@kami-sarna

I saw your post on the water trance, I was wondering if you had made or will make one on fire? 

I haven’t made one yet – I was awaiting the request and here it is!

Flying With Fire: A(nother) Hedgeriding Tutorial

There are a few separate ways to utilize fire in trance-work and hedgeriding – and is probably the oldest method thereof, considering the human adoration and reliance on fire – it is the flame that allowed us to be as we are, for cooking allowed us to reallocate metabolic energy from fighting infectious agents in the gut to the formation of a more advanced brain. As such, fire is particularly suited symbolically to act as a medium for trance-work.

The basic principle is the same and is (theoretically) a relatively simple process, as with most trance magic – however, as I’m sure most know, there is more to trance magic than simple methodology. Yes, some are naturally predisposed to astral travel and edgewalking, but for those who aren’t, crossing over can be a very trying process that demands patience. The process cannot be forced or rushed – for it demands respect and humility.

The utilization of fire begins with – not surprisingly – fire. The size is unimportant, though a bonfire is traditional. Other alternatives being candles, lanterns, torches and small, contained fires (such as one in a durable bowl or cauldron). For the latter, I recommend using Sacred Fire – as it has been created for such divine purposes and its use in edgewalking can potentially strengthen the process. Unlike water, however, fire comes with a stricter time-limitation. While it can be a stronger medium, it must too come with its limitations: when the fire is extinguished, the trip is over. So don’t dally.

Fire is also more hazardous, obviously, which can prove to be another limitation. If you lack confidence in your fire-making and tending skills, I would recommend an alternative – because the worry of causing a conflagration will act antithetically to your ability to travel unencumbered.

Once your fire has been fashioned, your choice thereof will determine how best to proceed:

• Bonfire: Obviously the most traditional, the methodology surrounding can take a few turns depending on your own preferences. For those who find movement beneficial to trance, dancing around the fire can be very productive. To do so, one must release all inhibitions – letting go of thoughts regarding the dance and simply allowing the music to take you. Trance is very much about mindlessly occupying the physical so that the mind and spirit might wander. Allow your body to absently be carried with the music – and then, you might free your mind and spirit from its confines. For those less inclined to movement, I also recommend music – specifically drums. There are few things that go so well together as drums and fire – the instruments of man. Lay at a short distance from the fire – far enough to be away from any cascading embers, but close enough to still feel its warmth. Position yourself with the top of your head pointed in the fire’s direction, allow the light to dance against your closed eyelids. Allow the drums to enthrall you and pull from you your spirit. It is most important not to dwell on forcing yourself to leave your body. This is counterintuitive. It’s about letting go – something that cannot be forced. If you grapple with discouragement, you are not yet ready for hedgeriding.

• Lanterns/Torches: These are used in a more physical manner – and something that is more so reserved to mediums than those who do not possess the Sight. For this method, you will need a torch or lantern and an open space – woods, fields, and deserts are all perfectly good options. This method relies not on severing the mind and spirit from the body, but bringing the chosen realm to the physical – the torch or lantern acting as a guide or beacon. To perform, simply light the lantern and cite your purpose – which plane do you wish to observe, what is it that you seek, etc. Take a few moments to prepare, a few deep breaths, then hold the lantern/torch high and walk. Allow your eyes to unfocus so that it is only blurry warm, fire-light perceived. Do not look at the lantern, it is the lantern light that is important – not the actual flame. Walk until you begin to “see” into the Otherworld through the mind. Once you have broken through, to traverse the plane you need only will it to be. Think of the person, place or thing you seek and allow it to come to you as you walk onward. Once you have found what you seek, allow yourself to snap back to this plane and extinguish the torch or lantern. If for any instance the torch or lantern goes out, do not relight it: instead leave and try again on a different day.

• Candles/Small Fires: This is undoubtedly the most accessible fashion and the one most often discussed. In this instance, it is exactly opposite to the torch/lantern method, in that the flame is the most crucial element. It’s simple – merely look at the flame, allowing your eyes to unfocus so all that you see is the dancing of the flame. It is at which point that you must turn introspective (and for me it feels quite literal, as though my eyes are drawn from their sockets and into my “Third Eye.” The vision circles in my brain before piercing outward from whence it entered – it is then that the traveling begins. In much the same fashion as above, you need only will it to find the person/place/thing you seek – allowing it to come to you, not vice versa. I think that’s what makes hedgeriding experiences so frustrating to people – they believe that it must be this journey first to get where you need to be – when in reality, you need only allow the place to come to you. Do not let the limitations of this plane (such as time and space) limit you in the others.

Hopefully that was of some help! Fire is one of my favorite elements as it lends itself so nicely to my airy essence – we feed one another and feed off one another in such a symbiotic way – as such I very much enjoy utilizing it in all manner of spellwork. Considering your request for it, I’m sure you feel much the same way and I hope this might help you find what it is you seek!

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