Frequently Asked Questions about Shining Lakes Grove's Fire Watch

Compiled by Rob Henderson. This version is current as of July 6th, 2003.

• What is Fire Watch?
• When and where is Fire Watch held?
• What sorts of things do you do there?
• Where did you get the idea for Fire Watch?
• Can I show up late? Do I have to stay there the whole time?
• Do people really stay outside all night? Even in winter?
• What should I bring to Fire Watch?
• I'm not a member of Shining Lakes Grove, can I still attend?
• I have a question about Fire Watch, and it's not on this list!

What is Fire Watch?

Fire Watch is a ritual performed by Shining Lakes Grove, ADF. It is held the night before each Grove High Day rite, to kindle and consecrate the flame which we use during the High Day rite itself.

When and where is Fire Watch held?

Fire Watch is held on the Friday night before each of our eight High Day rites, except Lughnasadh. (Check our schedule for the dates of the High Days, as these do change from year to year.) It begins around sunset, and continues until the following sunrise (for winter rituals) or the ritual set-up for the High Day rite (for the summer rituals). The location is Botsford Recreational Preserve (3015 Miller, Ann Arbor), the same location as our summer High Day rites.

What sorts of things do you do there?

Before sunset, the Senior Druid comes to the site with the Grove flame. This flame is kept burning in the SD's home. The SD then lights the fire using the Grove flame. For Beltaine and Samhain, the flame is extinguished, and kindled anew at the site. (See the following question for more details.) At sunset, those present join hands while the Senior Druid blesses the fire. Once this is done, everyone makes offerings to the fire. Throughout the night, everyone gathers around the fire, sharing food, stories and ideas, performing divinations, or even taking a nap to have a divinely inspired dream. For winter High Days, the ritual leader will collect the fire in the morning, and bring it to the ritual site. For summer High Days, the fire is tended until the afternoon, when it is moved to the nemeton.

Where did you get the idea for Fire Watch?

Explaining the origins of our Grove's An Bruane group, Fox wrote in the Spring Equinox 1996 issues of Ripples:

"An Bruane is an Irish Gaelic phrase that is translated as 'The Fireseed'. Its meaning is rooted in our ancestors' tradition of extinguishing all of the fires in the village twice per year, on the eves of Beltaine and Samhain. At dusk on these days the druids of the village would kindle a new fire, creating the first spark using a bow drill as we do today.

"That tiny flame, kindled by skill in the light of the setting sun and coaxed into a roaring blaze, marked the beginning of the new season. Sacred woods were offered to consecrate the fire and it was tended through the night. The fire accepted offerings from the villagers in rites the next day and maintained the contacts between the folk and the surrounding spirits. When the celebrations came to an end each house-holder carried an ember from this sacred fire home where it was protected and sustained as a continuous spiritual presence in the hearths of the home. Eventually that first sacred fire, the source of the fires of the tribe, became known as 'The Fireseed'."

So before each High Day rite, we light our fire from the Grove flame kept in the Senior Druid's home. At Beltaine and Samhain, the Grove flame is put out, and the fire is kindled anew. This fire then becomes the Grove flame for the coming six months.

Can I show up late? Do I have to stay there the whole time?

You can show up any time during the ritual, and stay for however long you choose. We're not picky about that.

Do people really stay outside all night? Even in winter?

Some people really do stay with the fire all night, either sleeping by the fire, or staying awake all night. Obviously, people are more likely to do this in the warmer months, when it's not raining. If the weather is bad, then we'll take shifts tending the fire, coming out every two hours or so to feed it before going home and napping. Either way, the fire is always lit in the fire circle at Botsford. This is one event that we can't easily move indoors!

What should I bring to Fire Watch?

If you're going to arrive in time for the blessing, you may bring offerings for the fire, such as woods, herbs, nuts, leaves, plant oil (no motor oil, please!) and my personal favorite, apples. If you plan on staying for a while, you may want to bring along food or drink for yourself. You may even bring along enough to share with the others - I promise you, there will be takers!

I'm not a member of Shining Lakes Grove, can I still attend?

Of course! Like most of our events, Fire Watch is open to anyone who would like to attend.

I have a question about Fire Watch, and it's not on this list!

Send mail to Rob Henderson at robh@cyberspace.org, and he'll answer your question, and include both question and answer on future versions of this list. How's that for service?

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