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San Pedro Firewalk And Alejandro's Choice
- In San Pedro Manrique, villagers march to a midnight firebed and people carry others barefoot across glowing coals.
- Alejandro, banned by his doctor, still crossed the fire twice—once carried, then alone—to avoid the despair of not participating.
The Ritual Paradox Explained
- Many ritual participants say simply, "This is who we are," and cannot articulate a causal reason for the practice.
- Dimitris calls this the "ritual paradox": rituals feel vital yet resist verbal justification.
Rituals Reduce Anxiety By Restoring Predictability
- Rituals provide structure and predictability that reduce uncertainty and anxiety via perceived control.
- The brain's predictive machinery prefers stable sequences, so ritualized actions soothe unresolvable ambiguity.