Athena is found in many stories and myths, as such I wanted to include the ways in which I have I come to know of her in my Fire of Athena Black Sacred Candle. There is an ancient technique I learned to get the attention of powerful Gods and Goddesses. This technique requires research and personal gnosis, and the combination of both allow the practitioner of magic to call upon such energetic force to increase the odds of an ask in favor of the practitioner.
Symbolic Translation
Utilizing what I know of her (including some of the glorious epithets from the incense that I will also use), I was able to begin inscribing the candle with various symbols. From pre-Hellenic myth, Minoan Athena had appeared with serpents around her arms (Spretnak, 1981). Of course, we can never forget that later stories include how she had Medusa (serpent-headed Gorgon) beheaded and used that power to strategically prevent the rape of Danae (in Revisioning Medusa entry by Laura Shannon, 2017).
The strategy of weaving, whether in the field using plants as described by Spretnak or her ability to weave strategy in her actions (or at the very least her connection to weaving) are further shown with the story of Arachne. This made the web of the spider seemed fitting too.
What other symbols could one use?
Find those that speak to you!
Crafting Your Black Sacred Candle
The Black Sacred Candle this month is not only to protect your magic and space, but to allow a deeper connection to the energy of Athena. This connection is important to our craft and to the knowing of ourselves. We carry this same energy and can learn how to harness it for our use upon our path!
Never created a Black Sacred Candle? We have you covered! Learn how here.
Supplies and Ingredients
- Black Candle
- Athena Incense
- Olive Oil or oil of your choosing
- Calendula Petals
- Aluminum Foil
- Parchment Paper
- Candle Holder
- Salt
- Candle Scribe (or toothpick)
Directions
- Take a piece of aluminum foil (large enough to wrap your candle in) and place it on your workspace.
- Take a piece of non-stick parchment paper (about the same size as your aluminum foil) and place it on top of the aluminum foil.
Trick: Fold the edges of the aluminum foil over the top of the edges of the parchment paper to keep it from rolling! - Preheat oven to 200 degrees.
- Over your parchment, begin to inscribe your candle with symbols for Athena and chant the ways you know her, using epithets or otherwise.
- Place your candle on top of the parchment paper and anoint your candle with your chosen oil.
- Add the Calendula petals.
- Coat the candle in Athena Incense.
- Wrap the candle inside the parchment and aluminum foil.
- Place the wrapped candle in the oven.
- DO NOT LEAVE THE KITCHEN (lesson learned the hard way), turn your candle every 2 minutes (this took me about 12 minutes total).
- Pour a little salt into your candle holder, add a few Calendula petals, then cover with more salt.
- Once your candle is heated and slightly mushy, remove from the oven. Carefully open the foil and let it cool.
- Nestle your completed Black Sacred Candle within the candle holder and light it, calling to Athena.
Caution: Please make sure there are no large chunks of plant material as these can be dangerous or ‘pop’ during candle burning. As always, please abide by all fire safety rules.
May your inner strategist be called to the surface and your connection to Athena be woven strong!
A Candle & A Key,
Kaycee
Resources
Re-Visioning Medusa: from Monster to Divine Wisdom edited by Glenys Livingstone, Ph.D
Spretnak, C. 1978. Lost Goddesses of Early Greece. Beacon Press Boston.
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