My mother loved decorating candles. For decades every autumn and winter she would sit close to the heater, warming up the wax to make it easier to attach it to the candles. She developed several techniques and designs, mixing the colored bee wax. She loved flower designs, and colored balls, stripes and many more. She also created candles for birthdays or when somebody passed away. There would always be more colored wax at the bottom of the candle than at the top, because it made it look and burn nicer. There were stripe designs and some more intricate and personal. This one is the Zodiac design with all the symbols of the zodiacs.
She believed that her art was temporary and that the candles needed to be lit in order to appreciate their true beauty. Just like a theatre play that is alive and can be appreciated only in that moment. She got upset with people that would hoard them, keep them, without lighting them up.
I have kept my mom’s candles for many years. Never burning them.
Now, I try to put them in all of the showcases I am directing. Dedicated to her. For others to appreciate the fleeting beauty, the temporary life of the flame before it is extinguished.
For most of her life she gave away her art for free. She tried to sell some of them, but selling them never made her happy, so she continued to give them away for free. That was her spirit.
I am trying hard to hold on to some of her spirit. Last night she came to me in my dream.
Piece by piece, show by show, I am letting go, and sharing some of her art and spirit with the world. A temporary glimpse of her beauty.
Have a blessed day.
Miss you, Mom.
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