Full Moon Fire Circle

Full Moon Fire Circle - January 2022

Monday 17th January

Wolf Moon and Old Twelfth Night

You are invited to join the first Full Moon Fire Circle at Dalton Moor Farm

The January full moon falls on old Twelfth Night, 17th January, which is traditionally when the orchards would be ‘wassailed’

The January full moon is called the Wolf Moon, said to be because it was more common to hear the wolves howling at this time of the year.

Moon Phase Circles and various moon rituals have been held for many centuries, probably thousands of years, to mark the changing cycles. Full moon celebrations tend to focus on gratitude for what we have, or have been given.

We will meet at the car park at the School of Sustainable Living & Wellbeing at 6pm.

Then we will walk by candlelight to the fire circle, where we will settle ourselves into a circle around the fire.

You will need to wear waterproof boots or wellies, waterproof outer clothing and bring something waterproof to sit on.

There are hay bales and logs to perch on but they will be wet.

If you prefer to bring a small stool or camping chair that’s ok.

If you would like to bring a small artefact that has meaning to you, to set around the fire, within the circle and under the full moon, please do.

We will open the circle with a greeting and a poem.

Then I will lead a short meditation.

Coming out of meditation, I will invite everyone to join hands to complete the circle

and then to stretch our hands upwards to the moon, like opening a moon flower

We will then spend a little time considering the meaning of the Full Moon and its Wolf name, its recognised spiritual meaning and its meaning to each of us.

After a little stretching I will invite you to join once again in circle where we will each have an opportunity to speak about something that is on our minds.

We will use a ‘speaking stick’ to show who’s turn it is to speak and then that person can first introduce themselves to the group and then take some time (5-10 minutes) to talk about whatever they want to talk about, with no interruptions, while everyone else listens attentively in silence, offering no judgements, no suggestions, no solutions and no advice. Just holding space.

The circle is intentionally limited in number of people, so that each person has a chance to speak if they want to.

You may want to speak about your life, your thoughts, worries, concerns, successes, hopes, intentions, stories, poems, difficulties, experiences, or anything at all.

Anyone who prefers not to speak, simply passes the stick along.

After the ‘speaking stick’ has completed it’s journey once around the circle, there will be an opportunity for anyone who didn’t speak the first time, to take the stick and speak if they have decided to do so.

All that is said in circle remains confidential and stays in the circle.

If you want to there is also the option to bring paper messages (or sticks imbued with meaning), (about worries, feelings, bad experiences, etc.), to throw into the fire, to clear away unwanted issues and open to new opportunities.

Or you could do this to add fire and energy to new hopes, dreams and aspirations. These can remain private to you or you can share if you wish to.

We will then share something to eat and drink in circle together.

On this occasion, since it is old twelfth night, I will provide warm spiced apple juice and toast with vegan HUNNY, so we can wassail the orchards as our seasonal activity for the circle.

We will form a candle-lit procession through the young orchards, generally making a noise, to scare off evil spirits and awaken the trees to be ready for spring, just around the corner.

Then we will return to our circle one last time, where we will join hands in a seamless circle of community, love and support, and for those who want to join in, we will howl at the Wolf moon.

Then at around 8pm, we will pick up our belongings, extinguish the fire, and walk back with our candles to the car park and say our goodbyes.