Fire in the Belly: One Story - One Practice

Dec 9

Introduction: Awakening the Inner Flame

“Do not be afraid of your fire; it is your life force speaking.” – Clarissa Pinkola Estés

There is a moment in every life when the ordinary walls we build around ourselves begin to tremble, and a fire rises quietly, insistently, in the belly. It is not born of anger or ambition. It is a subtle, living flame that calls us to presence, courage, and vitality. It whispers with gentle insistence that life is meant to be lived fully, with all of our aliveness, our curiosity, and our heart.

For me, the fire became unmistakable in the mornings at sunrise next to these ancient trees in Costa Rica. The jungle is alive with the pulse of the rainforest, the smell of wet earth and tropical flowers, the song of birds and insects, and the soft rush of the river next to our casa. Here, the mornings stretch long and humid, and the sun rises slowly over the mountains, spilling gold across the gardens and paths where I walk barefoot. It is here that I notice the warmth in my belly that demands attention.

The Fire in the Belly is not motivation or ambition. It is an embodied knowing, a resonance between body, mind, and spirit that insists on presence, authenticity, and courage. It is a call to live aligned with the deepest truths of who we are. In this essay I will share one story of when my fire rose fully and a practice I developed to keep it alive and vibrant.

One Story: The Fire Awakens in the Jungle

I was walking the narrow, winding paths of the ecovilla early one morning, the earth soft beneath my feet, the air humid and fragrant. Months of uncertainty and heaviness pressed in my chest. I had been questioning whether I was living fully, whether I was enough. Some mornings I woke feeling invisible, unsure if I was living my own life or merely following the motions of others.

That morning I paused in a clearing beside a tall guayacán tree. Its golden blossoms had fallen overnight, carpeting the earth like sunlight spilled across the forest floor. I sank to the earth and leaned against the rough bark, letting my body sink into the weight and warmth of the tree. Closing my eyes, I listened. Birds called to each other in the canopy above. Leaves shivered in a soft breeze. A small stream trickled nearby, playing a melody both ancient and intimate.

I drew a deep, conscious breath, imagining it traveling down into my belly. The warmth began as a tiny ember, almost imperceptible, in the hollow of my abdomen. With each inhale, it pulsed. With each exhale, it expanded. Soon it spread through my chest, arms, and legs until every fiber of my body hummed with life. The ember was alive. It was demanding attention, insisting on being seen, felt, and honored.

Tears came unbidden, warm and liberating. Laughter bubbled quietly from my lips. The hesitation, fear, and self-doubt I had carried for months dissolved. The fire reminded me that I was alive, capable, and fully present in the world. That morning, in the heart of San Mateo, I understood that life is always calling us to awaken to our inner fire.

Understanding the Fire

The Fire in the Belly is often misunderstood. It is not ambition, restlessness, or anger. It is the living pulse of courage, vitality, and alignment with one’s truth. It is rooted in the lower abdomen, the seat of power, creativity, and intuition, and it spreads upward, influencing the chest, mind, and spirit.

Emotionally, the fire calls us to honesty, to act in alignment with our deepest values. Spiritually, it is the pulse of life itself, the whisper of essential aliveness that refuses to be ignored. In the forested hills and gardens of San Mateo, this energy resonates strongly. The rhythm of the rainforest, the flow of streams, and the presence of living beings mirror the pulse of the fire within. We are reminded that courage, vitality, and presence are inseparable from the world around us.

The fire is not about forcing action. It is about awareness, listening, and responding with intention. It is the energy that moves us into life fully, not in reaction but in alignment. It is a teacher, a companion, and a guide.

The Ember Pulse Practice: One Practice for Life

From that morning in San Mateo, I created a practice to awaken and sustain the Fire in the Belly. I call it the Ember Pulse Practice. It integrates breath, movement, visualization, and affirmation, allowing the fire to arise naturally and safely.

Step One: Grounding

Find a comfortable position on the floor, a cushion, or a chair. If possible, be barefoot. Close your eyes and feel the earth beneath you. Imagine roots extending from the soles of your feet deep into the soil of San Mateo. Breathe slowly and deeply, drawing energy up through the roots. With each exhale, release tension, fear, or doubt. Feel your body fully supported, alive, and anchored in the present moment.

Step Two: Belly Awareness

Place your hands gently over your lower abdomen. Feel the rise and fall of your belly with each breath. Visualize a tiny ember glowing at your navel. With every inhale, the ember grows warmer and brighter. With every exhale, it pulses through your body, radiating warmth through your chest, arms, and legs. Notice the subtle vibration, the tingling energy, the sense of life expanding from your center.

Step Three: Pulse Activation

Begin gentle, rhythmic movements with your torso. This can be a soft sway, a small rotation, or lifting and lowering the pelvis. Imagine your ember pulsing in sync with your movement, sending waves of vitality throughout your body. Allow the motion to feel natural. The goal is to awaken sensation, not strain the body.

Step Four: Affirmation and Voice

As the ember pulses, breathe with intention. Repeat silently or aloud a phrase that resonates. I often say, “I am alive. I am courageous. I am fire.” Let each word move from your mind into your body, carrying your attention fully into your belly. Feel the fire respond to your voice, your intention, and your presence.

Step Five: Expansion

When the ember feels fully alive, imagine it expanding outward beyond your body, connecting with the earth, the forest, and the sky. Picture it flowing into the gardens, streams, and trees of the jungle. Feel your fire as both internal and connected to the pulse of life around you. Sit with this expanded sensation for as long as it feels natural.

Step Six: Integration

Slowly bring awareness back to your breath and surroundings. Feel the fire settle in your belly like a steady flame. Open your eyes. Notice how your posture, presence, and sense of aliveness have shifted. Carry this energy with you as you move through your day. Return to it whenever life feels heavy or unclear.

Step Seven: Movement Flow

For those wishing to deepen the practice, integrate small movements of the arms and legs, like gentle stretching or walking meditation, while maintaining awareness of the ember. Imagine each movement fanning the inner flame, strengthening both vitality and courage. This step can be especially grounding when practicing outdoors, feeling the earth beneath your feet and the air around you.

Living the Fire in Daily Life

The Ember Pulse Practice is not limited to quiet mornings in the forest. It can be done anywhere, anytime, whenever life feels heavy or stagnant. The fire you awaken can guide decisions, embolden actions, and fuel creativity.

Living with the Fire in the Belly does not mean living without fear. It means choosing authenticity over comfort, courage over inertia, vitality over numbness. Over time, the practice reshapes body, mind, and spirit. Ordinary moments become extraordinary. Challenges transform into opportunities to act with clarity and presence.

In the jungle, I see the fire mirrored everywhere. Trees grow boldly, streams carve their paths, and birds and the whiteface monkeys move with fearless presence. By tending our inner fire, we mirror this natural vitality and courage.

The Fire as Teacher

The Fire in the Belly is both an energy and a guide. It asks questions: Are you living your truth? Are you honouring your body, mind, and heart? Are you responding to the call of life with courage?

By practicing the Ember Pulse, we develop a relationship with the fire. We notice subtle messages from our body, whispers of the heart, and rhythms of life around us. The forest, gardens, and skies of the ecovillage reflect the fire within us, teaching us to act with awareness and courage.

The fire also teaches patience. It shows us that it cannot be forced or rushed. Like the rainforest, it unfolds naturally, expanding and deepening in rhythm with life itself.

Carrying the Flame

The Fire in the Belly is always present. My story in San Mateo is not unique. The ember exists within all of us. The practice I share is a way to awaken that ember, honour it, and allow it to guide us through life with clarity, courage, and joy.

When we live from the fire, life becomes our teacher. Every breath, movement, and choice carries the possibility of presence, passion, and power. We do not simply survive. We thrive. Fully, boldly, vibrantly. The ember is within you. Let it rise.

Lorenna Kacera