What is Setting Lights?
Setting Lights, or
candle-altar service, is a service offered by many spiritual-workers and owners
of candle-shops. The setting of lights entails the burning of a fixed
Vigil-Candle on top of a client’s petition for a period of 5 to 7 days.
Typically, the client will speak with the worker about their issue or problem. Sometimes a reading on the issue will be performed, but not always. The worker will often have the client write out their petition on a piece of paper, however, sometimes the worker will write the petition themselves.
The worker will take the petition from the client and set about fixing a vigil light for the client’s goal. Fixing a vigil light entails choosing an appropriately colored candle, corresponding herbs, as well as oils.
The candle is often ritually lit with appropriate prayers pertaining to the client’s goal. The worker will carefully observe the candle each day making notes regarding how the candle burns. When the candle is spent, the worker will usually prepare a candle-burn report explaining how the candle burned and what that means in relation to the client’s wish.
Typically, the client will speak with the worker about their issue or problem. Sometimes a reading on the issue will be performed, but not always. The worker will often have the client write out their petition on a piece of paper, however, sometimes the worker will write the petition themselves.
The worker will take the petition from the client and set about fixing a vigil light for the client’s goal. Fixing a vigil light entails choosing an appropriately colored candle, corresponding herbs, as well as oils.
The candle is often ritually lit with appropriate prayers pertaining to the client’s goal. The worker will carefully observe the candle each day making notes regarding how the candle burns. When the candle is spent, the worker will usually prepare a candle-burn report explaining how the candle burned and what that means in relation to the client’s wish.
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Marking Your Vigil LightsYou don’t have to buy your Vigil-Lights with ready made labels. You can easily mark your own Vigil lights by buying plainVigil-Lights and creating your own labels for them. This can be done by manipulating images with a computer program, printing them out and gluing them to your Vigil Light.
Alternately, you can cut images out of magazines, old art books, etc… that speak to your issue or condition and tape or glue them to the vigil light. Use letters torn from newspaper print to give a name in the form of a key word or phrase that defines what it is that you want. For example, the image at right was created by cutting the image of a young, handsome, vital, male model out of a magazine, and then gluing the letters "Boy Toy" around the image. Some folks use photo copy their tarot cards in color and glue them to their glass, other folks use magic-markers, or markers specifically created for writing / drawing on glass and draw their own words and images to represent their goals. Whatever you choose to do, be sure to cleanse your Vigil light by wiping it down with a bit of ammonia and a clean cloth before you mark it with your intention. |
How to Prepare Vigil Lights
Begin by gathering all the equipment and materials that you will need. Make sure you have everything you need before you sit down to make your candle. I was taught that once you sit down to start the process of fixing up your candle, you don't get back up till you're done. If you find that you've forgotten something you either leave it out, or don't do the spell or make the candle at that time with what you have. The first thing that I do is write a petition.The petition is then placed under my mortar in which I place the herbs that I will use to load the candle. Next, I place a few drops of condition oil in the herbal mixture. This adds to the natural scent of the herbs and assists in breaking them down. These herbs are ground in a clockwise direction as I make my prayer or petition until the herbs resemble a coarse powder. |
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Use a tool such as a screw-driver or ice pick bore a certain number of holes around the wick. In it my practice to use three holes to manifest something and four holes to bring stability to something that you already have. For example, if you want to draw a new lover I would use three holes to manifest that lover; however, if you want to take an existing relationship to a new level of commitment, I would use four holes.
You don't have to use this method, this is simply my preference. Whatever you decide to do, I suggest that you use the same number of holes each time as it will become a part of your personal ritual.
Place three drops of condition oil in each hole and then carefully fill each of the holes with your chosen herbs. In addition to herbs, you can place the personal concerns of the person the candle is to effect in the holes as well, that is if it is small enough and will not cause a fire hazard. From time to time you will have to push the herbs down further into the hole. When the holes are about halfway full, I place another three drops of oil in them, and another three drops when the hole is filled for a total of nine drops of oil in each hole.
Once the holes are filled, I then use something to anchor the herbs with. In the case of a Money Drawing Candle , for example, I may use a whole dried chamomile flower or a small piece of lodestone grit pushing one in each of the holes sealing in the herbs and oil. Next, the candle is anointed around the rim of the candle and the wick with my chosen oil.
Finally, I grasps the vigil light with my left hand and place my right palm down on top of the candle. Holding the candle in this matter, I make my prayer or petition by speaking an impromptu affirmative prayer from my heart or reciting a Psalm When I am done, I pick up the candle with my left hand and keep my palm over the top and then I gently bang it against the altar three times to seal the candle. The candle is then lit and allowed to burn.
You don't have to use this method, this is simply my preference. Whatever you decide to do, I suggest that you use the same number of holes each time as it will become a part of your personal ritual.
Place three drops of condition oil in each hole and then carefully fill each of the holes with your chosen herbs. In addition to herbs, you can place the personal concerns of the person the candle is to effect in the holes as well, that is if it is small enough and will not cause a fire hazard. From time to time you will have to push the herbs down further into the hole. When the holes are about halfway full, I place another three drops of oil in them, and another three drops when the hole is filled for a total of nine drops of oil in each hole.
Once the holes are filled, I then use something to anchor the herbs with. In the case of a Money Drawing Candle , for example, I may use a whole dried chamomile flower or a small piece of lodestone grit pushing one in each of the holes sealing in the herbs and oil. Next, the candle is anointed around the rim of the candle and the wick with my chosen oil.
Finally, I grasps the vigil light with my left hand and place my right palm down on top of the candle. Holding the candle in this matter, I make my prayer or petition by speaking an impromptu affirmative prayer from my heart or reciting a Psalm When I am done, I pick up the candle with my left hand and keep my palm over the top and then I gently bang it against the altar three times to seal the candle. The candle is then lit and allowed to burn.
Vigil Lights: Observe and Report
I personally regard the setting of lights as a journey. The journey begins when you first light the candle and ends when the candle is spent...as the candle burns it leaves evidence of the journey along the glass in the form of wax remains, plant matter, soot, cracks, etc.....The appearance of such signs and omens often have a direct connection the person for whom the candle is set, their emotions, and / or events surrounding them.
I begin with a Blank Vigil Light Observation Worksheet. Beforehand, I fill in the clients name or ID number and mark the wax-level on the diagram. Once the setting-of-lights has been completed I make note of the date, time, and moon phase that the work was begun as well as any additional information that may be relevant to the working. I check the candle at approximately the same time each day making note of the day, date, time, etc....marking the wax-level and any signs or other omens I may observe. For example, did the moon go void-of-course during the day. If so, what time? Did any marking appear on the candle during this time, etc....?
If the client has been in communication with me during the process of their candle burning, I make note of any information they shared and compare this to the candle. For example. I recently noticed that on the third day of a candle burn a blackish soot began to appear on the glass around 7 pm. The following day, the client emailed me and shared that she had had an argument with her boyfriend around that time.
When the candle is spent, I make note of the overall condition of the glass. I examine it for residual wax or plant matter clinging to the glass, soot, residue, or even breaks in the glass. When examining a vigil-light I often get psychic impressions about the work that have nothing to do with the anything I physically see in or on the glass. I then take all this information into account and write a Candle Burn Report. The client is emailed the candle-burn report.
I begin with a Blank Vigil Light Observation Worksheet. Beforehand, I fill in the clients name or ID number and mark the wax-level on the diagram. Once the setting-of-lights has been completed I make note of the date, time, and moon phase that the work was begun as well as any additional information that may be relevant to the working. I check the candle at approximately the same time each day making note of the day, date, time, etc....marking the wax-level and any signs or other omens I may observe. For example, did the moon go void-of-course during the day. If so, what time? Did any marking appear on the candle during this time, etc....?
If the client has been in communication with me during the process of their candle burning, I make note of any information they shared and compare this to the candle. For example. I recently noticed that on the third day of a candle burn a blackish soot began to appear on the glass around 7 pm. The following day, the client emailed me and shared that she had had an argument with her boyfriend around that time.
When the candle is spent, I make note of the overall condition of the glass. I examine it for residual wax or plant matter clinging to the glass, soot, residue, or even breaks in the glass. When examining a vigil-light I often get psychic impressions about the work that have nothing to do with the anything I physically see in or on the glass. I then take all this information into account and write a Candle Burn Report. The client is emailed the candle-burn report.
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