What is the purpose of Firewalking?

by Emily Sampson

A question I have been confronted with several times on my journey as a Firewalking

Instructor is, “what is the purpose of walking on hot coals?”. 

Firewalking has potent value that

extends far beyond the end of the coal bed, and its positive effects ripple outward long after the ceremony or event has come to a close. 

If you’ve landed here as someone who has never attempted a firewalk, or a new instructor who could benefit from preparing yourself for this question, this article is for you. The true answer is that the purpose of any one’s decision to do such a thing will remain at an individual level. But, for the purpose of this article we will explore some common themes that may encourage someone do something as “crazy” as walking on fire.

We walk on fire to confront our fears and walk away with a newfound confidence to approach other challenges that arise on the path of life. Even for seasoned firewalkers, be they master instructors or participants at an event, firewalking should bring you to the precipice of your courage. Every step taken on a 1000 degree bed of glowing coals is a risk, even if you’ve done it hundreds of times. Our state of mind on any given day could make this risk that much more challenging to face, regardless of your experience with firewalking. Walking on fire will ask you to confront those fears and discomforts every. single. time. 

Thoughts will arise like, “what if I get burned?”, “can I REALLY do this?”, “oh my God I really shouldn’t do this!”. Once you’ve made the decision to walk and reach the end of the coal bed, suddenly your perspective of your capabilities expands. Thus, after participating in a successful firewalk the outlook on what you can do when faced with some other challenge will remind you of the time that you walked on fire. YES! You CAN!!

We walk on fire to dissolve the barriers of our comfort zone and expand its capacity.

Have you ever heard a phrase like this one from Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson: “A comfort zone is

a beautiful place, but nothing grows there”? For example, someone has always wanted to sing

karaoke, but they feel a bit of shyness about being seen. If that person stays in their comfort

zone, they will likely never get onto the stage, even though they might have an incredible voice!

All of their friends tell them, “you have such an amazing voice, just go up and do it!”. So one

day they take that risk. They surrender to the unknown outcome, choose confidence in their

best song, go up onto the stage trembling nerves and all, and absolutely nail it! Next thing they

know they’re a lead singer in a local band. This space of surrender is what we like to call “The

Growth Zone”, that space of complete release of what could happen. Firewalking is an excellent

way to expand the capacity of the comfort zone because, lets be real... it takes a LOT of

surrender to trust that you won’t be burned walking barefoot on glowing hot embers!

We walk on fire to connect more deeply to the natural world and the four basic

elements. Regardless of one’s spirituality, firewalking literally connects you to the four

elements. Earth. Air. Fire. Water. All of these are present and alive at a firewalking ceremony.

The Earth holds us and provides the wood. The Earth receives the nourishment of the burned

wood as an offering of reciprocated carbon and nitrogen. The Air feeds the fire and gives it life

to burn. The deep inhalation you take just before choosing to walk across the coals offers a

sense of courage and lightness. The Fire is contacting your body, its dazzling, sparkly soot

adorning your bare feet. The Water at the end of the coal bed offers a soothing contrast to the

heat you’ve just crossed over. Firewalking is a wonderful, powerful way to enjoy the outdoors

as most ceremonies and events take place at sunset and beneath a blanket of stars. Many

people firewalk to connect with other people and with nature itself.

While the purpose that any one person chooses to walk over hot coals will always be an

individual reason, the common themes for why are found in confronting fear, expanding the

comfort zone, saying “yes” to growth, and connecting to nature. Firewalking changes lives

instantly. What one once thought was terrifying or impossible is suddenly now some great feat

they have accomplished. Firewalking will offer a new perspective of what you are capable of

doing. It will encourage one to question and release the doubts they may have about other

challenges that come along. Firewalking will instill a deep sense of self confidence that a

firewalker will carry on through the rest of their days. 

A firewalker is walking with purpose, on purpose.