Forums > Social Discussion > Fire Fear

I think it's good to be wary of fire... it's important to respect it in order to be safe around it.

A bad burn, well I can get over that, to be honest I think it just comes witht ime that one bad burn amidst 1500 good burns (alright, 2 bad burns ) isn't a big deal..

People lighting fuel on the ground? That's showvboating. They should just dip for longer and do a bigger burnoff with that excess fuel... or save it up and get an extra burn for their money! It does strike me as a little pointles when people go for theatrics like the circle of fire, because it lasts 3 seconds, looks a bit piddly and wastes fuel. Plus it's really pretentious.

So I think a fear of fire is only natural, it shows good survival instincts, but part of the art of fire performing is to learn to work with that fear and help it give you a bit more edge in your spinning

What a wonderful miracle if only we could look through each other's eyes for an instant.
Thoreau

Burner of Toast
Spinner of poi
Slacker of enormous magnitude

What a wonderful miracle if only we could look through each other's eyes for an instant.
Thoreau

I'm not afraid of fire in the slightest. I've been lighting fires, playing with candles, setting off fireworks and organising bonfires since I was about 8... I know how fire reacts with most things, so I don't do anything stupid with it (apart from breathe it, but y'know... ).

I'd say it's just a matter of being around it long enough to get used to it.

And if you're still a bit nervous, spin some fire staff first, before poi, because that is less likely to give you really nasty burns/set your clothing on fire. It'll let you get used to fire when it's a good distance away from you and will just bounce off if you mess up, unless of course you mess up the matrix

After much consideration, I find that the view is worth the asphyxiation.
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I may disagree with what you have to say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it.

*agrees with durbs*

you should feel confident with fire before you play with it. I've been spinning since july 05, and using fire since sept, and I've never burnt myself while spinning. (only when trying to light the poi in the brisk highland wind- set my glove alight for a few seconds lol) Fire wont burn you if you pass your hands quickly through it but give it a second or two and it will.

I went three months without a fire spin and I got a little scared of it when i started up again. Its worse at night time, so when you do spin, try doing it at dusk or twilight when the sky isnt so dark and the flames seem smaller. It helps

keep skin covered to avoid getting burnt and wear long sleeves, natural fibres, and jeans. oh and leather gloves too if possible.

Always use "so's your face" and "only on Tuesdays" in as many conversations possible

 Written by: SickWithWonder



the circle of fire is neither showboating nor pretntious...its a neat and beautiful way to spin off...





Hmm, I take it you do it then?



Well, everyone seems to disagree with me, ho hum. I feel totally confident around fire, I don't feel like I'm in danger, and yet I respect the fact that I'm close to danger if I let my concentration drop. That, to me, is a type of fear. A perfectly natural type of fear. I've been spinning fire in some form or another for about 2 and a half years, not ages but long enough to be totally desensitised I guess.. part of the pleasure for me is the thrill I still get lighting up. I feel sad that others seem to not have this thrill.. makes me wonder why people spin fire and not glo/practise.. you'd save some cash on fuel!!



But of course each to their own.



I don't spin off, btw, I burn off. That, to me, is the best use of that excess fuel, not some piddly litte trickle of flames. 5-second half-foot flames at various points of a round-about circle, or 10ft walls of flame? Again, each to their own.

What a wonderful miracle if only we could look through each other's eyes for an instant.
Thoreau

Damn my telepathy. Damn it to hell.

Wait, pretend I didn't say that...

After much consideration, I find that the view is worth the asphyxiation.
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I may disagree with what you have to say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it.

 Written by: _kevlarsoul_


I don't spin off, btw, I burn off. That, to me, is the best use of that excess fuel, not some piddly litte trickle of flames. 5-second half-foot flames at various points of a round-about circle, or 10ft walls of flame? Again, each to their own.



you mean like highways? or a butterfly burnoff?

besides, the circle depends on the poi just as much...I use big caths that give off probably more thana foot of flames, and last ~7 seconds

besides, spinning off is just so much safer then just burning, ie, you start spinning, and showering little bits of fuel everywhere, and one lands in the fuel bucket (true story)

kyrian: I've felt your finger connect with me many times
lou kitten: sneaky little meatball..
ezz: please corrupt me more

XLenX

Devoted although mostly absent owner of the 1, the original... Asena

Fire Staff �27, Paraffin �10... setting yourself alight, Priceless!

I, and most the spinners I know have never burnt themselves when spinning fire, although there has been the occasional singe or near miss. In fact, your far more likley to burn yourself when trying to light them in the first place, or after they've been burnt and the metal is still hot, this always seems to be the way it happens because you let your guard down.

I was scared of fire when I first started. I would light them and end up just letting them burn off on the ground some of the time. This happened for nearly a year. Then I didn't spin fire for at least 6 months, mainly due to living in the middle of the city and not having anywhere to do it, partly due to not being bothered with the hassle, for little gain.

After this break, a few months ago I started again, and suddenly I wasn't scared of it anymore. I'd used the break to get a lot of my moves really solid, and to practice more plane control and I think because I had gained so much confidence from that, I didn't need to be scared anymore.

I do however still respect the fire, and always take saftey precautions, such as covering my hair, wearing apropriate clothing etc.

I think the moral is that you will gradually and naturally gain confidence with fire as your spinning progresses. It can take a while, if like me, you are scared of most things! But it will happen. Just don't force yourself to spin fire because you think you should.

Invest in some good glow equiptment, which can look just as good, and use that whilst the others are lighting up, until you feel you really want to spin some fire. (If you can spin some of Malcolm's beaming balls and not be scared, you can spin anything! )

Be patient, it may take a while, but it'll be worth it in the end.

Live like there is no tomorrow,
dance like nobody is watching
and hula hoop like wiggling will save the world.

�What lies behind us and what lies before us are tiny matters compared to what lies within us.�

Ralph Waldo Emerson

Dance like it hurts; Love like you need money; Work like someone is watching.

Never criticize someone until you've walked a mile in their shoes. That way, when you DO criticize them, you are a mile away, and you have their shoes.

I'll get there too late if I shorten my stride, I'll get there too soon if I find me a ride, I'll never move forward if I try to hide this path that I've troden one step at a time.

kyrian: I've felt your finger connect with me many times
lou kitten: sneaky little meatball..
ezz: please corrupt me more

I'll get there too late if I shorten my stride, I'll get there too soon if I find me a ride, I'll never move forward if I try to hide this path that I've troden one step at a time.

I dont know why but I didnt really care about getting burnt the one thing i find important when im either poing of staffing lies not only on rigorous practise or warm up sessions but "feeling" the movement of whatever your spinning as theres no point spinning staticly (physically or mentally).

My own practise is to practise normal poi or staff while blindfolded that way i can feel & visualise the movements.

I hope this helps

I give hope to others but I keep none for myself.

"God *was* my co-pilot, but then we crashed, and I had to eat him..."