In the Aridian Tradition, the spirit flame is the focal point of the altar. A bowl is placed upon the centre of the altar, and is filled with a special liquid, which will burn a blue flame. The appearance of the blue flame represents the presence of Divinity, within the ritual setting. The use of fire as a sacred symbol is one of the most ancient of practices. If you wish to experience the Spirit Flame, you can perform the following, using any high quality perfume, or cologne. Strega Liquore is excellent, and contains all but one of the original ingredients (it is quite expensive, however). Place the bowl in the centre of your altar (the bowl must be able to hold fire).

Fill the bowl about half-full. Set two altar candles, forward of the bowl, off to each side (you are forming a triangle; the bowl is the bottom point of an inverted triangle). Light the candles, and extinguish any other source of light. With a ritual tool such as a wand or athame, trace a crescent over the liquid, and say:

"In the name(s) of ____________and by this sacred sign, be this the Essence of the Divine "Then take a lit match and touch it, gently, to the surface of the liquid (do not use any liquid other than perfume or Liquor/ liquore).

As you light the bowl say :"I call upon Thee ___________________be Thou present at this sacred place "A beautiful blue flame will appear, and gently dance upon the surface of the liquid. We consider the flame to be sacred, and we use it to bless objects, empower tools, and create our ritual sacred space. Feel free to experiment with it, but please treat it with respect. Allow the flame to go out by itself. You may insert the names of your own deities in the blank space. The technique here is sound, and should enrich what ever you may choose to do with the Spirit Flame. This ritual has been preserved among the Hereditary Clans, and is still an aspect of all ritual gatherings. It is the oldest of our "laws" that nothing may be removed from the Teachings, so we still keep the Old Ways alive (we can add to our material, but we cannot remove anything). In Italy, Strega Liquore has been used as the Spirit Flame liquid, since it was first distilled in 1873. Originally the recipe was sold to the Alberti family, by some Strega (Italian for witch), with the exception of one certain ingredient. Before this, a liquid made from a mixture of distilled grape wine, and distilled grain, was the basis for the Spirit Flame liquid. It was quite similar to Brandy, which was first distilled around 100 CE.

Scenes showing fermentation appear on pottery made in Mesopotamia as early as 4200 BCE. The earliest forms of Spirit Flame Liquid would have been a fermented substance, followed later by one’s which were distilled. Do not use too much Strega Liquore, or a pot which is too big. A pot full of Strega would... well have disastrous consequences. Use only a small bowl, no larger than a cereal bowl, and only use about 2 or 3 oz. of liquid.