Red / Vulcan

Often seen with a blacksmith’s hammer in hand, he is associated with the colors red and orange, the colors of fire. It is from him that we get the world “volcano.” It is Vulcan who forged the weapons of the gods, including Jupiter’s thunderbolt.

While a god like Apollo might help inspire you to think more creatively or come up with more inventive ideas, it is Vulcan who tackles the more work-minded side of things, toiling away at the forge to create the real-world items needed to achieve one’s goal. Vulcan harnesses the power of fire to build what is needed to get the job done.

So as you watch the burning of this red candle, one dedicated to Vulcan and illuminated by Vesta (because the flame is always Vesta), think about that distinction—the difference between dreaming and doing.

As with all the candles in this candle-burning series, this red Vulcan-dedicated one burned with the characteristics of the god it is associated with. It had a strange and thick, high flame.

It also had an eruptive quality to it, not unlike a volcano. The red wax flowed in a way that was unmistakably lava-like.  Each time the flame flared on the wick, I could imagine Vulcan striking something at the forge, creating some vital instrument.

On top of that, the behavior of the flame was lively, spectacular and unpredictable, even burning at a slant at times—precisely the kind of showmanship one would expect from the god of fire.