Magic and Religion 3

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**Magick In Religion… Candle Magic?**

As different Religions developed over time, more ancient ideas of magic
infiltrated that present religion’s practice. Prayer Wheels, Prayer
Flags, Prayer Candles, Petitions, and Sigils are the five I will mention here
that originated from Magic.

I grew up in Orthodox Christianity which denounced magical practices and
 until I was older and better informed, I never knew that pagan magic
practices were still observed in the church.

Everyone has done Candle magic Before!

What is the origin of birthday candles?

It is said that the custom of placing candles on a birthday was started
by early Greeks who used to place candles on the cake that they offered
to Artemis - the Goddess of Moon. Lit candles made their round shape
cake glow like the moon. Germans, who perfected themselves in the art of
 candle-making placed candles on the cake but for religious reasons.
They used to place a big candle in the centre of the cake to represent
'light of life'. The candle is marked with lines and numbers, usually
12, which would be burned every year. Scholars also say that the custom
of placing candles originated because people believed that Gods lived in
 the skies. They thought that lit candle helped to send signals and
prayers to the god so that they could be answered more effectively. The
other belief that people held was when a person makes a wish while
blowing out the votive candle a signal or message was received by the
god and the prayers would be answered

A great many of the early Christians were Greeks and they brought candle
 magic into the church. Instead of lighting candles to Artemis, they lit
 them to the Virgin Mary or to Jesus, believing their message was
received by the new god and the prayers would be answered. I was also
taught as a child that the votive candle continued to pray on my behalf
until it burned out.

In a few churches where the lighting of candles faced objection, the
reason was changed to say that they represented “Burnt Offerings”,
something common to both Jewish and Christian Scriptures.

What are Petitions?

These are written Prayers on scraps of paper. They are read aloud and
tossed into the fire and burned. The prayers are supposed to go up to
God in the smoke, since the Scriptures mentions smoke of offerings
ascending up to God. The practice originated in Pagan Worship Rituals.

Some churches placed a “Petition Box” on the alter of the church and
people would insert their paper prayer requests. The Priest or Minister
would place his hand on it and bless it during services. On December 31,
 the last night of the year, at exactly midnight, believed by many to be
 the exact moment of the nativity, the box of Petitions would be burned.

Prayer Wheels

People observed a wheel or ring has no beginning or end and messages
were often inscribed in wedding rings. Inscribing “Forever Faithful”
would insure the wearer would be exactly that. The practice infiltrated
other religions and prayers or desires were inscribed on wheels or
cylinders and turned to send the messages forth. Prayer wheels are more
common in Buddhist Temples, but have appeared in some Christian Churches
 and are mentioned in at least one or more Christian Hymns.

Prayer Flags

Prayer flags are common in a number of religions, but most common among
Buddhists. One takes a cloth like a handkerchief and writes their
Petition on it as they do a scrap of paper. Instead of burning, it is
placed in the wind so that the air will carry the message to heaven. A
few Christians have been observed to use Prayer Wheels and Prayer Flags.

Sigil (magick)

In medieval ceremonial magic, the term sigil was commonly used to refer
to occult signs which represented various angels and demons which the
magician might summon. It spread into medieval Christianity and Churches
 and homes employed graphic designs to ward off evil. It continues today
 among some Christians of the Pennsylvania Dutch as "Hex Signs" painted
on barns to ward off evil, But mainly, we think they are symbols of good
 luck or good fortune. There is present articles which try to remove the
 HEX status of the name and reduce them to decorations. Examining a Hex
sign will reveal it has religious symbols and numerology to make it have
 spiritual value and effect. The cross, The Fish (IXTHYS), Circle,
Triangle, and Wreath are all Christian accepted Sigils.