As a little girl growing up in Fiji, I observed the fascinating ritual of the kava ceremony with firewalking on hot rocks – “Vilavilairevo”.
The communion, an abiding respect for something deeper than the hyperindividual, led the generations before to go forth into battle in every way.
Rituals have been proven to work for your mental, pushing your human limits, the belief in yourself, sublime through the fire to transcend the noise, delivers a mental calm, ready to take on a challenge in modern society.
It taught me about resilience and strength in overcoming struggle.
Like the ourobouros, the rhythmic loop of the vocal intention, the herbal purification, acknowledging each person in the circle, drinking the kava offering reverently, secure in the knowledge that life in all its incarnations waxes and wanes, fortified their psyche, and prepared them for the impossible – the firewalking on burning hot rocks. Burning what doesn’t serve and go forth into fires that test you.
This observation can be valuable in your development, personal, or career. Fires will always come to test you, but you walked through that fire. And you will do it again.
: Getty Images, Fairfax Media Archives
