wax and wane

Referring to the phases of the Moon (about 14th century). Mistakenly presumed to be a reference to the then revolutionary candles. Waxing of a wick produces a candle that, once lit, immediately begins to wane away until complete darkness.

wax and wane (third-person singular simple present waxes and wanes, present participle waxing and waning, simple past and past participle waxed and waned)

1. To progress cyclically through various phases.
2. To alternate; to increase and diminish in turn.

   The manifestation of such philosophy seemed to wax and wane, being the most common one time, but virtually without followers at another, apparently disappearing.