Welcome
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Courtesy of paulbullivant.co.uk and micwarmingtonphotography.zenfolio.com
Sacred Hearth Friction Fire is exploring the folk lore, stories, mysticism and sacredness of fire and fire by friction. Sacred Hearth aims to teach friction fire techniques with awareness, drawing on ritual and story and exploring our connection with fire.
The web site includes practical techniques of learning the ancient practice of friction fire 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.
The web site includes practical techniques of learning the ancient practice of friction fire 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.
My Offerings....
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I am not a bushcraft instructor. I have honed my friction fire skills since 2014 spending many many hours practicing and experimenting, and researching to increase my skills, knowledge and soaking up the stories and folklore. I also like to test and prove many of the methods referenced in folklore and stories. I am based in Bristol, UK. Please feel free to contact me for further information. Please keep an eye out on the Events page. I am passionate about Fire Churns - click here. As of 2020 I am championing the often over-looked fire plough! See the Fire Plough page! |
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I am dreaming into workshops exploring story, ritual, and friction fire. I am also exploring ways to intertwine Friction fire practice in a more therapeutic and self developmental way. Watch this space!
I'm also exploring my own connection with fire which is ever evolving - see these blog posts :
The Ancestry of Fire
Exploring my connection with fire.
I'm also exploring my own connection with fire which is ever evolving - see these blog posts :
The Ancestry of Fire
Exploring my connection with fire.
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Sacred Hearth Friction Fire is not a bushcraft school nor do I identify with bushcraft. This is more of a project and I'm approaching friction fire from a more holistic approach of it not being a practical skill but more of a "practice" , deepening our connection, and interweaving ritual and story. I also champion natural cordage over synthetic cordage (alot of bushcraft schools teach with synthetic cordage) and also probably one of a very small number (if not the only person) in the UK re-invigorating the use of fire churns (they are still used in Russia!) - I've only come across one other UK re-construction which was in 2015. I have also rediscovered the lost art of the Fire Plough in the UK!
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Personally I feel 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. My emphasis is about connecting with fire and nature on a deeper level, working with nature to welcome the ancestral fire, rather than just "making" fire. I also encourage people to work together, as indigenous peoples still do, which is why I love the fire churn so much. And even with friction methods, when you are 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 I like 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 me that I practice these methods in a respectful and honouring way, especially in a world where most people take things for granted.
I like 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! One of these stories is an old Māori story which is a perfect introduction to friction fire especially for children - "How Māui brought fire to the world". Towards the end, Mahuika the goddess took her very last toenail of fire and threw it at Māui in anger. The toenail of fire missed Māui and flew into the trees, planting itself in the trees. The trees cherished and held onto the fire of Mahuika, considering it a great gift. When Māui returned to his village he didn't bring back fire as the villagers had expected. Instead he brought back dry wood from the Kaikōmako tree and showed them how to rub the dry sticks together, coaxing the fire out of the wood, and bringing fire to the world.
You could say we were created from fire, or as I like 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 me that I practice these methods in a respectful and honouring way, especially in a world where most people take things for granted.
I like 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! One of these stories is an old Māori story which is a perfect introduction to friction fire especially for children - "How Māui brought fire to the world". Towards the end, Mahuika the goddess took her very last toenail of fire and threw it at Māui in anger. The toenail of fire missed Māui and flew into the trees, planting itself in the trees. The trees cherished and held onto the fire of Mahuika, considering it a great gift. When Māui returned to his village he didn't bring back fire as the villagers had expected. Instead he brought back dry wood from the Kaikōmako tree and showed them how to rub the dry sticks together, coaxing the fire out of the wood, and bringing fire to the world.
Courtesy of paulbullivant.co.uk and micwarmingtonphotography.zenfolio.com
Friction Fire Methods
Fire by friction is an ancient method 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, this site focusses on the Fire Plough, Bow Drill, Hand Drill, and touches upon the other friction methods and a brief history. I also write about the methods for welcoming fire as part of ritual using by different traditions which can be slightly different to the everyday/bushcraft methods.
I see friction fire as a ritual in itself, and I like to do it with 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.
On a deeper level, I have found the Hand Drill to be quite a profound experience (see my blog post .)
When learning fire by friction, I feel the following are important... patience, practice, experimenting and continually gaining knowledge.... and for me it is important to do it with respect and awareness which is what Sacred Hearth is all about.
Fire by friction is an ancient method 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, this site focusses on the Fire Plough, Bow Drill, Hand Drill, and touches upon the other friction methods and a brief history. I also write about the methods for welcoming fire as part of ritual using by different traditions which can be slightly different to the everyday/bushcraft methods.
I see friction fire as a ritual in itself, and I like to do it with 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.
On a deeper level, I have found the Hand Drill to be quite a profound experience (see my blog post .)
When learning fire by friction, I feel the following are important... patience, practice, experimenting and continually gaining knowledge.... and for me it is important to do it with respect and awareness which is what Sacred Hearth is all about.
Side note:You are welcome to use my material / research in your own websites/articles as my goal is to share knowledge! Please acknowledge Sacred Hearth Friction Fire, if this is where you got your research from (it took a little while to find some of the references!) I also try my best to reference sources, but apologies if I’ve missed any so do let me know!
Legalities \ Good Practice
I do just need to add a 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 - you can see my 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!
I do just need to add a 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 - you can see my 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: 10th January 2022
Site Last Updated: 10th January 2022