Anointing your Candles

It is a good practice to anoint/dress a candle prior to lighting. Before dressing, decide on its purpose. Once a candle has been dressed for protection, for example, it is important to use it for protection purposes only. This will maintain its purity.

Using a clean sharp knife (Athami) or other instrument, write the word “love” “balance,” “protection,” “neutrality” or whatever you wish to evoke with the candle. You may also use the knife (Athami) to draw the Star of David on the top of the candle.

Next, place a drop of olive on the index finger of the predominant hand, moving clockwise around the candle… begin in the middle of the candle each time you touch it, moving your finger up, then release, touch the middle again, and move finger up, until you have gone all the way around. Repeat the same pattern, this time beginning in the center and going down each time. While you are doing this, say the 23rd Psalm and the Lord’s Prayer (or another prayer that has meaning for you) during the whole process, from beginning to end. Before lighting the candle, you may also sprinkle it with sea salt and olive oil around the plate or candleholder for purity and protection.

To be more traditional and effective, we use stick matches rather than the electric matches or conventional lighters in use today.