| Traditionally "Reading the Coals" is something the | | | | the essence of fire and the spirits that come to it. |
| elder men do. But in these times when everyone is | | | | It's also fine to go inside and not sit by the fire. |
| scattered and life seems so chaotic and unsure, I | | | | There really are no rules. Our experience should flow |
| believe it's wise to do this whenever we can and not | | | | with the energies surrounding it. |
| wait for the tradition. | | | | Also, before the coals are ready, you can put |
| In general, reading coals can be done in a fireplace, | | | | prayers into the fire with objects such as tobacco |
| charcoal barbeque, hibachi, or anywhere you can | | | | ties, a pinch or handful of tobacco, written petitions, |
| make fire. My family typically reads the coals once a | | | | prayer flags, and offerings of any sort. I think in |
| year after "First Thunder", which is early spring. | | | | Judaism they offer bread to the fire. Whatever |
| Reading the Coals is a ceremony anyone can do. It | | | | comes to you is fine. You cannot hinder or weaken |
| does not require special abilities, knowledge or | | | | the power that belongs to Fire. |
| complex environments. This is what I call a "lesser | | | | So, the fire has died down and the coals are glowing. |
| ceremony". Although, lesser doesn't mean less | | | | We start with a formal invocation, such as a song or |
| powerful. The major ceremonies are ones I classify | | | | prayer or statement of intent. Then everyone |
| as taking a day or more to conduct, a complex | | | | becomes quiet, so as not to interrupt anyone who is |
| environment such as a special structure like a sweat | | | | getting a message or viewing images in the coals. We |
| lodge and involve many people, such as ceremony | | | | say out loud what we see, even if we don't |
| leaders, singers, fire keepers, door keepers and | | | | understand the image. The image will be significant |
| others to perform the necessary tasks. The lesser | | | | for someone in the ceremony, even if the reader |
| ceremonies involve very few people and take a few | | | | doesn't understand it. We keep in mind that reading |
| hours to conduct in a common environment. | | | | the coals is a tribal family ceremony. The images are |
| Since I left the Reservation, it has been interesting to | | | | meant for us and are generally not about the outside |
| involve people who have no background in Native | | | | world as a whole. This is a very intimate ceremony |
| American culture or traditions. I still forget that not | | | | and was used originally for the survival of the family. |
| everyone grew up with American Indian concepts. | | | | What will the weather be, where will the buffalo be, |
| Often I have left things out, because I assumed | | | | what obstacles can we avoid. Today, we are an |
| others had knowledge of something that they did | | | | extended family with few of us genetically related, |
| not. So, today I try to write about the ceremony | | | | but we still need to know what's coming, how we |
| beforehand, which leaves me free during ceremony | | | | can make our lives better and avoid any obstacles |
| to do what is common for me and still allows | | | | that are not conducive to our life experience. |
| everyone to be involved in something new. | | | | Although, messages from the fire are not always |
| First laughter and being relaxed are always good | | | | about future events, they can be about what is |
| things. I used to get very intense and stressed | | | | necessary now. |
| before ceremony and my teachers would tell me, | | | | It's really important everyone understand that we |
| "Don't start the ceremony before the ceremony". In | | | | can all do this. Reading the coals isn't for just for |
| other words there's a time for intensity and | | | | seers or specially gifted people. This is a family |
| pre-ceremony isn't it. Those that choose to sit by | | | | ceremony and the key is not to censor anything you |
| the fire or tend the fire, stay in a casual state of | | | | see. Trust it and say it, even if it seems crazy or silly. |
| prayer. Talking and laughing are perfectly fine, as long | | | | It will be significant for someone. |
| as the main focus is the sacred fire. What it's | | | | We are all related, |
| showing us, what's changing, such as the direction of | | | | Paula Bidwell |
| the flames, or any oddities that might occur with the | | | | Read more articles and stories by Paula on her |
| fire. As we do this, our hearts and minds open up to | | | | website NativeTalismanArt. |