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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?'
Author of Diverse Druids Columnist for The ES Press Magazine Guest 'expert' at World-Mysteries.com