Post
by pma » Tue Jan 24, 2012 7:20 pm
I read in the Honey Jar thread that many workers leave the wax remnants from the previous candle on top of the lid of the jar. I can see where votives might make more residue than a 4" candle, so that makes sense.
I've been using 4" candles on my vinegar jar and the most amount of residue that's ever left is a 1/16" half moon shape or a wick that falls over on a 1/16" round coin looking like a ticking time bomb. Many times, the candle just burns completely up and there's nothing but a wick left, other times, the wick gets a bit wet from the oil that was sent to the bottom of the candle by gravity, thus leaving a fallen over wick in some residue.
As it is tough to set a new candle on top of such a small and uneven piece of the previous one, I've been removing these small tokens and keeping them together under the sink in a brown bag. The coins often fall off or slip off the lid when shaking the jar between candles, as well, as the small bit of anointing oil runs to the bottom of the candle as it burns and makes it slippery.
My questions are:
1. Is it detrimental to the work to remove these small coins left of the previous candle? I've been removing them with a razor blade that "lives" with the other candle remains.
2. What should be done with the wax remains? Someone said they would melt some of that down and "feed it" to the new candles being burned. In that case, would you carve the commands on the candle first and then roll it in the melted wax? (**Edited: I found the post by Devi Spring on November 24, 2010 in the Honey Jar thread. She was saying to "feed" candle residue to a vigil candle in small bits.)
3. If it is not important to "feed" the new candles with old residue, should I dispose of the weeks of little candle coins and pieces in a ritual manner while I still work the jar or bury their remains beneath the jar when I bury it?
Thanks in advance for any opinions.
Thank you, St. Francis, for your protection.