Is it Mind over Matter or just pure Science?

This is a debate that has been raging for eons. On the one side there are the sceptics who say that there is nothing special about being able to firewalk and on the other side, there are firewalkers who believe that its more than just physics. In my experience, having walked over fire hundreds of times, I know that there is more to it that the sceptics think.

What the scientists say:
Theory one - Coals’ are a poor conductor of heat. The reason why you burn when you touch a red hot bit of metal (in the oven, for example) is that metal is a very good conductor of heat and will transfer the heat across to your body efficiently and therefore you burn. Coal on the other hand is a poor conductor and therefore because your feet are only in contact with the coals for a short time, the heat is not transferred to your body quickly enough and you don’t burn. If this was the case then why do firewalkers not burn when they do long firewalks. The longest recorded firewalk was 165ft. Surly that would be enough to burn if this theory was true? You know that if you step on a coal at your Saturday BBQ you burn. And that’s only for a very short time. The difference is that you were not expecting it.

Theory two – Thin layer of water/sweat on your feet. The idea is that heat energy is transferred to the water layer under your feet and absorbed there. Hence the heat does not reach your feet.

If this was the case, then surly the water/sweat would evaporate quickly, especially if it was a long firewalk.

What I say:

When I firewalk, I experience different sensations. Sometimes I can’t even feel warmth from the fire, sometimes I can (even on the same fire on the same night). Why do some people get small burns and not others (again, on the same fire). My experience tells me that there is something more to it. I know that when I do not listen to my body or I lose focus I tend to get small burns. When my intention and my focus are strong, I am able to walk on the hot coals without noticing any heat. I know that when my energy is high enough, I am able to walk with no problems.

I have had times when I have walked over fire and lost my focus (a specific indecent was during a 40ft walk) only to feel the heat of the fire. Once I realised that I lost my focus I suddenly had a new focus – ‘get to the other side without burning’ – and with that new focus the heat disappeared and I walked the rest of the way safely.

My understanding is that walking on fire is also about learning to manage the energy in your body and the thoughts in your mind. When your body energy is the same as the fire and you allow the energy to flow though you, then you don’t burn. If you panic and block the energy you may get a small burn. When you lose your focus or your thoughts are misplaced, then you risk a small burn.

To me, this debate is not really worth anything. Who cares if there is a rational scientific explanation? Who cares if it’s a thin layer of water or if it’s the ability to manage your energy? And what does ‘scientific’ mean anyway. Surly everything is scientific. Everything can be explained in terms of physics.

The whole point is that you can walk on fire and it’s a huge achievement to break through your fears and walk. The process teaches you things about yourself and your life, the process helps to breaks through your fears and in turn gives you a new outlook on life. How could it not when you have just overcome every thought in your head that fire is dangerous? I have seen the positive effect firewalking has on people and have experienced huge changes in my own life. And anything that is positive is healing.

Personally I believe that there is a lot more to working with the energy of the fire than the sceptics choose believe. If they want to spend all their time and energy in trying to degrade a fantastic experience then so be it. I just enjoy and continue to work with the power of the fire.

People have been firewalking since before recorded time, so why still do it if there is nothing to it? People do feel better and people do heal.

That’s the point, nothing else!