Are you familiar with Angeles Arrien, cultural anthropologist and author? She wrote The Four-Fold Way: Walking the Paths of the Warrior, Teacher, Healer and Visionary. I like her work a whole lot, and this training is embedded within my retreat practice -- Lotus Peace Retreats. Now I am reading her latest book, The Second Half of Life: Opening the Eights Gates of Wisdom, which is excellent and also a piece of the inspiration and vision underlying Femme Fire Productions.
In this book, she eloquently discusses the symbolic significance of fire -- an energy I personally resonate with, having primarily fire and air in my astrological natal chart.
"Universally, fire is regarded as a spiritual symbol of awakening. It is also a purifying force that can be constructive or destructive, depending on our use of it. Many sacred texts, such as the Bible, Koran, and Torah, speak of fire as a symbol of the vital life force that can be called upon for transformation, re-visioning, or the transmission of renewed meaning. Traditionally, the four fires that these sacred texts refer to are the fire of vision, the fire of the heart, the creative fire, and the soul's fire. We encounter these fires throughout our lives, and during our later years we need to reconnect to them so that we can experience what truly inspires us. The fire of vision provides visions or dreams that show us possibilities and potential in our lives, inspiring us to manifest what we see or are called upon to do. The fire of the heart teaches us about what and whom we love. The creative fire signals the work that we love, a keen awareness of our gifts, and our desire to express them as a way of contributing to the world. The soul's fire calls us to be authentically who we are and serve others rather than our own egos."
I am personally seized by all four fires at this time in my life and am a woman, a femme with a woman-centered consciousness. With all the massive changes happening in our world at warp drive, there is a sense of fiery dissolution or "burning down the house." Arrien elaborates, "[t]he four universal fires urge the human spirit to look deeply for meaningful connections, to manifest creativity and vision in generative ways, and to listen to the soul's promptings for deepening and renewal. Clarissa Pinkola Estes graphically describes the function and power of fire's transformative nature:
Femme Fires Productions is all about personal growth and individual / global transformation by helping to ignite and fuel the fires of women and our male allies and consorts through the vehicle of co-creative, magical collaboration. Its mission is to assist women in empowering themselves to step fully into their glorious magnificence. The world needs women NOW more than ever to ACT UP as wisdom carriers, leaders, visionaries, healers, spiritual warriors, change-makers and peaceful revolutionaries of the heart for the planet and our children.
I give thanks to Angeles Arrien and her inspiring writings. She has helped me to access and clarify a piece of the vision of Femme Fire Productions and to share it with you. What lights you up and makes you feel completely ALIVE and excited... like a hot fire? Which of the four fires is/are most actively burning within you at this time in your life?
You're invited to continue to walk with me on this fiery journey by becoming a follower of my new blog. Thanks! :-)
I am personally seized by all four fires at this time in my life and am a woman, a femme with a woman-centered consciousness. With all the massive changes happening in our world at warp drive, there is a sense of fiery dissolution or "burning down the house." Arrien elaborates, "[t]he four universal fires urge the human spirit to look deeply for meaningful connections, to manifest creativity and vision in generative ways, and to listen to the soul's promptings for deepening and renewal. Clarissa Pinkola Estes graphically describes the function and power of fire's transformative nature:
Deep in the wintry parts of our minds, we are hardy stock and know there is no such thing as work-free transformation. We know that we will have to burn to the ground in one way or another, and then sit right in the ashes of who we once thought we were and go on from there."
Femme Fires Productions is all about personal growth and individual / global transformation by helping to ignite and fuel the fires of women and our male allies and consorts through the vehicle of co-creative, magical collaboration. Its mission is to assist women in empowering themselves to step fully into their glorious magnificence. The world needs women NOW more than ever to ACT UP as wisdom carriers, leaders, visionaries, healers, spiritual warriors, change-makers and peaceful revolutionaries of the heart for the planet and our children.
I give thanks to Angeles Arrien and her inspiring writings. She has helped me to access and clarify a piece of the vision of Femme Fire Productions and to share it with you. What lights you up and makes you feel completely ALIVE and excited... like a hot fire? Which of the four fires is/are most actively burning within you at this time in your life?
You're invited to continue to walk with me on this fiery journey by becoming a follower of my new blog. Thanks! :-)
