I also wonder if they are real tallow, or just hand dipped wax? If they are tallow, dare I ask what kind of animal fat they're made of?

Is there a difference between "magic" spelled the right way and "magick" spelled the wrong way? And what about "magickally"?

Good price if they are real tallow. I wonder though, since they're all colored, none are "natural" color.

we can buy them at the black powder events (next one in March! woo hoo! people who dress wierder than we do!!). Be warned...they melt VERY easily. The woman who sells them at events has to store them in her cooler...

I can give you a very complete education on Wicca if you like but I'll briefly address the few questions you ask.

If it is a true Wiccan store there will be no "karma" attached to anything you purchase. That would be a direct violation of the Wiccan Rede and the Threefold Law.

The difference is "magic" is what happens at a show with a top hat and a rabbit. Magick is the term used by Wiccans to describe energy circles, sending "good vibes" etc. To do something "magickally" describes the above process.

There is are lots of reasons that the candles are colored but simply put, colored candles are used to make "magick" If you have a questions about whether they really are tallow, contact the individuals selling them, chances are they will tell you. They may also tell you what was used to dye them, so be careful

are the candles intended for use in sacred rituals?

Just as I would expect someone to respect my faith by not using sacred objects for secular purposes, I'd hate to misuse someone elses faiths sacred objects....

(Flashback Catholic moment) Remember those candles we used to light for dead people on the way out of church? You'd put an "offering" in the collection box and then you got to light a little votive candle in a thick red glass cup as a prayer for someone's soul? I think it would be like using one of those. They're just candles until they go into the cup and someone pays to light it.

I could be wrong though. I did tell the people at that place that I wanted to use the tallow candles for historical reenactment, so if there's a problem I'm sure they'll let me know. I will be sure to ask if the issue doesn't come up otherwise.

Fire Stryker

I think we're still OK. No sense in telling these folks where to buy stuff if it's inappropriate for us to use it. These issues are valid concerns for at least AM and me, although they may not be for everyone.

According to Wiccan principles any object is just that until consecrated for a purpose. If you buy a tallow candle from such a place and use it, it's just a light source unless you make it something else.

quote:

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Originally posted by Brenna:
According to Wiccan principles any object is just that until consecrated for a purpose. If you buy a tallow candle from such a place and use it, it's just a light source unless you make it something else.
Brenna

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OK then!

Thanks for the link. 100% beef tallow, great!

They say they are "made from mold"....do we have any evidence for molded candles, or only hand dipped ones? Do we have any evidence as to how candles were manufactured at all?

Still on a quest for affordable hand dipped tallow candles.

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Cheers,

After chasing my tail on the net for an hour, I finally found some links on candle history. They don't answer the question of whether medieval candles were dipped or molded, but they might lead to the answer.
http://apollo.carroll.com/bchs/Pages/lightingarticle.html
http://www.opinicus.demon.co.uk/whistory.htm

[This message has been edited by Bob Hurley (edited 03-20-2001).]

This much I'm sure of - those candles will not be the consistancy of Medieval candles, the reason being that 'the real deal' would not take shipping well. They would want to melt in any kind of heat, and the consumers would complain that they smelled bad.

It is my understanding that tallow candles were dipped, and wax ones could be moulded. Having seen large flambeau candles and candles in chandeliers in Rene d'Anjous book of the tournament (the illumination where the prize is given out), I would say wax candles were moulded, as the various lighting implements of wax have a series of ridges across the body - something that would not be possible with a tallow candle.(Also the Duke of Brittany isn't going to have chandeliers full of whopping big stinky rancid fat candles, he'd spend the 'brass' on beeswax ones, especially for such a ceremony).

I have yet to see a 15th c. painting showing a coloured candle.

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Bob R.

if you're going to burn straight fat, you might as well burn oil!

do we have any evidence that medieval tallow candles werent cut with beeswax, or some other hardener? I know when I make candles for events, I often do a mix of beeswax and modern parafin (for cost reasons), and the end result is indistinguishable from straight beeswax.

I've been meaning to play with tallow candles, and see just how little beeswax you can add to improve its handling properties...

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I do not make the candles, but get them from my supplier. They are made
from wax and tallow from various animals.. Other than that I do not know.

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The source is Jas Townsend & Inc., and the site it here: http://www.jastown.com/lantern/lantern.htm

Oops! After I posted this I noticed that we were looking for tallow, not beeswax candles. Duh.

Please delete this post when you have time.