Light is Returning

Here we are at the end of February (er, ok - beginning of March). And as the title says, Light is Returning. Have you noticed this in your life? The sun rises earlier and sets later every day. Where I am, daffodils are poking shoots up from the ground and there's birdsong in the mornings, all signs of spring on the way.

But we aren't safely there yet. A cold front has brought March in like a lion, or perhaps a grumpy polar bear. The sparrows dodge snowflakes on their way to the birdfeeder, and the back garden is bare and bleak.

February began with the cross-quarter day known as Imbolc; meant to mark the halfway point between the winter solstice and the spring equinox. Traditions from Neolithic Ireland and Scotland might include candles or fire rituals - things we can still appreciate in our homes as the Sun slowly makes its way back into our lives.

Few of us are blessed with wood-burning fireplaces in our homes, but that doesn't mean we have to forego the benefits of the element of fire. Fire is the essence of purification and change (something many of us are clamoring for these days!) and represents sexuality, sensuality, and the will. Incorporating fire elements into your home can give a boost in all these areas.

Whether you've got a fireplace or mantel or not, adding candles to your decor is an easy and inexpensive way to incorporate the fire elemental into our lives. It could be a collection of pillars and votives or just a single small tea light in a jar, but consider adding some candles to your living space. You can, of course, buy fancy ones with exotic scents, but you can also find perfectly serviceable ones at the dollar store - or even your local thrift.

Candles are often part of the centerpiece on dining tables, but you can also group them on your coffee table, end tables, or dresser top. Of course, wherever you place them, you want to be sure they're not near anything flammable (such as drapes or floral arrangements), nor someplace where small children or pets can access them.

Try collecting candles of different shapes together, in seasonal colors or hues that match your decor. The color red is often used to symbolize fire for obvious reasons, but shades of orange, gold, burgundy - really any warm tone can serve to bring the element into your home. Or choose pale colored candles but place them in warm-hued containers such as brass candlesticks, colored tins or pottery.

You may wish to light your candles as a meditation aid, or specific focus for your intentions. Some people will even write down things they wish to accomplish - or dismiss! - and send them into the ether by burning them. If you choose to do this, make sure the candle you use is securely seated in a dish or tray that can catch the ashes; be aware that scraps of paper can still have a flaming edge on them as they fall. If that sounds too risky, you can also inscribe a few words that reflect your intention onto the side of a taper with a pin, and let them be consumed as the candle burns down.

Finally, if you're looking for even more inspiration from the fire elemental, you may wish to listen to or even sing some songs or chants that call on it as a central theme. I titled this post after one of my favorites: Light is Returning, written by Charlie Murphy, has been recorded by a number of artists (I'm fond of the versions by Kiva and MotherTongue).

A great chant for raising energy with friends is Rise With the Fire from the Reclaiming Collective (a newer, reggae protest version can be found here). If you've never experienced singing chants together and have the opportunity to do so, I really recommend it. Our voices are a powerful tool, and joining them together in song helps not only to remind us of our collective power but to help bond us together.

Whatever you choose, I hope this post will help you find some ways to incorporate the energy and inspiration of the element of fire into your life and home. And of course, there's no need to put the candles away once the weather warms, but here in the waning days of winter, they can certainly be a reminder that warmer and brighter days are on the way. I'll be back in a couple of weeks with another update, but until then, I leave you with perfect love and faerie dust.

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