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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 human attending the event will need to have a separate and individual registration record entered for them. Relationships between people are tracked by entering the names of parents (on the child's registrations), sponsors or sponsees, but entering these names DOES NOT mean that the individuals named in the text boxes are automatically registered to attend the event, nor that an open spot is held for them. They must also be registered to choose their arrival, vehicle, and lodging options and pay registration fees. 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, BoneDance, Mysterium, Fires Rising, Rites, 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 must be sponsored into MayFire. 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 community considerations, like taking conversations outside the circle, or not smoking in the circle, etc.... 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. 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. There is an on-site entrance/parking fee of $6 per night, which is payable to the park and is usually collected by the park rangers at the front gate. This year we have PRE-PAID for all the available parking spaces at the group camp site and we will issue dashboard tags to those who registered to park on site. You will pay for parking on site as part of the registration process. See arrival information below, for more details. Also, please be aware that there are challenges to surviving and enjoying the weather in the Las Vegas desert. Please look here for more information on how you can be prepared. Additional Information
Arrival InformationEarly Festival participants to help with Setup are welcome to arrive on Main Festival participants are welcome to arrive:
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. Please tell the ranger at the gate that the event you are attending has already paid for the parking spaces at the group camp site and will issue event dashboard tags. The rangers are welcome to check-in with the event organizers on site to verify vehicle compliance with the parking rules. Once you get to the group camp site, come find our Registration Team to check in, get your dashboard card 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." Weekend Festival goers must arrive before 7 p.m. on Wednesday, May 13th, 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 Wednesday. Directions:From 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. The drive throughis about 10 miles in length and take you to route 167, the North Shore road. We will be in the group camp site area, near the Beehives. 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, VegasVortex@yahoogroups.com and see what arrangements you can make. The Mayfire discussion group is good for this as well. And we 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. TopTransportation Information: No transportation arrangements will be made by the Vegas Vortex organizers. You are responsible for arranging your own transportation. We suggest you begin by posting a ride request on the Mayfire 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. Departures: After the fire circle closes on Friday morning, we'll participate in cleaning and packing up the community areas. We encourage you to plan ahead and connect with people who have departure times that most closely match yours. Pre- and Post-Festival Vacationing: There are endless strange and wonderful experiences to have in Las Vegas, and we wholeheartedlyencourage you to plan your stay with some free time on one or both sides of the Gathering! Parking at the Gathering SiteUpon arrival, you will be shown where to drop off your gear and park. To speed your check-in:
Some parking will be provided nearby. 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. Please car-pool if at all possible as parking onsite is extremely limited! Parking spaces on site will be reserved on a first come first serve basis as part of the registration process and will incur an additional fee that we pay to the state park. There is also free remote parking (not too far away) and folks can shuttle to that location to drop off cars after unloading. ScheduleThe May Fire event schedule is posted on a separate web page. Check back for updates too! 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. 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:
FacilitiesWe have rented all three of the group campsites. Each site has a shade structure, pit toilets and running water, which is potable. There are also pay showers a five minute drive from where we'll be camping. CampingThe rangers tend to be very sensitive about the placement of tents. We can set up tents within one hundred feet of the ramadas, on the side away from the road. 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.... Weather TipsValley of Fire is a dry desert terrain with rocky sandstone outcroppings. The temperature during the day in May can go up to 90 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 awater 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 goggles in case the sand gets intense. When it rains, it will often rain fast andfurious 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! 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 Friday 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 MayFire Discussion Group. 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. Wednesday 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. 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 Friday night. Many people find taking time off work 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. 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@vegasvortex.com
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 new page of chants which is still being added to! 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. The twice-monthly Sacred Arts Circle is another great opportunity to learn new chants between Gatherings. Children and TeensChildren and teens are welcome at a Vegas Vortex Gathering. Kids under 16 years of age will not be charged registration fees, but they DO need to have their own registation record entered. When you register your child enter your name in the text box under the CHILDREN section and enter the coupon CHILD to claim the discounted registration price if they are under 16. 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. 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: "Dehydration can cause headaches, stomach cramps, abdominal pains, constipation, or flu-like symptoms. It exacerbates both heat-related and cold-related conditions (i.e. both sunstroke and hypothermia), and makes itdifficult for the body to mend itself. If someone you know complains of these symptoms, or shows signs of either severe overheating or (worse) a case of the chills under the mid-day sun, get them to shade immediately and seek prompt medical help. 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. DisabilitiesThe 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@vegasvortex.com and we will gladly put you in touch with the campground administrators. 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. Fire Circle ConsiderationsThe fire circle is intended to be a sacred and safe space. For this reason, we ask that you:
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, for additional items that you may want to bring. Special Items and Requests
What Not to Bring
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 notwant to be photographed. 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. All participants are expected to contribute their fair share in cleaning up. DepartingAssuming everyone helps out with cleanup, we expect to complete our formal activities and clean-up by about noontime on Sunday. Following this, you are welcome to linger, enjoy the day and each other's company, or nap before heading home. We all need to depart the camp site by 3pm. We are guests — let's not overstay our welcome! Discussion GroupAn online forum has been created so we can connect with each other and talk about our experiences at the Gathering. You may join the discussion group by sending a blank email message to MayFire-subscribe@yahoogroups.com, or by visiting http://groups.yahoo.com/group/MayFire/ All memberships will be reviewed and approved by the moderator and membership is limited to those who are registered to attend May Fire this year. Once you are approved, you will be able to send and recieved 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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