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Keep Your Lamps Burning by Terry Bailey
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Keep Your Lamps Burning |
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Education
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In the spiritual realm, fire is a common thread. No matter the belief system, chances are good there will be at least one ritual that incorporates this volatile element. A lot of aspects of fire lend themselves well to incorporation into myths and rituals. Since so many beliefs incorporate fire into their practices, it works well in spiritual writing, which is a subject that merits more discussion than it currently receives. Fire symbolizes four common ideas in the spiritual realm: light, transformation, communication and channeling energy. Transformation and channeling energy are the more common ideas expressed in present times, but all four explain many rituals practiced today. With that in mind, let's take a look at how fire relates to each of these ideas. Light is the murkiest of the four concepts, mostly because it doesn't stand by itself. It is often tied to larger concepts such as the Prometheus myth. Still, fire does provide literal light but also metaphysical vision. The best example of this is the concept of trial by ordeal (sometimes called trial by fire), where God's intervention can absolve a person's guilt from a criminal act. To some extent, this concept is part of judicium dei, but it plays a small part in that approach to law. Transformation is dramatic yet simple to understand. While the phoenix is a solid example of fire as a transformative force, it is not the only one out there. Many cultures have practiced some form of cremation (which sends the spirit of the deceased beyond Earth while making the physical body part of nature again). The lighting of funeral pyres, in fact, has made an intercontinental journey of sorts, as it is seen in both Viking and Hindu funeral traditions. Though I've yet to find a paper addressing this idea, it's not outside the realm of possibility that these funeral traditions are closely related to the phoenix tale. In a similar vein is the idea of fire as eternity. For example, the flame from a burning candle is used to light an unlit candle. However, this process does not diminish the flame of the first. Fire can symbolize a spirit that is everlasting even if the body is not animated or even present. The idea of fire as a means of communication is not as emphasized today as it was centuries ago, but it still holds relevance. This is especially true in understanding the history of a ritual in a given belief system. In general, fire as communication expedites and/or directs messages sent to those outside the boundaries of Earth. This ranges from the lighting of candles while reciting prayers to particular saints to writing messages on paper that will be burned. Communication with fire can work the other way around, too. The burning bush comes to mind here. Channeling energy is the most prevalent in modern society. Rituals that were once saved for organized religion customs have been adapted for more universal means. Lighting candles and burning incense are two examples of spiritual customs adapted by mainstream society. This act can symbolize recognition of a past tragedy or provide a focal point so a person can clear his or her mind. Now that we've established the most common themes of fire in the spiritual realm, let's take a look at how to apply them to writing. No matter how you incorporate something burning into your writing, there are a couple things to keep in mind. First, it should be clear what purpose the fire serves. Even if the spiritual belief in your piece is one you created, readers should be able to understand its purpose without slogging through an essay discussing the minutia of the ritual. Second, make sure you don't overdo it. Think of adding fire to your piece like adding herbs and spices to a recipe. A dash will impart a balanced, enjoyable flavor. Dump the whole jar in, and people will recoil from the overwhelming taste. There are different ways to make fire's purpose in your writing known. First, it can come up in conversation between characters. If you opt for dialogue, try to keep it short, lest you wander far into telling territory. I recommend using dialogue as a supplement and detailing the ritual in the narrative whenever possible. When describing the ritual, focus on the person or people involved. What do they do? How do they react during the event? Describe the looks on their faces, their postures and other physical manifestations of their emotions. These descriptions do wonders in illustrating the purpose of the ritual. You can also use it as a point of contrast. How? Imagine the main character doesn't understand or isn't moved by the ritual. Describing how other people react can foil the character's emotional isolation. With all this talk about action, don't completely disregard dialogue during the ritual. In some cases, spoken word is a large component and can move people along with the fire. If appropriate, use it. When experimenting with fire in your writing, be aware that too much can muddle any motifs or messages you wish to weave into the story. It's a fine line to walk, but it's not impossible. A recurring motif of fire or burning can work wonders for developing a character's emotional change or foreshadowing a metaphysical event. The trick is to start small and incrementally build upon the first instance of burning. This could be as simple as starting with lighting a small candle and expanding it to multiple or larger pillars. Another idea to consider is using fire as a contrast, such as burning wishes on a dark, cold night. Such contrast can illustrate the comfort a character derives from such an action. When all else fails, you can stick with the less is more phrase. Whichever method you choose, be careful not to make large fires something the reader encounters every fourth page. That just gets boring after a while.it! seo companies
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