Discovering Fire: Spiritual Practices That Transform Lives

by Roger Wolsey, Roger Wolsey

Is it "Christianity meets Burning Man," "Richard Rohr meets Oprah Winfrey," or "Communion Wafers meet Psychedelic Spirituality"?

Yes! This and more — all coming together in Roger Wolsey’s Discovering Fire. Igniting a spiritual expansion that bridges religious and non-religious sensibilities, this is a deep and intimate dive into a profusion of spiritual practices. Promoting diversity, respect, and a deeper connection with the Divine, Roger explores the intersections of Christianity with shadow-work, dream work, the Enneagram, yoga, astrology, tarot cards, shamanism, ecstatic dance, psychedelic plants, and more. With passion, cultural sensitivity, grounding in tradition, and the heart of an explorer Roger offers a go-to guide for the 21st century seeker, be they religious, spiritual, or anywhere along the spectrum of that human experience of longing for healing encounters with the Mystery some call God.

In Discovering Fire, Roger Wolsey, author of Kissing christianity for people who don’t like christianity, reduces the mutual allergy and wariness that religious and non-religious people have about each other. He helps religious people realize that God is meaningfully at work through certain spiritual practices that many non-religious people are engaging in; and he also helps non-religious people acknowledge that certain Christian practices really can help those believers grow, transform, and evolve in ways that the world needs — and he helps people from both groups increase their appreciation and gratitude for the Great Spirit at work in it all.

Roger helps people within the Church to better understand how their family and friends who aren’t part of “the faith” are experiencing practices that connect them to the presence of Spirit in their lives — and are helping them to heal, grow, and thrive; and he helps the growing portion of society who have apprehension about Christianity appreciate how contemplative practices within it provide time-tested ways their Christian friends and family might employ to sense the vital presence of Spirit in their lives — and help them to heal, grow, and thrive.

Discovering Fire helps the different traditions, lineages, and generations respect, connect, and commune with each other and the Divine — and share the planet with greater ease.

Genres: Religion

467 pages, Kindle Edition

Published April 4, 2023

Reviews

[Ruth · Rating 2 out of 5]

I'm not actually done. I may never finish it. Not enough about spiritual practice as it is self-indulgent. I find much of what he says interesting. I have an interest in looking at Christianity with new eyes but not thrilled with his writing style that is too much about himself.

[Kim Purl · Rating 5 out of 5]

Discovering Fire was more than I was expecting. This book is a spiritual guidebook, or field guide, composed of Methodist theologian and founder John Wesley’s scripture, tradition, reason, and experience pattern. This means each spiritual practice engages scripture, historical traditions of its use, scientific reasoning of its benefits, and the author’s experience using each particular spiritual practice.

The familiar Abrahamic spiritual practices of Christianity, Judaism, and Islam were revisited deeply in their spiritual practices. Then, Wosley led the reader through the possibilities of integrating and adapting Eastern, Indigenous, and pagan spiritual practices to encounter the Divine. This movement of starting with familiar spiritual practices and moving into unfamiliar practices helped me build trust to consider creative possibilities that may not benefit everyone but be helpful to a segment of folks, especially those seeking relief from trauma. I appreciated his reframing, especially to understand the healing properties of psychedelics in spiritual practices. The author is honest in sharing spiritual practices that were helpful to others and also those not helpful to himself.

While reading about this broader range of spiritual practices, I was intrigued by the intention to heal trauma in the body through encountering the Divine. Earlier this year, I read The Body Keeps the Score: Brain, Mind, and Body in the Healing of Trauma by Bessel Van Der Kolk, M.D., who shares his history, scientific reasoning, and experiences with trauma survivors. I noticed similarities between Wesley’s spiritual practices and Van Der Kolk’s innovative treatments. Both books held hope to heal body trauma through yoga, meditation, grounded relationships, and creative expressions in the arts. People are desperate for healing from traumas; best practices are bodily and spiritual.

This book is a treasure trove for pastors and churches. It helps people find meaning in spiritual practices and encounter the Divine outside congregational worship to work through trauma—maybe even trauma the church has caused.

This winter, I began offering anointing oil in my congregation to heal and represent Divine presence. Hearing stories of Divine healing from something as simple as prayer and oil is powerful and hopeful.

What would it look like for you and your congregation to discover fire in spiritual practices to experience the Divine and transformed lives?

[Libby · Rating 5 out of 5]

In Discovering Fire, Roger invites us in to a space of authenticity and relating - his "elephant" may bear some similarities to you, or it may not. For me, there were several aspects that, although different in detail and circumstance, were very relatable in the nature of being a human, especially as a child, longing for connection and love.

I was raised as a Christian, but de-converted in my early adulthood, due to harm done to myself and those around me, as well as realizing I just wasn't buying what the Church was selling anymore. I'm now an agnostic atheist, as in, I don't believe in any deity, but I don't think anyone can be 100% sure. I'm open to spirituality and the concept of the Divine, so I was interested in reading this book and seeing what Christian practices Roger finds helpful as he branches out into methods from other spiritual paths.

I've found that I do appreciate some forms of ritual in my life, as a way of centering my intentions for how I navigate this journey. I've taken some old practices and made them fit my current life. For example, Prayer to God has now become intentional thoughts or spoken words of gratitude and desires, and that still gives me a sense of peace and clarity of path.

Plant medicine and meditation have been profoundly powerful in both my shadow-work, and what some may even call "recreational," as a childlike sense of wonder and play become embodied in my experiences and even integrated in my daily life.

I no longer choose to carry around a stopped clock, but I might stop to admire yours when I see it, and books like this one really do have a spirit of helping bridge gaps of understanding and acceptance of others' paths and choices. I consider reading this book to have been an investment in my life that will continue to pay out over the long run.

[Morf Morford · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've noticed that I begin many of my reviews with "This book is not for everybody". I have to emphasize that this book is WAY not for everybody.

It is part confessional, part spiritual journey with a good dose of "what can I learn from this" as a base point in encountering all territory dismissed or feared by most religious people - especially those who consider themselves "Christians".

The author's premise is an ancient one - all truth is God's truth, and whether through therapy, meditation or even psychedelics, truth, especially barren, non-negotiable truth - whether personal, theological or psychological is there for any willing to face it. And, of course, most of us would rather not.

Roger goes boldly where many of us would refuse to even consider, but the truths he encounters, like an electrical surge, pushes him into levels of understanding, most of us (and even he) could barely put into words.

His final category, the one most transformative, turns out to be the one most familiar to me; poetry.

You don't need exotic (and expensive) shamanic experiences to meet truths that defy rational explanation; read, or even better, write poetry.

Poetry can, at its best, be a disarming rallying cry to justice, decency or sacrifice, it can remind us who were are and what matters to us.

And poetry, for now at least, is legal and available - and in many cases revealing, even unsettling, when it comes to the answers that once seemed so right.

This book came to me through the good people at Speakeasy....

[Ellie Brown · Rating 5 out of 5]

In an age where so many are burned out spiritually and eager to find a new spark, Discovering Fire provides the flint and fire striker for spiritual awakening on a personal and collective scale. Bridging generational, religious, and political divides in a time where polarity has reached new heights, Wolsey’s fires are undeniable and contagious. From centering prayer, to poetry, to breath work, to plant medicine and much more, Roger takes us on a spiritual journey not unparalleled to his own, and shows that coming out on the other side in a spiritual sense is an experience that repeats again and again as we embark on ever newer stages of growth and enlightenment.
If your candle is dwindling or you’re seeking new direction for spiritual renewal, let Discovering Fire fan your flame. Highly recommended.

[Karen Boyett · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book very much and I sent the author a thank you note. Here is what I sent:
I just completed reading your book Discovering Fire 🔥 and want to express my appreciation for your potent, skillfully written work. I deeply appreciate your vulnerability and transparency in sharing your inner landscape with us. You’re an excellent writer and your curious heart and mind drew me in and it felt like I was hearing from an old, dear friend.
I relate deeply to your curiosity and desire to make the Divine accessible and to building bridges of understanding. Discovering Fire is an important contribution to our collective experience. Thank you for sharing your heart and knowledge with us.

[Francine Apollo · Rating 3 out of 5]

The author clearly outlines many practices that can lead one to deeper connection to the Divine. I have practiced a few and am familiar with all he mentioned. This part can be helpful to seekers.
There was too much personal information included. It began to veer into memoir which is not what I thought I was buying.

[William Haskell · Rating 2 out of 5]

I like the idea of connecting people to religion through alternative methods of finding spirituality; however, this book is full of personal anecdotes that missed the mark for me and strayed from the message he set out to make.

[Jacqueline · Rating 4 out of 5]

An excellent exploration of spiritual practices, some of which I had no idea were considered spiritual practices