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DescriptionVegas Vortex Gatherings have emerged from a call to come together and create a vibrant and joyous community focused on transformation and individual free expression. They are designed with a focus on night-to-dawn ritual fire circles where we co-create sacred space for exploration through chanting, dance, poetry, drumming, music, ritual theater, song, movement, art, rhythm, magic and ceremony. Each night will be filled with inspiration and transformation for all who actively participate. Who Can AttendAnyone who is planning to attend May Fire *must* Register online and pay their fees promptly. NOTE: Each person over 16 who is attending the event will need to have a separate and individual registration record. If you are a group or family, with identical arrival and camping information, there are options to register all the names in your group at the same time. Children under 12 are FREE but must also be listed under the parents registration. Checks can be made out to: Vortex Productions LLC If you plan to register or have registered for a Vortex event, please make sure that you are familiar with the Vegas Vortex cancellation policy. This document also covers payment deadlines and our refund policy. MayFire is an event for experienced fire circle participants, also referred to as "initiates". To attend this gathering, you must have gone to another ritual fire circle event, like FireTribe, SpiritFire, Celebrate the Spirit, SpringFire, Mysterium, Fires Rising, Rites of Spring, Summerfest, Forest Dance, EDC, Gaia's Oasis, Soul Fire, COSM Fire, Firedance, or Phoenix Fire. If you haven't attended one of these events, but would still like to come, you totally can, as long as you are sponsored into MayFire by another attendee. Sponsorship:What does it mean to "sponsor" someone into one of the Vegas Vortex events?These are the expectations of a sponsor. A sponsor is someone who will be present at the event, for the entire duration of the time that their sponsee is present. A sponsor will make clear our policies about no drugs and no alcohol at our gatherings. A sponsor will take responsibility for making sure their sponsee knows about our "house rules," like taking conversations outside the circle, or not smoking in the circle, etc.... A sponsor will walk through the circle with their sponsee and explain the architecture and layout of our sacred space. A sponsor will touch base with their guest periodically throughout the event, to see how they're doing and if they need anything. If you're not able to fulfill these agreements, please feel free to attend our gatherings but don't plan to bring someone who hasn't been to an ritual firecircle before. The whole point of the May gathering is to have a group of people who all know "the way we do things." We welcome new friends, if they are informed and sponsored in. Children and TeensChildren and teens are welcome at a Vegas Vortex Gathering. Kids under 12 years of age will not be charged registration fees, but we DO need to have their information on file. When you register, enter children's name and age in the text box under the CHILDREN section. Children OVER 12 will need to be registered with the full adult fee.Please understand that parents are responsible for ensuring that their minor children are safe, are behaving appropriately for the Gathering, and have adult supervision. Parents must actively share child-monitoring duties. Parents and kids who do not fulfill these requirements will be asked to leave the Gathering, with no refund. Please Note: All Vegas Vortex Members are requested to redirect kids who may be doing anything potentially dangerous, such as playing with fire without adult supervision. Arrival Information
Please Note: To minimize disruption of energies and to allow all participants and organizers to focus fully on festival activities, Registration check in will only be during these times. FacilitiesWe have rented all three of the campsites in the BEEHIVES GROUP USE area. Each site has a shade structure, enclosed pit toilets and running water, which is potable. There are also pay showers a five-minute drive from where we'll be camping. Ice is available at the Truck Stop near the highway exit. PARK ENTRY: Please read carefully) When you enter, the park now collects TWO FEES: $10 ENTRY FEE per vehicle ($8 for Residents with either NV Driver's License / License Plate); PLUS an additional CAMPING FEE of $10 per night, per vehicle. You do not have to pay for Sunday. So, for example, if you arrive on Thursday, you would pay $18/$20 x 3 days = $54/$60. If you arrive during times when a ranger is not present to collect these fees, there is a self-pay area with envelopes. Correct change is necessary when leaving payment via the envelope. Once you get to the BEEHIVES group camp site, stop at the middle campsite area (Site 2) to check in, get your dashboard card, program, bracelet, and your hug! Allow plenty of time to find the location of the Gathering, unload your belongings, park your vehicle, and set up your tent or bunk accommodations and fire circle "nest."Everyone must arrive before 7 p.m. on Friday, or make special arrangements with the Registrar. No one will be available to check in latecomers, and no refund will be granted to those who do not gain entry to the site because they arrive after 7 p.m. on Friday. DirectionsFrom Las Vegas, drive north on Interstate 15 approximately 35 miles to StateRoute 169. The cut-off is well marked. There is a Paiute Indian Reservation Tobacco Shop and small casino at that exit. It is a great place to make a pit stop before you go on to Valley of Fire. You can get ice here. Drive east on Route 169 for approximately 15 miles. This takes you to the west entrance of the Valley Of Fire and to the Ranger Station where you pay your fees. Continue on the road, watch for the sign for the b>BEEHIVES Group Use area at the first turn on the right hand side. Proceed thru the gate (which may be closed but not locked). Parking at the Gathering SiteUpon arrival, you will need to go through our REGISTRATION CHECK-IN. You will then be shown where to drop off your gear and park. Please know the model, make, color and license plate number of the vehicle you are driving, and bring the information with you to the check-in table. You will then fill out a DASHBOARD CARD TO DISPLAY while parked at our campsites. This is necessary for ALL vehicles so we can locate the owner, in case of an emergency. You MUST park in the designated parking area. Although the parking lot is inside a gated area, we suggest that you do not leave valuables in your vehicle.PARK with front end FACING THE ROAD/EXIT or you will be asked to re-park your car Please CARPOOL if at all possible as parking onsite is extremely limited! RV parking spaces (only 10 available) will be reserved on a first come first serve basis as part of the registration process. CampingThe rangers tend to be very sensitive about the placement of tents. We can set up tents WITHIN 100 feet of the ramadas, but in plain sight, i.e. NOT using nooks in the rocks. If concerned, please check in with the event organizers about your prospective tent site before pitching your campsite. This will prevent the possibility of you having to pack up and move...and the rangers have come by in the early morning to make us do so in the past! CleanupIt is our intention to leave the site cleaner than it was when we arrived, so please be sure to clean up after yourself completely. It is a good idea to bring a few trash bags to use for your personal garbage. All participants are expected to contribute their fair share in cleaning up. DepartingAfter the fire circle closes on Sunday morning, we'll participate in cleaning and packing up the community areas, which takes until 11am or so. You are welcome to relax at the site but we all need to depart the camp by 3pm. After returning home for some rest, we then re-gather in town for the Sunday night potluck at the McBride House of Mystery for a night of sharing our 'golden moments.' If you are visiting, we encourage you to stay until Monday morning, if your plans permit, so you can enjoy this magickal evening. You also may want to connect with people who have departure times that most closely match yours. The LocationThis Gathering will be held at Valley of Fire. The Valley of Fire is Nevada's oldest State Park. It is located only 50 miles northeast of Las Vegas. The rough floor and jagged walls of the park contain brilliant formations of eroded sandstone and sand dunes more than 150 million years old. These features, which are the centerpiece of the park's attractions, often appear to be on fire when reflecting the sun's rays. There are a limited number of spaces for cars to park, and a limited number of places where we can set up our tents. Please plan to carpool and ride share so there will be enough room for everyone. Weather TipsPlease be aware that there are challenges to surviving and enjoying the weather in the Las Vegas desert. Valley of Fire is a dry desert terrain with rocky sandstone outcroppings. The temperature during the day in May can go up to 100 degrees, and the night down to 60 degrees. You will want to bring clothing for both chilly, and for hot daytime conditions. The humidity can be very low, so start drinking a lot of water a few days before heading out the desert. Continual hydration is important out in the desert. Have a water bottle that you can carry around all day, and keep drinking! The moisture gets wicked right off of you, so it's easy to get dry internally, as well as get dry skin. Be sure to bring sunscreen, sun hat, lip balm, skin lotion, and sunglasses. Put on sunscreen every morning and repeat as needed during the day. Please be fully prepared for sun and high-wind. From time to time in the desert, we have windstorms and rainstorms. When the wind kicks up, the sand gets into the air and when it hits your body, it can be rather abrasive. Just go for cover, and it will settle down after a little while. Some people like to bring dust goggles in case the sand gets intense. When it rains, it will often rain fast and furious for a little while, and then clear. You might want to bring along some rain gear, just in case. An extra popup canopy to cover your tent and/or "nest" is highly recommended. Having an extra tarp above your tent helps keep your sleeping space cool during the daylight hours when you'll likely want to grab some sleep! Health in the DesertPlease be aware that, because this is a camping event held 12 miles from the nearest emergency medical services, you need to use your best judgment to determine whether you have any medical conditions that should prevent you from attending the Gathering. Please be sure to bring with you any prescription medications you may need. In addition to the allergens present in the desert, please also keep in mind that sage and incense are significant part of the environments we co-create at the gathering. Our friends at Burning Man remind us: Keep in mind that when out in the heat, your body needs replenishing of electrolytes as well as water - good options are powdered EmergenC and Gatorade type products that you can mix with water in a drink bottle. Some signs that you may not be drinking enough water:
We will have a basic first aid kit available if you need it, but please do bring all your basic heath care products that you like to use, including band aids, ibuprophen, earplugs etc. The Gathering will be held at a public campground. The buildings and terrain may pose substantial barriers to people with mobility challenges. If you have questions about the facilities, please contact us at Spinner@mcbridemagic.com and we will gladly put you in touch with the campground administrators. Additional Information
For Las Vegas VisitorsAccommodationsMany members of our community are open to housing out of town guests for our events. If you're planning on staying in Las Vegas for a few days either before or after the event, post your plans at our community e-group, Vegas Vortex Discussion Group. and see what arrangements you can make. This discussion group has members who live in and outside of Vegas, who like to be connected to the Vortex events throughout the year. Please put 'Mayfire' in the subject of your message to help folks filter emails that are relevant to them. We also recommend www.couchsurfing.com. Otherwise, there are numerous hotels all over town. Prices for budget hotel rooms fluctuate with demand, but deals can be found. We suggest using an online travel portal such as Yahoo! Travel, Expedia, or Orbitz to search for deals. Because travel to Las Vegas is heavy around the times of our Gatherings, make your reservations as soon as possible. Transportation Information: No transportation arrangements will be made by the Vegas Vortex organizers. Although we can try to point you in the right direction, you are responsible for arranging your own transportation. We suggest you begin by posting a ride request on the Vegas Vortex Discussion eGroup. Car Rentals: Virtually all the major car rental agencies operate in Las Vegas. However the site has VERY limited parking, and we have been asked by the venue to limit traffic to and from the Gathering as much as possible. There is not enough parking on site! If you feel you must rent a vehicle, please consider offering to carpool with others to the Gathering. Pre- and Post-Festival Vacationing: There are endless strange and wonderful experiences to have in Las Vegas, and we wholeheartedly encourage you to plan your stay with some free time on one or both sides of the Gathering! ScheduleYou can view our schedule here: May Fire 2012 Schedule Music
Part of the magnificent musical magic at MayFire has grown from the practice of Alchemical Rhythmatism (A.R.). This unique method of collaborative improvisation guides beginning and experienced musicians towards deep engagement with each other, service to the circle as a whole, and conscious identification with the psychological and emotional implications of their own artistic process. A.R. is a middle-road between free form jamming and regimented ensemble play. It is fun, easy, and includes valuable ways for everyone to participate, regardless of skill level or experience. Dancers, chanters, spoken word artists and ritualists are also empowered to use A.R. to shape sonic environments which serve their own magical offerings. Joshua Levin and Michael Wall will be opening the door to the mystery of A.R. during the nightly Orientations/Homecomer Initiations; all are encouraged to attend. Community MealsWe are moving closer to self-sufficiency and building community... which means that the Vegas Vortex will be providing breakfast just after sunrise on Sunday morning, but ALL other meals will be on your own. During scheduled mealtimes, we invite you to share food, and dine together at the Oasis area of campsite Two. If you wish to plan meals in advance with others, or help out-of-towners with their grocery needs, please post on the VegasVortex Discussion Group. Please put 'Mayfire' in the subject of your message to help folks filter emails that are relevant to them.. We encourage you to group up with friends and connect with others in your campsite area, and take turns preparing meals for your small group. If you are camping in an RV, please be conscious of this opportunity to stay connected with others at the festival and to get to know your neighbors. Friday evening will be The Feast of the Family of Fire, a community sharing. Please bring your most exceptional gourmet gift of gratitude, along with whatever serving utensils you need so that we may feed and nourish each other in preparation for the Great Work. If your diet is restricted or complicated, please plan to bring enough food to take care of your own well being. * Remember to bring your own plate, bowl, cup, flatware, as well as biodegradable soap, a scrubby cloth or sponge, and a drying towel for cleanup. Please bring tasty contributions for the Food Altar of nonperishable finger-food treats such as fresh fruit, crackers, nuts, chocolates, dried fruits, and cookies. We will share these with each other during the fire circles each night. This is a very important part of our ritual, and we hope you will participate! Please leave alcohol and other intoxicants at home. ClothingWe invite you to bring clothes that express and empower who you are and how you intend to be in this artful space. You may adorn yourself in a special way that, for you, manifests spiritual expression or powerfully evokes an archetype you wish to bring to the ritual. You can also change your appearance during the night, experimenting with different possibilities. Some people may be working with masks, facepaint, and other kinds of transformational adornment. Explore your vision! Suggestions: Bring comfortable ceremonial or ritual clothing that allows freedom of movement. Also bring costumes, jewelry, masks, magical implements, talismans for wearing or charging, a scarf or hood to use as a head covering, sarongs, bindis, body paint, face paint, etc. Know that many of us will be going all out no need to be shy! Of course, feel free to come as you are, in simplicity and comfort, without undue fuss. What Else to Bring
Please review the Parking, Food, and Schedule information for additional items that you may want to bring. Special Items and Requests
What Not to Bring
SleepYou are invited and encouraged (but not required) to participate all night in the fire circle. Consequently, it is important for you to plan and arrange your sleep schedule according to your personal needs. A common approach is to take naps during the day, and occasionally at night, to help ourselves stay refreshed for the time we spend in the circle. To allow people to sleep undisturbed, everyone is expected to keep Quiet Hours from dawn until lunch each morning, and from 8:30 p.m. to 11:30 p.m. each evening. Even so, earplugs may help you sleep more soundly. Consider using a sleep mask to help you rest during daylight hours. Your own personal alarm clock will be invaluable in helping you keep to your chosen schedule. Get plenty of rest before you arrive at the Gathering, and organize toward getting extra sleep on Sunday night at the end. Many people find taking time off work (like Monday) to be very helpful as they rest, reflect, and ease back into their normal routines. NestsYour nest is a comfortable space you will prepare outside the fire circle, ideally with a good view of the fire and dance track. Your nest is a personal, nurturing place to go and relax, reflect, perhaps to stretch your muscles, or simply speak quietly with a friend. Most nests include a beach chair, a blanket, a ground cloth, and a tarp in case of rain in addition to such things as personal magical items, a journal, oils and incense, divination tools, etc. Everyone is requested to leave personal gear outside the ring defined by the tiki torches and prayer flags. Your nest is the place to keep all the goodies you might want for use around the fire, but don't want to return to your tent to get. FiresA large fire will be lit and maintained at night during the festival. Precautions will be taken to ensure fire safety. Fire extinguishers, fire blankets, and buckets of water will be strategically placed in the fire circle. No additional ground fires may be built for cooking or any other purpose. The site for this Gathering is in a high fire risk area. No burning candles, gas lanterns, open flames or incense are allowed at any time except in designated installations when under direct supervision. We are required to enter tents or bunkhouses to immediately extinguish any fire source observed. Personal cook stoves in the designated cooking area must not be left unattended. All cigarette smoking must be carefully monitored and kept to brush-free areas only. Smokers: Please take care of your butts. Building the VillageVegas Vortex Gatherings are participatory. All of the core tasks, including putting up structures, building the fire circle, packing up gear, and cleaning common areas before we leave, can only be accomplished if we all collaborate to do so. Our motto: The job is small if it's shared by all. Special OfferingsTemple at the Oasis : There will be a special area for participants to give and receive massage, energy work, and other holistic practices. This area is also available for meditation, yoga and quiet conversations. Please help us make this area comfy with pillows, rugs, and other delights. Feel free to bring a candle in glass to illuminate this magical place. Prayer Tie and Crafts Installation: One of our shared altar areas features scores of candles you are encouraged to add your own candle in a glass container tall enough to block the wind. This is an arts and crafts area for both adults and kids, where we create our prayers ties that will form the container in which we work and play. Please let us know about other spaces and places you'd like to create by sending email to Spinner@mcbridemagic.com Creative ContributionsIf you have a creative project or installation you want to bring to the festival that you'd like help with, you have at least three options:
Resources for Maximum EngagementThe following articles contain information and examples to help you to maximize engagement, fun, growth, and connection at the fire circle.
ChantsThe Vegas Vortex has a page of chants plus you can check out www.FireCircleChants.com which is continually being updated! There is also a Fire Tribe Chants eGroup you may subscribe to at: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/FireTribeChants. This group produces little or no email, but membership allows you to access MP3 recordings and the lyrics for nearly 100 chants you might like to participate in around the fire. PhotographyPlease do not use cameras, recorders, or other audio/visual recording equipment at any of the fire circles. At other times, please be sure to get permission from anyone you might like to photograph or record. Remember: Feeling safe is the foundation of freedom. We will have designated official photographers onsite to document select portions of the event. Please let the photographers know if you do not want to be photographed. Fire Circle ConsiderationsThe fire circle is intended to be a sacred and safe space. For this reason, we ask that you:
Safety and SecurityOur intention is for our community to come together in emotional and physical safety. Should any dangerous or disruptive behaviors threaten the security or harmony of the Gathering, they will be addressed quickly and appropriately with the goal of restoring or maintaining safety. The venue's staff and the Vegas Vortex Gathering organizers reserve the right to expel any participant, without refund, due to unsafe or disruptive behavior. Discussion GroupThere is an ongoing Vegas Vortex community discussion group, and we are suggesting you sign up there to connect about Mayfire and post requests for rideshares, meal planning, borrowing gear, etc. You may join the discussion group by sending a blank email message to VegasVortex-subscribe@yahoogroups.com, or by visiting http://groups.yahoo.com/group/VegasVortex/. Please put 'Mayfire' in the subject of your message to help folks filter emails that are relevant to them. All memberships will be reviewed and approved by the moderator. Once you are approved, you will be able to send and recieve messages from the group. QuestionsBe sure to check our FAQ page on this web site for answers to the most frequently asked questions. If after reading this information document, you still have questions about the May Fire Gathering, please direct them to the person who invited you to the festival, write to the discussion group, send email, or call Abbi Spinner McBride 702-450-0021 If you have a question specifically about registration, on-site parking spaces, or making payments, please contact Registrar . Thank you! Enjoy the Gathering!
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