In the past two weeks I have attended six October bonfires. I have been thinking how different they all were; different fires, different people, different energies.

The first was my own bonfire burning old wood and sticks and branches to help clear my flower beds. I was the only one who stood by this fire, and I burned the brush in the day, not the night. I took the time to sit and relax and enjoy Mother Nature. I took the time to pray. To pray for world peace, homeless people, that ALL beings feel safe and protected, that every living being has food and water, and most precious to my heart, that all children feel loved.

The second bonfire my farmer neighbors had invited me to walk down and relax with their church friends. It was a beautiful night with a fun moon. Reddogg and I strolled down the long gravel driveway, smelling the fire before we saw it. They had three bonfires burning, a large, medium, and small fire. It reminded me immediately about the old children’s tale of Goldilocks. She would have three fires to pick from in addition to a her bed and porridge. :O) At the larger fire people simply sat around and talked. Hotdogs were cooked over the medium fire, and kids of all ages slowly roasted marshmallows on the small fire. It was not only very social but very efficient and safe.

The third bonfire was contained in an outdoor clay fire pit on a friend’s patio. Most of the people at this bonfire were friends from my own spiritual center, with no children present and no marshmallows! The conversations were great. To talk with like minded people is one of my favorite things to do. And to feel free to talk about one’s Higher Power and what It does in one’s life makes me especially happy. It is what makes my heart sing!

The fourth bonfire was at Our Treehouse with my nieces and great nephews. Lots of children, a puppy, and s’mores! Lots of energy with a modified football game going on away from the fire. Then some of us walked down the long gravel driveway to visit the children who live on the farm. My great nephews wanted to see the young calves, the turkeys and the chickens. They love the huge tractors. I had fun listening to these boys.They always have quite a lot to say.

The fifth bonfire was while I was camping at the horse camp. The night was actually cooler, around forty degrees. A quiet night with a few friends and an occasional soft snicker from a horse a few feet away in the barn stalls. The stars were brilliant, endless, after the black of the night had settled all around us. Bonfires were scattered all around the campgrounds. I walked away closer to the Tall Beings for a few minutes just to see more of those brilliant stars.

The sixth bonfire… my great nephews wanted a repeat! So again, lots of kids, a puppy, hotdogs and s’mores! I sat mostly quiet, watching, listening, and enjoying all the younger people. I see how intelligent they are, how loving and kind, how no dream is impossible for them. In my mind every generation is a little bit stronger than the one before, a little bit more enlightened. I could sit and stare into that bright bonfire, the flames orange, red, and blue, and relax and be at peace.

c   Love, Joan