Quick Specs
- Type: Ceramic candle holders for thick chime or thin taper candles
- Color: Black ceramic with gold-colored decoration
- Design: Gold tree of life inside a circle of knotwork
- Size: About 1.25 inches tall and 1.25 inches wide
- Candle opening: About 0.75 inch
- Set: 5 holders
A Gold Tree Sealed Inside a Circle
A gold tree fills the front of each holder: a thick trunk, branches that reach out into a rounded crown, and roots that spread below the trunk as widely as the branches spread above it. A band of interlaced knotwork runs around the outside and closes the tree into a circle, so the image sits on the black ceramic like a seal. The drawing is fine enough that single roots and twigs stay separate, and the black shows through between them as negative space. The knotwork loops over and under itself all the way around. The mirror of root and branch is the heart of the design. What you see above ground has a twin beneath it, and the circle ties the two halves into one figure. The candle opening sits just above the circle, so the flame burns over the crown of the tree. The five holders carry the same seal, which suits a row on a long table or a shelf, one seal for each flame. The cups are small enough to sit beside a plant, a bowl of stones or a stack of books.
The tree of life is one of the most widely shared images in human culture. Mythologies, religions and philosophies from many parts of the world describe a tree that joins the sky, the earth and the world below, or that stands for growth, renewal and the cycle of life. The details change from one telling to the next, but the shape is easy to recognize: roots going down, branches going up. Because so many cultures use the image, it is a shared symbol, and you can read it through your own beliefs. Common readings include growth, strength and connection, and a candle in a tree holder suits work on any of those: a new project taking root, a family you want to keep close, or a plan that needs a stronger base. Because the tree sits between ground and sky, it’s easy to read as a figure for what holds you up and what you’re reaching toward. The design stays open to your own meaning. It’s an old image, drawn here in gold on black.
Practical Ritual Applications
Place one holder at the center of your altar with a green or white candle, and let it stand for whatever you’re growing: a project, a habit, a friendship. Set the five along a table from left to right and light one each evening for five evenings. A tree needs roots as well as branches, so put a bowl of soil, a small stone or a written list of what supports you beside the holder. On a household altar, give each person a holder and let them choose the candle. The set pairs well with plants, wood, stone and other natural pieces, and my altar supplies include bowls, cloths and tools to build around it. Whatever you light, say aloud what you’re tending.
How to Light and Store Tree of Life Holders
Preparing the candle, tending the flame and storing the set take three steps.
- Trim the Wick and Seat the Candle
Keep the wick at about a quarter inch, since a long one burns fast and unevenly. Slide the base of the candle into the opening with a gentle twist until it stands upright and steady. A candle that sits at an angle burns lopsided and drips, so seat it again before you light it.
- Light It and Tend the Flame
Light the wick, say aloud what you're tending, and sit with the flame for a moment. Keep it out of drafts, which make the flame flare and the wax run. Don't leave the flame unwatched, and keep the table out of reach of children and pets.
- Snuff, Cool and Store the Set
Snuff the flame and let the holder cool all the way before you handle it. Wipe away dust or wax once it's cold. Store the five holders with a layer of cloth or tissue between them to protect the gold work from the neighboring cups.
The Tarot Fellow Standard
I stock this design because the tree of life is a widely recognized symbol that fits into a practice of any kind. The black ceramic and gold circle look the same on a plain shelf as on a dressed table, and five holders give you a full row. The holders work beside a deck, a bowl of stones or a family altar, and five identical cups keep a first altar simple if you’re new to candle work. For more holders in other sizes and styles, my mini candle holders are collected in one place.
Frequently Asked Questions
No single place. Scholars disagree about where the image began: some trace it to one ancient civilization, and others see a shared image that arose on its own in several places. Its earliest depictions appear on ancient reliefs, seals and pottery, and the image is still in wide use today.
Chime candles are small spell candles, about 4 inches tall and 1/2 inch across, and they burn for 1 to 2 hours. Tapers are long, slender candles that narrow toward the top, and common sizes run 6, 10 or 12 inches. A holder as short as this one suits a short, thin taper best, because a tall candle in a low cup tips easily, and fire-safety guidance asks for a snug fit.
Put a heat-resistant surface under it first. A holder keeps the candle from tipping, but the cup warms as the candle burns, and fire-safety guidance calls for stable, heat-resistant surfaces and a clear space around the flame, away from cloth, paper and other flammable material. A ceramic tile, a metal tray or a stone dish under the holder gives you a safe base, and a cloth edge should never hang near the flame.
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