Notes from Candle Power by Cassandra Eason

I recently flicked through Cassandra Eason's book Candle Power and made the following notes, which I thought I could share with you.

Candle Time
This can be used when a family discussion is needed. Take a candle and etch equal intervals down the side of the candle. When talking, each member gets the time for their section on the candle to burn down and they can talk freely and uninterrupted. It can be helpful to hold discussions in candlelight as this can help calm emotions.
I really think that this can be a useful practice I can include in my home-life.

Candle Gazing to resolve a problem
Choose a quiet place and light a white candle. Gaze into the candle, eyes half-closed, whilst chanting your question like a mantra. Focus simply on your question and the candle flame. Once the candle has burned down, take a warm bath with 10 drops of lavender / rose / geranium oil, then go to bed. Ask for the Goddess' guidance with your problem. On awaking, try to remember any symbols from your dreams and write these in your journal.

Pins in Candles
Great banish ritual - best done on a waning moon.

Endow a long pin with the feeling of whatever you wish to banish from your life by holding the pin between your hands and saying:Sharp pangs cease,
Hard times end;
Into the candle flame,
Bend pin bend. 

Light a purple candle for wisdom and spirituality and as the wax softens, pierce the wick of the candle with the pin, about 2.5cm down, whilst saying:
Burn candle burn,
Turn sorrow turn,
From pain to joy
Bad times destroy
Burn sadness burn


Leave the pin hanging loosely and keep a heat-proof tray underneath the pin so that it catches the pin when it falls.

Burn tiny pieces of wool in the candle flame. With each piece of wool name a regret, disappointment or sorrow and as each is burned say:
It is gone
It is done
No more to return
Burn candle burn

Wait until the pin falls from the candle and catch a small piece of molten wax on the tray. Say:
Pin fall
Do not recall
The pain you caused.
Pin die,
Let my
Heart be
Free
From your thrall
Burn candle all

As the molten wax cools, fashion it into a square (a square is a symbol of limitations) and mark it with a + as an extra banishing symbol.

Let the candle burn down and as it does take a sheet of white paper and write down positive steps for the future.

The following day, bury the square of wax in a pot of earth and plant fast-growing seeds so that daily you can see hope and new life growing.

My Full Moon Ritual Outline

*Modified from Solitary Witch: The Ultimate Book of Shadows for the New Generation by Silver Ravenwolf

Supplies:
Altar and setup (Earth, Air, Fire, Water, illuminator candles). Candles (or other representations) are positioned at the four quarters.

Instructions:
Cleanse the ritual area by carrying a representation of the four elements around the area in a clockwise direction, working with one element at a time.

Open the altar energies by blessings with the four elements:
By the air of the Earth's winds,
By the fire of the Earth's core,
By the water of the Earth's streams, lakes and oceans,
By the stones of the Earth's ancient crust,
By the sacred names of the Goddess and God, this altar is charged

Light the illuminator candles.

Cast circle using fingertip, visualise yourself within the protective glowing white light of the circle.

Call the quarters and elementals:
 All hail the Watchtowers of the East,
Beautiful Sylphs of the element of Air,
I do summon and call you forth,
To guard and protect this circle.
Light Quarter Candle

All hail the Watchtowers of the South,
Burning Salamanders of the element of Fire,
I do summon and call you forth,
To guard and protect this circle.
Light Quarter Candle 


All hail the Watchtowers of the West,
Amphibious undines of the element of Water,
I do summon and call you forth,
To guard and protect this circle.
Light Quarter Candle 



All hail the Watchtowers of the North,
Nature's gnomes of the element of Earth,
I do summon and call you forth,
To guard and protect this circle.
Light Quarter Candle 

Invocation of Arianrhod:
On this night of the full moon, I call on the Bright Lady to join me in my circle.
I await Her as in times of old and in the ancient way, for now is the time of the Mother, the time of magick and mirth.
Bright Goddess, Arianrhod, Daughter of the Great Ancestress Don, I call on You from the ancient wild places and the sacred springs.
I call on You to descend to me from Your Caer Arianrhod, Your home among the stars. I call on You, Great Goddess of the Silver Wheel, Keeper of the Past.
Join me as I stand in the flood tide of Your power, as I see where all paths lead, which is back to You, Blessed Arianrhod.
Flood the dark hillsides with laughter, awaken me that I may see Your many gifts, bless and protect me.
By the light of the full moon, I call hail to You, Mother, known to some as Blodeweud, Arianrhod and Cerridwen. 
I ask for Your presence and bid You merry meet and blessed be! 

State aloud the intent of the ritual

Perform magickal working

Cakes and Ale

Thank deities, thank Watchtowers, release and extinguish quarter candles

Release the circle

Clean up and take libation bowl outdoors to release back to the Earth.