Firewalking Ceremony

Coiseachd Teine – Walk the Fire

Join us for an unforgettable evening of courage, celebration, and connection at L.O.V.E. Woodland in the heart of the west of Scotland - Lochwinnoch.

Together, we gather around the fire in ceremony—with drumming, song, and shared intention—to walk barefoot across glowing embers. This ancient practice, found across cultures and honoured here in our own Celtic landscape, invites us to step fully into our strength, our clarity, and our joy.

Celebrate change

Ignite your inner fire

Mark life’s milestones—coming of age, love, vision, renewal

Walk hand in hand, as a community

Whether you're seeking empowerment, adventure, or a deeper connection to yourself and others, the fire welcomes you.

All ages, all stories, all hearts—welcome.

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For more information about LOVE Woodland: 

www.lovewoodland.org (site under construction)

Events calendar: https://events.humanitix.com/host/l-o-v-e-woodland

Instagram: instagram.com/l.o.v.ewoodland

Email: lovewoodlandevents@gmail.com

Following booking, you will be required to complete a short declaration that you understand the risks of the activity and are in good health.

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Firewalking in more detail:

Across the old Celtic lands of Ireland, Scotland, and Wales, fire was more than warmth or light — it was sacred, a living spirit that connected the worlds of earth, sky, and the unseen. Among these traditions, fire-walking ceremonies held a special place: as a rite of passage, a test of courage, and a profound communal act of renewal.

Ancient Roots: Fire and the Sacred Year

The Celtic calendar was woven around the great fire festivals:

• Samhain (the beginning of winter and the Celtic New Year)
• Imbolc (the first stirrings of spring)
• Beltane (the vibrant gateway into summer)
• Lughnasadh (the harvest festival of high summer)

At these thresholds of the year, times when the veil between worlds was thin, great communal fires were kindled atop hills. These fires were not mere bonfires, but ceremonial flames tended with ritual care.

In places like Uisneach in Ireland, or the Beltane hilltops of Scotland, communities gathered to leap fires, drive cattle between flames for blessing, and sometimes, to walk across embers, ashes, or heated stones as a ritual of purification and rebirth.

The act of fire-walking was a humble offering, a dance of trust and surrender. Participants prepared through prayer, fasting, and blessings from the druids or wise folk. The walk marked a crossing:

• From youth into adulthood
• From sickness into health
• From sorrow into joy
• From fear into strength

Each step across the glowing earth whispered: I am willing to be transformed.

The Ceremony: A Communal Rite

A fire-walk in the old Celtic sense was never a solitary trial — it was a shared, communal act.

Before the walk, participants and witnesses would gather around the sacred fire. Storytellers recited tales of heroes like Fionn mac Cumhaill, who gained wisdom by burning his thumb on the Salmon of Knowledge, or the warriors of the Fianna, who trained in endurance and bravery.

Blessings were invoked, often calling on Brigid, goddess of fire, healing, and poetry, or Lugh, the bright warrior of summer. Water from holy wells might be sprinkled to anoint the feet. Drums would sound, and chants rise, weaving a cocoon of focus and courage.

When the embers settled into a deep, living glow, the path was prepared. Each walker, when ready, stepped forward barefoot — not running, but walking mindfully, heart open, spirit steady.

It was not about conquering the fire. It was about joining it, with reverence — feeling one's own inner flame rise to meet the flame of the world.

Themes of Celtic Firewalking

The deeper meaning behind fire-walking in Celtic tradition wove together many strands:

• Transformation: burning away old fears, habits, and sorrows.
• Purification: stepping clean and renewed into a new phase of life.
• Community Bond: shared courage strengthens the bonds between all participants.
• Trust in the unseen: the fire reminds us that not all things are controlled by the mind; the spirit leads.
• Connection to the ancestors: who walked their own fires, faced their own trials, and survived to give us life.

Thus, the fire was both mirror and teacher. It asked each soul: What are you willing to release? What are you ready to become?

Revival in Modern Times

Today, Celtic-inspired firewalking ceremonies are finding a heartfelt revival. Across Ireland, Scotland, Wales, and beyond, people gather again at seasonal festivals to walk the fire in remembrance and renewal.

Modern ceremonies blend ancient reverence with contemporary mindfulness. Many facilitators respectfully weave old prayers, songs, and symbols into the ritual, offering a welcoming, inclusive space where all can participate, regardless of background.

Just as it was in the days of the druids and clan gatherings, walking the fire today is a homecoming:

• A return to the sacredness of nature
• A celebration of the community's spirit
• A rekindling of personal strength and purpose

Every step is a prayer, every ember a heartbeat of the earth.

Our Offering at L.O.V.E Woodland

At L.O.V.E Woodland in the heart of Scotland, we are honoured to carry forward these ancient traditions in a way that honours their spirit and brings them alive in today's world. Nestled among Calder Glen's ancient trees, our site is a place of healing, learning, and connection — dedicated to fostering a culturally rich and inclusive community.

Our workshops and ceremonies are guided by the intention to create a safe and nurturing space where all individuals feel welcomed and valued. Whether reconnecting with ancestral roots, seeking personal healing, or simply embracing the beauty of nature and community, every soul is invited.

Through sacred fire, sweat lodges, storytelling, and nature-based practices, we remember that we are all part of the great living web — connected to the earth, to each other, and to the long line of ancestors who kept these flames alive.

We walk the fire not to conquer it, but to become it — vibrant, wise, and free.

You are warmly invited to join us.