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Crafty Crafts

Charlie Rainbow Wolf

For me, Beltane is one of the most intriguing markers on the Wheel of the Year, falling opposite Samhain and between the Spring Equinox and the Summer Solstice. It’s a fire festival, and fire is said to purge and purify. Among the many traditional activities associated with Beltane is that of passing through fire. You don’t have to enter into the flames; build two bonfires and walk between them. In the English village where I lived, this was a traditional—but long-forgotten—event; the villagers and their livestock would pass between the fires for cleansing and blessing. I’ve even heard Beltane referred to as “the time of the blessing.” A fire walk can be done at a group or an individual level, with the fires either raging bonfires or two simple candles. It’s all down to the intent; fire is always fire.

Simple Stepping Stones

When planning a firewalk, contemplate adding stepping stones to walk on as you pass through the flames. Making your own stones from concrete is inexpensive and fun. It’s necessary to plan ahead in order to give the mix time to cure, but the actual making of the stones is not time consuming.

Materials

Concrete mix: Quikrete is the brand name that I use, but any other quick-drying, all-in-one cement mix will work. If you are already familiar with pouring concrete, use the gravel, sand, and cement mix that you have on hand in a ratio of 1:2:1. Quikrete is available in 50, 60, and 80 pound bags. Don’t let this deter you; we’ve found one 60-pound bag yields around 8 good-sized stones, and it will keep for a few months as long as it does not get damp. There’s also a crack-resistant formula, which is a bit more spendy, but also worth the investment.

A mold: We use the purpose-made plastic molds available through home improvement stores or garden centers because we pour a lot and these molds can be used over and over again, so we find them well worth the money. If you are just wanting to try this to see how you like it, any plastic container will work, such as an old bucket or tub. Just make sure the bottom is flat, or you’ll have a wobbly stone (which might be quite fun for a party game, but perhaps not safe around fire).

Mold release: Again, there are commercial mold releases available for purchase, but we’ve always used the cheap cooking spray. Any clear oil works; you don’t want the concrete to stick to your mold form.

Something in which to mix the concrete: If you’re planning on making many stones and mixing the whole bag of cement mix, you might want to use a wheelbarrow, as this is a good height for your back and it is easy to work the mix. My brother is a concrete mason and he uses an old piece of board on the ground and a shovel for mixing. For smaller batches, a large bucket or tub will suffice. I use an old 5-gallon shallow tub meant for serving chilled bottles of pop, picked up at an end-of-summer sale a few years ago.

Something with which to mix the concrete: I use an old garden trowel and a thick paint stirring stick.

Something with which to measure your materials: I use an empty coffee can.

Water

Old newspaper

Cost: Expect to pay around $3–8 for the concrete mix. If you want to buy a mold, they range from $5 at hobby and craft shops to $50 and more for the fancier designs from mold specialists. Mold release is more expensive than cooking spray, which is $3–5 from the grocery store. My mixing tub was $2 on clearance; a wheelbarrow can top $80, and scrap board and a shovel might not cost anything.

Time spent: This is another activity where patience is the main ingredient. It will take you an hour or less to mix the concrete and fill the molds. After about 4 days to a week, the molds can be removed, but it will not be ready to stand on for at least another fortnight. In this case, the longer the better.

Concrete Steps

Make sure all materials are handy. Start by spreading out the newspaper at the work area. Wash the chosen mold to remove any residue, and when it is dry, give it a light but thorough coating of the spray. This stops the concrete from sticking to the mold, so it can be reused.

Carefully measure the dry ingredients into the mixing container. Stir these together first, then slowly add water. The amount of water varies from mix to mix; the finished slop should be about the consistency of oatmeal. When the trowel is dragged through it, the sides should stand on their own but not be overly dry.

Fill the mold with the cement mix. If a bucket is used, you can determine the thickness; the deeper you fill the bucket, the thicker—and heavier—the finished piece will be. If using a purpose-made mold, fill to about ¼ of an inch from the top. Try to avoid overfilling as this has the potential to make an untidy edge on the finished stepping stone.

Place the filled mold on a level surface to rest undisturbed for at least 3 days. Resist poking it to see if it’s set; this is where patience comes in! When we’re in “mold making season,” we tend to leave these for at least 5 days. On day 6, we remove the molds and wash them, and on day 7, we pour again.

The stepping stone is not ready to use yet! It has to cure. Place it out of the way for at least 2 weeks, giving the concrete a chance to set firm. Then you’ll be ready to use it for your fire walk—and many other places, too, should you choose!

The firewalk is not the only use for making stones. We have made all sorts of stepping stones and have them throughout our herbs and around our trees as decoration, footing, and a weed barrier. Some of my friends have made their own labyrinths to walk in meditation. Stepping stones are easy to make, inexpensive, and a way of sharing with your outdoor space—or even your altar, should you not have access to a yard or garden—your own creative energy.