Keeping Your Fire Alive
Fire: Passions and Desires
Fire is a living element — expressive, unpredictable, and full of personality. Watch a flame closely and you’ll see how each flicker moves with a life of its own. Volcanoes explode, flow, and ooze. Fire doesn’t need to be dramatic to make an impact.
The sun is millions of miles away, yet without its light and heat we could not exist.
In the same way, you carry a fire within you: your passion, your drive, your desires.
When Your Inner Fire Gets Dampened
For many people, that fire has been dampened to a faint ember. Fear plays a big part — fear of their own power, fear of change, fear of stepping away from what feels familiar.
But comfort doesn’t come from blending in.
It comes from revelling in your differences — in being wholly and unapologetically you.
This is where the fire element begins: recognising the spark inside you.
What Fuels Your Fire?
Ask yourself:
What leaves you feeling empowered or energised?
Where does your drive naturally go?
What brings out your strongest desire to create, act, or contribute?
It might be work, family, a cause you champion, or your own creative expression. Passion is powerful — but it also requires balance.
You can pour energy into your responsibilities and still keep something back for yourself. This isn’t selfish; it’s essential. You manage your fire so that you can stay centred, grounded, and able to show up fully for the people and commitments that matter.
The Challenge of Knowing What You Want
Desires come with doubts:
What if I don’t like the new job, the new home, or the project I start?
But equally — what if you do?
If an idea keeps nudging you, there’s usually something there. This is the dance between the elements: Air brings ideas, Earth checks resources, Water tunes into feelings, and Fire brings action.
When a thought wants to be ignited, explore it gently and see what’s possible.
When Passion Overwhelms You
Sometimes desire surges in unhelpful directions — like intense attraction to someone unavailable. This usually reveals a deeper need.
You’re not craving the person.
You’re craving the energy they carry.
Is it their confidence, passion, strength, or freedom?
Once you identify it, you can cultivate that quality in yourself. The overwhelming feeling eases when you restore balance within.
Small Desires Matter Too
Fire doesn’t only show up in big dreams. It also lives in the small, everyday moments:
craving peace
wanting space
yearning for a sanctuary
needing a few minutes each day just for you
These tiny flames are just as important.
Create a Sanctuary for Your Fire
Even in a small or busy home, you can create a tiny personal haven.
Use the five senses:
Sight: a cosy throw, candlelight, a favourite colour
Smell: incense or essential oils
Touch: soft textures
Sound: gentle music or nature sounds
Taste: herbal tea or a piece of chocolate
Five quiet minutes here, with slow, deep breathing, can change your entire inner landscape.
Meditation and Creativity for Fire
Meditation helps you learn to work with your fire rather than be consumed by it. Too much fire scatters focus, fuels constant ideas, and makes it hard to finish anything.
I know this well — I had to learn how to channel fire into value, not just activity.
Fire is part of an elemental cycle:
Air generates ideas
Earth checks practicality and safety
Water brings emotional clarity
Fire acts, creates, and drives things forward
Then the cycle returns to Air for reflection and refinement.
Creative Practices That Support Fire
When working specifically with Fire, try:
Flame gazing
Art or craft as meditation
Creative work counts as meditation because it immerses you in the present moment. Skill doesn’t matter. The finished product doesn’t matter. What matters is the experience of flow.
Working with your hands pulls you into being rather than thinking.
My Own Creative Experiments
Over the years, I’ve tried many crafts. Some became favourites, some didn’t — but all of them nourished my fire.
Knitting: Taught by my Mum. I’m not a great knitter but I can make a jumper… eventually.
Crochet: Self-taught from a book. I’ve made everything from a seven-foot mandala to tiny doilies. Perfect for gentle focus.
Embroidery: Cross stitch, needle painting, general embroidery. Lovely, but not my deepest flow.
Sashiko: A newer love — rhythmic, simple, meditative.
Other experiments: dressmaking, lampshade making, wet felting, painting, corset making, wire jewellery, soutache (I’ll return to this), and more.
If You’re New to Creativity
Start small. Don’t judge the first thing you make.
A kit or pattern is a perfect beginning — clear instructions, a defined end point, and no pressure.
If you want help picking a craft, I’m building a ChatGPT tool to guide you.
Focus vs Concentration
People often mix these up.
Concentration uses mental effort, dexterity, and coordination.
Focus is presence: the state where nothing else matters.
For fire, focus is what you’re seeking — the sensation of being fully absorbed and alive.
Other Ways to Express Fire
If craft isn’t your thing, try:
playing an instrument
dancing
singing
cooking from scratch
any practice that gets you into creative flow
Fire needs expression, and there are many ways to feed it.
A Final Thought
No matter how committed you are to your family, work, or responsibilities, you still need something that is just for you — a way to explore, express, and nourish your fire.
Even a small spark changes everything.
