The warm scent of melted beeswax is the smell of Christmas and the symbol of Waldorf education for me. Years ago when I was a freshman at Earlham College, my first roommate was a graduate of Green Meadows Waldorf School. She introduced me to Waldorf education and changed the trajectory of my life. She had the poise, confidence, and can-do attitude that is characteristic of many Waldorf graduates and taught me some of what she learned as a Waldorf student. She taught me to knit in our first month of school and from her descriptions, I was inspired when I went home for Christmas to build a bed and make candles. The first project had to be finished by my grandfather and ended my attempts to be a carpenter, but the second one became a yearly tradition.
Today leading the candle dipping with the Fourth and Fifth Graders, I was filled again with the wonder of candle dipping. Most people doubt that children have the ability to walk around in a circle for 45 minutes, dipping their wick once at each pass. However, they are fully immersed in the activity and many do not want it to end. They exclaim as their candles gradually grow bigger and they note the change in color. When the candle first emerges dripping from the hot wax vat, it looks like the pale, off white glaze on a donut. However, by the time the children have walked half way around the circle, the wax begins to harden and assume a deep golden color.
Watching the candle change color reminded me of how teachers get to know their students or how any of us really come to know another human being. At first, there is only the initial impression; like the glaze on the candle, we are only seeing a superficial outer aspect. However, as time passes, especially if we provide a loving space and feel reverence for what we are beholding, the many, many layers of the person are revealed and the rich colors of who they are shine forth, just like in the candle the many layers of wax create the deep rich golden color.
The children have much to teach us about reverence, about being present in the moment, about finding wonder in simple tasks like candle dipping. I took a lesson home with me today from our candle dipping: we can call forth the light in each other by beholding each other in reverence, especially in the dark of winter and in these troubled times.
Submitted by Julie McCallan