Firewalking has been an ancient ceremony for over two thousand years. From the fire dancing (Kecek dance) in Bali, to the Kahunas dancing on hot lava in Hawaii, to the Vikings walking on hot chains. Native Americans firewalk, Buddhists in Sri Lanka, firewalking has been done all over the world. Firewalking has been seen as the miraculous workings of the Holy Spirit. It’s associated with the gift
of healing and purification.
Indeed, “trial by fire” was a historic method of proving guilt or innocence. Fire was placed on the skin of the accused, who would not be burned if innocent. Power over fire is also important in Shamanic traditions.
"The coals under my feet felt like Styrofoam. I was surprised, no heat at all, although the temperature of the coals was measured nearly at 1500 degrees Fahrenheit."
How do you walk across fire and not get burned?
I wish I could tell you that there was a specific formula that could help you out. Scientists over the years have come up with different theories: Leidenfrost Effect and the Conductivity Theory, but both of these theories have been disproved. The Kung in the Kalahari say that when your nu/m, or ki / lifeforce, equals or exceeds that of the fire you can safely cross the fire without getting burned.
Richard Katz, a Harvard psychologist, reports:
"Dancers will go in the fire, walk in it, put their heads in it, pick up the coals and rub them over their hands and body... when the n/um (or energy) in the body is boiling and as hot as the fire, they will not be burned. As the n/um intensifies in the healers they experience an enhanced consciousness called !Kia during which they heal all those at the dance."
Perhaps that explains why I feel so energized after a fire walk!
How do you know when your num equals that of the fire?
All I can say is that to walk across fire and not get burned is truly mind over matter. Your body (and spirit and mind) will tell you whether or not it’s time for you to walk. Sometimes I just want to jump into that fire and roll around (at least it feels that way, I haven’t actually done that….yet). Other times my body tells me, “if you walk on those coals right now, we will get very very burned. Don’t go yet, wait.” I heed my body. I let it be in charge of when we’re ready.
Sometimes I walk only once during the evening other times I can’t stop crossing the fire, over and over again. It becomes more than just me conquering the fire. I am blessing the fire, or being blessed by it. I walk with gratitude for each of my family members, for my friends, for my struggles, for everyone, for this earth.
Each fire walk is totally different, the spirit of the fire, how I walk, the overall group energy changes each time. That’s what I love, although I’ve walked more times than I can count, each time is a whole new surprise.
At first when I started fire walking I thought of it as a tool to take charge of your life. I mean, it’s true, if you can walk across fire and not get burned, what else can you do in your life? I now also think of it as a way to realize that the rules I’ve been taught or conditioned to follow and believe are more malleable than I initially knew.
Fire walking has introduced me to the world of limitless possibilities.
But even beyond that fire walking has taught me how to listen to the fire, to the group, and to myself. Because even in the world of limitless possibilities, the question really is what do we really want to do with ourselves in this lifetime, in this universe?
The only way to know how to discover what we want to do, or how to even begin to do it, is to go inside and listen. When you’re about to walk across 1500-degree coals, it’s a great time to go inside and listen to whether or not it’s time for you to cross. Get ready for the surprise every time at what you discover when you finally listen.
-Cat Kabira
(Article written by Cat Kabira)
Cat Kabira studied Fire walking with Tolly Burkan, the “father” of fire walking. Tolly was also Tony Robbins fire walking instructor.
For more information check out Tolly’s website: www.firewalking.com
You can also contact Cat with further questions or if you’d like to run a fire walk in your area. Please email: catkabira@gmail.com
