MAR. 8: Maha Shivratri / Dark Moon Fire Ceremony ~ The Great Night of Shiva

In the study of Yoga – Shiva is Existence. Pure Awareness. The Source from which Creation arises. The very ground of Being. Shiva is also vast spaciousness. And Fullness at the same time. That which always Is. You are that.

On the Dark Moon of Friday, March 8th we celebrate Maha Shivaratri – “The Great Night of Shiva” – the one night of the year Shiva sleeps, while we hold the light for him. Maha Shivratri is the annual Indian festival of my ancestors, to remember and bring our awareness to the Centre of our Existence: Shiva. Where there are no labels or concepts. Where we can dissolve our limitedness – in order to expand into the aliveness of all that Is – that Awareness that unifies us all.

Maha Shivratri is also the day to honour and celebrate Shiva – honour Life and celebrate Existence. It is a most auspicious day for healing prayers, mantra chanting, ritual, ceremony, meditation and celebration. This is what we will be engaged in co-creatively during our sacred fire ceremony. You will also hear stories about Shiva and Maha Shivratri, and engage in mudra (sacred seals) and yantra (sacred geometry) to enhance our practice. All are welcome. Om Namah Shivaya.

WHAT: Maha Shivratri / Dark Moon Fire Ceremony ~ The Great Night of Shiva
WHEN: Friday, March 8 @ 7-9pm
WHERE: This ceremony will be held in a beautiful and warm ventilated yurt on a private farm in the southend of Salt Spring Island. Once you register, the address will be sent to you.
REGISTRATION: E-transfer offering to satya@vedicpriestesstemple.com (Offer What You Can: $20 – $35) Pre-ceremony/preparation instructions will be sent to you once you confirm your registration.
*Spaces limited.
*Registration closes March 8th at 12pm or when ceremony fills.

Background on Ceremony

In ceremony, we sit in circle, we hold our intention, we chant, we pray, we offer, we surrender. Together, we hold this charged space co-creatively. We invoke and commune with very subtle sacred energies – the deities (aka: spirits/goddess/Creator – or whatever you call Source). The fire of wisdom burns away all that does not serve. Ultimately, this holy fire transforms, purifies, cleanses and heals.

Using the agency of fire inside a copper vessel, and connecting with the biodynamic rhythm of Mother Earth while we chant – the Vedic Fire Ceremony serves as a direct portal to the deities. It is one of the most ancient forms of ritual in the world, originating from Mother India some 10,000 years ago. It was channelled by rishis and seers in the high Himalayas. It serves as an altar to the Divine – and a space for healing, emotional purification, karmic cleansing, and deep transformation. It is a symbol of that which we are (Satya/Truth/Shiva), and that which we are not (Mitya/not-Truth/Maya). ॐ

*This ceremony is also known as agni yajna, fire puja, and havan.

Satya & Ceremony

Born into the Vedic lineage, Satya carries the gift of fire ceremony by the Grace of her ancestors, who also practiced this form of devotion. She apprenticed in India over two winters, inheriting the ceremony when her mother suddenly left her body.

Her mother’s death was her fire initiation, and her mother’s body was her first offering into the fire of wisdom. Most recently, she offered her father’s body into the fire of wisdom, which has only deepened her intention behind this offering from her ancestors and lineage. She humbly accepts the deep honour and responsibility to carry this lineage ritual forward, for the greater good of the Whole. Encouraged by her teachers, she has been leading ceremony on the west coast of Canada, and in south and north India during new and full moons for nearly a decade.

She also leads ceremony for healing, renewal, union, rites of passage, and other occasions as requested. Ceremonies are conducted both with groups and in private. She has also completed a study and practice in Ancestral Water Healing Ritual with Akhanda Yoga (Yogirishhi Vishvktu) of Rishikesh, India. She offers from the deepest place in her with utmost respect and reverence to her ancestors, to You, to the Divine, and to the Self.

Learn more about Satya’s other offerings at @vedic_priestess_temple (Instagram) + @vedicpriestesstemple108 (Facebook).

0“Thank you for sharing the wisdom/traditions of your lineage, Satya. I appreciated the chance to participate in a ritual that is outside my culture and spiritual background. I appreciated the sense of sacred community and sharing, the joining of voices in chanting – and the beautiful space.” ~ Shawna K

1“I most appreciated it was culturally/spiritually authentic. Your knowledge, study and lineage was important to me, to attend.” ~ Leila R

2“I very much appreciated the depth of learning and the connection of ritual and ceremony to learning about the [deity]. I had some great ’a-ha’ moments. I was very moved by the inclusion of your own lineage in the ceremony, Satya. It’s an incredible gift.” ~ Christie R

3“Thank you for providing our community with such a beautiful ceremony. You have a gift! And I felt like I was in India. I am still feeling the effects of the ceremony with a kind of wild goddess energy. It was very special that you brought water from the Ganges River.” ~ Laurissa W

4“I wanted to share with you about my mother’s healing following the ceremony. She was deep in my prayer during the ceremony, and her issue has cleared, and it didn’t come back. I shared with her about the ceremony, and she said she was guessing this was the case. I’m so grateful! Thanks for all.” ~ Karin D

5“I was awestruck watching Satya chant.” ~ Kim M

7“Thank you for your presence, thank you for your sharing, thank you for your courage – it is a very powerful ceremony!” ~ Anna K

8“It was a beautiful and powerful ceremony, what a gift!” ~ Mike N

9“It was a really amazing ceremony and Satya is just Divine.” ~ Augustina Ma