Journey With Fire! |
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Courtesy of paulbullivant.co.uk and micwarmingtonphotography.zenfolio.com
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Sacred Hearth Friction Fire (SHFF) : exploring our sacred connection with fire through fire by friction .
...exploring the folk lore, stories, mysticism and sacredness of fire; our connection with fire and the use of fire for mental well being. Sacred Hearth aims to teach friction fire techniques with awareness, drawing on ritual and story and exploring and deepening our connection with fire and the world around. |
The web site includes practical techniques of learning the ancient art of rubbing sticks as well as methods generally associated with ritual welcoming of fire. Over time, the website content will continue to grow to encompass more stories, traditions and folklore associated with the friction fire including ritual & ceremony and practices for self growth and mental wellbeing.
SHFF is more active on Instagram - so head over for more regular posts! I have also have quite a few videos on YouTube covering practical methods as well as sharing my thoughts on Sacred Fire.
Offerings....
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SHFF is run by Ian (see About Me.) Ian has honed his fire by friction skills since 2014 over many many hours practicing and experimenting, and researching to increase his skills, knowledge and soaking up the stories and folklore. Ian has also participated in ritual and retreats for last 20 years bringing that experience into his approach. SHFF is based in Bristol, UK.
New for 2023! SHFF is now offering a very limited number of "Journey with Fire" experiences - see Events for more details. The focus will be on forming a deeper connection\appreciation of fire as well as demonstrating\teaching the practical methods in my unique approach incorporating story and myths and ritual. |
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SHFF champions natural cordage over synthetic cordage (a lot of bushcraft schools teach with synthetic cordage) - and you may hear Ian often say "if you are going to use synthetic cord you may as well use a lighter!"
Ian is probably one of the only people in the UK passionate about the long forgotten North Europe ritual fire method called Need Fire . Click here. From 2020 Ian has been passionate about sharing his skills and knowledge he has gained with the overlooked fire plough friction method and is probably the only person in the UK so pro-active in passing on fire plough skills and knowledge. See the Fire Plough page. |
Ian is also continuing to explore his own connection with fire which is ever evolving - see these blog posts :
The Ancestry of Fire
Exploring my connection with fire.
Ian feels that the modern bushcraft/survival movement/industry often (but not always and not everyone) views friction fire as just another practical skill/commodity where the emphasis is on the individual working against nature to make fire . The emphasis of SHFF is about connecting with fire and nature on a deeper level, working with nature to welcome the ancestral fire, rather than just "making" fire. SHFF also encourages people to work together, as indigenous peoples still do.
Even with friction methods - when treating them as just practical methods it is still just as easy to take fire as granted (once you have become skilled with the method.) So I hope I can inspire just a few people to approach fire on a slightly different level!
The Ancestry of Fire
Exploring my connection with fire.
Ian feels that the modern bushcraft/survival movement/industry often (but not always and not everyone) views friction fire as just another practical skill/commodity where the emphasis is on the individual working against nature to make fire . The emphasis of SHFF is about connecting with fire and nature on a deeper level, working with nature to welcome the ancestral fire, rather than just "making" fire. SHFF also encourages people to work together, as indigenous peoples still do.
Even with friction methods - when treating them as just practical methods it is still just as easy to take fire as granted (once you have become skilled with the method.) So I hope I can inspire just a few people to approach fire on a slightly different level!
Story and myths and deepening our connection
You could say we were created from fire, or as Ian likes to say "forged from fire" - our evolution and all the advancements we see and use today would not have been possible without fire! However, as well as being a source of creation, fire can also be destructive and dangerous therefore, it is important for SHFF to practice these methods in a respectful and honouring way, especially in a world where most people take things for granted.
Ian likes to weave in old stories and legends...there are many myths and legends from around the world. Many of them have a common theme of how fire is hidden within trees\plants and the only way to coax the fire out is through friction! See the Sacred Fire page for more details.
You could say we were created from fire, or as Ian likes to say "forged from fire" - our evolution and all the advancements we see and use today would not have been possible without fire! However, as well as being a source of creation, fire can also be destructive and dangerous therefore, it is important for SHFF to practice these methods in a respectful and honouring way, especially in a world where most people take things for granted.
Ian likes to weave in old stories and legends...there are many myths and legends from around the world. Many of them have a common theme of how fire is hidden within trees\plants and the only way to coax the fire out is through friction! See the Sacred Fire page for more details.
Courtesy of paulbullivant.co.uk and micwarmingtonphotography.zenfolio.com
Friction Fire Methods
Fire by friction is the ancient art of rubbing sticks together used by our ancestors for thousands of years, and many indigenous tribes still use friction fire today (e.g. in Africa and Australia.)
On a practical level, of learning about friction fire methods, this site focusses on the Fire Plough, Bow Drill, Hand Drill, and touches upon the other friction methods and a brief history of fire lighting methods. The website also includes methods used for welcoming fire as part of ritual using by different traditions. The way friction fire is used differs widely between modern bushcraft and survival practitioners, indigenous peoples, ritual\ceremonial practitioners, "primitive skills" practitioners etc and my own approach!
Ian sees friction fire as a ritual in itself, bringing in awareness and intention - acknowledging where materials have come from, not taking fire for granted and being thankful to the source of fire and to our ancestors for discovering these techniques.
Fire by friction is the ancient art of rubbing sticks together used by our ancestors for thousands of years, and many indigenous tribes still use friction fire today (e.g. in Africa and Australia.)
On a practical level, of learning about friction fire methods, this site focusses on the Fire Plough, Bow Drill, Hand Drill, and touches upon the other friction methods and a brief history of fire lighting methods. The website also includes methods used for welcoming fire as part of ritual using by different traditions. The way friction fire is used differs widely between modern bushcraft and survival practitioners, indigenous peoples, ritual\ceremonial practitioners, "primitive skills" practitioners etc and my own approach!
Ian sees friction fire as a ritual in itself, bringing in awareness and intention - acknowledging where materials have come from, not taking fire for granted and being thankful to the source of fire and to our ancestors for discovering these techniques.
Side note: You are welcome to reference material / research on SHFF website/channels in your own websites/articles as my goal is to share knowledge! Please acknowledge Sacred Hearth Friction Fire, if this is where you obtained your research from. Ian also tries his best to reference other people's work and research.
Legalities \ Good Practice
A final note on knife laws, lighting fires and collecting materials. Please be aware of any local laws around knives and also for lighting fires and use good common sense (see this link regarding knife law in the UK,) Please also use discretion and awareness when collecting materials - see blog post here.
Regarding fires - only light fires where you know you are allowed to do so. If you don't have a fire bowl to hand (you are in the wilds!), then build your fire on bare earth, dig a fire pit if you need to, and if digging turf - replace the turf before you leave. Be especially aware when lighting fires in woodland (especially pine forests) e.g. roots can potentially catch light (smoulder for hours afterwards) and the fire can spread under ground - don't build fires where there is an extensive root system close to the surface. Similarly if building a fire in grassland (especially if the grass is dead and dry) - dig a pit and line the edge with stones and cut back\flatten long grass in the vicinity. Only build a fire small enough for your use, be aware of your surroundings, never leave a fire unattended, and always put it out before you leave - dowse the embers with water to be sure - cover up the remains with earth - and always leave no trace!
A final note on knife laws, lighting fires and collecting materials. Please be aware of any local laws around knives and also for lighting fires and use good common sense (see this link regarding knife law in the UK,) Please also use discretion and awareness when collecting materials - see blog post here.
Regarding fires - only light fires where you know you are allowed to do so. If you don't have a fire bowl to hand (you are in the wilds!), then build your fire on bare earth, dig a fire pit if you need to, and if digging turf - replace the turf before you leave. Be especially aware when lighting fires in woodland (especially pine forests) e.g. roots can potentially catch light (smoulder for hours afterwards) and the fire can spread under ground - don't build fires where there is an extensive root system close to the surface. Similarly if building a fire in grassland (especially if the grass is dead and dry) - dig a pit and line the edge with stones and cut back\flatten long grass in the vicinity. Only build a fire small enough for your use, be aware of your surroundings, never leave a fire unattended, and always put it out before you leave - dowse the embers with water to be sure - cover up the remains with earth - and always leave no trace!
Bow Drill - Fire Drill - Hand Drill - Friction Fire - Sacred Fire - Origin of Fire Story - Fire Ritual - Ancient Fire Lighting - Fire Churn - Neid Fire - Force Fire - Tein-Éigin - Fire Churning - Demonstrations - Pagan Friction Fire - Heathen Friction Fire - Bristol - South West - UK
Site Last Updated: 2nd February 2023
Site Last Updated: 2nd February 2023