Working with Fire

Working with Fire

If we have thoughts or emotions worrying us we can light a fire, look into the flame and propose that the fire might absorb all impurities. 

During a fire ritual there can be high vertical flames which are not possible with a candle. We visualise during the ritual and with closed eyes also afterwards how the vertical flame rises from the base centre to the Ajna centre and beyond. 

Once the Ajna centre receives the flame the whole brain and cerebro-spinal system is illumined and enlightens us. With the help of Agni we can purify profound impressions of our psyche and the karma of the past. 

Agni also makes the senses and the mind more radiant and we progress on the path more easily.

While visualising the flame we can seek to see the disc of the Solar God. In “White Magic”, Master DK gives a wonderful hymn from the Isa Vasya Upanishad: 

“Unveil to us the face of the true spiritual sun, hidden by a disc of golden light, that we may know the truth and do our whole duty as we journey to Thy sacred feet.” 

The disc of light shines between the two eyebrows like the sun rising between two mountains. The related bliss cannot be expressed in words.

A seat of Agni in our body is the month. It is regarded as a fire pot in which the food is transformed into energy. 

The energy serves as food for the Devas within the body so that all parts can cooperate well. We can also express fire through our speech, to heal or to destroy.

Other points in the body presided by Agni are the spleen and the place between the shoulder blades where the body takes in prana and the warmth of the Sun. 

These points correspond to the south-east. Kitchens are set up in the south-east of the house so that the energy of Agni vitalizes us well via the food.

In India, Agni is invoked before cooking so that no accident with fire happens and that everything might turn out well. Also when you switch on an electric stove, this should be done consciously, invoking the Deva of fire. 

Our conscious action invokes and creates the corresponding energies. Taking fire just as an impersonal thing generating heat is an understanding in ignorance. 

If we consider the fire as an active intelligence and invoke it consciously even in the kitchen, it will cooperate with us.

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Sources: Master K.P. Kumar: Agni. The Symbolism and Ritual of Fire / notes from seminars. Master E. Krishnamacharya: Agni Yoga.

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