Ceromancy: The Fine Art of Candle ReadingWritten by Sam Stevens
Lately, I have been asked a lot of questions in Psychic Realm chatroom about "ceromancy". That is fine art of reading a situation by studying way a candle burns. Are flames leaping high? Is wax sizzling and crackling and popping? What does it mean when flame goes out? Many people in Realm over last year have become avid candle-burners and realized quite instinctively that way a candle is behaving is often a mirror of situation as it presently exists and its outcome. It is, after all, one of world's most ancient forms of divination. The leaping and reaching candle flames are seen to represent souls of individuals involved in situation being read. For instance, one member, other day asked me what it meant when wax from candle she was burning for love melted into shape of a heart. Anyone who is used to reading wax drippings knows that is extremely good news and probably means other person is thinking of you. Another phenomenon that I am constantly asked about is what I call "accelerated magic." This is when a candle, that usually lasts about four hours, starts smoking and seems to burn down very rapidly …like in about fifteen minutes. This is usually good news and means that your prayer or request will probably be answered quite rapidly. If candle was being burned for protection of some kind, it means that there was more than likely some kind of invasion or attack that spirits decided to take care of as fast as possible. In general, when you first light candle, if candle starts smoking quite heavily right away that is a very good sign. It means that negative energy is being removed from situation. If smoke is white, it means your prayers will be answered right away. If it is black, your prayer will probably be answered, but it is possible there will be obstacles in a way. You have to use your gut instinct if flame doesn't smoke at all. Sometimes that can mean there are no obstacles and other times, it means that matter is long over. A clear, strong flame that burns steadily is a good sign that candle is sending out a great deal of power and energy to manifest what you want. If it is small and more ball shaped than teardrop shaped, it is less likely that your prayer will be answered. A weak or low flame means you are facing some "heavy" opposition. Staring at a flame is a great way of telling you if your magic is working. It never ceases to amaze me how a flame will seem to grow higher or grope for more air more you meditate upon it. You can also do some divination by looking straight into heart of flame - blue center that is surrounded by orange halo. A healthy flame has a bright red core, surrounded by a blue halo and then a yellow colour. A blazing red center tells you that spirits are getting to heart of matter. A red center that is dim or just a pinpoint reveals a situation that may not be motivated by heart. If wick of candle starts building a little bulb at its tip, chances are that you have opposition or a third party working against you. If there is a lot of blue in flame, I take that as a sign that angels and spirits are protecting you from a possibly unhappy outcome.
| | Halloween RitesWritten by Sam Stevens
For some of us, EVERY DAY IS HALLOWEEN!!! If you want to be unusual dress up as a nurse, secretary, grocery clerk or bank teller this year. Gypsy, vampires and shaman wanna-bes are everywhere already! Or you could get all Martha Stewart about it and practice following festive rites, which find their origins in British Isles and Europe for that "authentic" Halloween experience. The first thing you might want to do is convince your church pastor to ring church bell all night to ward off evil spirits as was custom in 4th century England. If you're feeling particularly ambitious you could also dig up your dead loved ones and dress them up in long robes as was custom in 2nd century Naples. The cadavers would be placed in niches in stone church walls ready to be visited by their relatives who of course were not appalled at all to see their familiar faces. The second thing you want to do is build a big bonfire built from barrels full of tar and dance around it with wild abandon. I guess 21st century equivalent would be to gather with other townsfolk around local "tire fire." It was also custom back then to gather every stick of spare wood you could find and throw it on fire, despite fact that winter was coming. The key word associated with Halloween back then was "foolhardy." In Britain, in 4th century, people would also visit graves of their kinfolk and throw holy water or milk on graves to "feed dead." This custom later mutated into practice of giving children or poor money or a baked good called a "soul cake" in exchange for prayers for souls of dearly departed who were often thought to be stuck in purgatory. The ancient recipe for soul cakes is not unlike shortbread, so if you want to be authentic, give little visitors some shortbread at door. Watch them scream and run away, however as you bend over and gently ask them to pray for soul of your dead uncle who is burning in flames of hell!!! In England in 16th century, Halloween was also known as "Night of Shaming" in which people dressed up as a mock government or court and allowed powerful figures, such as mayor, or Sherriff and sometimes local wife-beater to be humiliated verbally or physically. So its a good night to perform an intervention, have boss over to dinner or practice some kind of S & M that takes most arrogant person down a notch. At end of these rituals it was customary to throw offending authoritarian into a body of water to cleanse them, so Halloween is perfect night for a pool party.
|
