It was a dark and stormy night. REALLY, it was a dark and stormy night. In Sept 2004, at an organic farm in West Virginia, intrepid travelers had joined hands to raise the energy and do the work, amidst a real jim dandy of a hurricane (Ivan). Lightening was thrusting its force in every direction while Mz. imani made her way around the circle to share a chant and encourage the drummers. Una was kneeling in the yurt, working with Carl Bridge on a beautiful sand Mandala. Lulu had joined Spinner in ankle deep mud to continue moving the dance circle through the oncoming storm. Bright Hawk, kept the rhythm as powerful as the clashing of the lightening. Mother Nature’s light show was providing ample entertainment.  Little Noah, almost four, was busy overpowering disease to strengthen his legs to match the power of his heart. His roars of the lion kept everyone moving. Buzzard, Jasper and Jeanette stirred the fire, as I  worked the oracle and provided healing work from the altar of Akasha. Everything was in place to manifest a new vision.

The next night as we joined hands and hearts, the weather that had forced us indoors, offered us a brilliant night. The lack of sleep from having flooded tents, or cramped in car seats to escape the downpour had left us all a bit weary. Yet, somewhere at the point of the crimson dawn, I could see a place in space and time when a dozen visions of personal and planetary healing burst forth in one deep and intense nano-second of the great AH-HA. Perhaps it was the deep, loving tones of Mz. imani singing “we are people of the earth, we come from different nations....” Maybe it was seeing Spinner light her finger-tips and spread the fire energy from in throughout. Maybe it was Noah telling me a story about the power of the transformer to make the children well. Maybe it was the years of seeking and working to step into my own fullness as a Medicine Healer. Maybe it was SkyBear and Randi and imani turning the wheel to the future, as they opened the gates with Rise UP! Whatever it was, when imani and I sat in the Akasha tent for us to prepare our delivery of the fire sticks that we offered to be carried forward to new fires, I let her know that Hawkwind was IN! IN to become a portal for the work and play of Sacred Soul Fire and Conscious Collaborations.

Hawkwind has been home of many Sacred fires for over a hundred years. My own acceptance as the role of gatekeeper with my daughter, Alethea, and my half-side, Tarwater, had begun in the Spring of 1988. Over one hundred Elders of all nations have joined us over that time to provide healings, teachings, and stories that have carried the magic forward from generation to generation. Peace Pilgrims, to intercity children have been supported by the Alabama mountain retreat of Hawkwind. Lodges and quests have supported countless of seekers of self and sacred path, while dances and family have grown.

The time to connect the next generation of Elders had come. My own Spiritual Father and Medicine mentor of 29 years, had left this earth walk, only months before that dark and stormy night . His final challenge to me was to weave together the Rainbow Nation, with a walk and celebration of harmony. He challenged me to find my soul mates and magicians who would help usher in the Golden Age. My preparations had been deep in nature and supported in more ways than I could have ever comprehended. YET, I found myself wondering how this was going to happen...UNTIL, that dawning moment standing across a circle from Mz. imani.  This was the ninth cycle of the moon that I had joined a circle for the High Ceremony of the Magic. I could look around me a see an abundance of talented and dedicated sisters. I know sisters of the same quality and nature in nine other circles that I share. Dedicated to my piece of the healing puzzle, I could see the blessings of so many magical friends and family in my day to day realm were equally ready, willing and able to step up to the plate and spin the healing and blessings of this time.

By October 2004, several of us had set up a phone bridge to begin sharing our vision and dreams and to move into the shifting zone of actually creating a space on our ceremonial grounds at Hawkwind. By the time of my January 2005 birthday, Mz. imani had made a surprise visit to our home and helped us walk the selected area and begin the ceremony of creating a Sacred container to hold the juice of this vision. Letters of invitation and flyers were soon to be dropped off to those we knew would benefit from such an endeavor and new friends were made as Chris, Libby and Sarah joined our regular fire crew to clear and clean the area that would hold the new dance and drum grounds of the Sacred Soul Fire.

Months of preparations, where balanced between major doses of life. Health, home and business all went through changes. Spirit stayed strong, but weary, attempting to live up to the challenge of such a juicy vision of the PHOENIX actually rising within each aspect of our being. Every magical tool worked overtime, and top soil trucks were chased on a regular basis with hopes of something to be delivered in between rains and days off.

May 1st 2005 arrived, along with Mz. Jasper. Her first trip to the south, we had to teach her the magical formula of sweet tea and how to say Ya’ll the right way. Una, hopped over from Santa Cruz to get an equal dose of our own special southern vibe. Alethea showed up soon there after to join the Reverend Minty Fresh, along with Lulu and Tarwater to bring Tattoos, piercing and ceremonial surprises for lodge and land. I wisped the energy from shuttle to shuttle, wheel barrow to kitchen as we cooked, cleaned, and prepared for the guests and celebration yet to come. When Andrea showed up to provide massage, and Sarah slipped in to help get the sleeping and bathing areas primped to perfection, everything slid into place. Mz imani arrived, along with the owls, at dawn on Thursday. Noah, his mom Linda and Max were all road weary, but willing and ready to jump in to create a wonderful event.

There was no sleep, or need for sleep.  Our energy rose as did our hopes for the vision of finding the depths of the Medicine in this piece of vision work. Saturday brought more hands on massage, song and preparations for drumming and dancing into the night. Noah led the energy of the day and again through most of the night. His giggles and hugs shared in the arms of every dance was something to behold.

New friends and guests arrived to celebrate the awakening of Saturday night’s celebration. Bright Hawk, now surrounded by the day’s students set a pulse as each of the 32 on the journey, once again set the fire and lifted the energy of the night. My own blessing of being surrounded by my family and friends, was even more special as my daughter Alethea Dawnstar, joined me to honor all mothers and the Great Mother Earth. My own altar of the oracle was set to give readings and weave in and out of the places of the drums and dancers to continue to wisp the energy from vortex to vortex.

The experience deepening, as I suddenly found myself in a magnificent flashback of every teacher and elder who had blessed this land. I found myself emerged in the calls of the night owls and the reminders of wisdom and prayers that filled the land with so much hope and joy. I could hear Mz. imani singing a song of dedication to our work as Earth Keepers, Noah singing right along. “ I believe in the power of love~~~~~~~~~~~~” I found myself remembering everything I believe in and wish to leave for the children yet to come.

I am sure seeing my daughter learning to waltz in the arms of her father, Tarwater help this remembering to be so clear. I am sure it helped to see Lulu spinning her magic in a fine new fire jacket created for the night. I am sure it helped seeing Bright Hawk and Jasper shifting the energy of the fire to each person’s heart. I am sure it helped to see Una quietly moving from space to space to greet the new dawn. Or maybe it was just knowing that all of the ancient ones (seen and unseen) had joined the nature of this land and we were all in the same rhythm. The trees danced with the critters, and the critters sang with us. The young ones and the old ones spun through the circle and reached hands to one another to step forward into a new day. Whatever it was, it was at perfection.

It was one of those nights you tell your grandchildren about and leave in a song....and yes, Natalie did write the piece to speak to us, about that essence of Sacred Soul Fire at Hawkwind. Yet we know it was only the first verse of a song that will have many verses to be created in years to come.

And for this night and this verse of the song, I say Thank You Great Spirit for giving me this day, for helping us find healing and showing us the way. I thank You Great spirit for giving us each other and the vision to see and feel with such dedication.

Many Blessings,
May you be inspired to come and share the next Sacred Soul Fire at Hawkwind and beyond....

There is so much more to come.
Rev. Charla Hermann