BBC Southampton interview on the 9th of February 2004 by Simon Marks
Mu'izz Waldstadt was running his own Hampshire based business, building Shaker style furniture when, in 1997 a bladder tumour forced him to take time out. Mu'izz began to rethink his life. When he recovered from his illness he went to America to live, work and study Sufism at the Abode of the Message, a Sufi- Community in Massachusetts. On his journey in America he met Tolly Burkan - Father of the Global Firewalking Movement who trained Mu'izz to facilitate firewalks and is now a F.I.R.E.(Firewalking Institute of Research and Education) certified firewalking facilitator and seminar leader.
What is the "Firewalk" ?
In my seminars the firewalk is an optional barefoot walk across a bed of red-hot glowing embers approx 10'-12' in diameter. The coals are created from burning oak or birch wood until it forms hot coals which burn at 1200 - 1500 degrees Farenheit.
More than 2 million people have safely walked on fire worldwide.
Firewalking is about confronting your inner fears and learning to overcome them. For many it's a life - changing experience.
Mu'izz, the obvious question first - why don't you burn your feet?
There is no answer because there is always the possibility that you get burned.
The answer lies within, that is what makes firewalking so powerful. Take a clock as an example. You don't need to know every single part in order to tell the time. We receive answers when we are ready for it. If we had the right answer for everything we would live a life with no purpose. Intuition and Faith are great teachers and great teachers very often have the answer.
To participate in firewalking you don't have to believe in any religion neither do you have to be on a spiritual path. The fire energy (num) teaches us to trust and to believe in ourselves. The more we develop trust and self - belief, the more we free ourselves from fear. We learn to unlearn and by doing so we are going home, to our soul, the hidden treasure of all divine love, the place which holds every single answer.
Who comes to your firewalks and what do they get out of it?
I attract people from very different backgrounds: students, sales people, health professionals, lawyers, housewives, scientists, trades people, factory workers, people from all walks of life.
The firewalk differs from other extreme activities such as parachuting or bungee jumping because in those events one's trust is placed in technology. Participating in firewalking one has to trust entirely in oneself and it is that quality which makes the firewalk a truly transformational experience.
Almost every person is held back in life by F.E.A.R. (False Evidence Appearing Real).
Fear of failure, fear of success, fear of rejection, fear of acceptance, the list of fear is endless.
We study how our fears are formed and discover that fear is nothing more than a belief. By changing that belief we create a different reality. We learn to see fear as an energy. If we see our emotions as a form of energy we can use them to support us rather than hinder us on our path. If we can walk on fire, imagine what we can do to meet challenges and overcome obstacles that are before us all the time in our life. When you can walk on fire without experiencing pain and without burning yourself many other possibilities open up for you.
How do you prepare for a firewalk?
By allowing ourselves to get in touch with our fears on a very deep level. If we forget about our fears just for a moment we start realizing the incredible potential we have within ourselves. The theme of the firewalking seminar is transformation which is achieved by paying attention. It's about helping people tap into who they really are. The key is to be in the "moment". By being in the "moment" you can compress decades into days and achieve results that you thought were unattainable.
Is there a knack to it?
You can do it if you trust. If you pay attention to your inner voice you receive a message when to walk safely. Once you get the message no one can stop you from walking. You cross the coals and are left with an experience you will never forget. You go home with the ability to know with certainty that you can "feel the fear" and do it anyway. By understanding that you do not need to eliminate fear, but rather see fear as an energy, you open up a whole new world of possibilities.
Could firewalking change the world?
The world is changing all the time and I am not into this "change the world" thing. The firewalk experience might offer you a better place in this world because you have realized that you create your own reality, that you made something possible you thought was impossible. The world is fine to me as it is. I believe in small goals. If I want changes I change myself.