SPIRITS OF FIRE
The Nature of Fire
The activities of all the elements are instigated and
regulated through the action of fire. Fire is the first step in every
process. It provides the initial spark for all life, from the spark of
conception of a baby to the spark of inspiration for an idea. Every
process begins with fire.
The abilities to flare or subside are qualities of fire. This allows
variation in any process so that activity can be appropriate to its
time and place.
Fire is the least dense of all the elements, being a light,
upward-tending element like air. Fire stimulates air, working through
the balance of gases in the atmosphere and bringing it to a state of
activity so that it can support life.
The opposite of fire is water. Fire counters the tendency of water to
remain still by bringing the vitality of movement to it.
Fire also has the ability to consume and transform. Through burning,
materials are drastically changed. The old form is consumed in the
flames and a new form remains. All change, therefore, uses fire in some
degree. Everything from physical growth to spiritual evolution depends
on aspects of fire. Fire has the ability to cleanse and purify and to
invigorate and vitalise, allowing new life.
The Sun is essential for life on this planet. It emits heat and light.
Air moderates the heat and harmful rays from the Sun, so that life on
Earth can be sustained. The resulting warmth is a physical and
metaphysical aspect of heat. It is nurturing and sustaining.
Metaphysically, warmth and life are practically identical. Warmth works
through the element earth predominantly, countering the inherent
darkness and coldness of the earth element and allowing it to become a
Warmth from the Sun also moderates and stabilises the forces of
contraction and expansion that are key functions of the element, earth.
Light works through air to reach the other elements. Metaphysically, it
brings vitality to air and encourages physical and spiritual evolution.
Everything of a progressive, expansive and uplifting nature arises from
light at work in the world.
Fire has the least number and variety of types of nature spirits associated with it of all the elements. Fire spirits are
associated with the element fire in all its forms as well as with the
spark of life within all things. Their activities call forth the fire
archetypes from within the Sun and within the Earth and express them at
the Earth's surface within the atmosphere. As with nature spirits of
all types, they do their work through the materials of various
metaphysical realms: the etheric field and the astral and higher planes.
At the very highest levels, a range of angels and devas work with the
fires of Creation, bringing the essence of the original archetype down
through the planes from Soul. These are the angels and devas of the
forces of Creation. They are not specifically related to fire, as they
work through all the elements in turn, however they begin their
activities with fire and it plays a very important part in all their
work. These great spirits initially work with fire through air. They
connect with the Angels of Light in the atmosphere, working with light
as an aspect of fire. The angels and devas of creative forces include
spirits of sound, colour and music, these all being modes of Creation.
The smaller spirits of fire work with activating etheric and astral
substance. Their work is twofold. They vitalise the etheric field
generally so as to make it receptive to astral forces. They also
increase activity and change the density of various parts of the
etheric so as to lay down a framework for the nature spirits of the
other elements to work with. Astral forces in the environment of these
changed areas are also activated in preparation for invigorating the
matter of the physical plane and expressing all forms of fire. These
spirits have energy centres at the chest and the head.
Nature spirits of fire include salamanders, larger spirits associated
with tectonic and volcanic activity and solar spirits.
An interesting feature of salamanders is that they are never seen to
move backwards, whereas the nature spirits of the other three elements
all do so at times.
A great solar angel resides within the Sun, presiding over
every aspect of its function. His aura reaches out throughout the Solar
System, affecting everything within it. Just as the Sun's gravitational
field, its heat and solar winds extend throughout the Solar System, so
too do this angel's metaphysical effects. He is so immense that it is
very difficult for a human being to perceive him, even with the inner
eye of metaphysical vision. One tends to register him as a light so
bright that no detail is apparent. This light source is seen shining
behind the many and various angels, devas and fire spirits who are a
part of the Sun's function. He oversees every fire function within the
Smaller, but still enormous, highly evolved solar devas protrude from
the orb of the Sun, extending from its surface in every direction like
petals surrounding a great sunflower. They have the appearance of
barely seen figures of light almost completely concealed within
shifting veils of plasma-like substance. The lower parts of their forms
are immersed within the Sun's fire. Flames wrap all around them, moving
to alternately hide and reveal their heads, which are crowned with
light. These are powerful, radiant centres of consciousness that beam
light from eyes made of fire. These great spirits reach from the astral
world up through the planes to the highest levels, transforming
spiritual light down through the planes at the instigation of the solar
angel who stands behind them.
Even smaller devas bask within the light of the larger devas. These are
located here and there around the Sun, springing into states of
increased activity when solar flares or sunspots form.
Smaller nature spirits of fire are called salamanders and these are
present in and on the Sun in vast numbers. Their sizes vary greatly,
with some being minute and others quite huge. They are golden yellow in
colour, with touches of brilliant orange. They have little definite
form, having mainly a head with glowing, intelligent eyes and a
suggestion of arms or wings. The lower parts of the body tail away in
an elongated curving trail or coil of energy. The absence of form in
these spirits is not an indication of a low state of evolution as it
would be if this characteristic was present in an Earth nature spirit.
Instead it is a reflection of the nature of the Sun, where all is in
constant movement and there is little form evident.
The salamanders swim with undulating movements through the material of
the Sun, following the patterns of the etheric and astral currents that
flow within and around it. Frequently they spring clear of the densest
part of the burning surface gases, moving in graceful arcs. They do not
pause in their flight, but immediately dive back into the flames to
disappear from view. Salamanders appear and disappear constantly, so
that any part of the Sun that one observes seems to be alive with their
Subterranean Heat and Volcanic Fire
Great heat exists deep beneath the surface of the Earth,
sufficiently hot for rock to be in a liquid state known as magma.
Salamanders in a range of sizes exist within the molten rock.
Like all fire spirits, those of the molten underground world move
swiftly. Earth spirits at these depths respond to the metaphysical
aspects of the enormous pressure with very slow rolling movements;
however it has no impact on the salamanders who dive easily back and
forth as if through air.
The appearance of these salamanders is not pleasant to the human eye,
as their features are somewhat like those humankind associates with
devils and demons. Although there is no evil in them, they belong to an
environment that is foreign to human beings and in which they could not
survive. Hence, they seem repellent.
The fire spirits of the underground are very similar to the salamanders
of the Sun in their fundamental shapes; however, the details of their
appearance are very different. Where those of the Sun are wispy and
ethereal in appearance, those of molten rock are very definitely
formed, a product of their close association with earth.
Like all fire spirits, those of the underground have heads, which
function as centres of consciousness. Spikes arise from their head,
sometimes one, sometimes many, and these curve back from the head a
little like horns. Their features are pointed with glowing eyes. Their
entire forms are coloured in combinations of black and red, with some
of the red so dark as to be almost indiscernible from the black.
Brighter fiery red highlights flicker through their forms. Sweeps of
fiery energy spring from their shoulders suggesting arms. These are
barely discernible from the rest of the form. They are held swept back
against the form. Some of these spirits also have wings, which are
clearly shaped like those of a bat. They are mainly held streamlined
back against the form also, but sometimes they are extended a little
and retracted in a repetitive, pulsing motion as they move through the
molten rock. The lower parts of their forms, as with all fire spirits,
taper away in elongated curving trails of energy that flex and coil as
Spirits of this type exist wherever there is molten rock, whether it is
deep within the Earth or closer to the surface in the magma reservoirs
associated with volcanic activity. The closer to the surface the magma
is, the less dense in appearance and less clearly defined are the forms
of its salamanders.
Volcanoes whether active or dormant all have large devas associated
with them. These highly evolved nature spirits are usually situated
directly over the volcano, with their lower aspects anchored into the
mountain. They are made up of radiant sheets and beams of energy that
wrap the central figure in shifting fiery colours. Great sweeps of
energy form wings that are held aloft during the day and lowered to
wrap the body at night, responding to the energy of the Sun. They have
great chakras that radiate power in every direction as they process
light from higher planes. Radiant crowns of light rise from their
heads, pulsing with golden light and shooting sparks of power skywards.
The devas of active volcanoes exhibit all the colours usually
associated with fire. When a volcano has been dormant for some time,
fiery colours are still evident in the deva's form, however when there
is regrowth of vegetation on the slopes of the volcano, the deva
reflects this with the inclusion of greens and deeper yellows. Often
the curling, geometric archetypes for new plant life can be dimly seen
inside the deva's form, as if being incubated there.
An angel of Creative Fire usually presides over groups of volcanoes and
their devas. He governs the creative processes that occur with the
earth-building associated with volcanic activity. Volcanism and all
forms of seismic activity are very chaotic processes. The angel brings
down creative light from the higher planes, transforming it in his
powerful chakras. The angel's awareness reaches deep into the earth,
directing the transformed light. He uses it to awaken the inherent
wisdom within the Earth and bring order to the processes occurring
there. The work of the angel ensures that new life in all its forms
arises from the extreme and rather destructive activity.
Salamanders of the Surface World
Fire at the surface of the Earth is associated with flames and
anywhere there is a flame, there are one or more salamanders. It does
not matter how small the flame is or what material it is burning.
Salamanders exist in the flame of a match, in the burning tip of a
cigarette and in raging bushfires or forest fires.
The salamanders working at the surface of the Earth are the smaller
nature spirits of flame who work with etheric and astral forces,
bringing life and alertness to the element of fire.
Small, stable individual flames like that of a burning candle have
single salamanders that stand erect within the flame. These are larger
than the flame, extending above it around half the height of the flame
again. Their bright auras extend in concentric spheres of light around
them. They have quite clearly defined pointed heads and their faces
exhibit sharp, upward-tilting features. Their expressions show a kind
of wild glee. Wings of fiery light curve upward, closely framing the
head. Tiny tongues of flame-like energy lick upward from the edges and
tips of the wings. The lower part of the form is anchored within the
source of the flame, while the top part moves freely with a graceful,
swaying motion, elongating or shortening in harmony with the movement
and flickering of the flame.
In larger fires with multiple flames, such as in a hearth, a single
larger salamander can usually be seen within and extending above the
flames. In shape it is very like the salamander of a candle flame. If
the fire is burning evenly, it is positioned in the centre of it. When
the fire is burning more strongly on one side than the other, the
salamander is situated over the more strongly burning part.
In addition to this principal salamander, a number of smaller figures
can be seen diving amongst the flames. From time to time, they leap out
of the flames into the heated air above, then plunge back into the
fire. The more vigorously the fire burns, the more active are the
salamanders. In colour they very closely resemble the colours seen in
the flames with faint hints of violets and blues rippling fleetingly
through them. Their colour can vary somewhat depending on the chemical
composition of the fuel being burnt. These salamanders are transparent
and blend very well with their environment. In shape, they resemble the
salamanders of the Sun.
Huge fires such as bushfires and forest fires have many salamanders. A large
fire that has been burning for some time often has very large fire spirits
accompanying it. These are of the upright type already described and can be
up to twice as tall as the height of the physical flames. They are centred
within the hottest and largest part of the fire and move with the fire
front. These spirits are identical to their smaller relatives in everything
but size. They move with the fire front, their auras extending well ahead of
the fire. This creates a metaphysical environment that makes it possible for
the fire to keep burning and to spread. Elongated tongues of energy can
extend from the aura for great distances depending on conditions, sometimes
for over twenty- five kilometres or fifteen and a half miles.
Mobile smaller salamanders dive and spin through the wildly flickering
flames, just as they do in a hearth fire. The only difference is size,
with these salamanders being larger, a little over a metre or around
four feet tall.
During large fires, a type of nature spirit can often be seen spinning
and rolling along ahead of the fire front, close to or just above the
ground. These are wind-fire spirits. They are predominantly fire
spirits; however they also have in them the essence of air. Bushfires
and forest fires create their own wind and these spirits are a part of
this. The windier the conditions, the higher into the air and the
further they are able to go. These are the precursors to fire spreading
and new fires starting. They travel ahead of the main fire within the
aura of the large fire spirits, conditioning the etheric of the area so
as to encourage sparks to ignite the countryside.
Wind-fire spirits initially seem to be spherical in shape, with an
uneven surface. These are around ten centimetres or four inches in
diameter. They are made of a mixture of smoky blue and purple energies
that arise from the centre and radiate outwards. The colours have a
smudged, blended appearance. Concealed at the centre of this sphere is
a mass of fiery orange energy in a state of concentrated vitality.
When these embryonic spirits coincide with the presence of a physical
spark, the spark ignites and the wind-fire form springs open at the
point of combustion. The outer purple and blue energy flattens to form
a flat disk of energy with orange light at its centre. Instantaneously
the vitalised energy within the sphere leaps into form as a perfectly
shaped small upright salamander. As the fire catches, the disk is
quickly absorbed and the salamander grows with the fire.
All salamanders of fire burning at the surface of the Earth emit
crackling and popping sounds from time to time, very like the sounds of
physical fire. It is quite difficult to tune into these clairaudiently,
as there is no strong feeling of direction with the sounds. They seem
very distant, as if coming from another place.
Salamanders are highly aware of their surroundings, but they do
not purposely interact with people or animals. They are completely
impersonal and so there is no reason for them to interact. They simply
perform their functions with vigour and joy.