FIRE
Welcome to Fire Element
Fire shows up in so many traditional spiritual practices. There is an energetic sun at our solar plexus, and an unwavering flame at the center of the heart - cave (yogis call this space the hridayam).
Fire represents passion, desire, willpower, transmutation, warmth, love and activism. The warrior is someone who channels this fire toward a heart-centered goal and stays committed to that goal unswervingly.
In this program, I suggest a goal of loving yourself and staying committed to that no matter what comes up. Commitment to that task alone will radiate into all the areas you most want it to affect. Action is often necessary, but if we can keep coming back to love and tenderness within, we will heal what is most broken in our world.
Tibetan Buddhism has a wrathful deity called Simhamukha, the Lion-Headed Dakini. She spins tiny lion-headed dakinis from her heart center, each whirling sparks in all directions. She appears in the heart, the essence of forceful power in its most protective Mother aspect.
Simhamukha urges: Remember a time when you felt alive, enough, worthy, powerful. Breathe this into your body, all the way through. When triggers arise, asking to take you out of this state, picture the lion headed Tibetan queen, spinning fast through your inner space, sending sparks in all directions, burning out fear, shame, inadequacy and unhelpful thought forms. Put your music on shuffle; move, dance, sing, shake. Return to the truth about yourself.
Affirmations for the Fire Element
When I am willing to feel, I know the truth about my next step
I access my power through softening and letting excess thoughts and beliefs burn
Clarity arrives through surrender to sensation
Classical Sun Salutation Intro
Surya Namaskar is one of the most complete practices of Hatha Yoga. The primary intention of this series is to awaken the energy of the sun that normally lies dormant at the navel center. Surya Namaskar allows us to reach deep into our solar plexus to awaken and circulate the sun’s healing power to restore a radiant body cultivate a clear mind.
Guided Sun Salutations
Here you can practice the 12 classical poses that make up the Surya Namaskar. With a couple of cycles of the sun salutation, you can fan your digestive fire, energize your nervous system, balance your energy, activate both the upper and lower extremities, and influence your moods.
Classical Surya Namaskar Poses
Adding the Surya Mantras to the practice of Surya Namaskar deepens the effect of awakening solar energies. When the physical and spiritual aspects are strung together, the benefits weave throughout all aspects of yourSelf.
Cacao Ceremony
Take a walk through a Maui cacao grove and settle down for a sweet heart-centered cacao meditation. For this, you will need your own cacao. Here are some options: any kind of chocolate, hot chocolate, or my recipe:
Cacao powder
Hot water
Sweetener of choice
Vegan milk of choice
OPTIONAL JOURNALING
What answers came to you when you asked the three questions?
How do you feel?
What do you need?
How can I give you what you need?
What direct actions came to mind that you can take today, or this week, to honor this communication with your heart?
What song came on to help you integrate your cacao ceremony? How did it make you feel? You can come back to this feeling whenever you remember.
Fire Yoga
You might want to have a block for this Fire Element yoga practice. Formulate an intention about what you would like to transmute through your breath and movements here. Keep focus on the manipura chakra, the seat of your strength and willpower, fueled through the back of the spine by divine energy. Channel the energy of the ram, saying, “I can do hard things.” You’ve got this!
Fire Element Mini Practice
This morning practice was filmed for social media. I wanted to include it for you here because it’s a fun way to start the day with a few simple movements to stimulate energy and metabolism. You can add these in to any of your yoga practices to kick up the heat.
Pranayama
This is a complete pranayama sequence incorporating three types of breath:
Bhastrika (bellows) breath
Khapalbhati (breath of fire)
Nadi Shodhana (alternate nostril breathing)
To experience the full benefits of pranayama, do it regularly every day for a period of time.
Mudra for the Fire Element
Personal Fire Ceremony
The personal fire ceremony is a tool of empowerment. When you use fire ritualistically, you are harnessing transformation in a big way. This video give instructions for a simple personal fire.
Shamanic Fire Ceremony
The earth-based fire ceremony was first taught to me when I was going through the Inkan rites of the Munay-Ki from the shaman of the Andes. The fire is really the way to cross the bridge between what we can see and the wisdom we can perceive just beyond the borders of our ordinary perception. When we create this connection, we begin to do our part to create balance and peace in the world.
How to do Japa
Japa is the repetition of sounds in Sanskrit. Sanskrit is a vibrational language, meaning it creates harmony and movement in the subtle channels in the body. Sanskrit vibrations can activate blissful physiological responses. Chanting in Sanskrit is an invitation to keep returning to more devotional states that have the potential to help you lose yourself in love. Since you cannot think your way into a different state of being, mantra repetition helps you move out of thought and into transformative space. Perfecting the mantra is not as important as the felt sense of your intention as you chant.
Mahamrityunjaya Mantra
This is one of the mantras that emerged from the Rig Veda, conceived as an emanation directly from fire. Chant it to receive healing and remove fear.
Om trayambakam yajamahe
sugandhim pushti vardhanam,
mrityor mukshiya mamritatur.
OM. We worship and adore you, O three-eyed one, O Shiva. You are sweet gladness, the fragrance of life, who nourishes us, restores our health, and causes us to thrive. As, in due time, the stem of the cucumber weakens, and the gourd is freed from the vine, so free us from attachment and death, and do not withhold immortality.
Mahamrityunjaya Fire Ceremony
The Mahamrityunjaya Fire Ceremony is my favorite yoga practice. It was also my teacher Shanti’s favorite. I hope it will become a tool to support you on your path. In this video, I chant the mantra 108 times, making offerings into the fire after each mantra. You can participate with this video just by chanting along and making offerings with your heart, or you can set up your own fire. Remember, the intention is most important.
The core of our inner fire is the development of personal beliefs. If we overindulge in our mental constructs, we can fall prey to mental chatter and anxiety. If we ignore our intellect, our mind can become lethargic and we will lack conviction. Just as solar energy digests food, it also digests ideas. The beliefs formed within this cauldron will steer our thoughts and therefore, our behaviors. Sometimes an inner saboteur can appear if we have beliefs that block our ability to find success in the way we desire. It’s important to allow subconscious beliefs to surface to release what might obstruct the flow of energy.
Anodea Judith