The Fire Circle

A Private Community for Raku Students

The Fire Circle is a private community for students who have purchased one of my online courses or Raku kilns over the years.

Raku is a process best learned through experimentation, observation, and shared knowledge. The Fire Circle exists to bring together a group of makers who are actively exploring the process and want a place to share their work, ask questions, and learn from one another.

Think of it as a gathering place around the fire for potters who are committed to mastering this unique firing technique.

What’s Included

Private Community

Members gain access to a private Facebook group where students can:

• Share their Raku projects
• Ask questions about glaze results and firing variables
• Discuss kiln setups and troubleshooting
• Share discoveries and techniques
• Connect with other Raku artists

It’s a collaborative space where everyone contributes to expanding the collective knowledge of the process.

Monthly Live Q&A Sessions

In addition to the Facebook community, members are invited to join a live monthly Q&A session with Nate.

These sessions take place in a private Zoom room and are designed to give students direct access to ask questions about anything related to Raku firing.

Topics often include:

• Glaze chemistry and results
• Kiln design and burner setup
• Reduction techniques
• Troubleshooting glaze issues
• Clay body performance
• Safety practices
• Advanced experimentation

Each session is two hours long, giving plenty of time for open discussion and problem solving.

2026 Fire Circle Schedule

All sessions take place Sundays from 3:00 PM – 5:00 PM (EST)

March 22
April 19
May 24
June 14
July 19
August 16
September 13
October 18
November 15

Zoom access links will be shared via email with Fire Circle members prior to each session.

Who Can Join

The Fire Circle is available to:

• Students who have purchased one of my online courses
• Owners of one of my Raku kiln builds

If you’ve worked with me through a course or kiln, you’re already part of the extended Raku community, and this space exists to support your continued exploration of the process.

Why The Fire Circle Exists

Raku firing is full of variables. Small differences in flame, temperature, timing, reduction materials, glaze thickness, or clay body can dramatically change the final result. Because of this, some of the most valuable lessons come not just from your own kiln, but from observing what happens in many others.

The Fire Circle brings those shared experiences together in one place. It’s a space where students can share results, troubleshoot issues, compare glaze outcomes, and discuss discoveries that come from experimenting with the process.

When one person experiments, the whole group learns. Because in many ways, the best lessons in Raku still happen the same way they always have, gathered together around the fire.