Article 02: Transformation By Fire

I just never quite know what the day might bring.

Sometimes it takes me somewhere I could have never imagined and the transformational impact that it has on my mental state is profound.

I will try my best not to cheapen the experience with the limitations of the English language.

The recent and sudden change of course of my life has challenged me to walk my talk. 

I taught my daughters that it is perfectly healthy to express anger, sadness, frustration, etc. 

Breathe into it, feel it, honour it, because it is how we know that we are experiencing something important that requires our full attention.

I also taught them that while it is perfectly normal and healthy to feel this way, it is detrimental to remain there.

I need to process and look for ways to either move away from a negative life event completely, or move forwards with it in a manner that does not rob me of the joy that is available to me in every moment, if I have my head up and looking for it.

I have not danced in over a decade. I have never had a lesson in my life, (and it shows..lol),…but I sure love to get lost in the primal essence of moving my body to the beauty of music.

Not one to sit around and mope, I decided I would take some lessons and see where the experience leads me.

I searched local dance events on fb and it led to a young woman who teaches one to dance with fire.

I saw a fire dance performed at a wedding between a couple and it was hypnotic. I cannot honestly say that in that moment that I imagined myself up there giving a fire dance performance for an audience.

I am not sure why, but the fb ad for the fire dance class called out…so I answered, not having any clue whatsoever as to what was to transpire.

I thought it was out of my comfort zone, but that it might be more interesting than any other dance class offerings I had reviewed.

“Interesting", is perhaps the least descriptive term I could use to relay last night’s experience to you.

My instructor is not only teaching a set of easy to learn moves to express oneself with…. she takes you a soul’s journey inwards to rediscover your sacred connection to fire.

The one that is ancestral and stamped into our DNA from the times where we were tribal in our existence, when fire was as revered as we can only imagine, looking back at it from our plastic and concrete jungle.

When we relight that ancient relationship which lies sleeping deep within us it removes inhibition and replaces it with a most welcomed desire to let the flames cleanse the mind, body and spirit.

Her teachings were so easy to implement that the clumsiness I was certain would appear and make me believe I was a fool to attempt to create an interpretive dance with fire fans, did not arise.

Instead, a beautiful connection between the rhythm of the music, the intoxicating beauty of the flames and myself came together to create something within me that was exempt of self-doubt and sabotage.

I was at one with it all and the rest of the world was nowhere to be seen or felt. Time and space had been suspended.

When the flames had expired I was left with the desire to do it all again.

I believe that if we put ourselves out there into new experiences and challenge our fear of looking like a fool, true growth has the opportunity to appear.

I will forever look back upon last night as a pivot point in my new life, I am ready and welcoming of the amazing things to come.

I have been transformed by fire.

It was not a dance lesson….it was a healing session with a highly skilled practitioner.

I cannot recommend the experience to you enough.