Save the Date
Rooted in unity and the shared honoring of the season, this ceremony invites and welcomes people of all spiritual backgrounds. Thank you for arriving with openness, kindness, and the spirit of deep listening, curiosity, and connection.
As the longest night of the year draws near, we invite you to join us for a warm gathering of light, reflection, community, and nourishment.
What to Expect
Settle in: Set potluck items up indoors, restroom, settle into our Fire circle.
Outdoor Fire Ceremony: We’ll circle up around Fire, marking the turning of the season, honoring the darkness, and inviting the return of light. Jessica will lead us in a shamanic Fire ceremony that is inclusive to all walks of faith.
Shared Stories, Intentions & Offerings: As flames flicker, we’ll create sacred space to reflect on the past year, release what no longer serves us, and set intentions for the season ahead.
Community Potluck Indoors: After ceremony, we hope you’ll join us in sharing a meal! Please bring a dish to share if you’re able. If you’re able to include a note with common allergens or dietary considerations, it’s appreciated but not required. Simple labels such as “gluten-free,” “dairy-free,” “vegan,” “vegetarian,” “contains nuts,” etc. are very helpful for those with sensitivities.
Creating Sacred Space
In the spirit of fostering authentic connection and honoring this sacred space, please do not promote your business, disperse flyers, etc, as doing so can create doubt and confusion regarding your intentions for stepping into this space with us.
No politics please. This allows us to fully honor the gift of time and space that we have to share our spiritual experiences and ideas and to connect on a deeper, more vulnerable level.
Avoid recreational use of substances the day of our gathering. For your own spiritual development, refraining from substances for 24 hours prior, and after, is also recommended.
What to Bring
If you have one: a rattle, shaker, or drum. A bottle with pebbles, dried beans, etc. works well too! We'll have shakers for you to borrow if you don't have one of your own.
A chair if you’d like one. You may prefer to stand or sit on the ground with or without a blanket.
OPTIONAL: A personal offering to Fire: a written intention, symbol of what you wish to release, honor, or welcome into your life (Please ensure that burnables are safe, respectful, and environmentally conscious. No plastic, for example, please.)
OPTIONAL: A shared offering to Fire: natural items for building prayer bundles (ex: sticks, flowers, dried flowers, leaves, herbs from your personal garden/property.)
OPTIONAL: A dish to share for potluck
OPTIONAL: A thermos with beverage or water bottle
OPTIONAL: A pen and journal
Tips to Arrive Prepared
Please arrive 10-15 minutes early to settle in so we can begin promptly at 4:00 pm. Your preparedness helps us to co-create the best experience for all present.
This entire event will be held outdoors.
About Your Host
Jessica Riphenburg is a Shamanic Practitioner at Be The Light Shamanic Healing. She revels in cultivating community through offering shamanic ceremonies, classes, and gatherings.
Jessica has trained in both Core & Peruvian shamanism, and has been walking the shamanic path since 2011. Jessica loves supporting her community and clients through group offerings, classes, retreats & one-on-one shamanic healing sessions.
About The Venue
There are 2 churches on Anthony Street. Make sure you go to McFarland United Church of Christ at 5710 Anthony St, McFarland, WI.
Thank you to the McFarland United Church of Christ for generously offering your space to us to use your space for our shamanic gatherings!
Thank You to the Ancestors of the Land
As we gather on the ancestral lands of the Ho-Chunk people, we give our deepest gratitude and honor to their ancestors, and to the Ho-Chunk people past, present, and emerging. We promise to do our best to support the good works of Indigenous people today, and generations to come.