginal Elder Uncle Tex Chapman (now deceased) representing the Garumngar Tribe who were original inhabitants.We honour ourselves on this land and invite members of all Cultures to join us to develop the land for cultural activities in keeping with the environment.
On the 7th. Day of each calendar month we hold our Multicultural ‘Peace Fire’ The Fire Ceremonies are an old North American Indian tradition. The chiefs of 32 tribes gathered to smoke the peace pipe to make peace between the tribes. Ashes from the fire they shared were distributed amongst the chiefs and taken back to their tribes. Peace fire ceremonies were started in Queensland at Tuchekoi near Gympie when Beautiful Painted Arrow (Joseph Rael) came to Queensland and re-kindled the Traditional idea of the Peace Fire.
The Peace Fire is traditionally built in a square using a total of 32 sticks, representing the 32 original tribes, with 8 in each of 4 piles crossing over each other in layers. These sticks represent the Eight Sacred Directions: Within, Without, Above, Below, East, South, West and North.
Ashes from the fire in Tuchekoi were brought to the Lyell Deer Farm at Mt. Samson by Toki McDonald in 2005 and the fire has been lit every month since and now at Kupidabin.
The Peace Fire Ceremony is to honour World Wide Peace and is commemorated on the 7th. Day of each Month at 7pm, performed on all Continents, there are approx 80 fires around the World with 22 here in Australia. Others have since been started in Victoria and New Zealand.
The Fires start in New Zealand and are lit at 7pm, following the time line around the World to end up in Hawaii 22 hours later.. Consequently as the earth rotates there is a constant stream of thoughts and dedication rising from the traditionally constructed fires with Prayers of Peace for our loved ones and for Peace around the World.
I will open the circle by calling in the Spirits from the directions. We will meditate while the fire burns down, casting our prayers and intentions into the fire using Wild Tobacco grown on Kupidabin Land. – soft Flute or Drum music can be played (optional) Then our Talking Stick is passed around for participants to share their thoughts and visions if they wish. Close the Circle with a Prayer’ It is with much love and gratitude that we thank Great Spirit for the opportunity to hold our Peace Fire again tonight. It is with love that we have sent forth our Prayers for Peace and we also know they will be heard.
We also thank each of you for joining with us tonight and may you all go forth with Peace
and Love in your Hearts,
AHOH!
Peace Fire Ceremony goes to Aotearoa.
My friends and I gather on the 7th of each month at Kupidabin around a ceremonial fire and share thoughts of peace and healing for ourselves and for the world. After each peace fire ceremony, ashes are gathered and added to the following month’s fire contributing to the story and perpetuating the energy and intention.
In October, I was fortunate enough to take ashes from our fire to Kawhai on the north island of Aotearoa to share it with some beautiful truth-seekers at my cousin’s spiritual retreat. Two more monthly peace fire ceremonies are now being held as a result and the positive energy is spreading far and wide.
When we open our circle, we call in spirits and energies from local animals that have been observed and resonate with thoughts of our own lives. While the origin and tradition of our ceremony is indigenous American, we are not of that blood and have no strict linear tradition to follow (of which there are many) and we have been invited by elders to follow our hearts and make the ceremony our own. While visiting Kawhai I was fortunate enough to connect with these animals:
The Puuriri moth, which is as big as my hand and is born with no mouth reminds me to be mindful of what I put in my body.
The Kereruu pigeon, which like all pigeons are close cousins of the white dove made me reflect on peace and hope.
Kootare (kingfisher) is ever watchful over the riverbank. My cousin’s retreat was in part about manifesting destiny and the kingfisher reminds us to be vigilant of opportunity.
Terehu (dolphin) brings virtues of playfulness. Reminds us that connecting as family and bonding through play is powerful.
My daughter, Dominique spoke very well in front of 30 people she didn’t know when she explained the story of the peace fire’s origin and the process of the meditation. She understands the significance of the ceremony and the ritual. She displayed a very humble and balanced approach and she made her father extremely proud.
My friends and I find that gathering to sit in circle regularly grounds us. Brings us back to a place of peace and serves as a reminder that the scurry of mind that is the day to day is not all there is. If I had the space and the white boards to begin to tell you all about the everything and how much more there is… but that’s a story for another time… To sit in circle is to be an equal amongst your peers. No-one sits at the head and no-one sits at the foot. Each person feels held by the circle and is invited to share their truth and the circle holds loving space. The Betreaters (shout out to my awesome cousin the amazing Jacqui Be! And those at her retreats are Betreaters) thoroughly enjoyed the ceremony. It’s always beautiful to hear new comers express gratitude at having been introduced to circle. Usually, it’s on their lips in the first ceremony and remains a preface to sharing in ceremonies many years on. I saw a lot of this during our trip to New Zealand and I feel we contributed to it. Seeing people blossom. Eyes coming up. Smiles turning up to permanent grins. Hearts opening to brand new possibilities. And the hugs!
We followed the peace fire with a korero about different modalities of healing and I explained the particular modalities that I personally find the most beneficial. We then re-lit the fire and moved on to our drumming circle. We birthed 10 medicine drums for the occasion and each one had a different personality. Shout out to my super resourceful and crazy talented mother who really came through for me! And so nice to connect with her on this level. And to see her now attending drum circles (goosebumps so happy!). It was cold (for us Aussies) and it was a challenge to keep the drums warm however trying to was half the fun. We beat our drums load and fast! We danced in the moonlight. We bathed each other in healing drum vibrations. It was most triumphant!
Dominique and I were very happy to bring ashes from the peace fire in Aotearoa back home to add to the fire on the 7th of January, completing another cycle, adding another dimension to our circle and closing out that adventure. Much love and gratitude to Maureen and Des Pickstone for creating the opportunity for this learning and growth. We dedicate each of our ceremonies to your health and happiness. We love you very much.
Aaron O’Neill.