top of page
Search

It is the Fire That Purifies

Updated: Jan 24

Ram Dass, the Harvard psychologist and spiritual Master, said that "It is the fire that purifies." Nostradamus, the French physician and prophet predicted that "The inflated imitations of gold and silver, which after the rapture are thrown into the fire, all is exhausted and dissipated by the debt. All scrips and bonds are wiped out. At the fourth pillar dedicated to Saturn, split by earthquake and flood: Vexing everyone, an urn of gold is found and then restored."


The tragic and terrible events in Los Angeles right now are inflicting existential crises fo so many. As well as raging outside, these fires rage within, with internal conflict, an impression that life lacks any meaning or hope, and this is accompanied by despair, stress, anxiety, and depression.


Yet there is hope. How do you find the gold after the fire?...


Ram Dass, the Harvard psychologist and spiritual Master, said that "It is the fire that purifies"


What do you save in a fire? George Bernard Shaw wrote "Which painting in the National Gallery would I save if there was a fire? The one nearest the door of course."


The quote by Rumi, “Set your life on fire; seek those who fan your flames,” is a metaphorical way of encouraging passionate living and the pursuit of unconditionally loving relationships that nurture and support your abundance and your soul. They are all that truly matters: They are the real gold.


John W. Foster wrote that "One of the strongest characteristics of genius is the power of lighting its own fire." Similarly Henry Van Dyke wrote that "Genius is talent set on fire by courage."


Herman Hesse, the author and spiritual Master, wrote that "The bourgeois prefers comfort to pleasure, convenience to liberty, and a pleasant temperature to the deathly inner consuming fire." How do we survive such great tragedies as are occurring in Los Angeles? Through psychological rebirth.


Thomas Merton wrote that "By reading the scriptures I am so renewed that all Nature seems renewed around me and with me. The sky seems to be a pure, a cooler blue, the trees a deeper green. The whole world is charged with the glory of God and I feel fire and music under my feet."


P. T. Barnum wrote "Money is in some respects life's fire: It is a very excellent servant, but a terrible master." Money is tied to ego - the sense of lack that drives us all to seek external validation, riches, and fame. Jim Carrey said that “I think everybody should get rich and famous and have everything they ever dreamed of so they can see that that's not the answer.” Jesus said in Matthew 1:26 "For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?"


George Sand wrote that "We cannot tear out a single page of our life, but we can throw the whole book in the fire."


Hard times are where you grow the most. William Shakespeare, the greatest author of all time, who was also a spiritual Master, wrote "O! for a muse of fire, that would ascend the brightest Heaven of invention." The real question is not how will we survive this, but rather "What would love do now?" Pierre Teilhard de Chardin, the French poet, scientist, and spiritual Master, wrote "Someday, after mastering the winds, the waves, the tides and gravity, we shall harness for God the energies of love, and then, for a second time in the history of the world, man will have discovered fire."


Benjamin Franklin wrote that "A house is not a home unless it contains food and fire for the mind as well as the body." What is happeneing in LA is infinitely tragic. But it brings deep philosophcial questions. Who are you when your lose all your material possessions? Who are you when you can no longer define your Self by what you own or the address where you live? Who are you when you lose everything? This is when you find your soul. Through trauma there is transformation as it says in 'Extraordinary Awakenings: When Trauma Leads to Transformation' by psychologist Steve Taylor. Storms come to clear your path. It is a 'Hero's Journey', from victim to victor.


Ferdinand Foch wrote "The most powerful weapon on Earth is the human soul on fire." The Buddha said that "Just as a candle cannot burn without fire, men cannot live without a spiritual life." Arnold H. Glasgow wrote that "Success isn't a result of spontaneous combustion. You must set yourself on fire." Frederick Douglass wrote "It is not light that we need, but fire; it is not the gentle shower, but thunder. We need the storm, the whirlwind, and the earthquake." Jeremy Taylor wrote that "Love is friendship set on fire."


If you become purified of all desire and all attachments you become a BEing of pure consciousness and pure love. Why did God let this tragedy happen? Religionists would argue that it is the consequence of free will and collective consciousness. Life's disasters are part of a gradual evolution and process of waking up to who you truly are. I realise that these statements may be controversial. The problem is that we have been conditioned by society to believe that we are what we have, not who we are BEing. I do have so much compassion for those who are affected. I think we will find that some people will fall apart whilst others go through a process of rebirth and realise what is truly important to them such as deeply unconditionally loving relationships. All our problems relate to who we are not BEing. The truth is that some of the people who had multimillion dollar mansions were not happy with their lives anyway and this is a 'metaphorical punch in the face from God' to wake them up consciously. It is a dropping of the veil of illusion. It is the beginning of healing. It will be the first time that many people will be asking "Who am I?"


There are many things that you can do in a crisis. The past is the past. You can never have your old life back. The key is to 'fall upwards' as described by Father Richard Rohr in 'Falling Upward: A Spirituality for the Two Halves of Life.'


Opening reimagined by Ram Dass


We activate Grace though our divinely inspired intuitive actions and our gratitude. Pope Francis said that “Grace is not knowledge or reason. It is the amount of light in our souls.” We find the courage to create ourselves anew. One way to encourage our creativity is to find an outlet for it. The other solace will be unconditional love. This is what makes or breaks you in your rebirth. Remember that it is well with your soul: To read my article on this click here:



What if it all works out? Make your peace with the past. Be the Phoenix that rises from the ashes. Take the leap into the abyss of fear and you will grow the wings and the bridge to the New You. Dylan Thomas wrote that "When one burns one's bridges, what a very nice fire it makes."


I am sending love to all my friends in LA: To all my creative industry friends, and to everyone else. Roy L. Smith wrote that "Discipline is the refining fire by which talent becomes ability." This is not the end for you. J. R. R. Tolkien wrote "So comes snow after fire, and even dragons have their ending!"


Suffering equals pain times resistance. Pain is inevitable: Suffering is optional. There is a solution.


Robert Greene wrote that "Always remember that your calmness under fire is your best defence in any argument or discussion." Pauline Phillips wrote "People who fight fire with fire usually end up with ashes."


Auguste Rodin wrote that "The artist must create a spark before he can make a fire and before art is born, the artist must be ready to be by the fire of his own creation."


Terry Pratchett wrote that "Build a man a fire, and he'll be warm for a day. Set a man on fire, and he'll be warm for the rest of his life."


Lord Byron wrote that "Yes, love indeed is light from Heaven; A spark of that immortal fire with angels shared, by Allah given to lift from Earth our low desire."


Mr T. said that "When I'm ready to fight, my opponent has a better chance of surviving a forest fire wearing gasoline drawers."


Bernard williams wrote that "Talent is a flame. Genius is a fire."

Being on fire is the human condition. As Tennessee Williams wrote "We all live in a house on fire, no fire department to call; no way out, just the upstairs window to look out of while the fire burns the house down with us trapped, locked in it." But it needn't be this way.


Martha Graham wrote "Fire is the test of gold; adversity, of strong men."


Victor Hugo, the French writer wrote that "To learn to read is to light a fire; every syllable that is spelled out is a spark."


Being on a spiritual path does not prevent you from facing times of darkness. But it teaches you how to use the darkness as a tool to grow. You have to grow from the inside out. None can teach you, none can make you spiritual. There is no other teacher but your own soul. Within you is the power to rise above any situation or struggle, and transform into the brightest, strongest version of you ever.


Ralph Waldo Emerson said that “A nation of men will for the first time exist, because each believes himself inspired by the Divine Soul which also inspires all men. Great men are they who see that spiritual (power) is stronger than any material force.”


There is a fire inside of you. One that no fire outside of you can even begin compare with. As Albert Camus, the French Existential philosopher and author, wrote "In the midst of winter, I found there was, within me, an invincible summer. And that makes me happy. For it says that no matter how hard the world pushes against me, within me, there's something stronger – something better, pushing right back." Sending love to all those who are suffering right now. There is hope. You will find it inside of you. Here are your first steps. Remember your light. Remember who you are. There are miracles in letting go. Get back up again. Remember what truly matters in life.


Namaste.


Sending you love, light, and blessings brothers.


Olly

Dr Olly Alexander Branford MBBS, MA(Cantab), PhD.

Fully qualified and certified coach


Let me know if you would like to continue this conversation...


Email me: 



Click me to contact me:



Hello,

I am very pleased to meet you. Thank you for reading this far. I very much look forward to connecting with the highest version of you, to seeing your highest possibility, and to our conversations. Please do contact me via my email for a free connection call and a free experience of coaching.

See you soon,

Dr Olly Alexander Branford MBBS, MA(Cantab), PhD

Fully qualified and certified coach


“Transformative life coaching uniquely creates and holds the space for you to see your self afresh, with clarity, and step into new ways of BEing, which will transform how you perceive and intuitively create your world. My work is to guide you to raise your own conscious awareness to the level that you want to achieve.”

Dr Olly Alexander Branford


My coaching themes and services for men: Transformative Life Coaching, Transformational Coaching, Life Coaching, Personal Coaching, Positive Psychology Coaching, Recovery Coaching, Trauma Informed Coaching, Work Addiction Coaching, Workaholism Coaching, Addiction Coaching, Mindfulness Coaching.


Click here to read all my articles:



Suggested Reading

Click here for the books that I know will help you along your journey of recovering your Self:



Click here for my glossary:


Click here for my website:



Click here for my free eBook all about Enlightenment:


Click here for my Medium articles:


Click here for my LinkedIn profile:


I have a Bachelor's degree in Natural Sciences from Trinity College, Cambridge; a Master's Degree in Philosophy from Trinity College, Cambridge; a PhD Doctorate in Scientific Research from University College London (UCL); a Medical Degree (MD/MBBS) from The Royal Free Hospital School of Medicine, London and have been a doctor and reconstructive trauma and cancer surgeon in London for 20 years. I have published over 50 peer reviewed scientific journal articles, have been an associate editor and frequent scientific faculty member, and am the author of several scientific books. I have been awarded my Diploma in Transformative Life Coaching in London, which has International Coaching Federation (ICF) Accreditation, as well as the UK Association for Coaching (AC), and the European Mentoring and Coaching Council (EMCC). I have been on my own transformative journey full time for over five years and I am ready to be your guide to you finding out who you really are and how the world works. I have written 400 articles for you and an eBook to guide you on your transformative journey, which are all available for free on my website - click on the link below:


Click here for my website:


Please let me know if you would like to join our 'VOICE for men' VIP community: 'Vulnerability & Openness Is a Choice Ensemble', 'Visibility Is Power', where men can find their strength, courage, and authenticity, by dropping their egocentric fears and instead communicate openly with vulnerability. We are co-creating this space. It will change your life. It will empower you. This community is a safe space for men to connect and discuss philosophy, spirituality, positive psychology, awakening to Self-realisation, wisdom and timeless Truths, to share our experience, strength and hope, and to find solutions to our pain and fears. Our meeting is free to join. There is no script, just sharing.


 
 
 

Comentarios

bottom of page