Meditation by Fire

I don't always have a fire when i am gaining peace at my nature spot, but when I do it is always a special occasion for me. I have loved fires since I was a child and my dad used to make them on beach holidays. Over the years I have enjoyed them on camping trips with friends, at festivals and other times such as when i spend a long time at my bower. Every part of the fire process is a ritual for me, from the collection of the wood , to the lighting itself, and then to the enjoyment of the fire in progress, and the keeping it going...until finally, the putting out of it.When i decide to have one i take my old trusty daysack with me and head into the wooded areas to the north of my bower. Here i walk and pick as I move, suitable small dry sticks and twigs which will form the base of the fire. Once the sack is full I return, drop it off and head back to the bigger pieces. I don't need too much for a few hours worth of fire, I keep them small when here, its not, after all a beach bonfire with loads of people round it, its just me, and i want to keep it safe, and not burn down my retreat area!! When I am happy with the wood, I arrange the twigs, from the smallest upwards, like a small structure,which awaits the flame. Then i offer a blessing, something along the lines of , 'May the spirits of kinship,healing and protection be with me around this fire, may this be a fire of peace, of reflection and all for the highest possible good'...i may burn a little sage if i remembered to take some with me.Then I light it, nurture it, tend to it, until i can add the bigger bits and start to relax. I read somewhere once that ancient mystics used to stare at the flames of a fire to balance the energies of their heads, and they noted how cats seem to sit close to fires in what appears a meditative state. Well, I find cats quite a wise species of animal and i find fires have a hypnotic effect, so i softly stare at it, and relax...let the natural energies work their magic on my westernized head....and feel all the better for it:)

I couldn't find any new fire pic from my bower so here is one from the coast a couple of months ago...larger this though, than the ones i have for meditation.