A candle before being lit appears beautiful and proud.
As soon as you turn it on, here it becomes even more beautiful and proud.
How wonderful to witness the intimate relationship between flame and wax!
Later, gradually, the candle shape begins to fail,
the flame dissolves it inexorably, while the leaking wax spoils its features,
and it is now clear that the end is near,
and then the candle disappears consumed by the flame,
and even the flame disappears consumed by the candle,
and the great mystery is understanding,
where the flame and the candle go …

Candlemas

The term Candlemas comes from the tradition of the Roman Missal where the celebrant of the Mass on 2 February blesses the beeswax candles for use during the year. According to ordinary history candles have been used for more than 5000 years and were first developed by the Egyptians, although the Romans are credited with introducing wicks. The name candle comes from the Latin candere, which means “to shine”. Candlemas is an ideal time for reawakening our capacity to shine who we truly are in the separated darkness of this world. “Wake up sleeper. Rise from the dead. Let the Christ enlighten you.” teaches the Gnostic Paul, summing up the core message of Christianity, which implies releasing our dormant identities based on separation and resurrecting our united luminous nature. Blessing candles on this day can be an empowering ceremony to exemplify this process and to remind it throughout the year, whenever those candles are used. Candlemas commemorates the Purification of the Virgin Mary and the presentation of the infant Jesus in the Temple 40 days after his birth. It is the Christianised version of the Pagan celebration of Imbolc. Imbolcmeans, literally, “in the belly” (of the Mother), “in milk” or “milk wolf”. For more details click here.

Celebrities born today:

James Joyce, Irish author (2 February 1882-d. 1941), Sun in Aquarius, Moon in Leo, Ascendant in Capricorn.

Beauty, the splendour of truth, is a gracious presence when the imagination contemplates intensely the truth of its own being or the visible world, and the spirit which proceeds out of truth and beauty is the holy spirit of joy. These are realities and these alone give and sustain life.

There is not past, no future; everything flows in an eternal present.

I will not serve that in which I no longer believe, whether it call itself my home, my fatherland, or my church: and I will try to express myself in some mode of life or art as freely as I can and as wholly as I can, using for my defence the only arms I allow myself to use — silence, exile and cunning.

Hella S. Haasse, Dutch writer 2 February 1918, “Heren van de Thee”, translated to “The Tea Lords”

Thomas Disch, (11.9) American science fiction author and poet (2 February 1940-d. 2008),  The Genocides, Camp Concentration, 334 and On Wings of Song

Farrah Fawcett, (11.4.4) American actress (2 February 1947-d. 2009)

Barbara Sukowa, (11.5.5) German actress 2 February 1950

Eva Cassidy, (11.3.7) American singer (2 February 1963-d. 1996)

Simon Wickham-Smith, (11.12) British musician, former Buddhist monk, translator, astrologer 2 February 1968

Shakira, (11.4.1) Sun Aquarius, Moon Cancer, Ascendant Aries, Colombian singer 2 February 1977

ACIM: 33. There is another way of looking at the world.

Saints: Presentation of the Lord – Feast.

Gospel of Thomas: (25) Jesus said, “Love your brother like your soul, guard him like the pupil of your eye.”

Concise Epitome: 4.2 The most noticeable response at this stage seemed to be that of stretching beyond the Frontier. But for the Handorians that answer was not at all translucent. (La replica umanamente più ovvia era di provare a ire oltre la Frontiera. Tuttavia, per la stirpe di Handor, la cosa non figurava per nulla lampante.)