I Am a Firewalker
Cast Your Fears Aside...
Yes,it's easy.No,science can't quite explain how and why this is possible,part of what drew me to it,also I like to push the proverbial envelope,I enjoy seemingly impossible stunts,and have always liked the elemental transformative power of fire.As the old song reminds us,fire is a good friend and a potent enemy.
My first time was over at the herbal school,my friend had a nice big teepee up the canyon and away from the rest of campus,he'd invite a few of us from town and we'd have sweatlodge ceremonies,drum sessions and wild swim parties in the pond.This did not sit very nicely with the teachers and administrators,us lot did not fit in too well with what they had concieved of for their little elitist,wholistic retreat-plus of course we weren't paying tuition,didn't always toe the P.C. party line,and were admittedly pretty wild,boisterous and feral.Also there was alot of expensive equiptment hanging around,as well as a large patch of opium poppies,etc.so disrcetion was definitely part of the overall vibe.Beautiful place,that's for sure.
So one night we had a good blaze going,and our host,C. was getting into one of his ancient fr<x>ames of mind(this was a deep person,I assure you...)and he suggested that we rake the coals out and do a firewalk.I was the first to embrace the idea-"definitely!count me in!"the rest of the group was not so enthused,though eventually four of the six present did the deed that night,mostly after seeing that we few first through did not melt or singe up to a crisp...the coals were spread out at least 30 feet in legnth,several paces anyway,and were incredibly hot.sizzling,glowing,well alive with searing primordial heat.serious HEAT.
yes,it was scary.I'm not the bravest soul,though I've done much to expand that.That summer especially was a time of big change for me.1992?somewhere around there.We did some deep breathing and centering in our minds and slowly strolled across,it really was amazing,no ill effects and a real sense of having faced a difficult circumstance and triumphed.I very much reccommend doing this to any who may wish to expand their mental horizons and belief in self.We had regular sessions all throughout that summer,often huge expanses of HOTHOTHOT coals traversed with bare feet and calm mind.
Some of the pretty girls at the coffeshop in town started calling me Firewalker,which was a boost to my shattered ego in those days,yes,ladies I am fearless and beyond the laws of physics,hawhawhaw...only one injury to report,in my maybe 20 sucsessful attempts(though it has been awhile...)a few of us were showing some tourist girls from Mississippi some of the local flavour and I led them way up this hillside to an abandoned cabin,alone on a ridge 1 mile from the nearest road-epic views,privacy and peace and quiet.we made a nice dinner,told stories,sang songs and drank copious ammounts of cheap Vodka.yeah,here I go again,faithful readers...all fired up and full of myself and very much wanting to impress theese cutie-pie college girls on their first adventure to the wild west...
"hey,I know! let's walk on hot coals!"not the wisest icebreaker,but certainly made for good conversation."oh,I do this allatime..."neverfear!of course,not reccomended when yer sloppy drrrunk.not very smart whatsoever.But I was showing off,not only am I a damn good harmonica pla<x>yer,but a total badass also-look at me!look at me!...not the best fr<x>ame of mind,admittedly.so we spread the coals out,not too long,maybe four good long paces,and I strolled through,slowly.slow is good,much more impressive.it went fine,not a hitch,tah-dah!told y'all I could do it!so I went back and did it again,turned around and walked through for a third pass,HA!only that time a burning coal got wedged between my toes,I didn't even realise it at first,duh.yes it hurt,and formed a huge blister,oi!
they all ended up doing it that night too,though more quickly,with no adverse effects.Sure to impress back at the dorm...I'm glad I could help on their quest for adventure.Also the blonde sweetheart put some ointment on my burn and we drunkenly made out late into the night under a huge full moon.yowzah.
Yes,it's easy.No,science can't quite explain how and why this is possible,part of what drew me to it,also I like to push the proverbial envelope,I enjoy seemingly impossible stunts,and have always liked the elemental transformative power of fire.As the old song reminds us,fire is a good friend and a potent enemy.
My first time was over at the herbal school,my friend had a nice big teepee up the canyon and away from the rest of campus,he'd invite a few of us from town and we'd have sweatlodge ceremonies,drum sessions and wild swim parties in the pond.This did not sit very nicely with the teachers and administrators,us lot did not fit in too well with what they had concieved of for their little elitist,wholistic retreat-plus of course we weren't paying tuition,didn't always toe the P.C. party line,and were admittedly pretty wild,boisterous and feral.Also there was alot of expensive equiptment hanging around,as well as a large patch of opium poppies,etc.so disrcetion was definitely part of the overall vibe.Beautiful place,that's for sure.
So one night we had a good blaze going,and our host,C. was getting into one of his ancient fr<x>ames of mind(this was a deep person,I assure you...)and he suggested that we rake the coals out and do a firewalk.I was the first to embrace the idea-"definitely!count me in!"the rest of the group was not so enthused,though eventually four of the six present did the deed that night,mostly after seeing that we few first through did not melt or singe up to a crisp...the coals were spread out at least 30 feet in legnth,several paces anyway,and were incredibly hot.sizzling,glowing,well alive with searing primordial heat.serious HEAT.
yes,it was scary.I'm not the bravest soul,though I've done much to expand that.That summer especially was a time of big change for me.1992?somewhere around there.We did some deep breathing and centering in our minds and slowly strolled across,it really was amazing,no ill effects and a real sense of having faced a difficult circumstance and triumphed.I very much reccommend doing this to any who may wish to expand their mental horizons and belief in self.We had regular sessions all throughout that summer,often huge expanses of HOTHOTHOT coals traversed with bare feet and calm mind.
Some of the pretty girls at the coffeshop in town started calling me Firewalker,which was a boost to my shattered ego in those days,yes,ladies I am fearless and beyond the laws of physics,hawhawhaw...only one injury to report,in my maybe 20 sucsessful attempts(though it has been awhile...)a few of us were showing some tourist girls from Mississippi some of the local flavour and I led them way up this hillside to an abandoned cabin,alone on a ridge 1 mile from the nearest road-epic views,privacy and peace and quiet.we made a nice dinner,told stories,sang songs and drank copious ammounts of cheap Vodka.yeah,here I go again,faithful readers...all fired up and full of myself and very much wanting to impress theese cutie-pie college girls on their first adventure to the wild west...
"hey,I know! let's walk on hot coals!"not the wisest icebreaker,but certainly made for good conversation."oh,I do this allatime..."neverfear!of course,not reccomended when yer sloppy drrrunk.not very smart whatsoever.But I was showing off,not only am I a damn good harmonica pla<x>yer,but a total badass also-look at me!look at me!...not the best fr<x>ame of mind,admittedly.so we spread the coals out,not too long,maybe four good long paces,and I strolled through,slowly.slow is good,much more impressive.it went fine,not a hitch,tah-dah!told y'all I could do it!so I went back and did it again,turned around and walked through for a third pass,HA!only that time a burning coal got wedged between my toes,I didn't even realise it at first,duh.yes it hurt,and formed a huge blister,oi!
they all ended up doing it that night too,though more quickly,with no adverse effects.Sure to impress back at the dorm...I'm glad I could help on their quest for adventure.Also the blonde sweetheart put some ointment on my burn and we drunkenly made out late into the night under a huge full moon.yowzah.
56-60, M
