WELCOME!
Litha: We Are Fire

Come in, come in! I’m so happy you’re here. The season of Litha, also known as the Summer Solstice, marks the longest day of the year. It is the peak of the solar year, with the Sun at the height of its life-giving power. For those of us in the northern hemisphere, Litha falls on June 20, 2021. This ancient festival honors fire, solar energy, and life lived at (literally) full tilt. It’s time to release old energy and fan our inner creative flames.

All Creative Alchemy Cycle bundles are self-guided. I’ve created this landing page as a home base for us as we journey through the season of Litha. We’ll also meet in person on the fourth Sunday of each month (scroll down for links.) Feel free to reach out if you have any questions!

Table of Contents

PART ONE: DIGITAL CONTENT

• Story of the Season: a Homily for Litha (audio & PDF)

• The Great Wide Open (video)

• In the Studio (video)

• Collaborative Alchemy Podcast: Episode 7 with Mindy Tsonas Choi (audio)

• Fuel for the Fire: Writing prompts, links, reading lists, Spotify playlists, etc.

• Further Connection: Monthly Community Zoom Call / Recording (links)

PART TWO: FOR FULL SUBSCRIBERS

• CAC Network: Online communication platform

• Altar Box: Description of your seasonal care package

NOTE of ENGAGEMENT:
Please do not share the link to this page with others. This content was created just for you. Thank you for your respect and understanding.

PART ONE: Digital Content

Story of the Season

This is a great place to begin. For each of the eight bundles that make up the Creative Alchemy Cycle, I write a seasonal homily to set the container for the bundle. These stories are my way of practicing alongside you and using the creative alchemy tools to create my own work. You can download a copy using the button below and/or listen to the audio.

The Great Wide Open

My creative process always begins outside. This is where I weave the outer landscape with the inner one. We’ll take the to Blue Mountains, harvest Artemisia Tridentata, and visit the Oregon coast. We’ll also spend some time at Eagle Creek Orchard musing on the why and how of thinning fruit trees. Apples, daisies, and red poppies are our teachers this season.

In the Studio

After viewing The Great Wide Open, let’s head into my studio. This is where I metabolize, incubate, and process all the elements which make up my current state of creative alchemy. This season, we are practicing release as we cover paint layer after layer. This is an intuitive shedding process, where our ability to let go of “outcome” allows the painting to emerge.

Collaborative Alchemy Podcast

Collaborative Alchemy is a series of conversations with artists, thought leaders, activists, farmers, educators, creatives, and other polymaths where we tell our stories, expand our histories, and hold space for new ways of being. My guest this season is Mindy Tsonas Choi: activist, bridge builder, and the founder of the Be Seen Project.

Fuel For The Fire

Writing prompts and further exploration, links, reading lists, spotify playlists, etc. Click on the images or buttons below to view, visit, or download.

MARK YOUR CALENDAR
Invitations for Further Connection

CREATIVE ALCHEMY COMMUNITY CALLS occur consistently on the fourth Sunday of each month from 10:00—11:15am PST. These gatherings are recorded and posted right here the day after. Sarah will send a reminder email the week before and the day before each gathering.

JUNE 2021 CONNECTION CALL, Recorded on June 27th

JULY 25, 2021 at 10:00am PST

• We’ll be meeting at this link: https://zoom.us/j/98405687741?pwd=bXo2R25QUDI5UVIwdTNvZEViY1ZGZz09

• Meeting ID: 984 0568 7741

• Passcode: Alchemy

PART TWO: For Full Subscribers

The Litha Community Network & Gallery

The community network & gallery is a communication platform for those who are full subscribers! It’s like Facebook but WAY better: no advertisements, completely private, and built collectively. As a member of the Cycle you received an invitation to join our Creative Alchemy Cycle (CAC) online network via Mighty Networks. The button below will take you to the network.

About the Litha Care Package

Your care-packages will be arriving between June 14th and 17th. These love-filled packages contain natural objects, local Eastern Oregon flavor, and art ephemera to inspire your journey, and adorn your seasonal altars.

CONTENTS of the LITHA PACKAGE:

✦ welcome letter and poem by Joy Harjo
✦ sagebrush branches (for burning)
✦ pillar candle (for your summer altar)
✦ matches (decorate the box!)
✦ bundle of fatwood sticks (resinous heartwood)
✦ pinecones (dual-purpose packing peanuts and fire-fodder)
✦ blank bookmark (creative prompt offered in the “Studio” video)

ABOUT THE FATWOOD:

After a pine tree has been cut or damaged, the tree sends a terpene-rich sap into the damaged center area and it becomes extremely resinous. This wood is perfect for splitting into small sticks of “fatwood” as a firestarter. These few sticks are the perfect way to begin a bonfire or bar-b-que. (Please use with caution.)

Gratitude.

“I am the throat of the mountains
a night wind who burns
with every breath she takes.”

— Joy Harjo