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 FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
- What is the best book on firewalking?
- A number of books discuss firewalking history and other relevant topics. However Tolly Burkan’s book, Extreme Spirituality: Radical Approaches to Awakening, is the only book that explains how firewalking is used today in current times. Michael Sky’s book, Dancing with the Fire, explores the implications of firewalking. It is out of print, but pre-owned copies are easy to locate. Jonathan Sternfield’s book, Firewalk, gives a broad overview of the phenomenon and addresses the psychology of physical immunity.
- How long is the coal bed at a typical firewalk?
- Firewalking classes open to the public usually have coal beds between 8 and 12 feet long. The official world record is currently 328’. However, a number of people have walked a 40-foot coal bed, back and forth, without leaving the coals, 13 times: accomplishing a 520-foot firewalk.
- What kinds of wood are used for firewalking?
- Incense cedar or white birch produce the best coal beds. Some other woods either reduce themselves to ash too quickly, produce sharp-edges on the coals, or exude sap and gum that can stick to a person’s foot.
- Are children permitted to attend firewalking classes?
- Individual instructors each have their own policy regarding the issue of children attending the class. Participants have ranged in age from 4 years old to 89 years old. Some instructors will allow children to attend, but will not allow them to actually walk. Just being present, and witnessing others walk, can be a life-changing experience.
- Why have there been recent news stories about people being burned during firewalking seminars?
- Contrary to the view of many skeptics, there is definitely an inherent risk when firewalking. For this reason, people are advised to only participate in firewalking classes. Before attending a firewalking event, it all depends on the firewalking applicant not to walk until he/she is 100% ready to walk with no burn. That means he/she must be in 100% state of mind with the ability to walk on the coal safely.
- Where did firewalking originate?
- No one has found an answer to that question. Firewalking actually precedes written history. There are accounts of firewalking among the Hawaiian Kahuna, who walked across lava flows. The Vikings are reported to have walked on red-hot steel chains. Native Americans and Fijians firewalked, and a number of Christian saints were said to have firewalked. It seems to be a part of many diverse cultures on a number of continents.
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