In our entry on origins of language (Ogham) we mentioned 'Huna' and Max Freedom Long's work with chants and mind-altering effects of Hawaiian language. Here we see him engaged in something 'real' world we live in, can seldom observe, and most scientists would hesitate to hold forth their 'expertise' and try to explain.

“Max Freedom Long gives a detailed account of how his mentor, Dr W. T. Brigham of British Museum, was taken onto fresh boiling lava near a volcano on Kona Island by three Kahuna - local magicians. They instructed him to take his boots off as they would not be covered by Kahuna protection, {The 'protection' needs more conscious soul to connect with or through state Kahuna [perhaps Druids are their teachers according to my Wiccan high priestess] generate with their discipline and understanding.} but he refused. As he watched one of three walk calmly onto lava flow, other two suddenly pushed him and finding himself on hot lava, he had no choice but to keep on running to other side. In course of 150-foot dash, his boots and socks were burned off. The three Kahunas, still strolling barefoot on lava, burst into laughter as they pointed out trail of bits of burning leather.

What does go on in a fire-walk? Dr White expresses widely held view that walkers are in an exalted state of mind which suppresses pain. Yet there are fire-walks without trance or ecstasy. Neither is there any evidence to suggest that damaged tissues heal up so rapidly that they are not noticed (a process sometimes observed among Dervish, Hindu, Balinese and other body-piercing devotees) {Including piercing with swords.}. In The Crack in Cosmic Egg (1973) by J. C. Pearce, author suggests that firewalk is a classic illustration of creation of a new reality (albeit temporary and local) in which fire does not burn {But why did Brigham’s boots burn?} in familiar way. As long as this reality is maintained all is well, but history of fire-walk contains many accounts of gruesome fatalities and shocking damage to those whose faith is snapped {Brigham was not a 'faithful'.} so that they were plunged back into world where fire burns. The magical state of affairs in which flesh, and sometimes other material, is immune to fire is created, it seems, by person who officiates at fire-walking ceremonies. Leroy's Muslim writhed on ground in agony as soon as Maharajah announced end of proceedings. It was explained to bishop that man had taken burning upon himself. In 'Women Called Wild', Mrs Rosita Forbes describes a fire-dance ceremony in Surinam, presided over by a virgin priestess, among descendants of African slaves who had intermarried with local Indians. The priestess was in a trance for duration of fire-dance, and if she had emerged from it unexpectedly, dancers would no longer have been immune from flames. We have to agree with Dr Comey that psychical and psychological theories alone do not account for what happens {Unless you are more than just a psychic like Kahuna, Druids and Yamabushi.}, and that some physical phenomenon takes place…