Tuesday, 16 March, 2004 11:06
Firewalking - learn to unlearn |
|
|
 |
| Firewalking |
|
|
Would
you walk barefoot across a fire, burning at 1500 degrees? Mu'izz Waldstadt
does, and teaches others at his firewalking seminars.
Simon Marks went to Bishops Waltham to meet Mu'izz and learn his secret. |
|
|
|
|
Mu'izz
Waldstadt was running his own Hampshire based business, building Shaker
style furniture when, in 1997 a tumour forced him to take time out.
Mu'izz began to rethink his life.
When he recovered from his illness he went to America to live, work
and study Sufism at the Abode of the Message, a Sufi-Community in
Massachusetts. On his journey in America he met Tolly Burkan - father
of the Global Firewalking Movement who trained Mu'izz to facilitate
firewalks. Mu'izz is now a F.I.R.E. (Firewalking Institute of Research
and Education) certified firewalking facilitator and seminar leader.
Mu'izz, the obvious question first - why don't you burn your feet?
There is no answer because there is always the possibility that you
get burned. The answer lies within, that is what makes firewalking
so powerful. Take a clock as an example. You don't need to know every
single part in order to tell the time.
We receive answers when we are ready for it. If we had the right answer
for everything we would live a life with no purpose. Intuition and
Faith are great teachers and great teachers very often have the answer.
The fire can be hot, you are aware of the heat, but it's no more than
walking on a hot road in Spain.
 |
| Mind
over matter |
It's
mind over matter, you are going deep within. I did burn once, when
I did 20 feet, I got a few blisters - fire-kisses. But you get blisters
from new boots!
If you have the right attitude there is no pain. You feel safe in
this innocent space.
There is no religion involved. We already have all the qualities if
we allow it to happen, we limit ourselves through fear.
What is the firewalk?
At my seminars the firewalk is an optional barefoot walk across a
bed of red-hot glowing embers, between 10 and 12 feet in diameter.
The coals are created by burning oak or birch wood until it forms
hot coals which burn at 1200 - 1500 degrees F. More than two million
people have safely walked on fire worldwide. Firewalking is about
confronting your inner fears and learning to overcome them. For many
it's a life-changing experience.
Who comes to your firewalks and what do they get out of it?
Students, lawyers, housewives, a real mixture. My goal is to attract
common people. I advertise in universities, libraries, shops. My philosophy
is "learn to unlearn". Where is truth? In universities?
That's only part of the truth.
People often think I'm an entertainer, because there's a lack of knowledge.
I don't do public exhibitions because I'm not a sideshow. There's
so much gossip but I'm not into all that. I want the people who are
ready for it.
 |
| Mu'izz
Waldstdat |
I
don't force anyone to walk - if you walk when you are not ready you
get burnt. Anyway it doesn't matter if you walk or not, because just
by being there I guarantee you will go away a different person. With
a therapist it takes a while but with the firewalk you get instant
results!
Everyone at the firewalk is working with their own issues - then they
are united. It's all down to your inner trust. If you could trust
all your life in that way the planet would be in a different way!
How do you prepare for a firewalk?
By allowing ourselves to get in touch with our fears on a very deep
level. If we forget about our fears just for a moment we start realizing
the incredible potential we have within ourselves.
The theme of the firewalking seminar is transformation which is achieved
by paying attention. It's about helping people tap into who they really
are. The key is to be in the "moment". By being in the "moment" you
can compress decades into days and achieve results that you thought
were unattainable.
You have to connect to your own energy source. For some people it's
God, but it could be a dustbin - what's important is that you connect
in your way. In my 20s I started meditating and I've always
come back to it. You have to believe in yourself. We're all very confused,
looking for something but we don't know what.
The day before I go quiet and prepare myself within. I still feel
that rush of fear as I step onto the fire but I have learned to use
that fear as an energy. There are always fear issues - it's not like
riding a pushbike, with every firewalk I'm learning. I'm not here
to burn people!
There are very few rules and no set agenda, but I don't allow drugs
or alcohol. There's no preparation for the feet. If your feet are
wet it can create steam and then you do get burnt.
 |
| The
newly lit fire |
On
the day we spend a few hours preparing ourselves, then go to the field,
about a mile and a half from Bishops Waltham. That's where we build
the fire and walk.
Afterwards we talk about what has gone on - everyone's journey.
You have to create your own reality, overcome your obstacles. We let
life be easy, but you can dare to change - then your true journey
will fall in place.
Is there a knack to it?
You don't have to tread lightly or take big steps. Just keep walking!
One guy - a musician - just strolled across. If you think it isn't
hot you get burnt. Iif you don't respect it you pay the bill. You
must trust it 100%. You can't fool it because it is hot and
it will be hot the next time. There's no guarantee that you won't
get burnt.
Sometimes I might take someone's hand and say "come on, we'll
do it together". Afterwards I still say "you did it",
because it's your achievement.
Could firewalking change the world?
Planet Earth is about basic things like food, sex and money but some
people think there is something more, either above or below.
The world is fine to me as it is. If I want changes, I change myself.
Mu'izz
says: "Firewalking is potentially very dangerous. Any information
given is solely for informational purposes. Under no circumstances
are you being encouraged to try this activity without the supervision
of a trained professional. Should you do so, you are accepting full
responsibility for your consequences and actions."
...don't try this at home!
|
| |
|
|
|
|
