RavenCircle

History of RavenCircle

The RavenCircle Community evolved from vision and grew as the result of like-minded, like-hearted people coming together in prayer and in ceremony. The first lodge was constructed in Phoenix, Arizona in March of 1991 after a series of dreams that Don had. It was a dome style lodge covered with blankets. Over the course of four years, the lodge served as a sacred gathering space for men and women from all walks of life and from spiritual and non-spiritual backgrounds. Healing, re-birth and initiation ceremonies were regularly held, often specific to men's personal and spiritual growth. The foundation for a solid community was formed.

By 1995 the community had matured through individual and collective experiences. Traveling extensively throughout the United States and abroad, there was a deepening as a result of sharing stories of experiences with Toltec seers, Mexican Curanderos, Native American Elders, Hindu Swamis, Traditional Martial Arts and South American Shaman. It was decided by the community that the integration of this knowledge would best be supported by Mother Earth while sitting deep within her embrace. The Kiva lodge was born.

The Kiva was a lodge built three feet into the ground and its earthen walls supported by a beautiful mosaic of flagstone. The slightly domed roof was constructed of wood and sat flush on the ground. The community gathered in a new way. The knowledge of elders added breadth and depth to the sacred space, transforming it into a nexus of vision. Sitting deep within the womb of Mother Earth strengthened the connection to her while allowing for a deep integration of shared vision.

In 1997 Don was fasting at Bear Butte in the Black Hills of South Dakota. Grover Horned-Antelope, a Lakota Medicine Man and Elder was supporting Don's fast. Grover told Lorraine to build a sweat lodge when they returned to Phoenix. He asked her to pour for women and to empower them to acknowledge their wholeness. That December, this lodge was constructed from the trunks of young Aspen trees, creating a feminine circle and a walk in beauty.

The next three years brought about the continual opportunity to nurture relationships with well-known elders, medicine men, spiritual leaders and community. Some of these elders came to lead ceremony in these sacred spaces. The community continued to grow and many young adults began asking for lodges for a wide variety of reasons but most importantly, to find their own voice. RavenCircle became creators gathering in conversation to open their perception to the possible. As a community RavenCircle gathers in a circle of creation and creators to talk, share, discover, and trust that the world and universe are constantly evolving with awareness.

In the summer of 2000, Don and Lorraine combined their vision and were married at Bear Butte by Grover Horned-Antelope in a traditional ceremony under the pipe. Their ceremony was attended by family and community. It was here that the name RavenCircle emerged while in prayer for community.

They moved to Oregon where they facilitated a bi-monthly gathering that ran for over two years and with new community built the Earth Lodge, a solid structure lodge impervious to the constant rain in the area. They have hosted a number of encampments and gatherings throughout the western part of the country and have supported many people in vision quest and in constructing lodges.

Since many of the properties they have lived on were within city limits they have had to heat their lodge rocks in gas grills. This resourceful method is growing in popularity on reservations in Montana, Idaho and South Dakota as a result of arid summers and no-burn alerts.

In the spring of 2005, they relocated to Colorado where the magical journey of life continues to creatively unfold.

RavenCircle is, but not limited to, artists, teachers, thinkers, doers, discoverers, students, philosophers and healers in the unfathomable mystery of creation no matter what profession each of us walks in life. RavenCircle is a nexus of awareness where we gather to unravel the mystery and seek to know more about its workings. RavenCircle recognizes the equality of all awareness in the universe and the drive to know the knower behind all things. We gather to support each other, in equality and freedom, our uniqueness and diversity. As a result all who participate in RavenCircle know the support that comes in a circle of equals, sharing and caring for this delicate mystery called life.

Sharing all of our resources, RavenCircle gathers to wander through stories of power and truth to continually manifest a new, fresh, alive and balanced relationship with Mother Earth, the people and the Spirit of Creation itself.



	Home Sweat Lodge Reiki Who We Are RavenCircle Creations Contact		History of RavenCircle The RavenCircle Community evolved from vision and grew as the result of like-minded, like-hearted people coming together in prayer and in ceremony. The first lodge was constructed in Phoenix, Arizona in March of 1991 after a series of dreams that Don had. It was a dome style lodge covered with blankets. Over the course of four years, the lodge served as a sacred gathering space for men and women from all walks of life and from spiritual and non-spiritual backgrounds. Healing, re-birth and initiation ceremonies were regularly held, often specific to men's personal and spiritual growth. The foundation for a solid community was formed. By 1995 the community had matured through individual and collective experiences. Traveling extensively throughout the United States and abroad, there was a deepening as a result of sharing stories of experiences with Toltec seers, Mexican Curanderos, Native American Elders, Hindu Swamis, Traditional Martial Arts and South American Shaman. It was decided by the community that the integration of this knowledge would best be supported by Mother Earth while sitting deep within her embrace. The Kiva lodge was born. The Kiva was a lodge built three feet into the ground and its earthen walls supported by a beautiful mosaic of flagstone. The slightly domed roof was constructed of wood and sat flush on the ground. The community gathered in a new way. The knowledge of elders added breadth and depth to the sacred space, transforming it into a nexus of vision. Sitting deep within the womb of Mother Earth strengthened the connection to her while allowing for a deep integration of shared vision. In 1997 Don was fasting at Bear Butte in the Black Hills of South Dakota. Grover Horned-Antelope, a Lakota Medicine Man and Elder was supporting Don's fast. Grover told Lorraine to build a sweat lodge when they returned to Phoenix. He asked her to pour for women and to empower them to acknowledge their wholeness. That December, this lodge was constructed from the trunks of young Aspen trees, creating a feminine circle and a walk in beauty. The next three years brought about the continual opportunity to nurture relationships with well-known elders, medicine men, spiritual leaders and community. Some of these elders came to lead ceremony in these sacred spaces. The community continued to grow and many young adults began asking for lodges for a wide variety of reasons but most importantly, to find their own voice. RavenCircle became creators gathering in conversation to open their perception to the possible. As a community RavenCircle gathers in a circle of creation and creators to talk, share, discover, and trust that the world and universe are constantly evolving with awareness. In the summer of 2000, Don and Lorraine combined their vision and were married at Bear Butte by Grover Horned-Antelope in a traditional ceremony under the pipe. Their ceremony was attended by family and community. It was here that the name RavenCircle emerged while in prayer for community. They moved to Oregon where they facilitated a bi-monthly gathering that ran for over two years and with new community built the Earth Lodge, a solid structure lodge impervious to the constant rain in the area. They have hosted a number of encampments and gatherings throughout the western part of the country and have supported many people in vision quest and in constructing lodges. Since many of the properties they have lived on were within city limits they have had to heat their lodge rocks in gas grills. This resourceful method is growing in popularity on reservations in Montana, Idaho and South Dakota as a result of arid summers and no-burn alerts. In the spring of 2005, they relocated to Colorado where the magical journey of life continues to creatively unfold. RavenCircle is, but not limited to, artists, teachers, thinkers, doers, discoverers, students, philosophers and healers in the unfathomable mystery of creation no matter what profession each of us walks in life. RavenCircle is a nexus of awareness where we gather to unravel the mystery and seek to know more about its workings. RavenCircle recognizes the equality of all awareness in the universe and the drive to know the knower behind all things. We gather to support each other, in equality and freedom, our uniqueness and diversity. As a result all who participate in RavenCircle know the support that comes in a circle of equals, sharing and caring for this delicate mystery called life. Sharing all of our resources, RavenCircle gathers to wander through stories of power and truth to continually manifest a new, fresh, alive and balanced relationship with Mother Earth, the people and the Spirit of Creation itself.

			© 1995-2008 RavenCircle