“There are two ways of spreading light: to be the candle or the mirror that reflects its light.” ~ Edith Wharton (January 24, 1862 to August 11, 1937)
Edith Wharton was an American novelist and short story writer. She is most well known for her novels The House of Mirth (1905), Ethan Frome (1911), and The Age of Innocence (1920). Wharton won the 1921 Pulitzer Prize for Literature for The Age of Innocence; she was the first woman to win the award.
[Source for quotation: BrainyQuotes.com, accessed August 27, 2010. Source for biographical information: Wikipedia, accessed August 27, 2010].
Her quotation reminds me of one of my favorite quotations, “Better to light one candle than curse the darkness” ~ Chinese Proverb
The idea of of spreading light also has New Age connotations. A “Lightworker” is a soul on Earth who is spreading freedom, consciousness, and love in this plane of existence. I belong to Spiritual Networks, a social networking site for spiritual people (or, in my case, a person who wants to become more “spiritual”). Frequently, I will read a post or an email in which the writer closes with “love and light” or “I wish you love and light.” Very nice.
Check out Spiritual Networks. As of this posting, sign up is free.
Here is the link: http://spiritualnetworks.com/
I wish you illumination, love and light.
Andrew Shattuck McBride, Writer's Blog 
Either way works!
Blessings,
Carolyn
Indeed.
Lighting a candle – or reflecting its light – can llighten our load, too.
Blessings, Andy