Have you ever worked with the elements to co-create your experience? I used to hear about people doing this through ceremonies or rituals, but I never did it myself until recently. Honestly, I’ve heard of people doing this for harmful things too so that was a deterrent for me. It seemed like something only “certain people” did and I wasn’t one of those people. But the more I’ve learned about energy and how it works, the more it makes sense to use elemental energy to assist in life experiences.
So what does this mean? If you’ve ever used water to wash away or cleanse something, you’ve worked with the elements. If you’ve ever burned something to get rid of it, you’ve used the element of fire to release and make space. If you’ve ever walked barefoot on the earth to ground and find balance, you’ve worked with the elements. This is what I’m talking about. Using the elements to assist for your healing, expansion and alignment.
When you think about fire and things burning often there is a negative connotation to it. We’ve recently had massive destruction in the US because of fire. The visuals and impact are sad. There is destruction that is undeniable, changing the lives of many. It’s hard to see anything positive about it. But when you think about what happens after something is burned, really think about it, there’s a chance to see light.
It is cleansed. There is a freshness and even possibility now available because there is a clean slate in a sense. It also may not seem like anything is left, but there is a gift in that. When there is nothing, a clean slate, everything is possible. You get to create exactly what you want.
We are reminded of a cycle of life that consists of birth, destruction, death, and re-birth.
In South Africa you will see maintenance fires when driving around large, open areas. It is to burn the old land and create space for new growth once the rains come. It is to contain and ensure the lands don’t become overgrown and become something they aren’t meant to be. The soil is more fertile and the aftermath can result in more beauty because the environment now supports it. Beautiful crops, foliage, and lift can now exist because of the fire.
There is something primitive about fire. It connects us to the earth in a way like many things can’t. It is the reason for the phoenix rising from the ashes. The phoenix isn’t as symbolic without fire. It is needed. There are no ashes to rise from without fire. We need the so called fire to show us (and even remind us) who we are. The battles, battle scars, and the hard times are required for us to truly see ourselves after burning away that which does not serve or belong.
And as someone who’s been through some figurative fires, it is not fun to experience, but when the ashes are dusted off, there is clarity and growth. What if we flipped the narrative and worked with fire to help us? In these times, it’s beneficial to call on all of our resources for healing, empowerment, advancement, and alignment.
For this purpose I want to share something simple you can do to work with the element of fire. Many do this when working with moon cycles because the claim is that the energy is more potent and supportive at certain times. Me, I like to do it when I feel called to. It can be when I’m feeling particularly stuck and need clarity or if I’m feeling weighed down or clouded by the things going on in life.
I’ve been able to use fire to affect change in my own life to help me shift into more alignment and energetically remove things that aren’t meant for me. It’s helped me see opportunities and people in new ways, helping me meet myself in a new way too. But if there’s one thing I’ve learned it’s going to force me to look at things and shift. It can be disruptive. So if you work with fire, be ready to dig in your trenches, expose your layers, and step up in new ways.
So here are the basic steps I use when working with fire to clear out energy and make space. You can add your own flavor to this if you’d like as well.
- Write it down. Write down what is not working in your life or what needs to change. It can be a belief, a situation, a relationship or emotion you’re experiencing repeatedly. The goal with this step is to be as clear and thorough as possible, writing down all aspects of the topic(s) in question. This can be on sticky notes or regular paper. I like notes if I can because I separate my thoughts into topics and it keeps me organized, but you can find what works for you. The goal is to get everything on paper without holding back. What is wrong, working, not working? What would you like to happen? How is it making you feel? How would you like to feel? What are you releasing? This is not a gripe session either, it is a declaration that you are ready for something new.
- Feel what you need to. As you write the details of your topic(s) you may feel more emotions. Let them flow! The reason you are doing this is because there is a charge or trigger somewhere and you are ready to release it. The first step to that is acknowledging it and the second is to feel it. Feel the emotions and acknowledge them. Now is not the time to keep them inside. The more you are able to feel, the more you release, and the more you gain clarity after.
- Let it burn. Burn your entries. Please do this in the safest manner possible. Once you feel complete with your topics, knowing you’ve written all of the details and felt what you need to feel, it’s time to burn. If you have a fireplace or outdoor fire pit this is great. If you don’t you can get creative, but please be safe and legal. Pay attention to how the fire burns. Do you feel anything when it does? Do the flames look a certain way? Are any other emotions coming up as you burn? Be aware of these things.
- Buckle up. Trust and be open to the unfolding. When working with the elements, particularly fire, you never know how you’ll experience shifts. Just as in energy healing, you identify the issue, uncover what’s underneath, perform the clearing, and trust you are well. When things need to bubble up to the surface to be dealt with, they will. If you need to make a shift as a result of your release, it will be clear. If your topic involves someone else, they may shift as well. So be open to how things unfold after you’ve done your ceremony and trust you are well. And always…offer gratitude for everything working out for your good.
If you’ve worked with fire before, I’d love to hear how you do it. I’d also love to know how this process (or any additions you make) work for you, so please let me know. If you’d like assistance making space in your life, let’s chat about how we can work together to make that happen for you.