I love that you got a visit. I was just chatting with Rene on a book I am reading about that. How comforting....

Heidi

What a blessing to receive those unique signs from Jerry!!!   What an amazing Spirit he is!  We love you Jerry and always will!     

admin said:

The candle I mention is very comforting, especially on days like this. Hopefully Codie's mom can drop by to share her tips for making such a wonderful rememberance candle.

Finally had a minute to write up all I know on making remembrance/prayer candles.... When Rosa, my Heart Dog, died I was pretty much inconsolable. As part of my grieving/healing process I made art, taking off on the Mexican traditions of making 'nichos', which are kind of like reliquaries, and prayer candles. These are tall 7-8 inch candles in glass holders--they usually have a picture of a saint, or the Virgen de Guadalupe, with a prayer on the back. I had run across these wonderful works of art/prayer/devotion at my local neighborhood Mexican folk art store/gallery/ community center--they even had a candle that has Barak Obama's head photoshopped onto a picture of a mexican saint who was the son of a black slave and a spanish land holder--pretty cool! Making prayer candles is fun and relatively easy and helps immeasurably to heal the soul, even if, like me, you are an atheist!  I have an altar with candles I made for my Rosa and dearly departed Kati dog, and now for sweet Jerry, Patron Saint of Tripawds......plus I have St. Francis, Barak, and the Virgen there too just to cover all the bases!

Anyway, you want to start by getting a blank candle (or two or three). There are a number of places on the web to get the candles but they are pretty expensive (5.00 and up) and you have pay shipping. Web searches for  prayer candles, seven-day candles or, in Spanish, veladoras should give you a start. I live near a primarily hispanic neighborhood and our local Walgreens carries blank candles (1.50-3.00, maybe not as good quality as those you could get online--I don't know). Also any larger Mexican grocery store should have them.

Somehow I didn't run across this site when I started out but found it recently and it pretty much gives you all the basic how-to's: http://candlean......about.com.....andles.htm

Once you get your hands on a candle or two let your creativity run wild. Pour your heart into it! You can print images on paper or you can also get water slide decal paper for inkjet and laser printers--thats what I used for Jerry's candle. Decal paper can be found at hobby stores--model train and airplane people seem to make alot of custom decals--or on the 'net.

Try  http://www.deca.....r.com/cate.....ry-s/2.htm. Decal paper comes in clear and also in white. On clear decal paper, lighter colors will not show up as well, especially if you are applying the decal to a darker color surface. Decal paper is a little hard to work with--the smaller the decal the easier it is. You have to deal with wrinkles and air bubbles but it is a fun alternative to paper and the images are vastly superior to plain paper. I recommend some additional web surfing for more handy hints before trying this.

You can also use stickers ....OMG, there are soooo many stickers out there--thats where I got the paw prints for Jerry's candle. Go to your local crafts store--they have glass paint, all kinds of things you could glue on--go 3-dimensional!

Whether you use paper or a decal be sure to use a protective fixative as well. An archival varnish for example.

The cool thing about these candles is that you can refill them! But you have to be careful when you are cleaning them, especially if you used paper images with no varnish --I learned that the hard way :~(.
There is also somebody out there that makes self-contained candle inserts for the glass holders-no muss, no fuss! Go to http://www.sanj.....ndle.com/6.....candle.htm.

OK, thats about all I know about making candles. Have fun!

That candle is really nice.  What a great idea.  On the first  year anniversary of losing our Luna, and her parents, Eik and Kora, I put a photo of them by a small votive candle (in a holder).  The bottom line is that it is good, I think, to remember and to burn that candle in memory of that special pet (or person) who was so important in your life.  I burn a candle like that for relatives as well as pets who have gone on to the Rainbow Bridge.

My grandmother had a black French poodle for 17 years.  The dog's name was "Vicky" and she bought her in Paris.  They were so close to one another and when she lost her it was very difficult.  Anyway, many years later, my grandmother was in her kitchen one day (not cooking) and she said that Vicky "manifested" right in front of her!  She said that there was a black mist (and, no, it wasn't "smoke") and then the mist formed the shape of her dog.  She said the eyes were glowing (just like they do when light shines in them).  She was really thrilled.  She wrote in her diary, "Vicky manifested today".  That was it.  Very matter of fact, because she believed it totally.  It wasn't smoke, and it wasn't anything else.  She was not afraid, and said after a few minutes the form dissipated.  My grandmother was totally "with it" and it wasn't her imagination. 

Although I haven't seen any of my pets, I certainly "feel" them strongly.  Their spirits are strong and still around, I truly believe that.