During a recent October, forty people celebrated and honored the Sun, Rain, Clouds, Lightning and Wind amidst gentle breezes and welcoming clouds…even though meteorologists were predicting a hurricane.

Patrick Hanaway and Lisa Lichtig, the Firekeepers at Sacred Fire Asheville near Weaverville, NC invited the four of us traditional weather workers to lead this sacred ceremony to activate and reinforce the relationships with the Weather Beings that all human being share. In this time when weather is “acting up” in areas far from our region, we enjoy beautiful, abundant Rains, balanced heat and cold, and gentle breezes. The Firekeepers told us they long for a way to give thanks and give back, so that our community does its best to fortify and nourish our relationships with the living Weather that provides so much balance and prosperity for all of the farmers and people of our region. By maintaining our relationships with Weather in these ancient and always-relevant ways, we are likely to enjoy beneficial climate throughout the seasons and on into the future.

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Sacred Fire Asheville Firekeepers
Our decorations chief, Miriah, carrying her little boy, is as beautiful as the flowers she harvested and prepared for us!
Amy and Adam hang the Welcome sign in the basketball court that we proceeded to transform into a ceremonial altar space for our Harvest Festival ceremony.
A crowd of 40 courageous people gathered for the ceremony on October 3, 2022. Even though a hurricane had been forecast, they turned out because they trusted their weather workers (or they were willing to be present for whatever the weather was to br
Our Nahua tradition compañero, Daniel Duron, journeyed up from Texas to participate in our ceremony. Here, Daniel is pictured with Asheville weather worker Erin Everett, who is Daniel's madrina (god-mother) in our tradition.
The ceremony was led by the Asheville-area Nahua-tradition weather workers: Amy and Douglas Haynes, Erin Everett and Adam Laufer, and our compañero from Texas, Daniel Duron.
Guests Elizabeth and Tracy find the Sacred Fire Council House and its consecrated fire to be a good place to get centered before the ceremony begins.
The Traditional Weather Harvest Festival ceremony was hosted by Sacred Fire Asheville. Here is Sacred Fire Firekeeper (and host) Lisa LIchtig, along with Douglas Haynes and Erin Everett, ceremonial leaders.
We were asked to offer this Harvest Festival ceremony by the community. Here, Sacred Fire Asheviile community host, Firekeeper Lisa Lichtig, starts us off with a joyful introduction.
The Weather Beings are having fun, and so are we!
The Asheville weather workers opened the event with some stories and context about our ancient Nahua tradition that connects humans and our communities with the Rain, Clouds, Lightning, Sun and Wind - in other words, the Weather Beings.
The weather moved above us as we told stories of our tradition's origins and our original teacher, don Lucio Campos Elizalde.
"It's time to open the ceremony."
Asheville weather workers Erin and Adam prepare the sacred items, light the candle and incense as the ceremony begins.
Fresh flowers covered the altar area, as we made our traditional offerings of gifts from our forests and fields, provided by the beneficial weather of the growing season.
We all gathered up our traditional offerings, as the beneficial Clouds watched us from over our heads.
We were so delighted that our good friend Shari could make it out to our ceremony with her dear husband Robert!
Our beautiful altar covered with abundant offerings! But such a small portion of the nourishment and beauty the Weather Beings have graced us with throughout the year.
Asheville weather worker Amy Haynes offers a tequila toast at our fiesta.
The ceremony wouldn't be complete without a tequila (and sparkling cider) toast offered by weather worker and tepahtiani healer Adam Laufer.
A good time was had by all at our fiesta...including Kristina and Ashley!
Our tequila sommeliers, Jim and Linda
Lisa, Uma, Amba and friends
Miriah and Lisa, our generous Firekeeper, enjoyed this ceremony under the clouds.
Billie enjoys a fancy gluten-free cupcake (as we enjoy her fancy hand-painted fingernails)!
Although little Asa loved the ceremony, he also enjoyed the sheep in the field next door!
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Four gorgeous weather-lovers!
Billie's gluten-free Mexican chocolate cupcakes were one of the highlights of the abundant potluck...(and then there was the beef stew, and the beautiful salads, and the chicken, and...mmmmm).
Elizabeth, a local director for United Way, supports our celebration and ceremony every year!
Josh and his wife, Melissa, have been attending our ceremony every year. Welcome back!
"Very nice ceremony!" Thank you very much, Mr. Rick.
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A job well done! We gather for a photo before we go our separate ways, holding the Rain, Clouds, Wind, Lightning and Sun in our hearts as we walk out into our lives once again.
Amy and Douglas Haynes, Erin Everett and Adam Laufer, the Asheville-area Nahua-tradition weather workers, leaders of this annual ceremony. We welcome you to join us next year!