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from its eye will also kill, first penetrating the brain and then the heart. The easiest way to destroy it is to hold up a mirror so that it will see the reflection of its own eye, which will cause it to burst asunder.
Fire Walking The oldest surviving descriptions of fire walking were written about 3000 years ago, but the practice probably originated in prehistoric times. The activity can serve several purposes, including initiations, proofs of faith, trials to determine guilt or innocence, and demonstrations of holiness. In some cultures there is a belief that fire can't harm anyone who is holy and pure. Another common belief is that God or some supernatural force will protect anyone who has true faith.
Places where fire walking is still commonly practiced include India, Pakistan, Malaysia, Japan, Greece, Bulgaria, and some parts of Africa. In its most common form, a person walks barefoot over a layer of red-hot embers spread on the ground, usually in a pit or trench. The activity is often part of a religious festival. At one festival, which takes place annually in certain areas of northern Greece, the local Christians carry icons of Saint Constantine and Saint Helena to a large fire. After they arrive, they dance around the fire in a circle, and then various individuals walk across the hot coals under the protection of the saints.
Most experienced fire walkers can traverse the embers without being burned. But sometimes people do get burned, often seriously. There have been several scientific studies of why some people get burned and others don't. One explanation is that glowing embers aren't as hot as flames, and people who move their feet quickly don't stay in contact with the embers long enough to get burned. This suggests that successful fire-walking requires skill and experience, both in preparing the embers and in learning how to walk across them. Other possible factors include the use of narcotics, applications of chemicals or lotions to the bottoms of the feet, and inducement of trances.
