Why did we choose the Phoenix as a symbol for Sacred Grief Fires?
“In 2018 I (Monique) experienced the Sacred Grief Fire for the first time. Grandma Dawn was at the KIVA in Borculo and held a 96-hour Fire. I was in charge of the cooking at the KIVA, together with an amazing team of volunteers. One evening my fellow team mates kicked me more or less out of the kitchen and encouraged me to take a bit of time off. Strolling around the Ceremonial terrain, I saw a sign “Sacred Grief Fire” and it triggered my curiosity. I entered the tent where Grandma held the Fire and sat down. It was a very welcoming space, nicely decorated with flowers and greens and colorful cushions and blankets. Someone was sharing a story with the fire. Then someone shared a song with guitar and then someone was touched by that and started to cry and after that found the courage to share her grief. Grandma Dawn was a very loving presence. I noticed a big change in the people who dared to really take part in the ceremony. There faces became softer and they looked as if something had fallen away from them. I was hugely impressed with the transformation I saw happening in a matter of an hour to several people. They truly rose from the ashes as phoenixes. That is the power of this ceremony and that is why we choose the phoenix as our symbol”. – Monique Konings
“When you share your sorrows, they divide and when you share your joys, they multiply”.
“Grief, in all its facets has the ability to clog the brilliance of our soul. The Sacred Grief Fire is a very old ceremony from the indigenous people of North America. They knew the importance of tending to the soul, honoring life and death and the connection with our beloved ancestors”.– Grandma Dawn.
*https://www.facebook.com/sacredgrieffires/videos/269601682373676
*https://www.facebook.com/sacredgrieffires/videos/829341538792295
Sacred Fire Ceremonies 