What are Ember Jars?
Why do we give out Ember Jars?
We finish every Corporate Firewalk and Charity Firewalk by giving out the Ember Jars. We give them to everyone and then fill them with the Embers from the Fire. What some people find interesting is that we give the Ember Jars to each person, regardless of whether they walked on those very same embers.
For the people that did the Firewalk, they now have a reminder of what they did. Not that they will forget. Everyone remembers their first Firewalk. But as well as the memory, they have something they can put on a shelf or mantlepiece in their house. A reminder that what can be perceived as impossible, is possible. A reminder that when they focus and pay attention, they can do anything.
We always say, that choosing not to walk (Firewalk) is as powerful as choosing to walk. This shows that the person can listen to their own intuition, accept their fears, and own their decision. Saying no to something, especially in front of your peers can be very challenging. At the same time, it can also be very liberating. For these reasons, we feel it is important that those who choose not to walk, also receive Ember Jars. They serve as a reminder that they can pay attention to their inner-self and make tough decisions.
“It is very important to know who you are. To make decisions. To show who you are.”
Malala Yousafzai
The Knock-on
The first time, and every time since, people are genuinely blown away by the idea of the Ember Jars. Occasionally the people who chose not to walk feel like they don’t deserve them. In our view, this is nonsense, and when we further explain the concept, they accept the jars.
Often, they will say that it will spur them on to do the Firewalk next time. That misses the point a little, but we know that is still the voice in their head saying they don’t deserve them. We like to think, and hope, that by keeping the Ember Jar they will one day realise the true reason they deserve it – they owned the decision.