In many traditions, one calls the 4 Quarters, 4 Gaurdians, 4 Elements, 4 Wathctowers, 4 Directions or some equivalent. And then one goes about one's ritual, work, worship, observance. And then one thanks and dismisses those 4 Entities from the ritual space.

Not Just for Opening/Closing

In an Alchemical Fire Ritual, the 4 things we honor are called the 4 Portals. These can be viewed as entities, but they are honored with every action that one does in ritual space. When one speaks, walks, strikes a clave, or puts a log on the fire one is honoring a Portal. Acting mindful of this honoring, we act with intent in every moment and literally move through the portals of Service, Voice, Rhythm and Movement.

The Portal of Service

Service is the very substance upon which all rest. Service is what we offer of ourselves so that all may feel supported, nourished and safe enough to know there are hands to hold and ground to land on when not flying.

Chopping wood, filling the torches, offering food or water to those who may need it - all acts of Service honor this Portal.

In other traditions the Portal of Service might equate with the elements of Earth, North, Body, Manifestation.

The Portal of Voice

With Voice, we speak our truth, we breathe in the in-spiration to sing out with all of our being until that breath expires and we honor the space that silence offers so the next in-spiration can come and ful-fill us.

With every chant, every verse, every spoken word, and with every breath we take - in or out, we honor the Portal of Voice.

In other traditions, the Portal of Voice might equate with the elements of Air, East, Thought, Communication.

The Portal of Rhythm

Rhythm is the Heartbeat, the pulse that keeps the lifeblood of the Fire circulating and stokes our Furnace, raising the heat to a fervent boil or lowering it to the perfect simmer to cook all night.

With every act of rhythm, every drumbeat we offer, and the spaces between the beats, we honor the Portal of Rhythm.

In other traditions, the Portal of Rhythm might equate with the elements of Fire, South, Spirit, Passion.

The Portal of Movement

Movement is fluidity, action, physical expression and location in space. It is the thing that is going when the Fire Ritual is going. Movement is also the thing that connects us with being alive, and in touch with our animal nature.

Dance, walk, march, even stand still with intent, and you honor the Portal of Movement.

In other traditions, the Portal of Movement might equate with the elements of Water, West, Emotion, Action.

Service

Hey, did we say 'Service' Again? Yes. Because it is that important.

One of the beautiful ways which deepens our process is the aspect of service. Service is an offering which, like drumming, dancing, chanting, singing and observing periods of silence, enlarges our experience of the alchemical fire circle.

If you feel motivated but not obligated to do something for the group, that in itself is an offering that grows, as in "the more you give, the more you receive."

Smudging another being with sage, or handing around a vessel of water to thirsty dancers, or bringing comfort to someone going through an intense personal moment and needing support are only a few of the ways we support the event and gain new insights.

Obviously, to make the fire circle burn brightly, there is wood to be hauled, preparation and construction, take-down and clean up to do, so the understanding that all help to make that happen out of motivation to help, not through obligation or coercion, is part of the conspiracy of grace.

Conspiracy of Grace

Other ways of grace include: seeing where help is needed and pitching in without having to be "deputized," anticipating problems and helping to mitigate them before they grow larger, and making sure the burdens on the facilitators and organizers are not too heavy. We all know that if you help to build something, you take pride in your work and feel a sense of accomplishment when the work is done.

These events are at their best when there is a spirit of light-hearted cooperation and a commitment to doing, not out of "duty" but because anything worth doing is worth doing well. And it's fun to get sweaty.

Group hug.