Author: Mary Lee Weir

In my original article, “Healing from Addiction: My Journey Through Fire,” published in Elephant Journal, I shared how divine intervention led me from the depths of addiction to a path of healing through Agnihotra and Homa Therapy. From a near-fatal overdose in 2003 to detoxification in the Amazon and profound spiritual guidance from Shree Vasant Paranjpe, my journey became one of profound transformation. I found a way back to life through discipline, daily fire practice, and the unwavering support of mentors and the community. (Read the full article here: [Elephant Journal])

But healing isn’t a one-time event. It’s a journey that requires constant self-awareness, discipline, and support.

2016-2017: The Fire, the Fall & the Return

By 2016, I was still deeply committed to my fire practice—Agnihotra and Homa Therapy remained central to my life. But something was off. Emotionally and spiritually, I was struggling. The pain I hadn’t fully processed was still there, simmering beneath the surface.

Then, for a short but dangerous time, crystal meth entered the picture. It didn’t take over my life the way it had in the past, but it was a rapid, destructive spiral—one I was lucky to escape. I genuinely believe that the fire, along with my family stepping in once again, saved me. The moment I was pulled from that path, I knew I had to quit. And I did.

That’s when I decided to go home to Belize.

In Belize, I reclaimed my sobriety. My fire practice remained, but I also turned to prayer—attending church every day, praying the rosary, and grounding myself in faith. I was healing, but I wasn’t fully ready to face everything yet. I dug into my work, keeping myself occupied and regaining my footing.

2018: The DUI & Another Wake-Up Call

At the end of 2017, I returned to the U.S. but wasn’t in the right headspace to pick up my career. Financially, I was facing some hard truths, and emotionally, I wasn’t ready to step back into the life I had built before. Instead, I took on something mindless—just a job to pay the bills and keep me moving forward while figuring things out.

Then, in March 2018, everything unraveled again.

One reckless night with a stranger led to a DUI. I wrecked my car, and once again, I was forced to confront myself. But this time, I didn’t feel lost. My family and community immediately rallied around me. I was back on my feet quickly—but that didn’t mean the work was done. Sobriety isn’t just about quitting substances; it’s about facing the deeper wounds that led you there in the first place. And I still had a long way to go.

Returning to the Fire

Sobriety is a journey—one deeply connected to trauma, healing, and self-awareness. As an extrovert, I have a powerful energy that needs an outlet. If I don’t channel it, it can become self-destructive. As I approach the sunset of my 49th year, I am only now fully understanding this about myself.

I know this: Agnihotra and Homa Therapy have never failed me.

Even in my lowest moments, the fire was there. It didn’t judge, didn’t demand—it only offered healing if I was willing to show up. Through every rise and fall, I returned to it. Homa Therapy is more than Agnihotra—it is an expanded discipline of healing fires that has kept me grounded through every stage of my life. The structure, the ritual, the energy all provides an anchor, a way back to myself.

For anyone struggling with addiction, know this: Healing is not about never falling. It’s about getting back up, over and over again.

And sometimes, all you need is one thing to hold onto. For me, that thing has always been the fire.