Controlled Burn: A Review
Jeremy Fiebig invites us to set fire to our lives to clear
the thick underbrush that bogs us down, thus enabling us to welcome new growth.
It is in this clearing, this “thin” place where magic happens. Fiebig defines
magic as “the moments of ineffable, ethereal, and often indescribable transformation
that happen in all kinds of bodies as a result of Controlled burning, Bonfire
Experiences, and The Work.”
I was drawn to this book due to my own personal work I’ve
been undertaking the past four years since retirement and the pandemic. Personally,
I connected with Fiebig because we share experiences in the theater and in
coaching.
Controlled Burn is part autobiography, self-help workbook,
and inspirational guide. By sharing some of his own trauma and history, Fiebig
draws us in to understand the root of his transformational work. He speaks
authentically from experience. He points out that his journey is not ours, but
he writes, “something in my journey might kindle a flame for you.” And that it
did, particularly when he speaks of magic. He gives us four attributes of what
magical, deep work entails. It is different, disobedient, disorienting, and
delightful. He encourages each of us to be weird in our own way.
Fiebig also emphasizes that deep work can’t be exclusively a
solo experience. Find your people, gather, and help create communion. Bonfires
are collective experiences where stories are shared. The best things happen “when
we are on fire together, when there’s a common buzz or collective energy, when
the party is great.”
I mentioned at the beginning of this review that Fiebig
invites us to set our lives on fire. It’s all about the invitation. He writes, “much
of what happens is invited, as in the Buddhist tradition, to be aware of
emotions but not compelled by them.” If you are ready to do the deep work and
encounter the magic, this book is for you.
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