I finished my evening last night sitting in front of the open woodstove door watching wax burn. It was the final step to a spell (energized intention/active prayer) I have been working on a month. The wax was accompanied by scribbles of paper, birch bark, rose petals, lavender, and bits of moss; all remnants of the magical working I have been tending.
I love to burn things, I love hosting gathering around an open fire, the smell of woodsmoke on a chilly day, and most of all I love using fire as a magical ally. Fire is the great consumer it takes what we offer it and breaks it down. Energetically it incinerates that which is no longer needed and releases that which we are becoming to the air & earth through smoke and ash.
There are many ways to use the element of fire in our magical workings; the light of a candle can be used to illuminate that which we desire, divination can be practiced by the act of staring into flames, coals or smoke, and we can use fire as a visual focus for activating our will. But my favorite way to use the power of this element is transformation by fire. I have walked on fire as an act of personal transformation, and I regularly burn the leftover bits of my magical workings offering that which I no longer need as fuel for that which I am calling in.
All acts of magic in some way are acts of personal transformation, even if we are not doing magic for ourselves. The act of performing powerful prayer/sacred manifestation changes us. It opens our belief system to the idea that we are co-creators of the world we live in. That our actions have power takes away from the idea that we are helplessly at the whim of a higher power who may or may not have plans for us. Magic does not take away from our ability to believe in God/Goddess, it adds to it, for we see how amazing the world can be. With every act of creative force we become closer to the Universe we are a part of.
In my own magical workings, Fire is not always the key ingredient, but it most certainly is one of them. This last working of mine started at the Beltaine and ended at the New Moon (last night) following my birthday ( 5/29). It had many magical acts that were connected to one another, and many of these left behind bits and baubles; paper used for writing sigils (magical writing & grids), the remains of candles used in ceremony, flower petals & resins left over from offerings and the likes. I try whenever possible to burn the remnants of my magical working; not wanting to waste the potent energy they contain.
As I sat in front of the woodstove watching my offering of wax, bark, flowers, resin and magic transforming I was impressed with how long the fire burned. In fact, I actually contemplated shutting the stove door and walking away for it to do its thing, but I know that honoring the work I had done was far too important for me to walk away. I had to watch it burn. There was apparently quite a bit of wax in the offering, so I sat for 10 minutes or more watching the fire dance about in my fireplace. Staring into the fire, watching it kindle, I practiced the art of Pyromancy (divination/psychic viewing by fire) I knew by how long it burned and the nature of the working that the work I put in motion would be far reaching, and long lasting.
There are many ways you can use fire in your own transformation & magic. One of my favorites, that I often recommend to clients is the Healing Fire. Below is a how-to for those of you who want to try it out…
HEALING FIRE RITUAL-
What you will need…a notebook or stationary, pen, & fire source & a safe place to burn shit. (a fireplace, firepit, candle and cauldron for burning bits).
Take the time to set up a beautiful altar for yourself, decorate it with sacred items, pictures of ancestors who support you, etc. Taking the time to set your space adds to your magic, for true magic is the whole working. You may want to play relaxing music in the background. It starts when the idea enters your mind, with every action taken along the way being part of the work at hand. Make sure you are in a place where you will not be disturbed. It is helpful in when we are learning to have an atmosphere that leans into the work at hand, the fewer distractions the better the outcome.
With our space set, light your fire (candle, bonfire, etc) and take a few deep breaths. Imagine there is a pinprick of white light in the center of your chest/heart chakra. With every inhale in you become more relaxed, with every exhale the white light at your chest expands until after a few breathes you are completely relaxed and can sense (see, feel, know) the circle of protection around you. Call in your guides, ancestors and the deities you work with at this time. It is now time focus on that which needs healing.
What part of your life is dysfunctional, taking away from your true essence. Sit with it for a while, allow yourself to see it’s roots. This will be easy for some people and difficult for others, know that you can repeat this working anytime you like. However, magic is more potent if we put ourselves fully into it, so if your sitting on the sidelines of your life, hokey-poking around the working, it will be lacking in the energy needed to produce results. If you’re going to do something do it, don’t pretend to do it. Magic requires us to be vulnerable, at least with ourselves.
Allow your mind to look at where your pain or troublesome habits began. Perhaps the beginning is connected to a certain person or event. If so, pick up your paper and pen and begin to write. If it’s a person, compose a letter (you are not sending it), stating everything you wish you could have said to the person…how much you loved them, how much you hated them, how they disappointed you, wounded you, and what they taught you. For true healing, we must admit all feelings, including the good ones. If we are writing about a traumatic event, compose your offering as if it is the most vulnerable diary entry you can muster. Remember we are exposing that which wounds us, and holds us back from our true self.
When your letter/journal entry is complete…sit for a moment in front of the Fire. Gather your attention on this moment, and read your letter/journal entry out loud. You may want some tissue here, as you will most likely be crying by this point. Do not hold back, go tantric with it…do a deep dive into the pain allowing yourself to witness that which has shaped you, knowing that you will use it again once more to shape yourself, this time for healing. When you have read your truth, burn that bitch! Knowing that you are offering up your pain to be transformed, inviting your true self to emerge on the other side of the flames. Make sure to watch the flames as they transform your truth, paying attention to any thoughts that come through the images seen in the fire.
When you have finished your working, close your circle by thanking your ancestors, guides, and deities, and releasing your circle of power. You can do this by imagining it dissipating or by pulling the white light back into your body, calling your protection back to the source. If you like visual aids/reminders, take a bit of the ash and put it into a small container to keep on your altar as a reminder of the work you have begun.
I hope you enjoyed the read. Thanks for following me folks, you can find out more about me and my work by checking out my website Salicrow.com.
spreading love-salicrow