Light the inner fire

Havana Fire Rituals

 

Fire rituals are the oldest rituals described in literature and occur in all ancient cultures. In the Vedic and Tantric traditions they are seen as an essential part of both spiritual and worldly development, connecting to the spiritual world through fire. That depends on the intention we give to it. Whether we ask for deeper meditation, better relationships, resolution of unpleasant emotions, more creativity in what we do, or better health, the results are often subtle but astonishingly profound. Experience shows that a positive effect is always noticeable, although we obviously do not get everything we ask for. Our sacrifices through the fire to the spiritual energies are always rewarded in some way. Afterwards, almost everyone experiences an increased sense of well-being and connection.

 

Fire ritual with a maximum of 5 participants plus myself

The ritual takes place in the tipi tent with a smoke hole, which offers optimal ventilation, partly due to the wide and high entrance. The smoke is normally not really noticeable, especially when we are sitting. However, participation is not recommended for people who are particularly sensitive to smoke. Nice weather or rain, the ritual can always continue. A session can only be canceled in the event of a storm for safety reasons. No prior knowledge is required.

 

Course of the fire ritual

15' Welcome with a cup of chai or herbal tea.

10' General information about the how and why of the fire ritual.

20' Introductory, purifying rituals

10' Possibility to share your intention with the group if you wish, followed by each individual expressing your intention internally.

10' Introductory fire ritual for the cardinal directions, the general spiritual energies and the ancestors.

10' Fire ritual for the planetary energies, which guard karma.

110' Fire ritual supporting the intention of the participants with a variety of mantras.

The fire ritual itself consists of reciting many mantras followed by the word "swaha", which means "I give". If you already know the mantra used, you can recite it, but that is certainly not necessary. Reciting the mantras is done quite quickly, so that the energy becomes more concentrated. So you certainly don't need to know any mantras to participate in this. Only the word "swaha" is always spoken by each participant, and everyone throws an offering into the fire. This offering includes rice, clarified butter (ghee), samigri (a mixture of 36 fragrant herbs and woods) and black sesame seeds.

All participants participate in the fire ritual for all other participants. With each mantra we thus together support those who have attached their intention to it. You will be there for about 3 hours in total. It is not advisable to leave the ritual before it has been completed correctly.

The fire ritual takes place in the evening at my home in the Scheldewindeke tent. If possible, participants are asked to shower at home beforehand and put on fresh clothing that may become a little dirty. We sit around the fire on a flat surface, so it is best to wear loose clothing and depending on the weather you can also bring an extra blanket.

 

Can a fire ritual really help me?

The spiritual world consists of beings from another, spiritual dimension. For most, that's a matter of believing in it or not, which is natural. For myself, however, it is a fact from direct experience. As long as we do not ask for help with what we want to achieve, they will not help us because they do not want to interfere in our lives without being asked. But if we ask for it and can also frame that question somewhat spiritually, there are many karma yogis among those beings who are more than happy to assist us. A fire ritual is an age-old form of asking for help from that spiritual world. The gifts we offer serve primarily to ensure that we do not feel guilty about that help. On the other hand, they really do have value in that spiritual world and serve nothing other than the same selfless help that those spiritual beings offer us. Karma remains karma of course, so you can't expect the impossible. But a lot is really possible, in all areas of life. We can then receive unexpected opportunities to grow, remove blockages, and realize our desires. The power of the universe (Shakti) is like a mother who wants nothing more than for her children to be happy.

 

To which tradition does this fire ritual belong?

This fire ritual belongs to the Tantric tradition of Nepal, and more specifically to the family of my teacher Kedar Upreti from Katmandu - Nepal. It differs from the more Vedic fire rituals that are very popular in India. This has to do with practical matters, such as the fact that a fire pit in a Vedic ritual, for example, is always square and three-stage, while in a Tantric ritual it can also be round, like in my tent. But the distinction goes much further. Vedic rituals are much more specific and complex than Tantric rituals and are normally only performed by a Brahmin priest, both in temples and in people's homes. Tantric rituals belong to the shamanic tradition and are in a sense earthier and more direct.

 

Will I also learn to do a fire ritual myself?

To be clear, that is not the intention of these sessions at all. A fire ritual is not a spiritual game, not a feel-good event. Learning to do a fire ritual includes not just the many specific preparations, cleansings and actions, as well as the more than 100 different mantras that make up the ritual. When a fire ritual is done without the necessary spiritual experience and support, it can also attract energies that can cause a negative effect. It is only because I feel fully supported by the spiritual energies from the family and clan of my teacher Kedar Upreti that I want and am allowed to take this responsibility. Because of my work as a healer, I am used to doing one or more fire rituals every week. If you experience very strong mental, emotional or physical problems, then a personally adapted Tantric healing - with or without a fire ritual - is more appropriate than this more general fire ritual.