I've got some great flame technique, and quite simple, all you need is to make some strokes with a round brush, with 0% hardness, then you take the smudge-tool and put strength at around 40%, then you smudge it out, take one of the brushes that looks like... sprayed and just drag it a bit wavey, then continue like it til' you like the effect. it may take a while, but it looks cool. but if you're gonna have it realistic you might have to erase and stuff. I think there's some tutorial somwehre to make like a massive laserbeam or something, but I found it useful to make flames, and such. Good luck if you're trying it.

In genreal I think it's a cool effect anyway.
It could work out this way too!
I love the fractals. Nice job