ILLUMINATION: THE POWER OF THREE

In numerology, three is rich with meaning. It represents creativity, growth and transformation - the spark that turns two into something new.

Three years into Sister Mary, it felt like the perfect moment to celebrate where we’d been and where we were headed, continuing our annual tradition of designing a bespoke prayer candle that tells the Sister Mary story. 

REVELATION: COME ALIVE

We looked to our namesake, Sister Mary Corita Kent, and found our inspiration in the words of one of her most iconic screen prints: “Tomorrow, the stars come alive.”

COME ALIVE became our mantra for our third year, and intention for year four: fresh ideas, new connections and to continue creating work that makes people feel something.

Paired with the mystical power of three, it became a celebration of creation, connection and a little divine intervention.

CREATION: THE FUTURE TAKES SHAPE

We drew from areas that have inspired the Sister Mary team - tarot, nature, spirituality, and folklore - to build a world rich with symbolism.

At the heart of the illustration are elements drawn from four tarot cards: The Sun, The Moon, the Three of Cups, and the Ace of Swords. Together, they speak to joy, intuition, community, and creative energy, with the Three of Cups offering an additional nod to Sister Mary’s small but mighty three-person team.

Beyond the tarot, the triskel represents the past, present, and future, while the all-seeing eyes, phases of the moon, and vines in full bloom suggest growth, possibility, and what lies ahead. A triple-goddess vase echoes the recurring motif of three while drawing on ideas of transformation and the different phases of a creative life. Smaller details, from tiny nuns referencing Sister Mary Corita Kent to the queen chess piece key hole, are tucked throughout the composition as moments of discovery.

These symbols come together in a richly crafted, kaleidoscopic visual language, layered with intricate detail, flashes of gold, and hidden discoveries that reveal themselves the longer you look. The result is an uplifting, slightly mystical portrait of Sister Mary at year three: reflective of where the studio has been, rooted in where it is now, and full of possibility for what comes next.

REALIZATION: A FAMILY AFFAIR

The candle became the starting point for an entire celebration.

We extended its mystical world across invitations, tarot cards, coasters and a bespoke cocktail menu, then created every element by hand - labeling each candle with love, and cutting every card with care.

Finally, we welcomed our friends, clients, collaborators and supporters to our Brooklyn rooftop for a late-summer celebration, sending everyone home with a candle of their own—and an invitation to COME ALIVE in the year ahead.

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