Firewalking has
been practiced as a cross cultural rite of passage for centuries, a
symbolic demonstration of a move to a new level. The firewalk
is metaphorical in nature and can lead us to a new understanding of
ourselves. Just as marriage, graduation, your first driver's test or
your first kiss can be significant life events or new chapters on
our journey of life, so can firewalking. Firewalking is just an
action, it does not have meaning by itself. In fact, it has no
practical value in and by itself. The value is created in us. It
depends upon your attitude before and as you walk, and then again
after you walk- how you choose to remember it. We give it the
significance depending upon how we think about it.
The fire walk is a
dramatic demonstration of that power within us. It's powerful,
because the firewalk IS dramatic. The mechanism in our brain that
successfully gets you across the bed of coals is the same mechanism
that gets you to the grocery store and back. It's just that we take
the trip to the store for granted and the fire gets our attention.
That's what makes it a good metaphor, or example, of overcoming
any obstacle, any fear.
Once a person
walks the fire, it can be a valuable resource experience. "If I did
this, than other things can I do that I have been afraid to
attempt?". It then becomes a significant life experience to reflect
on and gives rise to possibly greater things.
It's like planting an apple seed, and only God
can count the number of apples in an apple seed
What is
the principal of Walking the Path of Courage?
Courage does not
occur on it’s own. It is a response to fear. By meeting our fears
first hand we come face to face with our limitations. In fact, our
fears, both little and small will stop us every time. When fears pop
up you have identified a limiting belief. Meeting these
fears with courage is the fastest course for personal growth and
empowerment.
'"Life is either
a grand adventure or nothing."
- Helen Keller
What is firewalking?
Firewalking is the
act of walking across glowing hot bed of embers at a temperature
between 850 and 1500 degrees F for the purpose of self empowerment ,
rite of passage, or religious ceremony.
How long is the firewalk?
The typical
firewalk is approximately 9-12 feet long. Walks of 20 feet are not
uncommon and longer walks of 40-120 feet have been easily performed.
The walk associated with this funshop/workshop is approximately 9-12 ft.
Does it Hurt?
The feeling on
the feet range from no feeling at all, to walking on hot sand or
pavement. If people burn it is usually only slight blistering and
actually has been found to correspond with a reflexology chart and
may be an indicator to issues going on elsewhere in the body. There
is a small percentage of people that have been burned seriously, but
more people have walked
safely than have been injured. None the less, don’t try this at
home.
No, walking across the coals is entirely
voluntary. You are always in control. There is extreme value in just
watching someone walk, because it's still a demonstration of our
innate power.
How will walking on fire
benefit me?
-
Walking
on fire is a practical demonstration of how to overcome any
fear, any limiting belief.
-
It is a powerful demonstration of your
innate power as a human being.
-
You walk away with a simple mental process
to help you overcome any obstacle, any worry, any fear. How to
direct your mind.
-
It's a dramatic resource experience that
can empower you to push on when times are tough.
-
Walking over red hot coals gives a dramatic
boost to one's self esteem.
-
Firewalking shows you how when your mind is
in belief, it can protect you from physical harm and has deep
implications as to the healing power within us.
-
It is an example on how to trust your
intuition. One does not take the first step if all signals are
saying no. To step onto the fire when the signals say go, is a
validation of inner wisdom.
Is Firewalking for everyone?
Firewalking is not
for everyone. It's an experience that you are either drawn to or
you're not. I originally walked because I was afraid, intrigued, and
knew that if I walked successfully I would somehow be different
internally. I wanted to learn to teach it because it is such a
unique and powerful learning experience.
What might
indicate that experiencing the firewalk will be valuable to me?
-
Are you holding back doing thing that you know
you must do?
-
Are you plagued with recurring bouts of worry and
stress over life?
-
Do you question your value as a person?
-
Do you ever feel powerless?
-
Do you experience fear at doing new things?
-
Do you ever "hold back" or have feelings that
you're not enough?
-
Do you experience a regular bouts of illness, or
have the belief that you always get sick in the winter, when
it's raining, or Mondays are bad days?
-
Do you ever experience self doubt? Does it hold
you back?
-
Do you feel you have beliefs that limit you?
Do we need firewalking?
Do we need the
movies? A good movie can be uplifting and deliver a message that
carries us through tough times. We actually need very few things in
life. It's the experiences and our thinking about them that makes
the journey a struggle or a party.
Is firewalking a cult?
Are Redwings fans
considered a cult? If you’re not a hockey fan, it may look like they
are, but No and neither is firewalking. There are people that are
passionate about the what the firewalk represents. But a person can
be passionate about anything.
Is firewalking devil based?
Quite the contrary, in the Bible,
firewalking is associated with the protection of God. See Book of
Daniel, Chapter 3, Isiah 43:2.
The power in
firewalking is in our thinking. If your thinking is based with "the
devil," then everything will be devil based.
How is this related to
religion?
If you are
religious to begin with it can support and reinforce all the most
beautiful things about your connection to God. It is unlikely that
firewalking alone will give you a religious experience.
Is firewalking New Age?
Many people in
the New Age movement have taken to firewalking because it is such a
powerful demonstration of the power and strength within us.
Firewalking is not specifically New Age because New Age believers do
it. Many New Age people eat vegetables, but that doesn't make
vegetables New Age. Firewalking has been around culturally since the
dawn of time. Native Americans, Greeks (they do it to commemorate a
significant Christian event), Hawaiians, Indian Hindus, and
Americans... Americans are now the most prolific firewalking culture
with over 2 million people having walked. Walkers come from all
walks of life, doctors, lawyers, housewives, students, business men
and women; in fact corporate firewalking is becoming the hot trend
to motivate, uplift, and empower the workforce.
Will I get burned emotionally or physically? Is firewalking safe?
Walking on fire, or
hot coals is an inherently dangerous thing and carries with it
certain risks. Driving, skiing, snowmobiling, sky diving, running on
the side of the road, surfing, are just a few examples of actions
that carry certain risks. Some people have been burned and seriously
injured while walking on hot coals. Because it can be dangerous,
many precautions are taken and enforced. Many more people
have walked successfully than have gotten burned and most burns are
small blisters. Because one can get burned, there is fear and
risk, it makes the experience all the more powerful once you walk
across.
Everyone is require to sign a waiver and release before they walk
and walks
voluntarily, no one is forced.
You decide on when
and if to walk.
Who
firewalks?
Sales people and managers of
business walk to increase their courage and confidence in the
workplace. Housewives, children, the young, the old... people
from every walk of life do it meet their fears. I think the kids do
it because it looks neat! Dr. Andrew Weil, President Clinton,
Geraldo Rivera, Pamela Anderson to name a few...
|
Daniel
Neuville, Michigan firewalk instructor and peak performance coach
