Fire Making vs Fire Walking
Most of us love to share things we love to do or things we know, especially with people we love. All this love and sharing naturally build strong relationships. Strong and positive relationships in all their many forms are the essence of being an elder. So, in addition to sharing what you love with whom you love, I suggest sharing an activity that most young people will love and appreciate: fire making. That is, not just how to make a fire, but actually how to make fire without matches or lighter or other similar aids.
Now, in today’s world, fire walking gets a lot of press. And yes, it can have merit. As world famous fire walking teacher, Tony Robbins, states, “Fire walking isn’t just a mind-over-matter exercise. Walking over hot coals is a symbolic experience that gives people the courage to take on any challenge.”
Cool.
However, fire making may have similar benefits and more practicality. Besides, one can’t walk on fire until one makes a fire. And, according to myths throughout the world, humans did not always have fire.
The Myth of Prometheus
Almost every native culture has a fire creation story. One of the best known is the Myth of Prometheus, the Greek Titan who stole fire from the gods and gave it to mortal men. An enraged Zeus, the Greeks’ supreme god, ultimately caught Prometheus, had him chained on Mount Caucasus, and commanded an eagle to feed on his liver forever, that is until Heracles came along and freed him.
Before I share links, let’s talk about fire. Of the five “prime elements” found in nature: earth, water air, fire and aether/ether, fire is really the only one humans can “make.” Although robustly found in nature via the sun, lightning, volcanoes and occasionally, the spontaneous combustion of dry vegetation, manmade fire requires responsibility, awareness and control.
From campfire to nuclear power, our ability to make fire has one way or another led to the creation of most of our other technologies. With that said, it may be easy to understand why Zeus ~ as well as other gods and goddesses throughout the cosmos ~ did not want humans to have it. They did not trust we would use it responsibly.
But I digress. Sharing a fire creation story – of which there are many – as well as ways to actually make fire, will endear you to anyone with whom you share them. Making fire takes work and practice, but it’s a lot of fun, and develops a sense of accomplishment and competence. I offer these in some of my workshops, too.
How to Make Fire Without Matches or Lighter
So, let’s get to it. There are a plethora of videos that show different techniques of fire making. This video features the bow drill method. Although not easy, it is a commonly known method. I really like this video because it shows how to make the fireboard out of raw timber, which is important, and continues through actually fire making. It’s only six minutes, so does not have as much detail as others, but it does provide very good info. Go to Ken Click’s youtube channel for more info. In his trailer he talks to the camera with his granddaughter on his knee. Very sweet!
However, this video, at fourteen minutes, provides more detail and makes the bow drill method more viable. The narrator says it isn’t foolproof, and that’s why you want at least three other ways available to you to make fire. But again, the bow drill method is really a great one to share with younger people. If you take your time to make the necessary components beforehand, this can be quite impressive.
One thing to consider is the best types of woods to use for the fireboard and drill. As this depends on what grows around you, you’ll want to find this out for yourself. But the consensus seems to be that a soft hardwood is good for the fireboard. This is what your hand drill goes into. Ideally the fireboard and drill are made from the same type of wood. Cottonwood, juniper, aspen, willow, cedar, cypress and walnut make the best fireboard and drill sets.
If you want to see other ways to make fire without matches or a lighter, check out this one: 13 ways to start fire. This guy is a lot of fun. Once you search for how to make fire, you’ll find an almost never-ending list of related videos. For example, this posting contains excellent narrative, with still shots.
Warning! Making fire requires energy and tools, such as knives. So, stay safe. Keep your knives sharp and other tools in good shape, and know how to use them. Don’t get careless or in a hurry.
There is also a thing called a fire kit. I usually carry a survival kit with me when out in the woodsies, and it has fire making stuff in it, but this man’s kit is purely for making fire. He carries quite a few things, so the odds of making fire in a variety of situations increase substantially. Fire making is also one more way to connect with our natural world, which expands awareness and alertness. Share these kinds of things with young people so they know how to take care of themselves and others.
Making a Fire
When it comes to making a fire, it’s necessary to get everything ready before you make fire. Here is a guide on that, too. This is another great teaching and connecting tool. Making fire and making a fire before a family barbecue or during a campout puts these understandings to good use immediately.
Start off in nice, dry weather, then gradually move to making fire in more difficult conditions. Believe it or don’t, one of the more difficult places to make a fire can be the desert. And no, not because nothing grows there, but because what does grow there hangs on to every drop of moisture it can, so even dead material may still hold water, making it difficult to catch fire. To “catch fire,” in the mythical sense, means to release the fire contained within the material. In most cases, that fire came from the sun.
Telling stories of how humans first got fire almost always entertains people. With a little tweaking, such myths can easily turn into stories you tell around the campfire, or when a storm knocks the power out and you and the family are sitting by candlelight.
Fire Making or Fire Walking – You Choose! Or not...
Like fire walking, fire making is a confidence builder. Unlike fire walking, fire making is not a symbolic experience, but extremely practical. And it won’t cost you a bundle to do. But if you decide to fire walk, ask if you can make the fire without matches or a lighter. That might get you a discount…or set you up to teach classes on fire making.
