The term "firewalking" means walking barefoot over a bed of red hot coals spread out over a walkway. It is usually preceded with ceremonial chanting and cheering. The firewalker, sometimes a religious person or personal leader, quickly and fearlessly walks the length of the walkway of red hot coals and emerges allegedly without a burn. Achieving this feat is sometimes attributed to a miracle or to mental power so strong it can overcome nature.
But miracles and mental power do not explain the success of firewalking -- ordinary physics and psychology do. The coals used come from a wood fire. Wood is a relatively poor conductor of heat and will not burn flesh in a split-second contact. The ceremony beforehand both distracts and calms the walker. The wood fire is allowed to burn down until all the coals are well covered with ashes, which insulate the walker's feet from the fire. Some of the heat of the coals is lost when they are spread out over the walkway. Typically the coals are spread at dusk, when their fiery glow can be seen and will impress onlookers. As long as the firewalker keeps moving, doesn't panic and doesn't fall or stand in one place he or she will not be burned. Firewalkers do not perform their trick unscathed, minor burns are common.
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