This came in a daily e-mail I get from DailyOm.com and it piqued my interest. I've done candle magick for years, but I never really thought about birthday wishes and where they fit in. What do you think? Are we all tapping into our pagan roots, whether we know it or not?



August 10, 2005
Finding Meaning In Flames
Candle Rituals
Most people unknowingly perform their first candle ritual at a very young age, on their first or second birthday they are able to make a sincere wish as they blow out the candles on their birthday cake. Since ancient times, candles have held a place in the ceremonies and rituals of innumerable cultures. Candlelight not only illuminates, but transforms the atmosphere. It can make a setting mysterious or meditative, invoke inward reflection, or mesmerize. The flickering flame of a candle can inspire focus, helping us concentrate on our hopes and dreams and snuffing out a candle can be a significant act. Because of this, the variety of candle rituals performed today are both the result of thousands of years of tradition as well as the innovation of many souls. It is just as appropriate to invent your own rituals as it is to borrow those used by others.

Candles, both those assigned special meaning and the simple white variety, can be used in rituals of healing, gathering, wishing, or any type of ritual your mind can conceive. The ritual may be easy or as complicated as you want. A good beginning point is choosing a candle of an appropriate color. Many people believe that white candles bring truth, green money, pink love, purple ambition, orange attraction, and red strength, but you may choose any color that you find meaningful. A simple wishing ritual is similar to the birthday ritual: light your candle and spend some time concentrating both on its flame and what you desire. Look into the flame and visualize the end result until you believe in its truth. Then gratefully and gently extinguish the flame. A longer ritual involves anointing the candle with oil and making seven notches in the wax. Place the candle in a sturdy holder and light it. Concentrate on a goal, a desire, or a truth as the candle burns down one notch. Do this every night until the candle has burned out. You can also invent new rituals for yourself with a little creativity.

Candle rituals have been used by cultures as diverse as the Egyptians, the Chinese, and the Celtic peoples for a variety of purposes. You may feel that in performing your candle ritual you are able to connect with the ancient, slow, and wise rhythms of the past or that you are carving a new path into the future. Either way, each candle you burn will fuel your inner fire and help you discover what is possible.

Well that certainly explains why my mother doesn't put birthday candles on cakes As much as I show an interest in such "pagan" background histories she is the opposite allowing no room for the slightest "pagan" celebration.

The birthday candle tradition certainly was an interesting idea that I never really thought about. I just did a little research and one thought toward this tradition goes back to ancient times (don't they all). People believed that once a year, on the anniversary of the day they were born, evil spirits could harm them. So to warn these spirits that they could not be harmed, they showed their power by being able to blow out all the candles in one breath. Yeah, that would be enough to keep me away Furthermore, they had family and friends close by to guard them. Nowadays we just call that a birthday party. Also read that one popular belief was that the smoke from the extinguished candle carried your wishes to heaven. That's a sweet thought.

Well, whatever the tradition and the background associated with it, I did enjoy reading this post. Thanks for sharing.