I just returned from another retreat with my spiritual community. The Sacred Fire Community (SFC), which I mentioned in my last blog post, captured my heart years ago, because…well, they are all about heart!

Our primary activity is sitting around the Fire, since fire in its primal expression helps us connect to our own heart energy and heart voice. Fire is central to all spiritual paths if you look hard enough, it’s the element that brings people together and creating that deep interpersonal bond.

The drive down to the retreat centre owned by the SFC in the Catskill mountains of NY state is beautiful, and I always choose to take the longer route through the High Peaks region of the Adirondacks rather than the freeways. Besides the training I was involved in, it was so nourishing to eat meals together with friends old and new, do KP (kitchen clean-up in groups with music blaring over the dishwasher and pots and pans banging in the sink), and sit around the fire at night joking and sharing our stories. I got to have a “roomie” again for a few days and loved our chat times before bed about “girls stuff.”

I also had time to immerse myself in relationship with the much beloved land the centre rests on, including the very special and sacred river that flows behind the property. Her voice was a welcome sound to sit and contemplate by. She is part of my community of heart too.

Have you spent time with your community since Pride? Why not put out the invitation for a gathering to warm up your connections again?

About the Author

Shelley A. Harrison is an Energy Healer in Ottawa. She graduated from the Barbara Brennan School of Healing 4-year professional training and has been working in private practice for over 10 years. She visits Toronto regularly to see clients and visit her brother, Jeff, the editor of this magazine. You can write Shelley at fromtheheart@pinkplaymags.com or visit her at www.doveheart.ca