Aphrodite's Ambrosia Self-Love Ritual Candles

Our Aphrodite’s Ambrosia ritual candles center on building a healthy, loving relationship with ourselves rooted in patience and compassion. The scent calls in the rosy, seaside Garden of Aphrodite with rose, apple, bright citrus, and the salty scent of the sea breeze. Rose reminds of our value and that we are worthy of defending, while apple calls in the sensual experience of both being and feeling beautiful. Citrus brightens dark feelings of sadness and loneliness so they may be swept away by the purifying, salty sea breeze. The wax in each is dyed to mimic cosmetics like lipsticks and rouges, called in as tools of self-beautification applied for unapologetically selfish joy. They are topped with a sprinkle of rose petals, as a reminder to feel no guilt for growing thorns to keep ourselves safe. Each is made in a vessel found second-hand, many being vintage though some are modern. These vessels were once loved before being given away or discarded when they were no longer appreciated fully. Each has been given new life, so they may be appreciated, honored, and loved once again—and in doing so, help you rediscover your own self-love. Like each vessel, the world teaches many of us that we will be discarded if we fail to hold the affection of another, but we never have to discard ourselves.

As you burn each candle, focus on your relationship with yourself, not with others. We can’t control how others may act, but we can ensure we never throw ourselves or our self-love away. Every time you light the candle, visualize lighting the Flame of Love in your own heart, burning for your sake and no one else's. Watch as the wax melts and releases the rose petals from their fixed position, so they may have freedom to move and float as they will, before settling comfortably in again once the candle is out and the wax solidifies once again. Consider ways to give yourself similar freedom to follow your whims and pursue your desires, bolstered by your own strength. Know that you can free-float safely on any wind when you trust the love you have for yourself and that you need no one to defend you: you've always had it in you to do that yourself, when you give yourself permission to. When your candle is complete, save the glass to offer libations to Aphrodite and continue to tend and grow your love for yourself. 

If you've purchased the Aphrodite self-love necklaces and earrings, devoted to Aphrodite Anadyomene and available in this Valentine's Collection, these candles can be worked with to consecrate those pieces. Wrap the necklace around your candle, or set your earrings in front of it. As you light the candle, pray to Aphrodite Anadyomene to bless your new jewelry and nurture your love for yourself. If you are an animist, introduce yourself to your amulet and invite it to work with you to grow your self-love, as a mollusk grows a pearl from grit. Work with Aphrodite using the methods that suit your tradition to consecrate the amulet to help tend and grow your self-love. Some options might be passing your jewelry a safe distance above the candle to be blessed by the perfume it releases or spending time working with a mirror (black scrying mirror or silver standard). You may want to consecrate these at an existing altar you have to Aphrodite, or one set up for this purpose in a location where you can pamper yourself as part of your consecration. That may be at a boudoir to apply perfumes or cosmetics, a bathroom sink while doing a skincare routine or grooming facial hair, or other bathroom space during a relaxing bath. If working with this jewelry in a bathroom, please be mindful of any steam and humidity, as both can tarnish the jewelry. If this is your plan, consider placing the jewelry inside a jewelry box, tucking it into a medicine cabinet, or other measures to protect it from the steam before you draw your bath.

We have several styles available:
- Ambrosia Chalice: This candle is housed in a vintage champagne/tall sherbet glass made by Tiffin-Franciscan in pressed glass. This collection, their King's Crown - Cranberry Flashed (Top Only) pattern, was made and released circa 1950-1965 and has since been continued. It features clear, cut pressed glass through the stem and vessel, with the top of the vessel made of smooth pink glass. This vessel holds 4oz of wax.
- Raise a Glass: This vintage vessel is part of the same set as our Ambrosia Chalice candles. This candle is housed in the open sugar bowl, made by Tiffin-Franciscan in pressed glass, as part of their King's Crown - Cranberry Flashed (Top Only) pattern, It was made and released circa 1950-1965 and has since been continued. This version differs in shape; it is shorter, with no stem, and two handles on either side to lift the glass in supplication to Aphrodite, or to yourself. This vessel holds 5oz of wax.
- Ribboned Rosebuds: This vintage vessel featured a texture glass container topped with a metal lid, featuring a design that frames the candle, with a bow in the center of the top arch and budding roses around the edge. This vessel holds 11oz of wax. Please remove the metal lid while burning the candle for safety.
- Roses in Bloom: This vintage vessel featured a smooth glass container topped with a metal lid, featuring a design that frames the candle, with two large blossoming roses in the center. This vessel holds 11oz of wax. Please remove the metal lid while burning the candle for safety. This candle has some imperfections with visible wax drips inside the glass (per photos above) from the process of dressing the candle with roses and is priced accordingly; it is well-suited for working toward loving our imperfections.
- Flame of Love: This vintage vessel features a clear glass block with hearts indented each side, and a hollow in the center that holds the candle. This vessel holds 2oz of wax.
- Pearl's Shield: This modern vessel is made of glass, with an inner reflective surface and deep aqua matte outer coloring. The outline of a seashell is cut into the outer coloring, showing Aphrodite's scallop shell through the blue, asking Aphrodite to teach us how to guard the Pearl of our self-love within our hearts. This vessel holds 6oz of wax.

These candles are made from a blend of coconut-soy and paraffin wax with a single cotton wick. 1oz of this wax burns for approximately 5 hours.

Please practice safe candle burning practices while using these candles. Leave no candle burning unattended. Be mindful of flammable objects near burning candles such as curtains, wall hangs, dried herbs, etc. Keep away from pets and children. Keep wicks trimmed to 1/4 inch for a better, longer lasting burn and safety with flame height. Only burn on a level, fire-resistant surface. Do not burn candle for more than 4 hours at a time. Stop use when only 1/4 inch of wax remains.

For an additional way to work with this piece, please consider our Aphrodite prayer card. It features a fully illustrated front, hand-drawn by one of your local tricksters, while the back includes a prayer written by your other local trickster in the Lady's honor. The prayer can be used to consecrate this piece and deepen your connection with Aphrodite, while the card itself is an excellent altar card and portable way to keep Aphrodite close to your heart as you go about your day. It is available here: https://trickstersapothecary.myshopify.com/products/aphrodite-prayer-card