Fire Initiation 2026

The challenges we encounter as we navigate our life path are often particularly highlighted during times of transition. Fire Initiation is a supportive journey of self-discovery for young adults seeking guidance and encouragement during a period of change. It is inspired by ancient traditional rites of passage, when young people ceremonialy mark their journey into adulthood. These initiations often involve pushing oneself to the limit – physically, mentally, or emotionally – in preparation for the challenges that lie ahead. We believe that honouring this tradition can support young people to find their way in an increasingly complex and challenging world.

Fire Initiation provides an opportunity to step outside the ordinary world and spend time alone in the wilderness, supported by experienced mentors. To challenge yourself, to develop greater self-awareness and to experience your edges. It is a journey that will build confidence and help you transition from one phase of your life into the next.

The Fire Initiation ceremony begins on the evening of 3 September and finishes on 6th.

Join us as we create a safe and sacred space for you to explore your strengths and embrace the next chapter of your life.

For more information please contact Circlewise info@circlewise.co or 07891062769

What to expect

Over the four days we spend together, you will participate in a solo fast out in nature, supported by experienced guides and mentors. After preparing and setting your intentions for the Fire Initiation, you will find your own spot in the woods and collect wood for the night's fire. As the threshold time approaches, we will come together to build a sacred fire. Then, at nightfall, each person will take a burning ember and ignite their own fire. Throughout the night you will tend to your fire alone, reflecting on yourself and your journey. Before daybreak, you will slowly allow your fire to die before returning to the communal fire for a period of feasting, sharing, and celebrating.

There will be online circles via zoon before the ceremony to help you prepare and afterwards to support you to integrate what you learned. We encourage you to invite a trusted adult to support you throughout the Fire Initiation as well as beforehand and afterwards. They can witness your journey and share insights with you but if that's not feasible, don't worry, as you will be fully witnessed and supported by the team and your fellow participants.

A month after the Fire Initiation, we'll reconvene to support the process of incorperation and a year later we will hold an online circle via Zoom for further integration of the experience.

The application process

If you are interested in joining the Fire Initiation, the first step is to make contact with us. One of the team will call you to answer any questions and talk about your interest in participating at this time.

To express an interest, without obligation, and to learn more email us at: info@circlewise.co or call: 07891 062769

What people say about Fire Initiation (previously called Fire Quest)

"I seriously can't thank Heidi, Sam & Nat enough. The experience was life changing to all of us. Being given time, energy, love, support, respect, healing, I could go on, was an extremely beautiful thing to be a part of. I have made life long friends & now have a much deeper understanding on where I'd like to take the next chapter of my life. P.S. food was amazing! "

"The camp was a life-changing experience that I will carry with me forever.”

“Heidi, Nathalie and Sam were amazing guides—I felt safe, held and honoured. It was a profound journey and I feel deeply grateful 

"The learnings I've gained feel wordless—it's like the vibration of my body has changed and my ability to relate with life has widened. I feel strongly that this experience will ripple out into the rest of life in unimaginable ways... this is only the beginning!"

"It's a deeply supportive and transformational practice, and I believe it can bring out the best in us all, and provide a deeper sense of meaningful direction, compassion and contentment, all of which is so crucial at this time. Thank you."

"The Fire Quest was a deeply nourishing, transformative, supportive experience. It was a chance to go deeper into myself and what’s important, and to really see myself and my gifts, with the amazing openness and support of the facilitators and the group.”

'The Quest was something that I didn't know would be right for me at the time of committing to it….but it felt like a work of magic….it was an unforgettable experience, strengthening my relationship with the flame, myself, and my ability to naturally integrate myself into nature, and new groups of people. “

From parents;

“What a profoundly moving and beautifully vital rite of passage the quest was for our daughter, and also for us parents too. How blessed we were to be able to ground a profound moment of change this way, through finding community, family and self-rooted in deep nature connection.”

"This Fire Quest was a deeply significant threshold ceremony for me and my son to make the transition into a new time and space for him as he left secondary school and headed into the wider world. I learnt from it - and was held in this - what a significant threshold this is for me too, as his parent. Giving time, space, care and attention to this has been the biggest gift for me this summer and in this transition time and has helped me in some important, gentle ways to let him go while also holding him close in my heart.”

“……perfect location and great experience, brilliant event , beautifully held......”

".......I loved the ceremonial wisdom and the holding, the play and joy, the celebrating and seeing each other for our gifts. Such, such a beautiful space that was co-created. Thank you"

“This work is vital at this time. Please do more, it is needed.”

Who is this for?

It is for young people facing a time of change - whether that is transitioning from home or care, completing your education journey, stepping into the working world, or experiencing any other major life shift,. The ceremony offers a space for reflection, support and celebration. During this time, you'll have the opportunity to explore life's big questions, realign with your core values, and connect with a community of peers who appreciate your journey. This ceremony is designed to honour the past, embrace the present, and welcome the future. We believe that each individual carries a special gift that deserves recognition and nurturing. Acknowleding and embracing these gifts can support us to find our way, as our ancestors did, to step into the next chapter of life.

When is it?

Dates: Wed, 3 Sep 2025 15:00 - Sun, 7 Sep 2025 17:30 BST

Arrival: Wed 3 Sept 2025 15:00

Departure: Sun 7 Sept 2025 17;30

How much does it cost?

We want the Fire Initiation to be accessible to anyone who wants to participate, irrespective of their ability to pay. We have some Circlewise funds available to offer bursaries and subsidised places for those who need it. However, we also want to be able to continue offering this to others in the future, so those for those who can pay, we would appreciate it if you would consider what feels right for you on this sliding scale:

£700 to pay it forward, £600 to cover costs and to apply for a limited number of subsidised and funded places of £400 and below please get in touch

To secure your place please pay a £200 deposit to Circlewise. This includes those on fully-funded places in which case the £200 will be refunded after the quest

For any questions about this please email Heidi at info@circlewise.co

Practical information

Location: The Hearth near Diptford

Guides: Heidi Rose, Sam Kouzarides, Natalie and Aaron Deemer

Dates: Wed, 3 Sep 2025 15:00 - Sun, 7 Sep 2025 17:30 BST

The ancient tradition of the sacred fire ceremony, passed down through generations from the esteemed Peacemaker of the Odawa people in the Great Lakes region of North America, has been reignited by the efforts of Paul Rafielle and brought to our community by Sal Gencarelle.

In the spirit of honoring this tradition while adapting it to our present needs, we will be hosting a special fire ceremony. While it won't strictly adhere to the cultural intricacies of the Odawa sacred fire, we aim to capture its raw, elemental essence.

Drawing from teachings rooted in these lineages, as well as insights from the School of Lost Boarders and the Ojai Foundation, we've crafted a ceremony designed to resonate with our modern lives. Additionally, we've integrated wisdom gleaned directly from our connection with this land and the unique needs of its people.

It's essential to acknowledge and express our deepest respect and gratitude to the indigenous communities who have safeguarded these sacred ceremonies throughout the ages, as well as those who facilitate the bridging of worlds.

Our intention in offering this fire quest is to provide a space for reflection and transition, serving as a beacon of support as we navigate life's ever-changing currents. We hope that by participating in this rite of passage, all may find clarity and strength to navigate personal transitions and contribute positively to the collective transitions of our time.

We warmly welcome you to join us in this timeless tradition, as we gather around the fire to seek guidance and unity.

Circlewise is a service that provides facilitated listening circles and the way of council training to community members, organisation's and those working in education. They are committed to supporting individuals, groups, schools and the community by building life skills in communication and empathy through circle practices.

CircleWise offers facilitated circles, support, training and resources to promote:

- Excellence in compassionate communication

- Social, emotional, mental well-being

- Empowered and relational learning

- Nature inspired ways of relating

About your facilitators

Heidi Rose is a founding director of Circlewise CIC. She has been facilitating the Way of Council listening circles for over 25 years. Heidi is also a qualified Psychospiritual Counsellor, Eco Therapist, and Wilderness Rites of Passage Guide.

Over the years she has brought hundreds of deep listening circles to a variety of settings on many subjects and has a passion and devotion to the power, wisdom and simplicity held in the ancient practice of sitting in a circle, listening and sharing from our hearts.

Heidi's life has been profoundly impacted and informed by her own initiations and so wants to give back by facilitating these initiations through wilderness rites of passage experiences for others.

Sam Kouzarides is a council facilitator , nature-connection mentor and rites of passage guide, Sam leads nature-based courses, events and youth mentoring programs, teaches nature studies, council and bushcraft and offers one-to-one mentoring. Sam has been involved with introducing the Way of Council to schools in Devon and holds council circles in nature connection programs and for the land-based community in which he lives. He brings a playful element to awaken the child in all of us and likes nothing more than a good adventure.

Natalie is a nature connection and alternative education facilitator and rites of passage guide. She works with young people in alternative education outdoors and passionately believes that each being has a unique gift within them that is waiting to be revealed and acknowledged. She knows that all who wander are not lost and that our deepest moments of difficulty can bring the most potent awakenings and transformations. Through family and personal experiences of depression and feeling voiceless, Natalie has committed herself to listening deeply and raising up the voices of young people.

Aaron Deemer is our camp chef and Earth Oapa. He has a love of making post-fasting food for ceremonies (his campfire pancakes with hot maple syrup are amazing!)Aaron is also the founder and director of the Glow Fund (www.glowfund.org), a UK Charitable Trust that organises and funds orthopaedic operations for disabled children in China and Tibet. Alongside this work, Aaron is an acupuncturist, qi gong, mindfulness teacher and photographer. Aaron’s love and connection to nature is at the centre of everything he does, and he is deeply passionate about sharing this love with others

Francesca Wells has been connected to circle practice for a few years now. She got to know the Way Of Council as a particular practice through Circlewise and has been deeply touched by the feeling of these circles since. Francesca loves witnessing the connection, resonance and compassion that is able to grow forth from this space of deep listening and is curious to explore how this practice may be woven more into our ways of living this human life.

She has a background in horticultural therapy and enjoys exploring this space of connection between the human and more-than-human world and particularly witnessing the processes of endings being new beginnings and the spaces of transitions in general.

Apart from sitting in circle, growing food and herbs and processing them to medicine and food she also enjoys building and deepening relationships with different materials through crafting and learning more about the co-creation of resilient, loving, compassionate and generous community.

She wants to investigate more what it is that is needed for every person to bring themselves fully and to share their gifts and whole beings with the world.

See more information on facilitators here:https://www.circlewise.co/people