2023 | Preserving the Flame
Commissioned by: Wisdom Institute (WI)
A ceremonial intervention designed for the intergenerational transition of leadership. Moving beyond a standard handover, this ritual was architected to facilitate a somatic bridge between the Elders and the Youth of the Wisdom Institute. By centering the 'Flame' as both a physical element and a symbolic inheritance, the ceremony provided a container for the honorable release of stewardship and the embodied embrace of future leadership.
The Ritual
This video captures the opening movement of the ceremony—grounding the space in divine feminine energy and paying homage to those who have dedicated their lives to the liberation of the community.
The ceremony follows a deliberate progression of honors and responsibilities:
Honoring the Torch Bearers: We recognize the seasoned leaders and "wise warriors" who have faced countless challenges. Their unwavering dedication and pioneering work shattered barriers and laid the solid foundation upon which we now build.
The Sacred Responsibility: We call upon the "Flame Preservers" to move beyond being mere observers. By accepting this sacred responsibility, they signify their readiness to inherit the torch and become the new bearers of the flame.
Collective Power: We embrace a community united to amplify women’s voices and perpetuate gender justice. This process grooms multigenerational power, ensuring the light of liberation continues to burn brightly for generations to come.
The Framework of the Ritual
"From the hands of the Torch Bearers, the flame now ignites your own torch of activism. May this flame burn bright, fueling your passion and guiding you in the pursuit of gender justice and women's dignity."
The words spoken within a ritual provide the structural foundation for the movement from one generation to the next.
In the Summer 2024 issue of Riverwise Magazine, the "Passing the Torch, Preserving the Flame" ceremonial script—authored and
choreographed by Latricia Wright—was formally published as a study in social architecture and intergenerational liturgical methodology.