medieval-religion: Scholarly discussions of medieval religion and culture
Very close, Meg. I hate to reveal the secret and spoil the game, but
here goes. Before doing the walk, the devotee soaks is feet in a
mixture of water, milk, bettle nut, etc., etc. This is all very
mysterious and I still don't know all the details. Neither do I know
all the things in the pot the devotee carrys on his head, but it is
dramatic; it has a face on it, representing the goddess Kalika (a
local version of the famous Kali) and has flowers, water, bettle nut,
etc. in it. This all represents Spring, of course, particularly the
flowers which appear to be a near universal symbol of rebirth. As for
the beetle nut, my devotee said that beetle nut was very nice so why
not?
Back to the feet, the calloused feet of folks who normally go bare
foot make a nice sponge for the water, and here is the secret. You
never stay in one place but keep moving. Every time your foot hits
the coals, light cushion of steam is emitted (sp?) from the water and
you actually walk on a cushion of steam as you pass across the hot
coals, which are, incidentally, very hot. I have a friend, a
westerner who normally wearsh shoes, who does fire walking and said
she would show me how to do it. I said that I would rather just
watch. yrs, tom ault
On Fri, 5 Nov 2004 05:53:02 -0500
"Cormack, Margaret Jean" <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
> medieval-religion: Scholarly discussions of medieval religion and
>culture
>
> The explanation I have heard, and which seems reasonable, depends
> on the fact that the coals have been burning for some time in a deep
>pit.
> There is thus a layer of ash on the top, which serves as insulation,
>since
> you walk across reasonably quickly. And the people who do the walk
>probably
> go barefoot most of the year - I imagine having callused feet would
>help (but see
> below). A fire-walk can be in fulfilment of a vow, and If you do get
>burned, its attributed to lack of faith.
> If Tom has actually talked to any fire-walkers, it would be nice to
>hear why they were
> doing it.
>
> A fire walk in (I think) Sri Lanka is featured in a publication and
>"video"
> (actually a collection of slides) called "Symbolic Heat".
>
>For the record, there was once a "fire-walking" workshop in Iceland
>at
> Snæfellsnes (accessing pyramid power) and I have read an interview
> with Smith College Student who went through one of these herself -
> and successfully firewalked. The emphasis apparently was on inner
> preparedness rather than technique - though, the interview was
> quite un-specific.
>
> Meg
>
> ________________________________
>
>From: Scholarly discussions of medieval religion and culture on
>behalf of Carol A. Cole
> Sent: fim. 4.11.2004 21:55
> To: [log in to unmask]
> Subject: Re: [M-R] Ordeals
>
>
>
> medieval-religion: Scholarly discussions of medieval religion and
>culture
>
> OK, I'll bite, how DOES one walk on hot coals without being burned?
>
>
> At 08:13 PM 11/4/2004 -0500, you wrote:
>>medieval-religion: Scholarly discussions of medieval religion and
>>culture
>>
>>. . . It also addresses other
>>ordeals, including boiling water and oils, a hot iron and walking on
>>hot coals. I rember the latter from living in India and it is no big
>>deal once you know how to do it. . . . yrs, c. t. ault
>
> -------------------------------------------------
>Four out of the five voices in my head say, "Eat the chocolate!"
>
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