The Way of the Hedge Witch by Arin Murphy-Hiscock

Author:Arin Murphy-Hiscock
Language: eng
Format: epub, pdf
Tags: epub, ebook
Publisher: Adams Media
Published: 2009-04-07T04:00:00+00:00

Sacred Flame: Oil Lamps as Spiritual Tools

As the flame is one of the most common representations of the sacred, particularly in hearth-related spiritual paths, lighting a candle or some other kind of flame is a natural thing to do when you wish to have a physical representation of your spiritual hearth in the kitchen. As mentioned in Chapter 2, presence lamps are often employed by temples, churches, and shrines to signify the presence of the Divine.

Candles are lovely but require replacing on a frequent basis, and the heat of the kitchen as well as the drafts created by heat moving can make them burn unevenly or even damage the candle, depending on where you place it. Additionally, the open flame may make you nervous. A good solution to these problems is to use an oil-burning lamp, such as a hurricane lamp or some variation of it (also known as kerosene lamps or paraffin lamps). Lamps like this are fueled by liquid oil that is contained within the base. A wick of cloth or other fiber runs from the oil up through the neck of the lamp, and the flame burns at the tip of the wick. Fuel is constantly drawn up the wick through capillary action. Usually the flame of an oil lamp is protected by a glass chimney, allowing the light to be seen and cast out into the room but protecting the flame from drafts, and the height of the flame may be adjusted by turning a small screw that raises and lowers the wick, increasing or decreasing the amount of wick exposed above the fuel in the base.

There is another style of lamp that is sometimes referred to as an Aladdin lamp, but is more correctly called a dipa. A dipa (literally “lamp”) is a Hindu oil lamp made from a roughly oval clay dish or bowl with one elongated end forming a small open spout-like channel, in which is laid a wick formed of twisted cotton that draws the oil in the bowl up to feed the flame burning at the other end of the wick at the edge of the spout. There is often a handle at the other end of the oval. Dipas in temples can be impressive brass candelabra-shaped affairs with these shallow dishes where candles would be placed, and a wick in each one, burning. Dipa-style lamps burning olive or other thick oils do not catch fire if tipped; the oil simply spreads and the flame dies.

The simplest kind of oil lamp can be made from any heat-safe dish and a wick from thin cotton string. Cut a piece of string about three inches long, and tie a knot in the middle of it. Trim the string until there is an inch on one side and approximately a half-inch on the other. Take a small piece of tin foil about a quarter-inch square, make a small hole in it with a thumbtack or pushpin, and thread the knotted string through it so that the knot rests on top.

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