Fire & the quality of your attention
Lysefjord, Norway
Over the past couple of weeks I travelled from the north of Sweden to the West coast of Norway, tending fires for sweat lodge ceremonies.
Sweat lodge is an ancient ritual practiced in many parts of the world including many parts of the UK. The fire is used to heat the stones (to between 400 & 600 degrees) before they’re brought into the lodge, glowing red. Once inside, the door of the womb-like structure is closed and an archetypal, mythological story takes you on a deep exploration of identity, death and rebirth.
The lodges were held in the Celtic tradition which, different to the Mexican Temazcal or the Inipi of the Lakota people in North America, ceremonies that are carried by music and singing, the Celtic lodge, deriving from native sweat houses are carried by mythological stories and the magic of the stones, the water and the fire.
Time out in the forest, carrying wood and getting hands in the dirt always grounds me, brings me into the body and heightens my senses. Sitting with the fire for extended periods, I was able to connect with what the Celts called its living essence and I began to see how fire is like a mirror.
Whenever I lost interest or drifted off, the flames would fade. When I was present and engaged, it responded with energy and the gift of insight (etymology: inner vision; understanding of our true nature).
I understood in a new way how the quality of our attention has a tangible impact in the way the world responds to us. Whether we are distracted, uninterested and numb or we bring care, curiosity and presence, our environment also mirrors that.
I also began to see more deeply the importance of intention when tending to our inner fires. Even with the presence of attention, without clear intention, energy is doesn’t have a clear path to follow and is lost. Intention is what keeps our energy aligned and flowing in the direction of a clear vision.
A clear vision & aligned intentions, coupled with presence, effort and the right conditions (solid ground, good fuel, and enough air…) make for both a good fire, and a good life.
What are you bringing your attention to today? What parts of your deep Self are needing tending to?
“The quality of life is in proportion, always, to the capacity for delight. The capacity for delight is the gift of paying attention.”
― Julia Cameron
If you’d like to explore how to cultivate presence, improve the quality of your attention and direct it through intention towards a clear vision, please reach out. Once every week this year I’m offering one person a deep coaching experience that clarifies your vision, your blocks and offers a path forward. Email me heart@alexandermackain.com or apply for a 90 minute exploration below:
