Recently, CNN reported that dozens of attendees at self-help Guru Tony Robbins’ “Unleash the Power Within” Fire Walk, were treated for burns at a local Dallas Hospital.
The purpose of walking on blistering, hot coals is to prove to your subconscious mind, that if you put your mind to it, you can do anything.
It realy worked for me...
In August of 1991, I did my first fire walk in Nashua, New Hampshire at the annual hypnosis convention put on by the National Guild of Hypnotists.
I remember the excitement in the air.
Hundreds of us were gathered in the convention center of the hotel, where the fire was being built just outside, at the far end of the parking lot.
Inside the building, Dr. George Bien, Hypnosis Trainer, was leading us on a passionate journey of writing down our fears and getting ready to release them into the fire.
the Fire Walk and connecting to a deep power within...
The point of the fire walk prep—which took several hours—was to whip the crowd into a fear-releasing frenzy. We were being primed to connect to a deep power within ourselves—beyond fear—to achieve anything we wanted to.
We danced and sang and got ready to take the walk of our lifetime—across hot coals.
When it was finally time for me to walk across those burning hot coals, there was not a doubt in my mind that I could do it...
I put my fist in the air, as I chanted, along with hundreds of supportive, friendly individuals, “Whatever it takes to believe in myself, if I take the first step my body will do.”
I got ready to take my first step and gazed upward at the night sky...
Looking up represents leaving the past behind and opening to a new possibility.
As I effortlessly sauntered over the fire beneath my feet, my eyes fixed on the beautiful night sky, what I saw was hope, faith, beauty, one-ness, and abundance.
The crowd around me became a source of love and strength. Miraculously, I was certain that I could not fail.
When I got to the other side...
As I marched across the coals, I felt bliss. When I got to the other side, a stranger who felt like my best friend, greeted me with a cheer of congratulations and a hug. I knew that I was forever changed and that from that day forward, I could do anything I put my mind to.
So why do some people burn themselves when they walk across hot coals?
It has everything to do with your state of consciousness while you are walking the coals. Any distraction you allow yourself to indulge in can cause you to fail.
This is the parallel to life...
What you focus on determines your results—whether that is walking on fire, getting to a healthy weight, maintaining a happy relationship, or building a successful business.
Dr. Wayne Dyer titled one of his early books, “You’ll See It When You Believe It.” That’s quite contrary to the common sentiment of “I’ll believe it when I see it.”
No,
we have to believe first and only then will we be given the opportunity to receive the dream.
“Ask and you shall receive,” is the famous spiritual message that the fire-walk brought home for me.
When I walked the coals in 1991, naturally, it never occurred to me to take a selfie – I didn’t even have a cell phone...
Apparently, at Tony Robbins fire-walk, people were stopping to take a snapshot of themselves...Now that’s a real concentration breaker!
Could a burned foot be a reminder to take back your inner power and put your focus where it needs to be for success?
Why do some people burn and others do not?
It has everything to do with focus and faith.
When I successfully traversed the hot coals, my mind was 100% focused on love, faith, God, and success.
I knew that I was being carried across those coals and that this was so important because it was symbolic of how I was going to live the rest of my life.
Walking on the coals wasn’t for my entertainment...
It wasn’t for me to brag about to other people...
It was for the sole purpose of growing into my better self. It was to show my subconscious mind that I was serious about raising my consciousness and making a difference on this planet.
The fire walk was the beginning of an era, for me, of claiming my space in the world and reaffirming my decision to use my life to add value to myself and others.
It was the catalyst I needed to stop playing small and petty and instead step into greater potential and possibility for a life filled with love, adventure, strength, growth, and service.
I intuitively knew that if I took my focus off the Higher Light and the unity of all creation, while walking on the coals, not only did I risk getting burned, but I would blow the whole purpose of walking on fire, in the first place.
Walking on fire requires a 100% level of commitment, focus, and faith. This is symbolic of the kind of focus, commitment, and faith necessary in any area of life if we want to achieve our highest possibility.
Doing the Fire Walk in 1991 was an experience that I have always treasured. It was one of those moments when I knew, without doubt, that if I have the courage to leave my small self’s identity and dive into the Unity—the one-ness—that exists all around, my greatest strength and power is always revealed to me. Through that encounter I came To SEE that:
anything is possible...
Clearly, it’s possible to get burned on a fire walk, as some of the attendees at the Dallas empowerment event did.
But just as we get burned in life sometimes, the lesson is to get back on your feet, breathe, pray, and connect with your Inner Self.
Take a hard look at your part.
Could it be that the lesson is always the same?
Focus, concentrate, bow, surrender, release, purify, open . . . believe in unimaginable possibilities...
Great article Rena! Thank you for mentioning me. It brought back many wonderful memories. You are one of the very best in the field of hypnosis. Congratulations on your continued success!
Hi George, How wonderful to hear from you! Thank you for your kind words. Coming from you, that is quite an honor. I will always remember the wonderful hypnosis courses I took from you so many years ago, as well as that incredible, memorable life changing fire walk!
Good insight to the fire walk and to why it done. That is the important part, not that a few people got hurt. That is mostly a public perception, except they were injured either because they did not follow directions or the directions were not properly given.
Thank you, Edward!
Rena, I thoroughly reading anything you send out. You are so amazing. I always pray that I can be even just a fraction of what you are…truly amazing and beautiful in every aspect of life. Thank you so much!
Hi Shirley,
Thank you so much for your kind words! I am so glad to know that my article inspired you!
Warmly,
Rena