The Magic of Beeswax
“We have chosen to fill our hives with honey and wax; thus furnishing mankind with the two noblest of things, which are sweetness & light.”- Jonathan Swift (1667-1745)
If honey is the essence of sunshine than beeswax is a reflection of that. The hive of honeybees has fascinated and inspired humanity for thousands of years. The ingenious and beautiful architecture of the hive is one of the greatest phenomenon’s of the natural world. The wax produced by honeybees is used to build their home. The wax combs within the hive make up the “hive body.” All the inner processes of the hive take place on these combs. As Jaqueline Freeman states, “The Unity communicates through the comb. Each bee movement is telegraphed throughout the hive by comb vibration. Movement within the hive conveys a harmonic vibration.” The comb is much more than structure and home it is a vehicle of communication where vibration may resound and reverberate throughout the “hive body.”
How is Beeswax created?
Beeswax is a wax that is created by the honeybees through their ingestion of honey. The worker bees or “maidens,” of the hive have four glands on the abdomen which secrete tiny flakes of wax. The sugar contents of the honey are converted by these glands to produce tiny flakes of wax. The worker bee then chews on the flakes of wax making them more malleable. The bees work to keep the hive at a consistent 95 degrees making the manipulation of wax easy. The bees link legs in a behavior known as “festooning,” from there they build the wax comb as they link together in a honeybee chain.
The question of how the bees make perfect hexagonal cells is still up for debate within the scientific community, however myself and others believe the answer lies in a resonance produced by the bees through sound and vibration. Frequencies and vibration have the ability to create geometric patterns, this was first discovered by a German physicist named Ernst Chladni in the 18th century. This gave birth to a whole field of study known as “cymatics,” which is the study of visible sound and vibration.
And why a hexagon? Well the hexagon is a shape of both strength and efficiency allowing for maximized honey storage all while utilizing less building material or “wax.” The way the hexagons fit perfectly together in an infinite pattern creates both strength and stability.
The six fold rotational symmetry of the hexagon is found in many symbols and geometric patterns- the flower of life being one of many ancient symbols that incorporate the hexagon. It is even found within our own DNA.
Ancient Uses of Beeswax
Beeswax is an incredibly versatile substance. It is malleable, easily molded, protective, & flammable. As such Beeswax has been used by many ancient cultures and civilizations for thousands of years.
Beekeeping depicted in Ancient Egyptian art
In Ancient Egypt beeswax was used extensively from practical uses to being used as a tool in the practice of magic and sorcery. Beeswax was used by magicians and sorcerers to make statues of humans and animals, said statues were used in many different rites and rituals. Beeswax was also used in the mummification process and the coffins in which the bodies were placed for being transported were sealed with beeswax.
Altough there is no direct reference to beekeeping in the great civilizations of Sumeria and Babylonia beeswax was used as early as 2050 B.C. for the casting of bronze images by the process known as cire perdu which means modelling on a coating of wax which is afterwards melted out. The ancient Greeks would also practice this, it was known as the “lost wax method,” in it malleable wax was modeled and then covered in clay; this was then heated so the wax melted; leaving a cast in one piece into which molten metal could be poured. This was all used to create statues and other figures, sculptures and more.
Beeswax candles have been utilized for thousands of years. Beeswax has a higher melting point than other waxes and as such emits the brightest flame it also burns slower, has its own beautiful scent and lasts far longer than any other candles. In medieval Europe beeswax was actually worth eight times as much as honey. There were many kinds of beeswax candles during this time, perchers were tall candles used for altars and ceremonies, quarerres were large square candles that were used in funerals, flambeaux were essentially torches made from material soaked in resin and coated with wax.
The use of Beeswax played an important role in many rites and rituals around the world, especially those associated with death. There is an interesting thread to weave here as many ancient peoples also believed honeybees to be messengers from the spirit world. In Ancient Greece bees flying through the cracks of rocks were thought to be souls emerging from the underworld just as the Ancient Egyptians believed the insects to be human spirits that could fly anywhere. This thread continues to weave through many cultures the deeper one dives, nonetheless I think it is no coincidence that the medicines of the hive including beeswax were used extensively in such important rites and rituals.
Working With Beeswax
Beeswax has a melting point between 143-151 degrees fahrenheit. Beeswax can be used in a wide variety of skin care products and topical medicines. It can be added to lotions and ointment to naturally harden or thicken the substance. It helps to keep moisture in the skin by forming a strong protective barrier. The most common herbal medicine that utilizes beeswax are herbal salves. Herbal salves is simply an herbal oil combined with a wax such as beeswax to produce a thicker and harder consistency than the oil alone. Salves are an excellent topical for chapped lips, dry skin, topical skin inflammations, cuts, scrapes, burns, and more ( they should not be used on deep wounds however).
There are many other uses of Beeswax and perhaps the most prominent is Beeswax candles. These are very easy to make though they do require a lot of wax. I have been drawn to making what are known as Mullein Candles or “Hag’s Tapers,” these are very easy to make, take a lot less wax, and can be made from the wax from old candles in conjunction with unprocessed beeswax comb. Mullein is native to Europe and Asia and was brought to North America. It is said that the name "Hag Taper" comes from its use by witches as candles for their rituals, but there is also a chance it came from the word “Hedge" because it often grew in hedgerows. They are often lit and used around Samhain to pay respects to ancestors, and they have been traditionally linked to rites around death.
Below I give instructions on how to make these magical candles:
Simply gather dried mullein stalks
Melt your wax in a large pot- on low heat we never want the wax to boil.
Once the wax is melted, dip the mullein stalk in- then it is optional to roll your wand in herbs then dip in the wax once more.
Keep dipping the stalk in the wax until there is a nice thick coating.
Once done, set out to dry on parchment or wax paper.
While burning use a solid candle holder and secure wand into the holder- then light and be amazed at the beautiful flame emitted.
Beeswax is truly an amazing substance and a reflection of the beauty and magic of the natural world. Honeybees truly are nature’s alchemists and through their relationship to plants they are able to create the incredible medicines of the hive. It is important to always honor and pay respect to the bees who work so hard to make these precious substances.