It is true that any person is capable of tending a fire whether it be large or small.  Humankind has used fire for many purposes, to keep themselves warm, to keep away predators, to cook food, and to bring light to the shadows of the night.  The reasons are as myriad as the stars in the skies.

Today I wish to touch on the spirituality of fire, the art and stagecraft of the sacred fire. For myself, fire keeping is very much a blending of the two. Fire is Sacred, it is a gift. When Chro-magnon man figured out how to use iron pyrite and flint to create a spark and from that spark create fire the hearth quickly became the central gathering place of the tribe. 

Creating fire was probably one of the first feats of Magik performed by mankind. The Firekeeper/maker was revered and held in high esteem for he had the ability to keep the tribe warm and safe.  He was just as important as the Hunter. Some may even say more so.   

Fire Keepers are considered to be some of the first Shamans.  Fire was sacred, its care was entrusted to someone that was believed to have a direct line to the Gods.  Fire as an element was considered to be very picky and powerful.  One did not provoke the fire spirit or the Fire Keeper for without fire the tribe suffered.  In some cases, fire was used as a show of non-aggression to other tribes wherein fire could be gifted to another tribe. It was also used in some sense as currency and through its gift it could be used to obtain things from other groups, and yes it was also fought for and stolen. 

Now then lets get back to the "first Shamans" part. As with all things creating fire requires skill and knowledge. Knowledge of what materials could be used to create sparks, where to find these materials, plus the ability to keep these this safe.  Again the same thing would apply to Tinder and fuel to keep the fire going. 

Why did the ability to create fire elevate an otherwise normal person to the status of "Shaman?"  

Well, let us look at how the fire occurred in nature, to begin with. Lightning striking the ground can cause a fire.  The bright flash of light, accompanied by a thunderous boom, could set a tree or the ground ablaze.  Volcanoes erupting sending volleys of molten lava flying through the air, accompanied by rivers of liquid fire rolling downhill would set things ablaze.   In addition to the fact volcanoes erupt toxic gases and ash that could kill and disfigure.  Early man in an effort to understand these things oft attributed them to unseen gods.   So it was not a far stretch in early man to believe that any person who could create and contain fire surely had some link to those unknown gods.  Hence he must have been given these powers of nature by these gods. 

Since fire was believed to have originated to the gods and the fire keeper a divine person, it was not soon long after that fire was used ritualistically to communicate to these gods.  Hence the hearth became an altar to the gods simply because it was observed that the smoke, sparks and ashes would rise up to the skies, and surely to the gods themselves.  Since objects such as meats or other foods would be consumed by fire it was believed they went straight to the gods to. 

Before man could create fire he first had to learn how to capture it by taking advantage of these natural acts. In capturing fire man began to learn how to control hi environment.  As stated previously fire became a central essential thing to the tribes survival. The darkness of the night became less scary and less dangerous. Fire provided not only heat, and a way to cook food it provided light and it kept predators at bay. Some believed that fire also inspired and facilitated early cave paintings. The charcoal from the fire became a writing implement. 

I have had many conversations with elders in the Pagan community on the topic of fire some of those conversations left me dumbstruck. Some elders do not grasp the importance of fire in relation to gatherings, they seem not to understand how fire lends to the overall wholeness of a gathering or ritual. I personally have filled the role of Fire Keeper since around 2011. At first, doing simple things like tending campfires in the evenings.  The warmth of those fires allowed the community to congregate, relax, and unwind. It is at these fires the drums and guitars came out. Storytellers regaled us with stories of past and present times and retold the stories of Gods and men. It is here as well the dancers would get up and dance around the fire accompanied by the aforementioned drums and other instruments. It was here laughter and tears were shared, ideas were born, futures were decided and the past learned from.

As time went on and the years passed I sought my place within the Pagan community. On several occasions, I thought I had it figured out Druidry, and Heathenism seemed to fit but only loosely. These sort of fit my ancestry but left me wanting. They also did not fit my preconceptions. Meanwhile, I still tended fires added little bits of knowledge along the way, and began developing my style and fire-keeping craft.  Little did I realize the community was showing me my path as I plodded along obliviously. I watched, learned, and paid attention to other firekeepers. Soon fire keeping became more than just throwing another log on the fire, but still, I was oblivious. Fire keeping was becoming an art and i began developing a bit of showmanship. Absorbing bits and pieces bits of lore along the way. As I sit and write, and research the subject of fire keeping and spirituality I was amazed to find not much out there. I could find plenty on drumming, and dancing the sacred fire but not much on the aspect of the fire or the fire keeper and their lore.  The lore of the Firekeeper seems to be as elusive as that of the Druids of old, or perhaps maybe it is passed on verbally and never recorded in the written word save maybe in personal notes. What I did find were scattered bits mentioned only in passing but nothing in abundance in one place. So I shall begin with what I know, what I believe. 

The Art of Fire

So I shall begin with what I know and believe. The art of fire keeping begins long before the fire is lit with the intent of the fire being a determining factor in preparation. One must first know the purpose of the fire, is it just being used for warmth, are you using it to cook food, Is it being used for light for storytelling or the focal point of a drum circle or ritual? 

Why is it important to know these things?  The reasons are many. The wood you might use for a cooking fire might be something like maple or oak, you may add hickory as well to provide flavor. You certainly would not want to use poplar, or elm or cedar as these might provide unsavory results. You also may need to dig a pit if you wish to pit cook your food and need to find a suitable pit location.  Sandy dampish to dry soil works best for pit cooking I have found.  I will touch on pit cooking and cooking fires later.  

For general warming fires you can almost use any wood so long as it is dry and burns well. But I would advise against elm, I have never found the smoke it produces to have a desirable scent. I have also found balancing hardwoods and softwoods work best. Too much pine and you have embers flying out of the fire potentially landing on people and it burns very fast, adding cedar can sometimes keep bugs at bay but again it to likes to spit out embers.  Birch is nice to add a little brightness but can produce a lot of smoke as the bark burns off. Hardwoods such as oak, maple, ash and basswood are good for adding longevity to your fire as they tend to burn slower and they provide a good bed of coals if someone ones to make a snack of marshmallows, smores, or hot dogs.  Cedar and Pine are often used in ritual fires. Cedar is believed to be a purifying wood. It is believed that its rising smoke can convey messages to the gods, and its aromatic smoke also is good for keeping bugs at bay.

Warming fires generally are less artsy and require less thought. But you can still make the attendees ooohhh and ahh with the simple little things by taking a hollow log and placing it in the middle of your fire and it will act like a chimney drawing flames inward and smoke up through its center.  Like the image below.

I have done the above on a few occasions. The effect is rather neat and can last for a few hours depending on how dry the wood is, how big it is will have a factor too.  You can vary this and build the fire in the center but for that, you will need to add a few vent/breather holes in the side of the log so your fire gets air. It takes practice and you probably will never get the same result twice.  The above has been referred to as a Swedish fire log if done properly you can also use the top as a cooking surface. 

But the fire is more than just a means for cooking or for providing warmth. The spiritual aspect of fire cannot be ignored. Fire is a symbol of transformation and purification. It is believed that burning wood can release trapped energy and emotions, helping to purify oneself and the surrounding environment. Fire is also believed to be a messenger to the gods, allowing one to communicate and ask for guidance or blessings.

The role of the fire keeper is therefore not just to tend to the physical fire, but also to tend to the spiritual energy that the fire creates. The firekeeper must be aware of the energy of the space and ensure that it remains clean and pure. They must also be aware of the attendees’ energy and help facilitate transformation and purification by guiding them through the fire’s energy.

The art of fire keeping involves not just the physical aspects of tending the fire, but also the spiritual aspects of working with the fire’s energy. The fire keeper must understand the intentions behind the fire and the energy that it creates, and use that to facilitate transformation and healing for themselves and those around them. It truly is an art form, one that requires attention, focus, and knowledge. 

From its origins as a tool for survival to its central role in our spiritual beliefs. Fire keeping requires both physical and spiritual preparation, with the knowledge of wood selection and fire implementation as well as the awareness of energy and intentions. By embracing the art of fire keeping, we can connect more deeply with our spirituality and harness the transformational power of fire.

As we tend to the flame, we must remember the sacredness of fire and the responsibility that comes with it. We must honor the traditions of our ancestors, who saw fire as a gift from the gods. By understanding the art of fire keeping, we can cultivate a deeper connection with ourselves, with others, and with the divine. Let us tend to the fire with respect and gratitude, and in doing so, may we transform ourselves and our communities for the better.