On one of the last warm days of autumn, I gathered some of my magikal and talented friends and headed to one of our favorite spots in the world: A stretch of 16 acres of woodland behind Calico–the famous rainbow property belonging to Kat Wise and Mason Brown. Our plan was to capture moments of intense communion with nature that we would later enhance with digital effects–to share our collective love for the trees, rocks and earth in a music video that speaks of the energies that call to us through life. Nature collaborated with us that day–the sun and clouds providing perfect lighting, the trees wearing their most brilliant party clothes, and even tiny insects asking for a moment of screen time under director of photography Micheal Tosner’s macro lens:
This lovely butterfly friend made the final cut. A pretty little spider and a busy bee also attended the shoot, filling the opening of the video with their gentle presence.
Dana Divine and Kayla Jo shared hours of their talents to transform me into a forest priestess.
Before heading into the woods we gathered in circle and held hands. I asked for the blessings of the Lord and Lady of the Forest, and to see the world-behind-the-world, to ‘faerie out’ with the elements. I slipped out of my shoes and began to walk towards the trees. I spent the whole day barefoot, running through pricker bushes and brambles. It had to be a real moment between me and the spirits of the land, I wanted to feel every curve of the earth beneath my feet, to allow myself to be drawn deeper in by connection to the landscape.
Sweet faerie helpers following the film crew through the forest.
Nature providing perfect moments: shining sun rays, gentle breezes, and breathtaking colors. Photo by: Sarah Sparkles
As the sun set we prepared for the nighttime shoot. The temperatures dropped, but somehow the fire in my palms and an inner heat burning from within kept my body temperature way up. A communion between woman and flame began as we dipped the wicks over and over, capturing moments when the fire was at its hottest. Whenever I dance with fire everything slows down and I arrive in the present moment with all my being. I thought of all the women throughout time who have danced with flames, entwining their consciousness with the element as it calls out the moves in a silent twisting voice.
‘As I find out all the moves to go along I wonder who’s steps I am on.’
At the end of the day we packed up all our gear and headed back to New York City through the quiet depths of the night. We were happy and exhausted, and knew that director Zina Brown had everything that he would need to weave a line of images together to tell our story. After a few weeks of post production and studio magick the video was born. The final product hopes to be a short depiction of mystery, longing, and the link that we all share with the earth and unseen world: The Calling that we cannot name, but hear in the still of the night, and ancient echos that ring through land and sky.