I did a fire walk. What does than mean? It means I walked barefoot over 8 feet of red hot coals. Why? Well why not?? 'Are you insane?' I hear you (and pretty much everyone else!) ask. No. I was really really scared, making excuses why it was a waste of time before I even got there, and I chickened out the first time I stood in front of the coals (the voice in my head said 'you can't do it' and I believed it), but I wanted, needed, to push through my fear, I'm tired of fear, of making excuses why not. I wanted and needed to push myself, to make myself take that first scary step, to believe in myself enough. And, also because it was an opportunity I couldn't see myself having again any time soon! So I went to the back of the queue, psyched myself up, gave my body strength, centered myself, used a strong tone of voice, powerful language, listened to the drums beating and let something elemental, some life force energy flow through me, shoulders back and head high, and you know what? I damn well did it. I took that first step and stormed across red hot coals with no burns, not scorching, nothing. I did it. I found strength and resources in my mind and body I didn't know I had. This photo is not of me walking, but it's the nearest I could find on the internet showing what the coals looked like. Some fire walks take you through flames, I just did red hot coals. What has surprised me most is people's reaction to it. Some people don't believe I actually did it (sorry but I've washed the ash off my feet now, you'll just have to take my word for it), some people think it was a mind trick and that the coals weren't real/hot/whatever, some people throw scientific explanations at you about how you were never going to get burned because of the sweat on your feet on the conductivity of the coals, some people don't understand why I felt the desire to walk across the coals, and in some people it's caused unease, even a sense of feeling threatened. I never considered how people would react. I accept now that it challenges people, it challenges belief systems, and it goes against what people believe should happen when you go near something scorchingly hot. One thing I realise now is that what people say to me in response tells me a lot about who they are. I am the same person, with just a little bit more knowledge and belief in my inner strength and power. I've not turned into a swami or new age psycho or lunatic. I took that first step and then walked over coals, that's all. I did this for me, and while I didn't appreciate the thoughts and emotions it would kick off in others, I have done it! So while we're here, we may as well talk about it!