Fire Quest - A Rite of Passage

In our culture we have largely lost the traditional rites of passage that once marked important transitions in our lives. 

These rituals still continue in many indigenous cultures, where the opportunity to take yourself to some kind of ‘edge’ is both revered and recognised as a way to let go of what you’re moving away from and step into a new phase of life.

The transition from childhood to adulthood is one of the most important that any of us ever makes. In the absence of ritualised rites of passage in our society, some people choose to take themselves to an ‘edge’ in potentially harmful ways – maybe through alcohol, drugs or sex. Circlewise believes it’s vital to re-establish rites of passage ceremonies for young people, both as a way of helping them to make this transition safely, but also to equip them for adult life. 

Last summer, a team of Circlewise wilderness guides led a group of young people (aged from 18 to 25) on a five-day Fire Quest in a remote part of South Devon. The quest was an opportunity for the young people to step out of their everyday lives, leaving behind their phones, their family and the comforts of home and heading out into the woods to ‘meet’ themselves.     Each participant was invited to select a place in the woods to build their own fire and, after a day of preparation and setting intentions, they kindled it with an ember from the communal fire. During this time they fasted (for a total of 36 hours) both to cleanse and empty themselves in this ritual space.

As darkness fell, the young people sat down alone beside their fire and throughout the stillness of the night their only focus was tending to their fire and reflecting on this time of their life – both what they were leaving behind and what they were stepping into. Alone in the darkness, without food, company or shelter or any of their everyday comforts. each young person came face-to-face with themselves and the intentions they had set at the start of the quest. It was a profound and deeply moving experience. 

Nearby, that evening their parents and caregivers gathered around a communal fire with some of the Circlewise facilitators, celebrating what needed to be celebrated and grieving what needed to be grieved at this time of transition. As dawn began to break, the questers      stirred their fires into the ground so the last embers died away as the sun rose – a ceremonial death and rebirth.

With the dawning of the new day, they returned to the communal fire to be welcomed back into the ‘village’. Next came a time of feasting and sharing, reflection and witnessing, as well as much-needed rest. The participants were supported to reintegrate and reconnect with family before heading back out into the world to resume their normal lives. 

So, how was the experience of the Fire Quest for the participants? Willow Loram told Reconnect:

“I wanted a ritual to let go of things from the past and support myself to come into my truest self. I also wanted to push myself to do something out of my comfort zone to gain deeper self-trust and empowerment.”

She explained how they prepared for the Fire Quest: 

“The whole day before the quest night was so beautifully held, starting from dawn when we were woken up by song and watched the sunrise in silence together, to finding our quest spots and gathering wood, to setting our intentions and having one-on-one time with the facilitators to talk through our intentions and how we were feeling,”

Although it was challenging to be out in the woods alone, knowing other questers were nearby provided reassurance:

“I had some moments of anxiety, but as soon as I sat up I could see the glow of the other people’s fires and their shadows on the banks or trees, and that was really comforting knowing that they were just there and that while we were all on our own journeys, we were also all together.”

For Willow, the greatest challenge was fasting, which she hadn’t done before. She said: 

“It forced me to slow down a lot and actually quietened my mind completely which made the experience of the quest more potent. [It] has given me so much - deepened friendships and new friendships, deeper trust in myself, deeper knowing of my own boundaries and limits, more ease in speaking my needs, more knowing that I’m worthy and loveable for being me just as I am.”

Heidi Rose, founder of Circlewise who was one of the facilitators and guides at the Fire Quest, as well as a parent said:

“On the last day after the questers return, parents and carers were invited back to witness a circle where they  shared whatever they wished to about their experience. The parents surrounded the circle of young people to listen. Then, they swapped places. The parents sat in the centre of the circle and responded to what had been said, honouring their children and the journey they’d been on. It was very touching and very powerful.”

Facilitator and guide, Sam Kouzarides explained the significance of fire in the Fire Quest ceremony: 

“During their solo time, the quester is accompanied only by their fire. The element of fire has a tangible aliveness and has been recognised in many cultures for its powers of transformation. It can be a big support in relating to our inner experiences - a place to transform what we’re letting go of, to offer our intentions, to ask questions and listen to what arises.”

He added: 

“It is a privilege to witness and support this journey of discovery. The transition into early adulthood brings so many pressures and expectations and often there is very little space to reflect on the internal aspects of the transition and its significance in the person’s life. The Fire Quest offers a space to honour the transition taking place and allows the young person to reflect on what’s most important. By taking themselves to an edge, with solo time or fasting, they break out of the routine and let their whole system know that they are entering a ceremonial space. There is an element of sacrifice, too - they are giving something up and asking for something in return. And it’s not all about the challenge, there’s so much beauty and peace to be experienced by spending a night with a fire in ceremony and in community.”

Aaron Deemer, another guide who served as camp chef and ensured that the questers broke their fast in style. He said:

“My role was to provide food in an environment where deep internal shifts were taking place and I wanted to respect this. It meant preparing food in a gentle, loving and nourishing way. I asked myself ‘What is really important here and how can the food support these intentions?’ Everything was cooked on the open fire, slowly and with heart. Attention to detail was really important – such as heating up the syrup for pancakes. To break their fast, I prepared miso soup and fruit. I paid attention to making the fruit bowl as beautiful and rich as possible – a feast for the eyes as much as for the belly. Above all, I wanted everyone to feel cared for and supported.”

Aaron’s efforts were greatly appreciated by the questers who christened him The Earth Papa. He said:

“That felt a really cool thing. I’ve always had a strong feeling about gender roles and trying to break free of the roles that society likes to impose on us. Women are so often seen as the nurturers which feels contrived and outdated to me so it was great to break free of that and step into the role as nurturer and cook for the five days.

“The quest itself was a profound experience. To witness these amazing young people not eat for 24 hours and sit beside a fire alone through the night, it’s hard to explain. There was a letting go, a softening, an opening up. I’ve never seen shifts like this happen so quickly or so deeply. I came away from this experience thinking ‘Yes, this is what I want to do, this is the work I want to be around’. In our society, so many things point us in the direction of consumerism, materialism. This experience points young people in the opposite direction. It is rich and nourishing and necessary. Each one of them, at the end, said how happy and connected and loved they felt. I think about the person I was at their age and how much I’d have benefited from something like this, rather than rushing around in a state of confusion searching for something I could not find.”

In September 2025, Circlewise is hosting another fire quest for young adults. Fire Initiation takes place from Wednesday 3 to Sunday 7 September in South Devon. It includes circles before the quest to help participants prepare, as well as support with integration afterwards. 

There is also a Fire Quest for adults this May and a women’s intergenerational wilderness fast in July 2025. As well as a full four-day vision quest in June 2026 (preparations for which begin May 2025). 

Visit the Circlewise website for details      https://www.circlewise.co/whats-on