An ancient practice, firewalking is considered a
wonderful example of the mind-body connection at work and a means of
demonstrating that we do have control over the process. Firewalking
has apparently been practiced for centuries by shamans, priests and ordinary
folk as a religious ritual and as a healing ceremony.
Since prerecorded history, cultures all over the world
have practiced the ancient art of firewalking and firedancing rituals -- yet
no one seems to know just how old firewalking is or where it began.
The earliest known reference to firewalking dates to 1200 B.C. The
oldest recorded firewalk was over 4000 years ago in India. Two Brahmin
priests were competing to see who could walk further, and his feat was
written down in the historical records of that time.
Romans were exempted from paying taxes if they could
demonstrate their ability to walk on fire without burning. Kung
Bushmen in Africa used firedance as a powerful healing ritual for their
tribe. Their ceremony not only included firewalking, but also rolling
on and crawling through the fire. In Bali, firedancing is the coming of age ritual for
seven-year-old girls. The Greek Anastenarides danced on hot coals for
hours to honor Saint Constantine and Saint Helen. The Kahunas of
Hawaii let molten lava harden just enough to hold their weight before
walking on it.
Fire immunity and firewalking rituals have been practiced
in Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Bulgaria, Burma, China, Egypt, Fiji,
Greece, Haiti, Hawaii, India, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, New Zealand,
Pakistan, the Philippines, Singapore, Spain, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Tibet,
Trinidad, and South Africa. So what do all these ancient people and
cultures know that we don't? They have turned their reverence of fire
into ceremonies and rituals to enhance their well-being and communities,
understanding that the benefits of firewalking clearly outweigh the risks.
