Burn Procession is a transgression of boundaries, both physical and immaterial, allowing the body to function as both vessel and altar. The walk takes place at Lake Padden, a route intimately personal, one that offered solace, direction when life felt void of any connection and community. The arms hold the weight of six candles as they continually burn despite the pull of the wind. In this act, under a veil the body acts as a vessel carrying the light, the light I wish I had, someone to lead, somewhere to go. The shepherd, leading the way to the water, cleansing, purifying. I invite those passed on to walk with me and commune, a testament to resilience and continuation; as the candle burns we live on. Six candles, three on each of my outstretched arms are lit and carried to the end of the dock. Jesus’s body on the cross for six hours, a representation of persecution, violence and death. Christian iconography representing conflict and personal history. The candles act as a continuation, an attempt to make the erased, the buried, the forgotten present, here and one. The puncture wound replaced with light. 

When we know we have each other, when we see our experiences mirrored in each other, we find reasons to go on. We find affirmation that we are not alone and that our lives have value, love and joy. I owe living a full, vibrant queer life to those who have walked beside me. We join as one to continue the burning. 

 The act took place during this year's Transgender Awareness Week. As I was making an altar on Transgender Day of Remembrance the Thursday following this walk, it dawned on me that I was doing the same thing as the walk. What I was doing at Lake Padden was a vigil, an altar of its own.