by D. L. Cocchio

Bring some love into your life on Valentine's Day and every day by making a homemade love candle.

Ingredients:

• 2 - 3 lbs of wax (canning wax is good)
• thin candle wicks
• red candle dye - 1 square
• 1 tsp lavender
• 1 tsp. crushed rose petals
• ½ tsp basil
• lavender oil

Step 1: Chop the wax into small pieces. Place the wax in an old coffee can and place the can in a large sauce pan containing 1 inch of water. Boil the water, and then turn down the flame to medium. Stir clockwise with a wooden spoon or stick. Always watch wax when melting - it's very flammable.

Step 2: While the wax is melting – in a separate bowl mix together the ground, crushed rose petals and basil. Grind the lavender buds and add them to the mixture. Empower the herbs as you visualize love coming into your life. Put your desire into the mixture.

Step 3: Take 1 square of candle dye and break into smaller pieces with a knife. Add pieces one at a time to your melted wax mixture until you get the desired pink or red shade that you desire. Stir clockwise.

Step 4: Add about 16 drops of essential lavender oil. The scent should be strong, if not, add more oil to your liking.

Step 5: Pour the hot wax into votive molds that have been prepared with candle wicks in each center. Let the candles cure overnight before unmolding.

To use your love candle: Hold the candle in your hands and close your eyes for a moment. Visualize love coming into your life. Visualize sending power and energy into the candle and say something like:

I charge this candle with the power of love,

I charge it with the power of the Sun, Moon and Stars above,

I charge it with the energy of the four directions -

North, South, East, and West,

Bring the love that is for me the best,

Bring love to me,

Bring love to me,

Bring love to me,

So Mote It Be!

Light the candle, sending out vibrations to attract love into your life as you desire. Burn the candle each day until all of the wax is gone.

If you want to know more about the power of candles and fire in a ritual, be sure to check out Secrets of Fire Majick, a class presented at Off the Beaten Path in March by Mama KiKi. Be sure to call early to reserve your spot.