I was wearing on my right ankle--the one I had sprained at Angkor-- an Ace bandage, which it took me a while to undo. This made me last on line, but flames were still leaping up high between logs-- say, some eight or ten inches. The two youngsters just in front of me dashed across as fast as they could, but I decided to take my time and see what it really was like to walk on a wizard's fire. My first step, with my right foot, was a bit timid, and a bit off to side, where there were no leaping flames. But then I thought, 'Well now, come on!' and seeing a nice fat flame right in front, I put my left foot down on top of it, squarely. Crackle! The hairs on lower part of my leg were singed and a pleasant smell of singed hair went up all around me, but to my skin flame was cool--actually cool. This gave me great courage, and I calmly completed my walk, strolling slowly and calmly right down center of road. Three more steps brought me to end, and hands of several Yamabushi helped me off. I went back to our seats, and two ladies in our group were gasping at what I had done. I went out to one of water tubs to wash my feet and get into my socks and shoes- -and it was only when I was putting on my right shoe that I noticed that swelling in my ankle had gone down {The day might come when we see healers at work with sports personnel.}: all pain had disappeared too. Around remains of fire in center of area a lot of little old women were standing who had gone over fire, holding their hands out to burning cinders and then rubbing their poor, aching backs--dear souls. It had certainly been a great and wonderful event. The courteous gentleman was greatly pleased that I had participated and invited us all to come back someday. We gathered our things and presently strolled away.

{The notes say he was told a month later that layout of fire had much to do with why smoke behaved as it did. The authors ask a good question. Why make believe it was magic and not tell people? This is way of power and manipulation but fire work they did was already most impressive, so one might allow they simply thought smoke was a part of ritual and not real point anyway.}

Two days later Joseph wrote to Jean about event: 'When you come to Tokyo I'll show you three cute little fire holes in suit, which I shall wear henceforth with secret knowledge.--The next day (22nd) I walked some eight or ten miles at Nara and Horinji--and ankle is still good.'

Shortly after Jean had received her letter, she got a phone call from Aldous Huxley, who wanted to speak to Joseph. Jean, still full of excitement of account, told Huxley whole story, how Joe was in Japan and had just firewalked. Huxley became excited and told his friend Gerald Heard, also interested in magic and paranormal, who later contacted Campbell to get his firsthand account of experience.

Campbell later learned that Fu-do Myo-o, name of patron deity of temple where he had seen 'Ceremony, means 'very still, even in fire,' Sometimes god is depicted as a red figure sitting in a fire, with one eye open and one eye closed, like Norse deity Odin. Japan had already shown Campbell its artful surfaces, now she showed her mythic depths.” (12)

What a bunch of weirdos believing in such trash! No wonder Huxley and Campbell are epitome of New Age that wishes to get back to what Australian aboriginal adepthoods or nature-worshippers allover world remind us is our true roots. Here in places where no journalists or empire builders have polluted human environment we find talent and discipline that took hundreds of thousands of years to refine and yet science today has no explanation.

Does consciousness within atoms of body choose to be there? Bucky Fuller writes that finely crafted wood in an artisan's sculpture or furniture is there because it chooses this in some manner that involves us or our design leader soul. The ability of these atomic level consciousnesses to be worked with in case of healing fire is greater than most firewalkers and indicates a cross matter communication. It is one thing for affinity to exist in muons separated at old Inco nickel mines in Sudbury, to communicate. When one is energized, other moves; it was reported in last year or so. It is another level entirely when these atomic and conscious forces do so almost independently with other bodies and kinds of matter they have no apparent innate similarity to. As in case of de-materialization atoms of body are released from intellectual and other bonds we place upon them through whatever holds us and keeps us from knowing beauty of next realms; or what we are part of (in multi-dimensional soul, or as reported in past lives). If we really try to find explanations they are there! The conscious specialness humanity carved out for itself through ego and ignorance is not so great as those materially focused people would like it to be; and that begs question of great bard himself! 'To be or not, to be?' And where you place punctuation allows a lot of different points of view in this question especially when you place concept of righteousness after last word by saying 'To be or not to be, Divine?'

Pearce's theory of fire-immunity as a product of a state of temporary reality invoked by a magician explains why fire-walk has so shocked and offended those who depend on using reality they have grown accustomed to as a bulwark against apparition which Freud {Whose student Jung, said Freud was unable to contemplate metaphysical real world due to his fears and insecurities.} called 'the black tide of occult mud'. In recent years, however, fire-walking has been used in West as a motivational tool in more extreme types of leadership training as well as in courses for personal growth and development. The successful fire-walker achieves a 'natural high' through conquest of his or her rational fear, a triumph of 'mind over matter' that sets them apart as a kind of shaman and enables them to believe that they are capable of achieving anything." (11)

The de-materialization entry has some application in another approach to 'possibility-thinking' for what might be going on here. In bi-location a body may de-materialize and send itself through cosmos to another place like teleportation. Thus appearing to be in two places almost simultaneously. OK! If you have a better explanation for actual occurrences, I'm listening! Let us give you experience of Joseph Campbell of a trip to Japan, first; and then all of us can 'think' about what is really going on. The key thing in this story that adds to Brigham or other experiences is 'healing use' of energy in fire.

"On May 21, Buddhist saint Shinren's birthday, streets of neighborhood were hung with colorful streamers and lanterns. Airplanes flew overhead strewing paper lotus petals, and enormous crowds surged everywhere in streets of Kyoto. Campbell and his companions watched a few minutes of Noh-play taking place on Nishi Honganji temple grounds, and then were whisked rather urgently away to ninth-century Fu-do Myo-o-in temple. As they arrived, so did an important-looking Shinto priest in full regalia, and then a small group of Buddhist monks. 'One cannot tell where Buddhism ends and Shinto begins,' wrote Campbell.

They were early and were given seats in front row facing altar. But ceremony due shortly to unfold would be conducted by neither traditional Buddhist nor Shinto priests, but officiants more akin to shamans: Yamabushi, independent mountain-dwelling ascetics of Japan.

'There was a large, square, roped-off area before us, with a big, square pyre in middle, covered with evergreen boughs. Beyond that was an altar, length of one side of area, set with offerings: cakes, oranges, etc., all neatly stacked. At each comer of area was a large wooden tub of water with a long-handled scoop--to be used on fire. And in comer at our right was a large bell-gong set on a table. At about 4:30 p.m. Yamabushi arrived - in their fantastic costumes. They had been on a procession through certain parts of town. (Biblio and notes bring us important historical insight: 'This curious order of monk-magicians,' Campbell wrote in his journal, 'is said to have appeared in 8th century, as a protest against governmental control of Buddhist religion comparable in a way, I should say, to hermit movement in Christendom after moment of Constantine. Refusing usual ordinations by government, they retired to mountains and lived as holy hermits, and like friars of later Europe, were responsible for spreading religion among common people. Buddhism in Japan before their time had been largely an aristocratic affair. Moreover, they were strongly influenced by 7th century Tantric lore and principles.')