Custodians of the Universal Fire Mandala Ashes

Fire is one of humanity’s earliest teachers and the spiritual ancestor of all peoples, transcending cultures, races and continents. It is an element of unification that sheds light on the numerous core aspects of our shared humanity. 

For many ancestral traditions, the relationship with sacred fire remains a way of life, grounded in the particular teachings of each community. Through ceremonies and other practices, fire helps sustain connections with the natural world, our ancestors, the divine within, and the cosmos at large.

Firekeepers and custodians of the ashes carry forward this knowledge and the responsibility of preserving the memory of the sacred fire across generations. They must therefore cultivate a personal relationship with the fire as a way of life: remaining present with its energy, regardless of outward circumstances or the actions of others. This relationship may be described as a reciprocal interaction with Spirit—a form of communication in which both can speak and listen. This bond between humanity and the sacred fire is maintained and renewed through diligence, remembrance, respect, humility, presence, coherence, and reverence. 

The meaning of ancestral fire reaches beyond what words can fully express. Words can help preserve and communicate that meaning, but without lived understanding and integrity, they can become empty or be distorted for personal gain. Spiritual truth is therefore not only what appears on the surface, but something deeper—like the inner fire that fuels our thought, word, and action.

With this understanding, a custodian’s responsibility is not simply to possess or carry the ashes. It is to protect and tend to them, follow the guidance and practices shared for their care, and remember the purpose for which they were entrusted. Caring for the ashes calls for attentiveness, humility, honesty, and respect; ultimately, it is an act of surrender and devotion. As with any responsibility carried on behalf of others, this work requires consistency, thoughtful attention, and an understanding that stewardship is a profound commitment—not any type of ownership.

Within this practice, when a custodian is no longer suitable to fulfill their role, they are invited to choose the balanced way forward by releasing their custodianship and the ashes in their care. Within the spiritual framework of the Universal Fire Mandala, this is understood as a release of the custodian from their responsibility and returning the essence, spirit, and energy of the ashes to the Universal Fire Mandala.

“Being a custodian requires great devotion and commitment to the proper care of the ashes. It asks you to honor your vow by tending to them and following the responsibilities of custodianship.”

Venerable Lovon Lama

The Universal Fire Mandala Ashes are not a responsibility to be taken lightly. We do not own them; we have been entrusted to carry them for the generations to come. As custodians, we hold this responsibility only for a time, standing between those who came before us and those who will follow.

It is important to be aware that custodianship is an act of service, not a platform for personal importance or recognition. When personal ambitions begin to take precedence over the care, balance, and purpose of the ashes, the custodial relationship is brought to an end. In some cases, this decision may need to be made promptly in order to protect the integrity of the Universal Fire Mandala and its work.

With a clearer understanding of the discipline, responsibility, and accountability required of a custodian—and of the need for vows and actions to remain aligned—it became necessary to release Leobardo Peña Martínez from his custodianship. The essence, energy, and spirit of the ashes entrusted to him for himself, Gabriela, and others have also been fully released to ensure the continued balance of the Universal Fire Mandala.

“We do not inherit the earth from our ancestors — we borrow it from our children and we must return it with the memory of those who came before us.”

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