Fire Reveals
photograph by Dale Bially
by Dale Bially
A few years back, my partner and I purchased a few boxes of odd candles at a closing-out sale. We were quite excited about the bargain. Sure, there were no complete sets of candles, but each one was interesting and nothing warms a dinner table like a few lovely candles.
A large pillar candle became a favourite and regular guest at our dinner parties. One night, as we were finishing the last bites of our lemon tart, we noticed two odd pieces of dark steel protruding from the soft wax of our familiar candle. It seemed to be some kind of figure trapped in the pillar of wax. As time went on, the candle continued to warm our gatherings, and we were slowly introduced to a black figure with its arms stretched upward. The figure was not elaborate; but a slim, humanlike silhouette made of tarnished steel.
After many evenings of fire, the figure was finally freed. The wax burned away and all that remained was the figure; beautiful in its simplicity and elegance. I could not help but think of this figure as our unadorned self. The one we have tucked away over the years — hidden under multiple layers of hurts, shames, and fears.
I reflected on how our inner work carves away what is not “us,” and yes, as we live, we get too close to the fire. But eventually we realize that the fire of our lives has a place. The bigger emotions and turmoil that we meet burns away many of the lies we tell ourselves. Slowly over time, we are able to see who we really are and what is truly important to us. We allow people to meet our simple and elegant True Selves.
It takes a full life to reveal it. Each joy and each sorrow along the way is not just important, they are necessary. As you live your life, are you allowing your True Self to be revealed? Or is the best of you still hiding out in a waxy pillar?
Dale Bially
has worked extensively with the enneagram in his professional and personal life since 1993. Using the wisdom of this ancient symbol, he meets with people one-on-one and leads workshops and retreats to help people start a journey to transform their relationships and lives.
Dale is part of the team at Inscapes Centre for Enneagram Studies and has also been an instructor with Prairie Jubilee since 2010. Here he works with a wonderful team of leaders supporting and training spiritual directors and other seekers. Read more about Dale here. Read more about his work with Inspired Enneagram here.
