To begin anew,
purify what passed
as tears and toil,
now fuel for fire.

Gather the muck, the thorns,
and nipped off old growth
that still lay loosely tangled
in piles we pretended to forget
and didn’t stop to sift out.
In giving gratitude,
we consecrate the chaff.

Bring it all to the readied fire pit
in the center of this holy space.
Stack it with intention,
paying humble mind.

Among the sharp edges and slippery folly,
look closely for unharvested jewels
of forgiveness,
of realized self-inflicted regret.
Something always lingers in what we try to hide.
Find the treasure.
Pluck it out and slide it in a pocket.

Ignite the match.
Spit golden sparks.
Birth ebullient flames under the midnight umbrella
of ancient moons and stars
witnessing this grounding ceremony.
Souls wrestling alone in our human skin,
find communion in a circle.

Offer warrior testimony with smoke dancing in our hair.
Sing a raucous song.
Bellow grievances we no longer need to bear.

Let the truth sink in:
We’re free.
We are free.
We have always been free.

Leave the ashes to scatter in the morning breeze.