Silver Candle (Lunar Silver)
Intuition, dreams, and moonlit nights under the silver mirror of Iemanjá (Yemoja)
Silver Candle (Lunar Silver)
7-day candle · stays lit for 7 days7 dias
The silver candle is the candle of the night. It is usually sought by those who are dreaming a lot, by those who feel that intuition is trying to say something, and by those who work with Romani cards, tarot, or another oracle and want a serene light on the table. It is not a color for daily use like white: it appears in moments of seclusion, when a person needs to look inside with more attention.
The foundation comes from Iemanjá. Besides light blue and white, the Queen of the Sea has silver as her metal, and the abebé she carries in her hand is, in many houses, a white metal fan that reflects like a mirror. The moon that pulls the tides is also read as part of her domain. Therefore, the silver candle goes to the congá on Saturday night, and popular Umbanda extends it to the Romani people, who tell time by the phases of the moon.
At home, it asks for silence. The silver candle does not open paths or cut demanda; its work is to clear what is confused inside, without rushing. Those who are beginning to feel mediumship can light it to calm down, but true development is done in a house of axé, with guidance.
What is it for
What is the Silver Candle (Lunar Silver) for?
Silver is the moon's glow over the sea, and in the terreiro this metal belongs to Iemanjá. The silver candle is lit at night to quiet the mind, listen to intuition, understand dreams, to consecrate the reading table, and to protect oneself from illusions.
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Listen to intuition with more calm
When you feel you know the answer but cannot see it, the silver candle helps lower the noise in your head. The prayer request is for clarity, not for divination.
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Understand your own dreams
Lit at the beginning of the night, away from the bed, it prepares the sleep of those who want to remember and understand what they dream. The next day, write down the dream before you forget.
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To consecrate the reading table
For those who play Romani cards or tarot, a silver candle next to the cards creates a quiet and respectful environment. It accompanies the reading; the one who reads continues to be you.
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Ward off illusion and deceit
In the phases when we let ourselves be deceived by a beautiful promise or by invented fear, silver, which reflects like a mirror, is lit to ask for the truth to appear.
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Greet Iemanjá on a moonlit night
On the full moon, facing the window or the sea, the silver candle is a beautiful way to thank the Queen of the Sea for what has already arrived and to deliver to her what weighs heavy.
Who rules this candle
Orixás and spirits of the Silver Candle (Lunar Silver)
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Iemanjá
Queen of the Sea, owner of the silver mirror
Silver is the metal of Iemanjá and the abebé she carries reflects like a mirror. Saturday is her day, and the moon that governs the tides reinforces the connection of the Queen of the Sea with the night, dreams, and deep emotions.
Know Iemanjá -
Romani people
Travelers of the moon and of the oracles
In Umbanda, the Romani people work with the phases of the moon, with cards and with metal coins and jewelry. This custom varies from house to house, but it is common to see the silver candle on the Romani table on moonlit nights, when the prayer request is for intuition.
Also settled for
- Water People
- Mermaids
- Romani spirits
- Caboclas do mar
Prayer to light
Prayer of the silver candle to Iemanjá and to the moonlight
“Mother Iemanjá, owner of the mirror that does not lie, I light this silver candle at the hour when the house sleeps. Put your moon over my head and let the water inside of me stay still, until I can see the bottom. Take from before my eyes what is fear disguised as a warning and what is desire disguised as truth. If anything needs to reach me, let it arrive in a peaceful dream or in a clear thought, without fright. Guard my sleep, guard those who sleep in this house and give me judgment to listen to what I feel. May your cold light teach me to wait, as the beach waits for the wave to return. Odoyá!”Light the candle and pray
Step by step
How to consecrate the Silver Candle (Lunar Silver)
- 1
Wait for the house to go silent
The silver candle is for the night. Choose the time when the television is already off and the movement has ended, because it asks for attention, and attention does not go with noise.
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Look for the window or the moon
If you can, set everything up near a window where the moon appears. If not, a firm and clean table is enough: the moon of Iemanjá also settles inside the house.
- 3
Arrange the water and the mirror
The glass with salt water stays next to the saucer, reminding you of the sea. The small mirror, if any, goes lying down or standing behind the candle, reflecting the flame.
- 4
Say the question before lighting
Hold the candle and say in a low voice what you want to understand. Only one question, well made, is worth more than ten mixed requests. Then light it with a match.
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Write it down and finish without blowing
Stay in silence for a while and write down what comes. Do not blow: cover it with a saucer if you need to leave. The water goes to the ground or the drain, and the wrapped wax goes to the trash.
Precautions before lighting
- A candle lit at night asks for double attention: never let it burn while you sleep, near a curtain, or within reach of a child and animal.
- The silver candle helps you hear your intuition, but it does not decide for you. Make important choices with a clear head and the advice of those you trust.
- Mediumship development and the firmeza of Iemanjá with proper foundation are matters for the leader of your terreiro. A candle at home does not take that place.
- If dreams are frightening or sleep has disappeared, the candle accompanies you, but it is worth seeking help from a professional. Do not carry this alone.
Ceromancy
What the flame of the Silver Candle (Lunar Silver) shows
Traditional terreiro reading. Before interpreting, check if there is no wind, crooked wick, or poor quality candle.
- Good sign
Calm, high, and clear flame
The environment has quieted and the prayer request for clarity was accepted. This is the burning expected on a windless night, with a calmer head.
- Good sign
Wax that melts evenly until the end
The candle burned completely, without crooked remains or dark smoke. Many people read this as a prayer request received with tranquility. It is worth noting what went through your head.
- Attention
Flame that flickers and changes size
It usually accompanies those who lit it with an agitated mind or with several questions at once. Choose only one question and relight the candle another night.
- Attention
Wax dripping in tears
Some readings speak of suppressed emotion that needs to come out. If the sadness is great and frequent, talk to someone you trust or seek a serious terreiro.
- Observe
Wick that curves and drowns
Before seeking a message, check the wick, the wax quality, and the air current. Cut the burnt tip, light it again, and redo the question calmly.
Ritual bath and smoke cleansing (defumação)
Herbs that combine with the Silver Candle (Lunar Silver)
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Lavender (alfazema)
Lavandula angustifolia
The herb of Oxalá and Iemanjá that calms. A ritual bath of lavender before lighting, or a small pouch on the pillow, helps to arrive lighter at night.
See the herb -
Colônia
Alpinia zerumbet
The colônia (shell ginger) is a leaf of the waters. Some leaves in the water of the cup, next to the saucer, perfume the ritual and remind us that the candle is for the Queen of the Sea.
See the herb -
Seaweed
Fucus vesiculosus and related species
Linked to the sea of Iemanjá. A little dried seaweed on a small plate next to the candle brings the sea inside the house on full moon nights.
See the herb
Virtual Candle
Light the Silver Candle (Lunar Silver) now
Choose the type, write your request, and pay by PIX. The flame stays on the altar and you follow along through the link.
Place on the altarFrequently asked questions
Questions about the Silver Candle (Lunar Silver)
What is the silver candle used for in Umbanda?
It serves for requests of intuition, clarity, and dreams, and to greet Iemanjá, mistress of silver. It is lit at night, in seclusion, when the person wants to better understand what they feel, to prepare a reading table, or to protect themselves from illusions.
What is the best day to light the silver candle?
Saturday night, which is the day of Iemanjá. Some houses prefer Monday night, due to the connection with the moon, and almost all value the full moon. If the night is peaceful and the request is sincere, it can be lit on another day.
What is the difference between the silver candle and the golden candle?
The silver one is of the moon and of Iemanjá: intuition, dream, and seclusion. The golden one is of the sun and of Oxum (Oshun): prosperity, brightness, and conquest. One looks inward and the other looks outward, and that is why many people light both at different moments.
Can I light the silver candle when playing cards?
You can. It is well received at the table of Romani cards (baralho cigano) or tarot, next to the cards, as a light of concentration and respect. The candle does not answer in place of the oracle or the reader: it only helps create the silence for the reading.
Can I put out the silver candle and light it later?
You can. Since it is lit at night, the most common thing is to smother it before going to bed, with a saucer turned upside down over it, and resume the next night. Just do not blow out the flame, and never sleep with the candle burning in the room.
What to do with the water and the leftover wax?
Pour the salt water into a drain or into the dirt of the backyard and wash the cup well before storing it. The wax stub, wrapped in paper, can go to the house trash. Those who live near the sea can return the water to the sand, without leaving glass or plastic.
