There are many sacred arts, but the making and keeping of fire is among the first in importance to humanity. Without fire for heat, light, cooking, and keeping away predatory animals, humans would long ago have perished. Even today, in this ultra-modern, Internet-connected world, there are still areas where artificial light is provided not by a great power plant, but by a simple candle.
In times of old, the ancient Greeks thought so highly of fire that they provided us with a marvelous myth about how people got hold of this precious stuff, which was originally reserved only for the gods’ use.
You may have heard the story of Prometheus, the Greek titan (titans were lesser divinities than the gods of Olympus such as Zeus) who stole fire from the gods and gave it to humans. It’s a wonderful rendition of the wonder and power of fire, and every little candle is a repetition of that wonder and power in its own small way, just as the tiniest ray of sunlight is part of the great ball of intense burning fire in the sky we call the sun, without which there would be no life on earth.
According to the Promethean myth, Prometheus was fond of humans and had argued their case when one of the gods wanted to destroy them for being too clever and talented. To help the humans, Prometheus sneaked up the backstairs of Olympus, so to speak (with the help of the goddess Athena), and lighted a torch at the fiery chariot of the Sun. He then carried the fire down to humanity, protected in the pithy hollow of a giant fennel stalk. Extinguishing the original torch, he departed quietly, unseen and undiscovered, leaving the glowing coal behind and thus giving fire to humankind.
It is thought that the legend of Prometheus’s enchainment may have been the result of a giant snowman-shaped frost protrusion recumbent on Mount Caucasus, over which many vultures flew. Prometheus is also related to another fire god, Hephaestus, a lame blacksmith who fashioned the thunderbolts of lightening Zeus threw around when he was annoyed or angry. And to this day Greek islanders still carry fire from one place to another in the pith of a giant fennel plant.
So angry were the Olympic gods when they discovered that Prometheus had pulled off this trick that Zeus decided to punish him. Prometheus was chained naked to a rock in the Caucasian mountains. All day, a hungry vulture tore at his liver, causing excruciating pain, to which there was no end because every night (when Prometheus was exposed to cruel frost and cold) his liver regenerated itself. And so the next day the process began all over again.
Fortunately, eventually Prometheus was rescued by the centaur, Chiron, the teacher of Apollo (who drove the chariot of the Sun across the sky on its daily rounds). Known as “the wounded healer,” Chiron was half horse and half man (the bottom half was the horse). He sustained a wound in his thigh that would not heal, giving him horrible pain. And since he was immortal (a demi-god) he could not die from his wound. So he arranged with Zeus to give up his immortality—a great sacrifice—and take Prometheus’s place. Prometheus was released, and Chiron was able to die and feel no more pain. According to another myth, however, Prometheus was rescued by Hercules.
Not only did Prometheus steal the gods’ fire and give it to us humans, he also taught us architecture, astronomy, mathematics, navigation, medicine, metallurgy, and other useful arts. The Promethean myth is the theme of the ancient Greek dramatist Aeschylus’s Prometheus Bound. The English poet Percy Bysshe Shelley (1792–1822) was inspired by this legend to write his famous poem Prometheus Unbound (1820), which expounds on the theme of humankind’s deliverance.
The Greeks honored fire with the goddess Hestia, who was known as the goddess of the hearth and temple. She was also known as a wise woman and a maiden aunt.
One of the three great Virgin Goddesses, along with Artemis and Athena, Hestia was in charge of the fire that burned on a round hearth at Olympus. Hestia was thought to be presented in the living flame at the center of every home, temple, and city. As Roman hearths were round, Hestia’s symbol was a circle, which is also the symbol for our Sun (astrologically speaking). Therefore, temples dedicated to her were circular in shape.
No home or temple was considered to be properly sanctified until Hestia had officially entered it—by way of fire ceremonies specifically for that purpose. Once Hestia was installed, both homes and temples were considered to be holy places. Her presence insured the sacred fire that provided not only illumination, warmth, and heat for cooking food, but also the feeling of a living spiritual presence.
Unlike the other two virgin goddesses, Athena (the goddess of wisdom and a protectress of cities) and Artemis (also known as “Lady of the Beasts,” and whose turf was the wilderness), Hestia never strayed from the hearthside. She always remained inside homes and temples dedicated to her, protecting the sacred fire of the hearth. In this respect, she is related to the astrological sign of Virgo, which deals with the details of daily life. Represented by the Virgin Goddess with a sheaf of grain, Virgo relates to daily work and service, such as keeping the hearth going, cooking food, and housekeeping. Tending to the details of keeping house can be a meditative experience for those inclined to relish it as a meaningful activity vital to life rather than a meaningless, repetitive chore that has to be done—usually by women! With Hestia, the details of keeping a home are equivalent to a spiritual meditation.
The Romans called Hestia Vesta and kept a special temple in Rome in her honor where “vestal virgins” tended an eternal flame that could not be allowed to go out. This perpetual fire was central to Roman life and the girls chosen to serve it (Virgo is also the sign of service!) were especially proud of their important task. Beginning between the ages of six and ten, they served for thirty years and had no contact with men.
Tradition had it that if a girl could blow on a dying flame and make it rekindle, she was a proper “virgin,” which meant that she was of an independent spirit and able to get along quite well by herself without a man to lean on, rather than sexual abstinence. Her suitability to serve the sacred flame was symbolized by her ability to blow on the holy fire without its being extinguished, for symbolically, breath was equivalent to spirit.
It is quite possible that the early Christians in Rome copied the sacred fire of Vesta’s temple as they set up and elaborated the ceremonies of their new religion. In Christianity, the candle represents the seven gifts of the holy spirit, which are: counsel, knowledge, peace, piety, strength, understanding, and wisdom. It also is considered a symbol of Christ’s dual nature, part human, part divine. The earliest evidence of a continuous light burning before a tabernacle is from the early thirteenth century, when the bishop of Worcester declared that “a lamp must burn day and night before the Eucharist.” Candles in churches served a more mundane purpose as well—that of illuminating the dark, dank churches that were often made out of stone, and for lighting functions celebrated at night.
From baptisms to the blessing of an elderly person through the Anointing of the Sick, the use of candles by Catholics has been a vital aspect of the liturgy and the sacraments since the Church’s earliest years.
For mystical reasons, the Church prescribes that the candles used at Mass and at other liturgical functions be made of beeswax [because] the pure wax extracted by bees from flowers symbolizes the pure flesh of Christ received from His virgin Mother, the wick signifies the soul of Christ, and the flame represents His divinity. Although the two latter properties are found in all kinds of candles, the first is proper of beeswax candles only.
—Catholic Encyclopedia: Altar Candles
Candles were used for the Lucenarium, the second-century ceremonial light for evening prayer, which was the precursor to the Paschal Candle. Candles were also held aloft during funeral processions. During the third century, they were burned at the tombs of the dead—especially those who died as martyrs. During the fourth and fifth centuries, sacred images, especially of the Virgin Mary, always had candles burning before them, as did the tombs that held relics of saints.
Candles were not used at Mass until the seventh century, when they were carried by monks and priests in the procession to the altar; carried for the Gospel; and placed around the altar during the Mass. But it was not until the eleventh century that candles were put on the altar itself. Paintings from the medieval period show the Mass in progress without candles on the altar. Beginning with the thirteenth century, it was essential for the parish clerk, an assistant priest, or an altar boy to hold up a lighted candle when the officiating priest elevated the host before the congregation. In Catholic churches today, there are always banks of votive candles in red glass cups which a worshipper can light after dropping a few coins in a collection box.
Several religious feasts have candles as their primary sacramental, not merely as an adjunct. The most important of these is Advent, which is marked by the lighting of a wreath with four candles. After the candles are lighted, this prayer is recited:
We pray, then, that the
Richness of God’s blessing
Rest upon this Advent wreath,
Upon our home and upon each of us
As we light this candle
In the name of the Father,
And of the Son,
And of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
The burning candle is a common symbol of the soul of the individual, of the relationship between the spiritual (the flame) and the material (the wax). The flame is representative of the soul’s eternal nature (as is the sun) and the wax is symbolic of the material body, which is consumed by the flame as age consumes the physical body. Thus, the candle as it burns down is symbolically compared to the transitory nature of human life.
Candles are also incorporated into the religious services in Judaism. Before the destruction of the Temple in Jerusalem, the menorah, a seven-branched ceremonial candlestick, was lighted ritually by the temple priests. The seven branches of the Jewish menorah symbolize the seven planets, the seven heavens, the seven days making up the week, the seven archangels, and, by extension, the seven “Ages of Man.”
The correct time to light the Shabbat candles is 18 minutes before sunset every Friday evening. Young girls should light before this time. A married woman customarily lights two candles. An unmarried girl should light one candle in deference to her mother.
According to Chabad House in Austin, Texas, the lighting of the Jewish Shabbat (or Sabbath) candles is “something that inspires you, offers hope and provides peace. It’s something that bestows the blessing of light to illuminate the world above you.
“Look back to biblical times, to Sarah, our matriarch, whose miraculous lamp gave light to her husband Avraham [Abraham], her son Yitzchak [Isaac], from Shabbat to Shabbat. Refer to Rivkah [Rebecca] who, after Sarah, blessed the Shabbat lamp from the time she was only three years old. It is this 3,700 year-old tradition which Jewish women remember and observe in welcoming the Shabbat Queen. It is this mitzvah that rekindles the Divine spark in every Jewish being.”
There is a well-known saying, “It’s better to light one candle than to curse the darkness.” Light and darkness have always been considered in fundamental terms, especially before artificial light was invented. Try to imagine going abroad at night where there is absolutely no artificial light. Nothing at all but stars and the moon—if she is showing her light. This happened to me once, on a trip to Portugal’s Algarve, where there was no electricity whatsoever except for that which was generator-driven. Donkey carts were the usual mode of transportation for the local farmers, and they carried oil lanterns swinging from the postern. Even so, they were hard to see.
Night was so black that—quite literally—you could not see your hand in front of your face. My traveling companion and I had to hold hands when we went outside our villa just to know where each of us was! On moonless nights, the darkness was so total we could not see what was on the ground beneath our feet, or each other—even when we were holding hands!
This was an amazing experience for me. For the first time I saw the sky as I imagine the first astronomers, who were also astrologers (as am I), must have seen it. No wonder they were so fascinated by the movements of the stars and planets! There was nothing to obstruct their view of the sheer magnificence of a sky so totally filled with the bright twinkling pricks of diamonds on black velvet. Few of us today, especially those in urban areas, have seen this amazing view, which is right over our heads. It’s really hard for us to appreciate the fundamental difference between light and darkness.
However, these inescapable terms in the description of anything in life or literature, whether used literally or metaphorically, still speak to our imaginations. When we speak of the “dark side of the moon,” or the dark side of someone’s character, we know exactly what is meant.
Light is traditionally linked with goodness and with all that is desirable in life—knowledge, justice, truth, hope, virtue. Darkness inevitably refers to what we hate or fear—death, despair, evil, ignorance, deception, deceit. Our traditional Western religious traditions reinforce this handy division of opposites, which are actually only two halves of the same whole. For example, when the entire universe lay in darkness, the first thing God did was to create light (Gen. l:3). The supposition here is that light is a precondition to creation of any kind. The Bible is rife with such references: The Lord is our light and salvation (Ps. 271:1); Christ is “the light of men” (Matt. l:4); and so on. Jesus is frequently quoted as referring to himself as “the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life” (John 8:12). Paul repeats the message in different words: “ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day; we are not of the night, nor of darkness” (1 Thess. 5:5). Though we may today have distanced ourselves from the literalness of biblical imagery and terminology, it is still true that we revere light—just look at an American city from an airplane coming in for a landing! The whole planet is one great Christmas tree when seen from above. And what is a candle if not light? I doubt there is not a soul you know who does not have at least a small supply of candles for emergency purposes, should the electricity go out!
And when it does—as it did recently in my area during an ice storm for two days—how appropriate that famous Shakespeare quotation becomes, “How far that little candle throws his beams!” And how grateful we must be that our candlemaking is a delightful and “fun” hobby, done for pleasure and entertainment rather than a vitally necessary but unpleasant and difficult task! Let us not forget that we are involved in a sacred art—that of making fire and giving light—whenever we get out our candlemaking pots and wax, colors and scents, molds and decorations. Candlemaking takes us closer to the gods than we realize.
The face of an aged person is often compared to a candle. In “The Old Woman,” author Joseph Campbell (1897-1944) compares the subtle beauty and serenity of “an aged face” to a votive candle (then used primarily in churches). His comparison may have been taken from a phrase in the Apocrypha (Ecclesiastes 26:22): “As the clear light upon holy candlesticks, so is the beauty of the face in ripe age.” And William Shakespeare often used the burning down candle as a symbol of aging and death: “Out, out, brief candle!” (from Macbeth; act 5, scene 5); “Here burns my candle out, ay, here it dies, / Which, while it lasted, gave King Henry light …” (from 3 Henry VI; act 2; scene 6).
The English poet John Milton opens his Book 3 of Paradise Lost: “Hail, holy Light, offspring of heaven first-born!” And Dante concludes The Divine Comedy with a stirring vision of “the Highest Light” (Paradiso 33:50). By contrast, darkness is awfulness itself, it inhabits the Inferno. In Pilgrim’s Progress, the English poet John Bunyan uses the symbol of the burning candle to remind his readers of the transitory nature of human existence and uses this connection to instruct on the value of a virtuous life:
Matt: Why doth the fire fasten upon the candlewick?
Prud: To shew that unless Grace doth kindle upon the heart, there will be no true Light of Life in us.
Matt: Why is the wick, and tallow, and all spent, to maintain the light of the candle?
Prud: To shew that Body and Soul, and all should be at the service of, and spend themselves to maintain in good condition, that Grace of God in us.
The fading candle as a symbol of old age often appears in Elizabethan sources. The following is taken from the Zodiakus Vitae, a versified teaching text used in the classrooms of Elizabethan England:
… A fiery spirit doth raine,
Which quickenth every living thing, in world which doth remaine. This heat doth lively moisture feede, as flame of Candle bright, … At length it makes an end and stayes, when spent is all the heate, Which fading, body fades: as shews in them whose yeares are great.
Candles have also inspired many a modern poet. For instance, in his poem “The Wicket Old Man” W. B. Yeats (1865–1939) refers to the “candle-end” as an image of old age.
Many of us pray, meditate, and use other forms of communion with our higher selves for spiritual purposes. Candles can be especially prepared for these special ritual uses.
There are many ways you can use your handmade candles as a sacred art. For example, you can create a sacred space in your home to go to whenever the world is too much with you—to refresh your spiritual energies for the tasks ahead, to rest, to meditate, to reflect, to be silent and alone. Your handmade candles can be the perfect accompaniment for such a sacred space where you can use them to put you in touch with your most peaceful center. By surrounding yourself with candlelight from candles of your own making, you connect with your inner self in a deep and significant way. To further personalize the candles you might use on such occasions, you can choose different colors and scents to accommodate specific spiritual needs and purposes. (We’ll give you more information on the specifics later on. The significance of color in candles is discussed in detail in Chapter 4. Study the meanings of the various colors before you make special candles for ritual purposes.)
Ask yourself these questions:
What rituals do I use for ordinary everyday life? These may include how you prepare yourself for bed, for work, for dinner, for play or recreation.
What rituals do I observe as part of my spiritual practice? These may include churchgoing or any worshipful practice carried on through an outside or public forum, or purely private activity such as doing yoga, meditating, or praying.
Am I fully aware of my private rituals?
What do the rituals I use mean to me?
What connections do I make through ritual?
Do I want to include more rituals in my everyday activities?
Does ritual serve to satisfy a need in me?
Would I enjoy designing my own rituals for myself and my family?
How can I integrate my candlemaking into my ritual observances?
Make a list of how you now use candles in ritual, and then add all the ways you can think of to use them more.
Here are some suggestions for incorporating rituals using candles into your daily life:
Create a welcoming ritual for any new possession, especially an important one, by making a candle in its honor. Burn the candle every day for a week and say a blessing while the candle burns.
Create a disposing ritual to “bury the dead”—things in your household that broke or that you need to give up for any reason—by making a special candle to honor them and their past usefulness. Japanese Buddhists observe “Needle Memorial Day,” to honor all the needles that have been “killed in action,” or worn out, during the year. As you dispose of such an object, burn the candle while you give thanks to the object for its service.
Make a candle to prepare you for each day’s work. Light it and while it burns, bless your workspace and all the equipment it contains. Thank them for being a part of your life and work.
Make a special candle to honor a visit to any site that is spiritually meaningful, such as a cemetery, a local or national memorial site, or a natural setting that appeals to you spiritually. Make a pilgrimage to the site and burn the candle there. (Always take due caution with fire and be sure to extinguish your candle properly after each use.)
Invite others to participate with you in creating candles for a ritual to honor common space, such as a park or playground.
Make special candles to celebrate earth’s seasons. Burn the candles on the spring and fall equinoxes and on the summer and winter solstices.
Make moon candles for the phases of the moon, and especially the new moon and full moon, to ritually honor the earth and her moon.
Discover your own moon sign and make a special white candle to burn on the days the moon occupies the same sign in which it appeared at your birth.
Free astrological charts are available on the Web at www.astro.com. Select atlas and time zone server and follow instructions to enter place of birth, date, and time. Choose Placidus and western geocentric (tropical). Be sure to press the “update time zone” button prior to viewing your chart.
From olden times, people have relied on candles for all kinds of rituals, both religious and magical. Candle magic is one of the most important ways in which candles have been used, and continue to be used. According to Raven Grimassi’s Encyclopedia of Wicca and Witchcraft, “candle magick is the use of candles to perform spells or other works of magick. In candle magick the candles are anointed with oil and magickally charged for a specific purpose. Colored candles are used to symbolize the nature of the desired outcome. Examples of this symbolism are red for passion, green for gain, black for binding, yellow for motivation, blue for calming, and brown for grounding.” (See “The Significance of Candle Colors,” p. 58.)
Although candle magic can be a complicated affair, it need not daunt those wanting to try this ancient form of candle use. Below are some simplified steps for you to try.
The first step is the selection of the proper color of candle. Select a color of candle that is suited to your purposes or aims. This step is of primary importance.
Thoroughly clean the candle you have selected. Ideally, you should make a candle for the purpose you have in mind, and while making it concentrate on its eventual use. If this isn’t feasible, try to use a freshly made candle. However, if you choose to use one that has been used previously, you must clean it in order to remove the vibrations left by the last use (unless you keep a specific set of candles for different purposes and always use the same one for the same purpose). To cleanse the candle (especially if it is a store-bought one), soak a tissue or soft cloth in rubbing alcohol and gently wipe the candle from its base to the top. Then polish it with a clean cloth. If your candle is in a container, wipe the container with the alcohol-soaked cloth and dry it well (remember, alcohol is flammable).
How did candle magic originate?
Candle magick evolved from the old lunar cults where torches were lit to invoke the Moon Goddess. The lit candle symbolizes the presence of the Moon Goddess, who is the Enchantress, Mistress of Magick. All acts of magick performed in the glow of her flame are empowered by the momentum of the Past.
—Encyclopedia of Wicca and Witchcraft
Now, dedicate your candle to the purpose for which you have designated it. To do this, you can simply say a prayer invoking the higher powers to help you. Or, you can carve symbols into the wax exterior—for instance, astrological glyphs or rune figures—with a sharp tool such as an awl or an icepick. For prosperity, a dollar sign is appropriate. Concentrate on your purpose while you carve. Another method is to use a verbal incantation, preferably chanted softly. Affirmations work very well for this method.
Next, oil your candle. You can use essential oils meant for specific aims—such as peace, love, tranquility, money, health, healing, etc. (These can be purchased at health food stores or metaphysical shops.) Dipping your fingers in the oil, gently rub it into the entire candle surface: for attracting something you want, oil from top to bottom; for getting rid of something you don’t want, from bottom to top. Say affirmations while you oil and concentrate on your goal.
Finally, spray or sprinkle your candle with pure water. You can enhance this by using “color water” to match your candle, which is water stored in a colored bottle and left in the sun for several hours. Set candle aside until ready for use.
Decide how long you are going to burn your candle: some spells suggest burning a candle for several days (or nights) in a row if the goal is important or difficult to achieve. You can either use a large candle or several small ones, burning one per day (or night). If you use several candles, prepare each one in the same fashion.
Once you have made and consecrated a candle, reserve it for that purpose only. Don’t use a prosperity candle for love magic spells, for example. And always handle your prepared candle with care and respect; after use, put it away in a wrapping for future use. And always remember the Wiccan Rule, “Good to all; harm to none.”
Make a candle to burn during any activity you want to “spiritualize,” from performing household chores to getting the car ready for a journey. If you have school-age children, make a new candle to burn on the first day of school each year. Take a “spiritual break” every day by lighting a particular candle made for a particular purpose. (Also see “Candle-Gazing Meditation” later in this chapter.) You might even want to make a different candle for each day of the week to connect with the significance of that day. (For example, Monday is Moon Day.) Turn your personal hygiene and grooming into a candlelit ritual to honor your body. Use different colors and scents for different bodily attentions.
If you keep a spiritual journal, create a candle to burn while you are writing in it. (For more information on keeping a spiritual journal, consult my book Awaken to Your Spiritual Self, Chapter 9, “Keeping a Spiritual Journal,” p. 167.)
Your sacred space is for silence and solitude. You should have at least a small area of your home for this purpose. Whatever space you designate as sacred should be well tended, with an array of handmade candles readily available for your intentions when you utilize your sacred space. Some general topics are listed below, but they are only guidelines: You will undoubtedly create your own intentional subjects and make your candles in order to serve your specific purposes. For example, there might be a wedding coming up in your family. You could make a special candle to bless that union and light it on your altar in your sacred space while you offer a blessing prayer for the couple to be married.
Here are some examples of special-purpose candles you can make:
Peace—An invitation to bring serenity to the center of your being
Love—To open your heart for giving and receiving
Happiness—To enhance your playful nature
Thankfulness—To appreciate more of life’s gifts already yours
Healing—To help resolve conditions of illness, physical imbalance, and/or emotional difficulties
Home—To bring tranquility to your living quarters and make your home a safe haven
Abundance—To increase the flow of all good things into your life, including money and material goods as well as goodwill and blessings from on high
Passion—To bring pleasure and learn to be more fully alive
Protection—To ease mind and body with a feeling of being safe and sound
Wisdom—To learn to see with the heart as well as think with the mind, and awaken the spiritual self through inner insights
Courage—To move beyond fear and into strength with the ability to face the unknown
New Beginnings—To create a fresh start and inspire positive feelings about change. (Feel free to add your own intentions to this list of intentional-use candlemaking.)
Set aside a space in your home that you will designate as sacred. Make this space a place where you can practice silence and solitude. Make your sacred space comfortable and calm, and advise family members that when you are in your sanctuary you are not to be disturbed. Treat your sacred space with respect. Keep out anything that will profane your intentions there. Collect objects that help you to feel your spiritual energy, that connect you to your Higher Self. These objects can be “found” items or ones you have acquired or created, such as candles. They might include rocks and crystals, flowers, driftwood, twigs or tree branches, pine cones, candles, incense, aroma oil, and a special chair, pillow, or floormat.
Meditating will help you develop your power of discipline and concentration, both skills that are prominent in the lives of successful people. Candle gazing is an excellent meditation method that will teach you concentration. It will also accustom you to the practice of sitting quietly and focusing on your inner world, letting go of the distractions of the outer world. To perform this exercise, place a lighted candle at eye level, about 2 feet from where you are sitting. Focusing your gaze on the candle’s flame, simply watch it constantly. Try not to blink, but do not force yourself to keep your eyes open. Keep watching the candle flame for several minutes. If your gaze wanders, gently return it to the flame. Stay aware of your thoughts, but don’t attempt to control them.
Lavender is a well-known stress reliever. Make a lavender colored and scented pillar candle and burn it while you are soaking in the bath. Some lavender bath salts will intensify the relaxation experience. Use of a lavender candle delivers a potent dose of aromatherapy to your senses.
Bring a touch of the sacred to the gifts you give. Here are some ideas:
Happy Home Candle Set—This set makes a wonderful gift for someone who has just moved to a new house.
Romantic Love Candle Set—Give this set of candles, using Passion, Happiness, and Love intentional-use candles, to someone you know who is involved in a new romance, or would like to get involved. It’s a great positive encouragement.
New Beginnings Candle Set—This is a wonderful gift for anyone going through a transition period in life—be it a marriage or a divorce, puberty or menopause, moving to a different location or taking a new job. It is also appropriate to give this set to a person who is stuck in a rut and wants to initiate change in his or her life. Be sure to include Abundance, Wisdom, and New Beginnings candles.
Good Health Candle Set—Making candles for someone who is ill is a thoughtful get-well gesture.
Anniversary Gift—Make the same candle each year as a wedding anniversary or birthday gift for someone you love, thereby creating a lovely tradition that is much appreciated!
When you are feeling anxious about anything, you can calm yourself with the following visualization, done in a quiet space. Surround yourself with the appropriate handmade candles and light them one by one before beginning.
Become quiet and let the peace of your candlelit space sink deeply into your inner mind and spirit. Then, visualize a natural setting. It can be a place you love to visit, or a place you have seen in a magazine picture or a TV travelogue, or an imaginary place.
You might take a walk through snowy woods, hike up a mountain pass, take a leisurely break by the side of a cool lake, or go to the beach at whatever time of year you like best. The idea is to pick something you find calming and soothing. The light from your handmade candles will enhance this process immeasurably.
You might try imagining sitting by a lake in spring when the wildflowers are just beginning to bloom. Visualize yourself walking down a country road to the shore of the lake, enjoying the fresh yet warm spring air with its breeze that hints of nature’s renewal. Allow yourself to feel invigorated and relaxed. Feel the warmth of the spring sun on your shoulders. You might take off your jacket and turn up your face to the sun’s gentle warmth, which adumbrates the summer to come.
When you reach the lake’s shore, find a comfortable spot to sit and relax. Enjoy the feel of the grass beneath you, inhale the scent of the wildflowers, watch the lake waters swelling gently, listen to the birds chirping, see the myriad forms of life all about you exhibiting nature’s annual renewal of herself.
Take off your shoes and dabble you feet in the water, feeling its refreshing coolness. Perhaps a small fish nibbles at your bare toes and tickles you. Watch a pair of mating ducks land on the lake and see the water birds soaring overhead in the clear blue sky. Feel at one with the scene. Notice how the water catches the sun’s light and see the reflection of a passing cloud on its placid surface.
Take your time to enjoy this place, letting all your worries and tensions slip away until you feel utterly calm.
After finishing this healing meditation, carefully begin to extinguish your candles, one by one, in the same order in which you lit them originally.
When using candles for meditation, remember that contemplative silence is necessary for the spiritual journey—and there is no better method of doing this than gazing deep into the mysterious flame of a candle. You can use candles in all sorts of meditations. For more meditations I have developed, see my books Awaken to Your Spiritual Self, Your Psychic Potential, and Healing Mind, Body, Spirit. These are excellent guidelines for those of you who want to meditate more or develop meditations of your own.
You can also do a healing meditation with your own homemade candles. As you make the candles, keep your mind focused on who or what is to be healed—a person, a situation, a relationship, a pet, a quarrel, a local environmental problem. After you have done the healing meditation, put out the candle or candles you have used, and do not use them for any other purpose. When extinguishing each candle, strongly visualize that the therapeutic flame has healed what was being treated. Don’t blow the candle out with your breath—use a snuffer or a piece of foil, or if you are using pillar candles, push the wick gently down into the pool of melted wax with a spoon.