This listing is for one bundle of three Mullein, Mugwort, Yarrow and Rose Ritual Torches from The heART of Ritual.

There is alot of fire tradition and lore connected with Mullein and both the Summer and Winter Solstice. In the middle ages the fibers inside Mullein stalks were gathered and dipped in lard for use as candle wicks, the spires themselves used as lanterns, and the fibers inside Mullein are much beloved material for friction based fire making. In Celtic tradition Mullein is regarded as a light sentinel (showing the way in the dark), and I find it interesting that the flowers - which happen to be the colours traditionally associated with the fire element - happen to begin blossoming over the Summer Solstice, the high point of the fire element in the Celtic Wheel of the Year. These ritual torches are my take on the historical use, integrating wild native magical and medicinal herbs that were traditionally used as fumigration offerings in Celtic festival fires.

My personal practice is to gather these Summer Solstice fire spires to create ritual torches for (Summer and) Winter Solstice ceremony - this brings light during the darkest part of the year and ritually incorporating a fire element offering to the Celtic festival that celebrates the return of the light (the waxing sun and waning moon). They can of course be incorporated into any form of ritual and ceremony that calls for light, a fire offering, or fire element representation, so the invitation as always is work with them according to your own unique prayer expression.

Each bundle contains a trio ritual torches, to represent the trinity or BEing and also reference the upward facing triangle, the alchemy symbol for the element of Fire. Each is adorned with a mini posey of wild lunar botanicals, and a hand written plant fiber paper label embossed with our Celtic Wheel of the Year mandala art. These are lovingly held in place with a beautiful plant fiber cordage made from mugwort and rose. Each ritual torch is finished with a dusting of golden muscovite.

As a seed saver, I gather these wild Mullein spires as I find them and dry them upside down in paper bags so that the seeds are easily collected. Mullein is not a plant that is plentiful in our area, so I am particularly passionate about giving it a helping hand to thrive. The seeds are redistributed back out into different areas of the mountain so that the wild Mullein population is supported and can spread. Once the seed is retained, I cut the spires into several handy sizes and ceremoniously craft these ritual torches by dipping them in herb infused soy wax. Note that I used to use local beeswax for these but now prefer to work with soy rather than purchase beeswax from bees and beekeepers I do not know. The spires for these ritual torches came from a newly established colony near a place that I call 'Angel Falls' (a waterfall that has wild angelica growing there), which is at the top of a place I call 'Belladonna Street' (due to the amount of Belladonna growing there. Its a truly magical place. The largest of the Mulleins there was easily almost nine feet tall, so clearly they are happy there. I have also included spires from Mullein that grew in our own garden this year as happy visitors! The largest sentinels grew over one storey high and over the summer solstice it looked to me that there was a competition on between them and their Mugwort neighbours (on the other side of the path) to see who would grow tallest.  Mullein won, but only just.

I adore these ritual torches, and love that nothing goes to waste. The seeds from these spires have already been spread and I'm looking forward to seeing how they get on next year and how this new Mullein patch up at Angel Falls gets on next year too!

As always, please burn candles responsibly and never leave unattended.