Fire Ember Breathing Technique

Deep breathing exercises are widely recognized for their benefits in managing strong emotions like anxiety and depression. Here is a powerful exercise that combines deep breathing with visualization to help calm the mind. Begin by visualizing a small ember ignited by a match. It glows a dim yellow and appears ready to burn out. Inhale deeply, and as you exhale, picture yourself gently blowing on the small ember. As you blow, it begins to glow brighter. Continue this process two more times, exhaling slowly each time. Now, take another deep breath and blow gently onto your ever-brightening ember. This time, as you blow, the ember bursts into a bright flame—a flash of heat and light that lasts for a moment. Then, the flame goes out, leaving only blackish-gray ash. Draw one last deep breath. As you blow strongly, imagine the ash being carried away into a gentle breeze. If you wish, envision that your worries are consumed along with the ember and carried away with the ash. Feel free to repeat this exercise as often as you like. Written by David F. Garner, inspired by an illustration by Rev. Mandy Goheen.