Candle Rites to Brighten Your Relationships

In Ghana, they say, “It is better to bring luck than to be handsome.” In America, we don’t often think about bringing luck to our friends and loved ones; however, something we can do to spread blessings and good feelings is treat them to simple rituals. My book, By Candlelight: Rites for Celebration, Blessing & Prayer, is concerned not just with the ways candle lighting provides reassurance and spiritual connection for solitary practitioners, but also how candle rites can be performed to benefit other people—often in front of other people. For example, if you get together with a certain group of friends, you can create memories by bringing out a candle—perhaps some whimsical novelty candle—and lighting it as you say the Rite for Friendship and Fellowship,

... for good times past,
and good times to be.
Let its festive illumination
light up our celebration
of good times shared.

As this candle casts
its circle of light,
so may our family circle
be blessed and protected.
May we always love and
cherish each other

… we honor our own labor,
we honor the labor of those
who have gone before us,
and we honor the labor
of workers everywhere ...