flameofthesoulworkshop

Flame of the Soul

A workshop about candlelight, warmth, & connecting to Spirit.

Everybody is a story. When I was a child, people sat around kitchen tables and told their stories. We don't do that so much any more. Sitting around the table telling stories is not just a way of passing time. It is the way the wisdom gets passed along. The stuff that helps us to live a life worth remembering. Despite the awesome powers of technology many of us still do not live very well. We may need to listen to each other's stories again.

Rachel Naomi Remen

Kitchen Table Wisdom

You get the best effort from others not by lighting a fire beneath them but by building a fire within them.

-- Bob Nelson

Testimonial:

I would recommend this class to anyone I know because I believe everyone would walk away with something new. Jeanne included various activities that increased my awareness of the symbolism of a candle and/or fire in of itself. I now approach the lighting of a candle with more reverence and place meaning to it. I gained a deeper understanding and connection to my ancestors….Jeanne included body movement in a guided meditation that made the experience more real. The experience was in our bodies not just our minds. And, I must add, the time we had to decorate a candle was very special…total freedom to create. I loved it!

Julie Molner

Hello!

The Flame of the Soul workshop is a wonderful experience for any group and these pages are a growing resource for facilitating, and providing different aspects of the Flame of the Soul.

For NOW we're "under -construction" as I collect testimonials, photos and document the exercises.

Be sure to sign up for the newsletter, to be informed of updates!!

JMN

The Book By Frank Mac Ewoens: titled The Spirals of Memories and Belonging

is the source for the Stepping into The Ancestors exercise.

I modify the exercise slightly adding a path of candles and asking the question how did my ancestor relate to flame.

Other activities:

1. Circle discussion:*

( a good starting activity after introductions)
From: The Flame of the Soul Workshop

a- Have a candle burning in the center of the circle. Ask everyone to think about the qualities of flame, and candles. Ask each person to speak one quality, have one person make a list. And then review the list of qualities.

b- From this list of the qualities, choose one ( example warmth, lighting the darkness, making things sparkle). Then invite each person to remember a time in their life where they experienced that quality. Invite people to share their stories ( Note in a large group this could be done with partners or groups of four to save time.)

c. Share with in circle with the group. The main point of the discussion is to illustrate the variety of ways that we have been affected by flame. Often the stories remind of our own experiences – other times they are amazingly different. The discussion serves as a deepening to the personal introductions and allows each individual to connect to their own self through their history.

This is good as a stand-alone exercise or to proceed the "Stepping into the Ancestors" exercise.

2.Review the traditions and history of candles flame and smoke in spiritual traditions,
Download and print "the Flame of the Soul" and or "Holy Smoke" for ideas and discussion points.

3. Stepping in to the Ancestors
This exercise and physical mediation is based on a exercise documented in Frank MacEowns book The Spiral of Memory and Belonging. And on a workshop provided by Jim Norgaard. of Celtic Body Prayers and Tara's Meadow
For the Flame of the Soul workshop we adapt it, by defining the path with candles and modifying the questions slightly to include the awareness of flame and warmth into the experience of the ancestors: