By: Kynan Barnes
This paper presents a narrative practice metaphor called the Fire of Life. It’s been designed to help tell our stories in ways that make them stronger by yarning about the passions, strengths, skills, interests or hobbies of Aboriginal people, along with the problems that we can face. Culture is healing, and the Fire of Life combines culturally resonant metaphors with practices and principles of narrative therapy to facilitate and guide therapeutic yarning. Through a story of practice, the paper illustrates how the Fire of Life can be used to yarn with someone about their passions and strengthen the story as a result. We explore Gilly’s passion for living and promoting a healthy lifestyle in the context of challenges surrounding Aboriginal people’s health in Central Australia.
Key words: metaphor; re-authoring; outsider witness; Aboriginal; First Nations; narrative practice; narrative therapy
Barnes, K. (2026). Fire of Life: Yarning about stories of passions, strengths, skills, interests and hobbies of our mob. International Journal of Narrative Therapy and Community Work, (1), 75–86. https://doi.org/10.4320/HTSX7550