In the mid 90’s I was curious about
Firewalking, learning about it in a brochure
of a local event
with a certified firewalking teacher
With a potluck meal in hand
We gathered in a field
And joined in a circle around
A large pile of logs
About 30 people, men and women
Participated in exercises to break the ice
Get to know each other
And relax
The logs were lit about an hour
Into the process
With the fire tenders on task
As we sang and shared and witnessed
The burning, the heat, the hours
Passing by as the logs diminished in the heat
With more being added as we erected and
Lifted our energy with intention
We joined for a sharing of the potluck
At dusk in anticipation of the evening
Knowing the ultimate goal
Everyone had in mind
I was there with one friend
Who carried courage for me
And I for her as we met
Each other’s eyes across the circle
Into the evening after dinner was shared
The intensity of the singing increased
With the embers glowing and the
Heat rising in warping waves of light
Rakes were used to smooth out
The embers of red as they became
A carpet of glowing rocks
Within the circle of onlookers
All afternoon and evening we listened
And sang and affirmed our ability to
Alter our sense of reality
Of what our brains told us was real
We experienced a raising of the energy
Both in our minds and our bodies
To a height that allowed us each
To know anything was possible
It was about 9pm as the embers
Glowed and the firewalking began
With the first experienced walker
Strolling over the coals
Without burning of flesh.
We kept singing knowing the
Energy was high and the
Intentions clear
We all had a choice whether to
Walk or not
We would know when we were ready
To begin the path across the embers
I waited and watched
In amazement as those before me
Walked and were delighted
As they reached the other side of the circle
And then I knew it was my time
I signaled to my friend I was going to go
And met her eyes fiercely
And walked believing my success
And I didn’t run nor did I dally
I strolled across the embers
That felt like a warm carpet
And reached the other side
I was amazed and shocked
With my brain screaming I should be in pain
And my feet fine with no charring
I walked on fire. I walked on fire
My brain was confused
I walked on fire and I did not burn
Anything is possible
I just proved it.
I have never forgotten the experience
Of walking on fire stretching
My brain into having to acknowledge
Anything is possible
We are energy and we do have
The ability to raise our energy
In ways that defy our understanding
Of our expectations
I made a commitment
I believed anything is possible
I trusted the process
And I walked on fire!
Participants’ Reflections:
I loved being reminded of a similar incredible experience of firewalking. Thinking about it is stepping out of my realm of safety. It takes a lot of courage to trust what I see that doesn’t make sense.
While meditating, the birds were really talking. I was thinking it’s nice to trust birds will always be there. All of a sudden their noise stopped. I thought, no -- trust is about me always being able to trust myself to do the right thing, not that everything else will be there. And we always learn from everything we experience.
I hadn’t thought about firewalking for a long time. I did it in my 20’s. My youngest daughter was named for fire. Each of my four children were named after different elements. My fire daughter has the heart holding the family together. She’s the peacekeeper. Thank you for reminding me of the embers in my life and in appreciation for the surrender to my daughter.
Wow, that is a great experience I’ve never had. I have tender feet and it’s hard to walk on just the ground. In my recent experience dealing with my divorce, I reached out to my family. My sister has experienced divorce and shared insights. When panic and grieving take over, she suggested I say “I see you” and “I release you”. I practice that with the people I am distancing from. I practice this affirmation releasing them from my heart.
That in a sense is a firewalk. You’re walking through step by step with awareness. Firewalking can be used as a metaphor. We all have to do something to raise our energy, align ourselves, set intentions and believe in our selves through it. And we do it with support.
So grateful for the support of this group. It’s so valuable to my sense of security through my divorce.
Last Sunday I participated in a ritual for world peace day. We had a fire. As part of the ritual we were asked to do some deep breathing. With every breath think of something we wanted to release into the fire. At that time the fire was embers. So powerful to experience.
Fire ceremonies no matter what they are, are about releasing, surrendering and facing fear, burning them up.
I did several firewalks in the early 90’s. We did exercises before the firewalk like falling back in another’s arms trusting they would catch us – letting go and trusting. The instructor taught us to listen to ourselves, trusting when we can walk through it if we choose to. I had gotten sober not too long before that. Firewalking gave me strength that it was possible to walk my path.
“I trust the process” has been a mantra for a while because I like to control the process. We don’t know what’s going to happen a lot of times and we have to surrender to the process. I was reminded yesterday and today with John O’Donoghue’s poem Fluent: “I would like to live like a river flows carried by the surprise of its own unfolding.”
Like living in expectancy instead of controlling my expectations.
I was late signing in. I wanted to share my experience of endurance. I remember the group has a boundary we’re not going to let people in late. I couldn’t get in on the computer. The sign comes up I’m in the waiting room. Do I give up? or do I chill out and use this time in the waiting room? Whether I’m let in or not I decided I can still meditate. I let go and trusted, rode the wave. It’s all good. Lo and Behold I was being let in which was a beautiful gift.
I have a lot of stuff in my life I have to face that I have very little control over. I need my higher power to deal with those things.
The key to every moment, sitting in traffic or dealing with stuff we don’t want to deal with is all about remembering to surrender.