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Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!burl!ulysses!mhuxl!ihnp4!zehntel!hplabs!pesnta!scc!steiny
From: steiny@scc.UUCP (Don Steiny)
Newsgroups: net.misc,net.followup
Subject: Firewalking
Message-ID: <240@scc.UUCP>
Date: Tue, 10-Jul-84 20:11:58 EDT
Article-I.D.: scc.240
Posted: Tue Jul 10 20:11:58 1984
Date-Received: Thu, 12-Jul-84 03:23:39 EDT
Organization: Santa Cruz Computer, Aptos, Calif.
Lines: 44

****

	According to my mail, there are several netlanders that
firewalk.  Apparently the methods vary.  In my earlier posting
I mentioned that psychological preparation was necessary, and
that view was challanged.   I have never done it, but my friends
that have all did it under the direction of John Grinder, who
is a well known hypnotist.  He teaches hypnosis to therapists
and worked closely with Milton Erickson.   At firewalks he
leads he prepares people.   He believes it is necessary.
Because of this, the people I knew that walked were prepared.

    Suppose a person's state of physiology did not have any influence
over the physical ramafications of walking on hot coals.  How would
we find out?    If a person says "I don't need to do anything
special, I can just walk across hot coals," and then the person
walks across hot coals, it is not obvious to me that that is not
an special state of mind.   I wonder if we drug the same person out
of bed with a hangover and sent them across the same coals, would the
person would be as sucessful?    The only test I can think of is
if in the same situation some people get 3d degree burns and others
get no burns at all. This has happened. I think it is an example of how 
much the human body can take (the people I have talked to that walked 
said that it was HOT), and control over the autonomic nervous system.  

     Maybe preparing for the event psychologically is not necessary, 
but from what I gather, it is the best part.   What else could the
point be?  They psyche themselves into a state that they believe they
can do anything and then they walk across hot coals!  
As long as a walker does not
take the attitude that he or she can do something others can't and
instead takes that attitude that it is an example of human potential,
the potential of all humans, firewalking does not have to be 
a "look at me" kind of a thing.  It becomes a metaphor and personal resource.   


Don Steiny
Personetics
109 Torrey Pine Terr.
Santa Cruz, Calif. 95060
(408) 425-0382
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