In today's world one of the things we need the most is caring compassion, for ourselves, for others, for all life on our planet in whatever form it takes including the Earth herself. Answering this call, in 1996 Winged Fire created Compassionate Care Teams that went into primary and secondary care facilities to uplift, provide emotional/spiritual support, companionship and fun.

Depending on the size of the venue we took a team of 4-8 including a seasoned musician who could carry the program for an hour, varying relaxing and more upbeat music, dancers, and healing touch/massage/reiki etc (where appropriate) people. The directive was to take the hands of each person as they moved around the bumper to bumper wheelchairs lining the activities room, and connect eyes and hearts. We moved their arms gently to the music, sang with them, danced for them, and sometimes with them. Some who had told us in the beginning that they couldn't get up out of their wheelchairs suddenly decided that they wanted to after all. They could usually do only a shuffled two-step but they were up and moving!

In the ARC (Association for Retarded Citizens) facility the occupants were mostly young people up and moving who happily danced with us. Movement is a powerful tool for expression, release,  enjoyment...and sometimes crying tears that need to be cried.

In the Hawaii State mental ward the movement was less wild, more in-turned, exploratory, uncertain or sometimes aggressive. Physical bodies need to move regardless of a life situation. It allows things to move and find new pathways.

In 2002 there was a national fire disaster in Northern Arizona a few hours from us. We quickly created Emergency Relief Care Teams and journeyed to evacuation centers to bring emotional/spiritual support to not only survivors but also to caregivers and emergency responders burnt out from assisting 30,000 evacuees. All needed support. We didn't dance there; we supplied music and massage/body work for tension release for those who wished it.

In 1996 we received the Barbara Marx Hubbard Award for Innovative Social Action from the local chapter of Women of Vision for our care teams.

You can create your own version of care teams in your community. Look at your community and its needs, the gifts and skills of your people, and create what is needed. And it is always needed.