How Does Fire Affect Human Survival

The elements of the earth have been essential to human survival and have played a major role on how humanity came to be where it stands today. Earthly and natural elements, and substances, such as ash, have also had many roles in early cultures, forming early belief systems through their symbolism at the basis of major religions. The symbolism of water, fire and ashes can bee seen between christianity, judaism and aboriginal spirituality through rituals and practices. through these, connections can be made, as they are all seen as holy, god-given and have played an important role in human survival for thousands of years.
When brought to mind, symbolism of elements, or even just slight mentioning of elements along with aboriginal or native spirituality

often seem to easily mesh together. It is known how much native people were and still are deeply in-tune with the earth that humanity calls home, and how many rituals are based off of the elements or natural occurrences. What truly is the meaning behind these elemental and occurrence based rituals is that of symbolism. Fire in native spirituality is used in many rituals, either for its smoke or the fire itself. Fire can be considered holy because of the connection it is believed to have with the Great Spirit.

Fire can be seen symbolically through the rituals it is a part of. Fire was a gift to humans from the Great Spirit(s), aiding humans in their survival. Fire also is connected to smoke and together the two are seen as messengers, delivering prayers to the Great Spirit.  Fire then from this, symbolizes the Great Spirit itself, as it is seen as a connection to it. Through this sacred fire comes the understated by-product, ashes. In native spirituality, ashes are seen as holy and sacred as well. This is partially because ashes come from sacred fire itself. Ash is a symbol of renewal and rebirth in native spirituality. This is because it is the final product of a deconstructive occurrence at the end of the life cycle. Because it is the end of a life cycle must also be the beginning ( if  thought of as a continuous cycle). This new growth symbolism can also be derived from the  simple known fact that many plants  thrive and can be grown from ash. Forest fires are destructive but from these come new ecosystems that are full of young life.  This idea of rebirth, growth and cleansing surrounding ashes can be connected to rituals in native

spirituality( such as smudging, the ashes are revered as sacred). Through these elemental and symbolistic rituals, similarly to fire, ashes can too be seen as sacred in native spirituality (as they aid the miracle of life and growth on earth, something the Great Spirit is responsible for). Ashes are seen as sacred and symbolic for growth and rebirth, as growth is something of nature (which is manifested by spirits). Ashes having a connection to the Great Spirit(s) is what makes the sacred. Similar to the other elements, Aboriginals  have a close connection and affinity with water. Settlements are often formed near rivers and lakes. Aboriginals are a culture that relies largely off of  the land, and water is always necessary to human survival.  Water can can be used as a means of transportation, it is a sign of life  and  a source  of food and nourishment. Water in Aboriginal spirituality is symbolic of life as it provides food, nourishment, beauty and offers and means of transportation( which can be extremely helpful in  tough times).  Because it can be seen as a basis for all life, and life is sacred (as it comes from the spirits), this element is  properly  revered as sacred. The symbolism of fire, ashes and water in Aboriginal Spirituality can be derived from its’ use in rituals. This symbolism similarly makes them all sacred elements of nature to the Aboriginal culture. This  holistic reverence and symbolism of the natural elements connects aboriginal  spirituality to other cultures.
Similar to Aboriginals in any way that they have too  walked  this earth for hundreds,  maybe even thousands  of  years, Judaism also  contains symbolism similar to that found in  Aboriginal spirituality. In the jewish religion, water is highly revered. this symbolism of water makes it scared. water is sacred in judaism. This is because it has always existed on earth as it is something yahweh had originally placed on earth. Not only is this element holy because it is god-given but also because it was used for its power by yahweh many times (as stated so in the torah); once in exodus and also during the great flood. this sacred water can be used in many sacred rituals  and practices, mainly to cleanse a person before temple services or after coming in contact with a dead body. water symbolically means cleansing and renewal in judaism, when seen through the rituals it is a part of. This sacred regard for water is common in other religions as well, such as aboriginal spirituality and christianity.
The attitude and beliefs surrounding Fire in Judaism are similar to that of aboriginal spirituality and Christianity.

Fire is holy to those of the Jewish religion as it is a representation of Yahweh's continuous presence in humanity. Mentioned in the Torah and the Old Testament of the bible, is the story of Moses and the burning bush (Book of Exodus). This flaming shrubbery was Yahweh and is also an example of fire showing Yahweh's presence in human lives. This symbolism of Yahweh through fire is demonstrated and practiced when the menorah is lit in temples and during Hanukkah. Fire also is symbolistic of the Jewish people's victory over the Syrian greekss, as also represented when the menorah is lit. This symbolsim of fire connects judaism to other religions such as Christianity and aboriginal spirituality. Present in all of these religions is the belief that fire is representative of God on eath and as a part in human lives (Christianity especially, as many beliefs have been derived from

Judaism).
Contrary to other religions, one being aboriginal spirituality, the beliefs surrounding ashes in judaism are not ones surrounding life and rebirth; they more closley are related to mourning and to the afflicted. Ashes, although coming from (holy) fire are not necesarily seen as holy as they do not represent any kind of connection to yaweh. ashes are still acknowleged as they once had a significance in mourning. ashes and/or dust may have been used by early tribes in mourning and death rituals. a more modernized approach on how judaism veiws ashes is that they symbolize the dirt underfot, or the lowley state of theose afflicted in any way. ashes do have a symbolic precence in judaism, however, not a typically holy one.
Christianity, unlike other religions, is not often thought of for its connection to the natural elements, but the religion has many strong beleifs and rituals surrounding the symbolicity of the elemnts that may get overlooked. Water is thought of as sacred in almost all if not every sect of christianity. This holines of water comes from its sacred use in the chrch;  to cleanse, bless or for funerals.rituals such as baptism display the symbolsim that ater has in christianity. the person to be baptised is washed over with water, cleansing and liberating them of sin. the symbolism that comes from its use in rituals is similar in comarison to jusaism. christianity came directly from judaism, s many rituals and beleifs are similar as they have been passed on. This shairing of beleifs forms a conection between these two religions. Flames being known for their ability to destruc are also thought of highly in the church. but for a constrasting reason. fire was the form god chose to present himself to humans as (as said likewaise in the bible), and was also what god used (found in many examples througought the buble) to destroy evil. The flams of fire istelf are cosidered holy because fire can be seen as a direct connection to god. the symbolism of this is that fire is a symbol of the holy spirit and god’s precence in human life. Allowance of the fire of god into ones life is seen as a purifying and ceansing action. this beleif that fire is the spirit of god or that it symbolises spirt(s) can be found in other religions. Coming dirctly from fir as the dusty, seemongly lifeless leftovers, there are ashes. Ashes also have a significagnce in the christian religion. Ashes are seen as holy as they are a key part in ash wedesdya celebrations. through this tradition, and the rituals and practices ashes are a part of, the symbolism of ashes can be recognized. Ahes from ash wenedsay celebrations are a symbo of lent and the joy of new life and new begining that surrounds it. This symbolism is similarly found in aboriginl spirituality, as ashes are seen a a sign of new begining. The symbolism of water fire and ashes in christianity connects to other religions though the similarites in each.
The symbolism of fire water and ash can be clearly seen throughout different religions, and so can the similarities connecting each one. the similarity of the symbolsim of the elements in different religion really shows how much early humans were alike and had a spiritual thirst that wanted to be quenched. through this symbolism of the elements and natural substances, such as ash, similarites between judaism, christianity and aboriinalspirityaluti can be recogi=nized. These simmilarites found amoung many religions in the corld create connections, and possibly thourgh these connections, predujice and hatred for other groups could fade as relationships based on similarites could grow.