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Grandfather Fire

The titles Grandmother and Grandfather are used to underline, that you are dealing with somebody of great respect, like an elder. Not only people but also entities that are honored in a special way, deserve this title, such as grandmother moon and grandfather tobacco. However in this case the title does not imply any gender! The use of gender in language only emphasizes the current cultural view of a group of people on certain things. At this place we will talk about Grandfather Fire and how he is even called sacred in a ceremonial setting. This concept is found in the tradition of many cultures, as in India's Hinduism called Yagna (from Agni who is the messenger between the people and God), in America (The Huichol people of Mexico call it Tatewari.) as well as in Africa, aboriginal Australia and pagan Europe.

(photo by Maria)

(photo by Ute Mang)

Other aspects of ritual fires are contained in the global practice of firewalking and in the North American tradition of sweat lodges, where stones - sometimes also called grandfathers here - are heated up with fire until they glow red. Sacred Fires In the tradition talked about here a sacred fire is built with 21 sticks: 7 layers of 3 sticks each placed in form of triangles. One end of a stick is positoned on top of the next one and the other underneath the remaining one of the triangle.

You fill the inner space of the triangle construction with dry parts of plants, which catch fire easily, such as dry grass or pine needles, very small dry sticks and the white skin of birch bark.

(photo by Ute Mang)

On top of it you place some sacred plants as offerings to the spirits, e.g. sweet grass, cedar, white sage (Salvia apiana), desert sage or sage brush (Artemisia tridentata), tobacco or juniper. In another teaching of this tradition it is recomended not to place the plant offerings directly into the flames but onto coal instead. To my opinion the plant can unfold it's ethereal aroma in a better way, when it slowly glows down, as practiced in smudging techniques, where fire and it's smoke is used for purification.

(photo by Ute Mang)

Before you light the fire, you roll a filterless cigarette from uncented tobacco. Place yourself in front of the fireplace facing the sun or - after sunset - west, because the energy of a fire originally comes from Father Sun. Fire is seen as an aspect of the sun as well as a center *). Hold the cigarette facing Father Sun and make a prayer before lighting it. Then take a few puffs from the cigarette and blow a bit of smoke gently into the fire place before lighting the inner part of your construction. The remaining tobacco (not the filter) can be offered to grandfather fire as well. *) The meaning of a center is, that you can go everywhere from it. Other centers are for example the Tree of Life (Yggdrasil, Yupa) or the shamanic drum.

(photo by Jette)

(photo by Jette)

Because of it's relation to father sun it is shown respect by always walking around the fireplace clockwise if you need to get on the other side, symbolizing the solar circle. You also must not throw any trash into the fire. But it is allowed to burn sacred objects that fullfilled their purposes, in order to transform the energies they contain. E.g. in some cultures the drum of a shaman is burnt after his death. In a group ceremony one member is appointed Fire Keeper. He is responsible for ensuring that it burns well during the whole ceremony by gently adding new logs without tossing them and keeping the surrounding area save from unwanted burning.

At the end of Cermony the fire is allowed to expire. After it has cooled down, one of the participating man may collect a bit of the white ashes and give it to a women. Thus passed from male to female it contains power that can be used for furhter ceremonies.

(photo by Margit)