 Spiritual: October 29, 2008 Issue [#2689] |
  Spiritual
This week: Edited by: Turkey DrumStik  
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| The idea of the four elements (earth, air, water and fire) has captivated humans of all cultures for many years. Of the four, fire is perhaps the most fascinating. Likewise, fire plays a role in almost every spiritual belief on Earth. Why fire? It can destroy and invigorate at the same time, leading to a dual sybolism that speaks to us at a basal level. |
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Those who know me are probably surprised to see me editing this newsletter. My reply to that is I am good at finding common threads. In the spiritual realm, that thread is fire. A lot of aspects of fire lend themselves well to incorporation into myths and rituals, and it is not confined to one culture or belief. Since so many beliefs incorporate fire into their practices, it works well in spiritual writing. This newsletter will discuss the origins of fire in the spiritual realm and its purpose in writing.
Fire symbolizes four common ideas in the spiritual realm: light, transformation, communication and channeling energy. Transformation and channeling energy are the more common ideas expressed in present times, but all four explain many rituals practiced today. With that in mind, let's take a look at how fire relates to each of these ideas.
 LIGHT: Light is the murkiest of the four concepts, mostly because it doesn't stand by itself. It is often tied to larger concepts such as the Prometheus myth. Still, fire does provide literal light but also metaphysical vision. The best example of this is the concept of trial by ordeal (sometimes called trial by fire), where God's intervention can absolve a person's guilt from a criminal act. (If I ever come back to this newsletter, I might discuss this concept of judicium Dei in further detail.)
TRANSFORMATION: While the phoenix is a solid example of fire as a transformative force, it is not the only one out there. Many cultures have practiced some form of cremation (which sends the spirit of the deceased beyond Earth while making the physical body part of nature again). The lighting of funeral pyres, in fact, has made an intercontinental journey of sorts, as it is seen in both Viking and Hindu funeral traditions. Though I've yet to find a paper addressing this idea, it's not outside the realm of possibility that these funeral traditions are closely related to the phoenix tale. In a similar vein is the idea of fire as eternity. For example, the flame from a burning candle is used to light an unlit candle. However, this process does not diminish the flame of the first. Fire can symbolize a spirit that is everlasting even if the body is not animated or even present.
COMMUNICATION: In general, fire as communication expedites and/or directs messages sent to those outside the boundaries of Earth. This ranges from the lighting of candles while reciting prayers to particular saints to writing messages on paper that will be burned. Communication with fire can work the other way around, too. The burning bush comes to mind here.
CHANNELING ENERGY: Of the four concepts, channeling energy is the most prevalent in modern society. Rituals that were once saved for organized religion customs have been adapted for more universal means. Lighting candles is one such custom. This act can symbolize recognition of a past tragedy or provide a focal point so a person can clear his or her mind.
Now that we've established the most common themes of fire in the spiritual realm, let's take a look at how to apply them to writing. No matter how you incorporate something burning into your writing, there are a couple things to keep in mind. First, it should be clear what purpose the fire serves. Even if the spiritual belief in your piece is one you created, readers should be able to understand its purpose without slogging through an essay discussing the minutia of the ritual. Second, make sure you don't overdo it. Think of adding fire to your piece like adding herbs and spices to a recipe. A dash will impart a balanced, enjoyable flavor. Dump the whole jar in, and people will recoil from the overwhelming taste.
There are different ways to make fire's purpose in your writing known. Obviously, it can come up in conversation between characters. If you opt for dialogue, try to keep it short, lest you wander far into telling territory. I recommend using dialogue as a supplement and detailing the ritual in the narrative whenever possible. When describing the ritual, focus on the person or people involved. What do they do? How do they react during the event? Describe the looks on their faces, their postures and other physical manifestations of their emotions. These descriptions do wonders in illustrating the purpose of the ritual. You can also use it as a point of contrast. How? Imagine the main character doesn't understand or isn't moved by the ritual. Describing how other people react can foil the character's emotional isolation. With all this talk about action, don't completely disregard dialogue during the ritual. In some cases, spoken word is a large component and can move people along with the fire. If appropriate, use it.
When playing with fire, be aware that too much can muddle any motifs or messages you wish to weave into the story. It's a fine line to walk, but it's not impossible. A recurring motif of fire or burning can work wonders for developing a character's emotional change or foreshadowing a metaphysical event. The trick is to start small and incrementally build upon the first instance of burning. This could be as simple as starting with lighting a small candle and expanding it to multiple or larger pillars. Another idea to consider is using fire as a contrast, such as burning wishes on a dark, cold night. Such contrast can illustrate the comfort a character derives from such an action. When all else fails, you can stick with the less is more phrase. Whichever method you choose, becareful not to make large fires something the reader encounters every fourth page. That just gets boring after a while. 
Fire has captivated mankind for thousands of years, and it has become an element closely tied to spiritual beliefs around the world. The effect of fire on our minds and souls is timeless, nearly impossible to snuff out. It can energize you and your writing, so don't be afraid to embrace it!
Until next time,
(sig by me) |
Stoke the fire within. Check out these fiery pieces.
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|  | The Circle (E)
This poem is close to my heart and expresses my Native American beliefs.
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Obviously, this isn't my main newsletter, but I hate empty sections. So, I hit the streets and got some comments from people around the site.
From earlybird: Hi Elisa. The Latter Day Saints have this burning rituals. I don't know if it is considered a ritual.
If any endowed members ( that means a member who have been in the temple who already received ordinances) of that church do not wish to wear their under garments for wear and tear reasons, they are to cut some sacred marks on the garments and then burn it. The garments with no markings are not considered sacred anymore.
From Amyaurora  : I'm pagan and I burn candles and incense a lot in rituals but one I do that involves burning as a direct aspect is wish night. There are four a year (First new moon after solstice and equinox) I was taught that on wish night to take a piece of paper for each wish (wish written on the piece of paper), roll it and burn it to allow the smoke to carry the wish to the gods. |
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