I can't help it. I'm a moth to a flame. I am in love with the earth and it's
bare elements. I was going to write that Fire is my favorite, but it's not. I
love the ocean, the wind and getting the earth in every pore. However fire
brings out something wild in me. It is a drug and brings me - takes me - to
another place. A place where I feel the need to build up the fire and then
release it. Sometimes that comes by mere tending the fire, coaxing flames from
hot coals. Other times it's dumping pallet upon pallet into an already roasting
flame. More often than naught, it includes exploding certain flammables. If you
ever hear me yell, "Fire in the Hole" you will want to get away from the fire as
fast as possible. Recently I've been branching out to other metals that burn
bright. A friend recently presented me with at 2 ft brick of magnesium.
This past weekend, out in the desert with about 50 of my best friends, I put that brick into a hot fire. About 30 to 45 minutes later, we saw green pools of light (through the welding glasses). 15 minutes later, the fire was ablaze. The photographs that were subsequently taken did not need a flash.
Then someone had the great idea to pour water on the fire. So we started making water balloons. Someone handed me a water bottle and an idea flashed into my fire soaked brain. I remembered how fire spitters blow fuel out of their mouth to create flames. I have always wanted to do that, but have yet to learn. But here I was, water bottle in hand, with the primary objective of putting water on the magnesium! What better way to spray the fire?
Photo by
Ranger Rugburn. Note the people shielding their faces in the background. And
yes, I am wearing a white ball gown. And no, no flash was used to take this
photo. Thanks to Jetfuel for the, well, fuel.
ps. Mom, don't worry, I
didn't get burned. But I do kind of feel like G-d now. ;)
pps. ha ha Rob Brezsny!
AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): Lightning strikes somewhere on the earth
6,000 times every minute. A single bolt may carry a million volts and
reach a temperature of 50,000 degrees Fahrenheit. If this elemental force
could be tamed and utilized, it would provide enough energy to raise a
cruise ship six feet in the air. While you won't be able to literally harness a
lightning bolt in the coming week, Aquarius, you could accomplish the
metaphorical equivalent. At least temporarily, you have an uncanny talent
for mobilizing tremendous power that's normally too hot to handle.
Halloween costume suggestion: a relaxed, smiling lightning bolt.
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