Dear Friends,
Yesterday we began exploring the fire element as warmth, energy, and transformation. Today is an invitation to reflect on how these qualities show up in your own experience.
Fire expresses itself differently from moment to moment, and part of getting to know this element is simply seeing how variable it can be.
You might begin by noticing temperature and warmth in the body. Where do you sense heat, coolness, or neutrality? Are there areas that feel more alive or activated, and others that feel quieter or at rest?
You could also reflect on energy more broadly:
- When during the day does energy naturally rise or fall?
- How does the body signal readiness, effort, or fatigue?
- What feels nourishing or supportive for your energy right now?
Fire is closely connected with transformation. Digestion is one obvious example: food being broken down and converted into energy. But transformation also shows up in subtler ways: a shift in attention, a change in mood, the movement from rest into activity and back again.
You can explore the fire element in everyday moments as well:
- Noticing warmth from sunlight or a cup of tea
- Feeling the body warm with movement, then cool again
- Sensing the transition from alertness to rest
You are invited to let us know what you discover. You can reply to the email or post a comment to share a brief reflection.
With good wishes,
Andrea
A few wisdoms and teachings about fire that I’ve collected:
“Life is short; live as if your head were on fire!” ~Gotama
“To burn out you must once have been on fire.” ~Unknown
In Japanese traditions, toilets are also in the realm of the divine. “Ucchusma”（烏枢沙摩明王), a fierce fire god who converts dirty places into clean ones, is said to live within the toilet space — as do goddesses, of course.”
From George Orwell:
“ There’s a resilience in holding onto your essence, even when it feels invisible. There’s courage in keeping your light alive, in refusing to let the world’s misunderstanding extinguish the fire within you. You may feel unseen, but the truth is, your uniqueness, your complexity, is what makes you extraordinary. Somewhere, someone will value that. And until then, you can value that.”