The Magick of Mutual Intent, Fire Alchemy article from Healing the Spirit

There are many paths of transformation, many paths to Spirit and back. Our intent and our container (see "The Egg of Our Intention") are designed to support each participant in the discovery of their path. This should not be seen as anarchy, but mutual support - We believe that each person coming to his or her path influences the space within the container and helps others come to their path, ultimately helping the entire group attain their path. It's a double spiral. The individuals support the group - the group supports the individuals. When we all reach up toward Spirit, we make it easier for Spirit to reach back down to all of us.

How does this work? Well, depending on your belief structure, you can choose to look at it form a psychological, a physical, or a spiritual perspective.

From the psychological perspective: have you ever watched the same funny movie in a crowded theater and then alone or with a small group in an empty theater? The reactions are usually more intense and pronounced in the group watching. Each person's reaction influences the sensitivity zone of each other person to potentially bring to bear their own experience of 'funny' to the movie. Psychologists call this "demand characteristics." Demand characteristics are the perceived environmental or social pressures that cause us to act or feel or experience things in a certain way because it's what's expected of us in the moment. Demand characteristics can often give us an excuse to behave how we want to but are normally afraid to. "Hey, everybody's doing it, so it must be okay." Like anything, this can either be very helpful or very destructive. Demand characteristics can fuel mob behavior or mass hysteria. But they are also often cited by modern science in cases of miraculous and unexpected healing. Demand characteristics facilitate trance induction. Much of the benefit of hypnosis is brought about through the positive application of demand characteristics. Placebos are believed to work because of demand characteristics. Paranormal phenomena and the 100th monkey syndrome are frequently explained away as demand characteristics, even when there are no identifiable environmental or societal pressures causing the monkey in question to act.

If you don't put much stock in psycho-babble, there's the physical perspective. In quantum physics there is what is called the "Observer Effect." The outcome of any physical experiment is dependent upon the very act of observing it. In fact, it is impossible to speak with certainty about any physical state until an observer measures it, because how the observer chooses to measure it changes the result. How we perceive and interact with our environment influences it and in a real sense brings it into being from all the potential probabilities that could have existed up until the moment that we formed the connection between observer and observed. This goes for the people in our environment as well as things. We are in a constant dance with observations of people, places, things that come to exist for our experience because we choose to experience them, even as others are choosing to experience our existence. What we choose to experience when we come together as a group we, literally, co-create with each other.

Spiritually, we believe that we are more than just observers, we are active participants. We have the ability to influence the area around us through our intent. We also believe that, when we focus on it, we can better perceive the influences of others' intents in our area. Think of it as a spiritual field, sort of like a magnetic field. With similar intent, and working within a concentrated area of focus, we become attuned and are able to help magnify the effect of our intent, strenghten the field, and cause the area around us to line up with our mutual intent. We are making magick.

To, us this is an important purpose of group working. We are there to support each others intent. Of course, another important purpose of working together as a group is that we are also there to support each other in a much more direct way if any individual should need help - whether it be physical, emotional or spiritual. We believe this is the responsibility that comes with the ability to work together to change the world around us.

We also believe that the attunement of the individuals to this group working is a very organic procedure and, though it can be encouraged, it cannot be forced. The group will come to the path it needs to when the time is right. We offer our container and our intent to honor and support multiple paths toward Alchemical Transformation. In the oven it may take 40 minutes at 325 degrees, or 34 minutes at 350 degrees to bake the cookies. Every batch of cookies is a little bit different. In the lab, it may take 12 steps to yield the results of the experiment, or only 2.

We believe the same is true with the "Experiment" of Alchemical Transformation. You may find yourself getting nicely "baked" while other "cookies" may be just starting to rise. Or you may take 7 steps to reach the same "results" that another reaches in only 1. Every batch has its unique flavor. Every experiment has its unique results. Every person creates their unique experience. Each fire circle has its unique character. As long as we are all supporting the same intent to transform and connect with Spirit, we are all participating in this Magickal Creation and contributing to this Spiritual Alchemy.

Contribute to the HTS Fire Pages

If you have links or informational articles on Fire Tribe, Fire Alchemy, Fire Magick, Intentional Fire Circles and related topics of drumming, chant, philosophy, dance, trance, and would like to contribute to our pages, please email Whittney with "HTS Fire Resources" in the subject line.