The Master’s Path: Where courage meets surrender

In October 2024, I, unknowingly, stepped onto the Master’s Path when I attended Firewalking Instructor Training (FIT) with the Fire Walking Institute of Research & Education (F.I.R.E.).  It is accurate to say that I did this unknowingly as I was only there to get training and a certification that I could use in the business I had with a couple of other colleagues from my time in the Navy. I was attending a 4-day event and then planned to leverage the certification to boost my coaching business.

That is the mindset that I showed up with on day 1 and at this point, I did not recognize Fire’s calling me to the Master’s path. I am sure though that for you this is already a bit disjointed, so let me back up a bit about what led me to sign for the FIT. 

In 2013, while working in the UK, I completed a 2-day team building event with my manufacturing and engineering team that included an Arrow Break and Glass Walk. Those had a profound effect on creating the best team I was ever a part of and people who I would drop anything to support even today. I wanted to bring those same types of activities to my coaching business; to the leaders, individuals and teams that I would work with in my business.

The hard part was finding anyone who would train and certify me in glass walking. This eventually led me to F.I.R.E. who included glass walking in their FIT course. I trust it makes much more sense now why someone who went for glass walking unknowingly stepped onto the Master’s Path of Firewalking. 

Day 1 of FIT was just like any other training course I had ever attended, a lot of talking, reading, some fun activities and yet, I felt know spark inside me. We built, burned and tended our first fire and still there was no spark inside me.  I walked across fire that night and while it was a challenge to take that first step, still, there was no spark inside me and I certainly didn’t feel the transformation that the instructors had talked about all day on that first day. Frankly, I went to bed that night questioning whether or not I had made a mistake and just wasted a bunch of money.

As Day 2 dawned, I was up early, much earlier than everyone else.  The time in the Navy and now on a farm had conditioned me to be an early riser.  While a bit frustrated that no one else was up, I decided to try and make the most of it, taking a walk around the retreat center we were at in the Shenandoah mountains. That walk gave me time to reflect and when I returned I opened my journal and made a short entry. “To hell with the business. I am doing this for me!” They were more than just words on a page or an idea; those words unlocked my power through a massive mindset shift that silenced my Tiger who had been working in the background to sabotage my experience.

That day, I opened my heart and my mind to fire and welcomed it into my life, soaking up its energy and learnings from its teaching. 

There were two more experiences of the remaining days of the FIT course; the first being the spiritual firewalk and the second being the conclusion with the 108s.  The spiritual firewalk, was an opportunity for me to connect with the holy spirit and that night, with the supermoon clear in the sky, I felt the PTSD burden I had carried for more years than I care to count, lifted from me.  It was an amazing experience and that night, for the first time in a very long time, I slept soundly and was not awakened by nightmares. 

The next morning, I knew in my heart, that now glowed with the same flicking redness of the embers that make up a coal bed, that my purpose was to bring the transformation of firewalking to others who needed it. It was that spiritual walk, when I finally heard fire calling me to the path, although I still did not recognize that it was the Master’s path.

The 108s are a F.I.R.E. tradition for those who complete FIT; 108 is the number of consecutive walks across the fire lane. Yes, you read that right, that night I walked across fire 108 times consecutively and with that last walk being a 20 foot lane, fire and the holy spirit were firmly embedded in me. I felt the yearning to continue down that path and one year later I took my next big step down the Master’s path, that step which I affectionately call the Phoenix Trial.  I want to make a very clear distinction here in that Mastery is something which I aspire to, knowing that I will pursue it the remainder of my days and never fully reach it; because the fire will always have a new lesson, new guidance, a new transformation to share with me.

Next week, I’ll share the story of the Phoenix Trial. A crucible that demanded everything I had, and gave me back something I didn’t know I was missing.

Until then, I invite you to reflect:

Quote of The Week:

“The important thing is this: to be ready at any moment to sacrifice what we are for what we could become.” — Charles Du Bos

That is the Tiger that I refer to and the idea of creating the metaphor for the Tiger came from Jim Lawlles in his book, Taming Tigers.   

It’s fear and self-doubt dressed up as protection, convincing us to stay safe instead of stepping forward and growing. The Tiger is loud, convincing and relentless, but here’s the truth: it only has the power we give it.  Every time you step forward in spite of that roar, you weaken its grip and strengthen your own.

That is what Tiger Letters are all about, sharing knowledge, experience, fears and inner strength to make your dreams a reality. So, the next time your Tiger ROARS, smile at it, step forward reclaiming your power and break through the fear barrier into your growth zone.

Before you go, here is ONE way you can work with me.

Book your FREE Kickstart Call with me - 1:1 performance coaching to help you break through fear, self-doubt, and procrastination—so you can finally move forward with clarity, confidence, and courage.

Until next time!
The Tiger Is Inside You.