The two pathes of setting intention: Water and Fire.

[Unbound]

My understanding of the Water method and Fire method while has some reflection of this, I have no conception of one or the either being either positive or negative in themselves. Fire techniques or water techniques can be used for either positive or negative paths.

I see the path of fire as the path of mind, it deals with the intellect which, alchemically, aligns with subtraction and works towards the clarity of simplification supplemented in balance with complexity. It represents those who seek with blazen light and pertains to those who honour the spirit of flame as the source of all life, of "christic" energy. The flame is used as a lantern to guide one through the darkness with its piercing light and protects and purifies every aspect of the self through the burning away of old aspects to continuously allow the natural being to shine forth. The path of fire is one of intense concentration, willpower and discipline, which may appear at first to be a method of control, and in some cases is, but I am certain is not so in all cases. I would consider this a path of "active co-creativity".

The path of water is the path of heart which nourishes and nurtures through the relaxing and opening of the self to allow the path of least resistence to find its own natural course. This is the path of feeling and one carves a path through the darkness through a continuous practice of beingness and natural intuition. The path of the heart is not as centered on intellect and mental activities and is more about experiencing what is for what it is, however there are natural changes which occur as downward flow cleanses the self and clears away blockages. The activity of water works within downward flow, the activity of fire works with upwards flow just as heating and cooling do so. The spirit is "tempered" with either process and is invigorated in a different way, although each of equal potency. This path is more about "passive co-creativity".

Both of these are methods for cultivating the self, becoming aware of the other bodies, subtle energy and ways to train and discipline oneself to be able to use power. This power can be used by either kind of individual, positive or negative, and can be sought after in both positive and negative ways.

One of the reasons that the path of fire and the path of water may appear to have positive/negative polarity in terms of paths of services is because of longstanding cultural influences, in particular the difference between the divine masculine and the divine feminine. Fire is most often only associated with burning things up, with destruction or purification by force, but this is a narrow view, imo, of fire and heat as a whole which actually includes electricity, friction, ambient heat, radiation and all kinds of stimulated activity. Likewise, water is not just water, but includes all forms of liquids, precipitation, dampness, blood and any other natural flow.

In the ways of the alchemist, which is a fire path, the heat of the flame is kept steady and constant, so as to not allow the flame to get too big or too small, so that there is enough heat to transmute and transform but not enough to destroy and not too little to have an effect. This teaches patience and balance, cultivated as virtues in the self. The nature of the flame is active, lively, kinetic and refers to the essence of life within all things. The nature of water is passive, enlivening, and potential, its force connects to the flow of the essence of life from one part of the Creator to the other.

This in regards to intention, I think you are perhaps making a separation which is not apparent to me. I see both the path of fire and the path of water as seeking a purified, focused intention, but whereas the path of fire concentrates through the active principle of organizing oneness, as you say, burning away all that is not able to withstand the fire, the water does the same through a passive principle of organizing oneness, dissolving as it is the alkahest, all that which muddies the water and makes it unclear. Both seek clarity, one does it through upward motion of active transmutation, the other does it through passive transmutation, as both are methods for affecting change within and without the self.

I can see where one might draw the conclusion that the natural destructiveness of flame leads one to connect it to negative paths, but the fact is that destruction is only one facet of the potentials of fire and that view somewhat eschews the life abiding, enlivening aspect of fire which is sustaining of life and not destructive. One can just as equally destroy and induce stagnancy with certain paths of the water method.

Anyways, those are just my thoughts on the subject, to be taken or left according to each.