Pull-Out Candles

[SunKat]

Due to requests from those who regularly perform candle-work at their altars, many curio and candle shops carry pull-out candles -- refills for novena and vigil lights. There are pluses and minuses to the use of pull-out candles, of which the user should be aware.

ADVANTAGES OF PULL-OUTS -

Folks old enough to recall the earlier types of novena and vigil lights will be pleased to know that pull-outs are REAL WAX -- solid wax, not the gooey semi-solid you get these days in vigil lights.

Pull-outs are sturdy enough to burn as STAND-ALONES, that is, standing on their own with no glass, like a commercial pillar candle.

Pull-outs can be LOADED from below with personal concerns, petitions, and so forth.

Pull-outs can be CARVED with names and petitions and DRESSED with oil before being slid into the glass holder.

Favourite glass holders can be re-used again and again.

Pull-outs come in all ten of the standard colours used in candle-magic symbolism. Standard novenas and vigil lights are most often white or yellow, but with pull-outs, you can burn a candle of any colour you prefer in a jar dedicated to the saint or condition of your choice, making personal combinations that cannot be found in stores.

DISADVANTAGES OF PULL-OUTS -

Pull-outs are usually 2 inches wide and 7 inches tall. Because of their width, they do not fit into every single brand of novena or vigil light. There are at least three different patterns of moulds used on the glass for novenas and vigil candles. Wide-mouth novenas made in glass jars DO take the pull-outs but narrow-mouth novenas in what is often called the "sanctuary style" do NOT accommodate them.

The cost per pull-out candle is almost the same as the cost of new glass-encased candle -- and some folks will no doubt think that is too high. The reason for this, as with all candles, has to do with the quality of the wax (pull-outs are made with better wax than novenas and vigil lights) and with the WEIGHT of the candles. Pull-outs weigh about 1 lb. each when wrapped for shipping. Many internet retailers keep their shipping costs very low by estimating shipping on "average" products but candles are not average in weight, so they add the extra candle shipping charge to the price of the candles, which makes them look more expensive than they really are. If retailers did not do this, they would have to calculate and charge shipping on every single order individually, which is beyond most occult shop owners' abilities at math -- and above the math inclinations of most of their customers as well.