When you think of Fire, what comes to mind?

For me, Fire brings with it the promise of Life and Newness. In some teachings I’ve come across, the Fire element is associated with the East – time for beginnings and a spark of something to look forward to.

Yes, it can be destructive, but Fire is powerfully useful too, bringing heat and clearing away for something new.

I was doing some energy/healing work on a friend last week and as soon as that was done, a spirit guide literally took me into the Fire to burn away even more of what was no longer serving me. It was amazing in that there was no fear at all, just a wonderment and almost gleeful allowing the entire time I was in the flames. That Fire was definitely helping me prepare and get stronger for something coming up and I can’t wait to see!

I invite you now to close your eyes and settle into your seat. Breathe deep and focus for a moment on your breath to gain some quiet and center yourself.

When you’re ready, call to mind first a tiny flame. Imagine you’ve just struck a match or lit a candle. Lean in close and feel the heat this flame is giving, as small as it is. Watch the light as it continues to feed – see how it the blue-white center burning steady, watch the red flame licking up into the air. Bring your awareness to your hearing – can you hear the candle or match causing the air around it to sizzle and pop? Bring as much of your senses to this moment and stay here if you wish.

Or, if you want, go ahead and take that candle or that match and pitch it into a ready log pit or fireplace. Watch the flame catch and slowly, ever so slowly grow. Feel the heat increasing. See the light spreading. You can definitely hear the flame now as it starts to roar in its growth. And perhaps you can smell too now the burning wood that Fire is feeding from.

Once the Fire has reached your desired size, call to attention now things in your life that aren’t serving you. Maybe it’s stress over work – imagine forming a ball of stress and just tossing it into the Fire and watch it burn up. Maybe there’s some frustration over not having enough money and you’re wondering how to pay the bills and feed your family at the end of the month – toss that frustration into the flame. Maybe you got into a fight with someone and you’re still hurting from the words that were said and wondering how to get things fixed – feed that to the Fire.

Fire can use all of this energy and transform it, transmute it to something infinitely more usable for us. What? Heat and light for one, in the immediate sense. But as I mentioned earlier, it also clears the way and allows for growth to occur, as in what happens during a forest fire, clearing away dead and old growth and allowing for new vegetation to take root. Allow for the Flames and Fire to assist you in changing whatever stresses you want to get rid of, even for a moment, and let it spark something in you towards finding the appropriate solution.

When you feel complete, don’t forget to gave Fire your gratitude at the end for allowing this opportunity to connect. And when you’re ready, watch the Fire burn itself out, leaving behind a sense of renewed potential and clearing. Now watch for the seeds of things you do want to take root and grow.