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Candle magic is one of the simplest forms of spell casting. Considered sympathetic magic,
it's a method which doesn’t require a lot of fancy ritual or expensive
ceremonial artifacts. In other words, anyone with a candle can cast a
spell. After all, remember when you were a child and you made a wish
before you blew out the candles on your cake? Same theory, only now
instead of just hoping, you're declaring your intent (and by now
you've probably stopped hoping for a pony). If you think about it, the
birthday-candle ritual is based on three key magical principles:
What Sort of Candle Should I Use?
Most practitioners of Wicca will tell you that, much like a few other
aspects of life, size really isn't important. In fact, really big
candles may be counterproductive -- a candle that takes too long to burn
down can be highly distracting to someone working a spell that
instructs you to wait until the candle burns out on its own. Typically, a
short taper candle or a votive candle work the best. In some cases, a
spell might call for a specific type of candle, such as a seven-day
candle or a figure candle, which may represent a particular person. One
of the most popular candles, believe it or not, is in fact the little
menorah candles which are sold by the box in the kosher section of the
grocery store. They're about 4" long, white, unscented, and thin --
perfect for spell work.
You should always use a brand new candle for spell work -- in other
words, virgin materials. Don't use the candles that you burned at the
dinner table or in the bathroom yesterday for spell work. In some
magical traditions, once a candle is burned it picks up vibrations from
things around it -- in other words, a used candle is already tainted by
vibrations, and so will lead to a negative or ineffective magical
outcome.
When it comes to colors, you may wish to have a variety on hand for
different magical purposes. Typically, color correspondences for candle
magic are as follows:
* Note that in many Pagan traditions, it is acceptable to use a white candle in place of any other color.
Using Your Candle in Ritual
After you've selected a candle, you'll want to oil it or dress it
before burning. This is a method by which you'll establish a psychic
link between you and the candle itself. In other words, you're charging
the candle with your own energy and personal vibrations, and projecting
your intent into the wax before you burn it. To dress a candle, you'll
need a natural oil -- many practitioners like grapeseed because it has
no smell. Another option is to use special candle magic oils from one of
the Wiccan supply stores. Begin at the top of the candle, and rub the
oil downward to the middle. Then, begin at the base of the candle and
rub the oil up towards the middle, ending where the first coating of oil
left off. In some traditions of Wicca, the anointing is done just the
opposite way -- start in the middle and work your way towards the two
ends.
If your working calls for herbs to be used as well, roll the oiled candle in the powdered herbs until it is coated all the way around.
The most basic form of candle magic uses a piece of colored paper
that matches the intent of your candle. Decide what your goal is, and
write it on the piece of paper -- just for an example, let's say we're
going to do a money working. Write down your intent -- something like I will become financially prosperous.
In some traditions, you would write your intent in a magical alphabet,
such as Theban or Enochian. Because this is a money-oriented working, we
would select either a gold or green piece of paper, and a candle of the
same color. As you write down your goal, visualize yourself achieving
that goal. Think about the different ways in which your goal might
manifest -- could you be getting a raise at work? Perhaps someone who
owed you money will arrive out of the blue to repay their debt.
Once you've written down your goal, fold the paper, concentrating on
your intent the whole time. Some people like to say a small incantation
as they do this -- if you're one of those people, this is a good place
to do it. It doesn't have to be anything fancy. You can use something as
simple as:
Extra money come my way,
I could use a little cash today.
Extra money come to me,
An it harm none,
Three times Three
As I will, so it shall be.
Place one corned of the folded paper into the candle's flame and
allow it to catch fire. Hold the paper as long as possible (without
burning your fingers) and then place it in a fire-safe bowl or cauldron
to burn the rest of the way on its own. Allow the candle to burn out
completely. When the candle has burned out completely, dispose of it,
rather than saving it to use again for another working. Usually there's
not much left of a candle except a stub of wax, and you can either bury
it outdoors or dispose of it in whatever manner you choose
it's a method which doesn’t require a lot of fancy ritual or expensive
ceremonial artifacts. In other words, anyone with a candle can cast a
spell. After all, remember when you were a child and you made a wish
before you blew out the candles on your cake? Same theory, only now
instead of just hoping, you're declaring your intent (and by now
you've probably stopped hoping for a pony). If you think about it, the
birthday-candle ritual is based on three key magical principles:
- Decide on a goal
- Visualize the end result
- Focus your intent, or will, to manifest that result
What Sort of Candle Should I Use?
Most practitioners of Wicca will tell you that, much like a few other
aspects of life, size really isn't important. In fact, really big
candles may be counterproductive -- a candle that takes too long to burn
down can be highly distracting to someone working a spell that
instructs you to wait until the candle burns out on its own. Typically, a
short taper candle or a votive candle work the best. In some cases, a
spell might call for a specific type of candle, such as a seven-day
candle or a figure candle, which may represent a particular person. One
of the most popular candles, believe it or not, is in fact the little
menorah candles which are sold by the box in the kosher section of the
grocery store. They're about 4" long, white, unscented, and thin --
perfect for spell work.
You should always use a brand new candle for spell work -- in other
words, virgin materials. Don't use the candles that you burned at the
dinner table or in the bathroom yesterday for spell work. In some
magical traditions, once a candle is burned it picks up vibrations from
things around it -- in other words, a used candle is already tainted by
vibrations, and so will lead to a negative or ineffective magical
outcome.
When it comes to colors, you may wish to have a variety on hand for
different magical purposes. Typically, color correspondences for candle
magic are as follows:
- Red: Courage and health, sexual love and lust
- Pink: Friendship, sweet love
- Orange: Attraction and encouragement
- Gold: Financial gain, business endeavors, solar connections
- Yellow: Persuasion and protection
- Green: Financial gain, abundance, fertility
- Light Blue: Health, patience and understanding
- Dark Blue: Depression and vulnerability
- Purple: Ambition and power
- Brown: Earth-related or animal-related workings
- Black: Negativity and banishment
- White: Purity and truth*
- Silver: Reflection, intuition, lunar connections
* Note that in many Pagan traditions, it is acceptable to use a white candle in place of any other color.
Using Your Candle in Ritual
After you've selected a candle, you'll want to oil it or dress it
before burning. This is a method by which you'll establish a psychic
link between you and the candle itself. In other words, you're charging
the candle with your own energy and personal vibrations, and projecting
your intent into the wax before you burn it. To dress a candle, you'll
need a natural oil -- many practitioners like grapeseed because it has
no smell. Another option is to use special candle magic oils from one of
the Wiccan supply stores. Begin at the top of the candle, and rub the
oil downward to the middle. Then, begin at the base of the candle and
rub the oil up towards the middle, ending where the first coating of oil
left off. In some traditions of Wicca, the anointing is done just the
opposite way -- start in the middle and work your way towards the two
ends.
If your working calls for herbs to be used as well, roll the oiled candle in the powdered herbs until it is coated all the way around.
The most basic form of candle magic uses a piece of colored paper
that matches the intent of your candle. Decide what your goal is, and
write it on the piece of paper -- just for an example, let's say we're
going to do a money working. Write down your intent -- something like I will become financially prosperous.
In some traditions, you would write your intent in a magical alphabet,
such as Theban or Enochian. Because this is a money-oriented working, we
would select either a gold or green piece of paper, and a candle of the
same color. As you write down your goal, visualize yourself achieving
that goal. Think about the different ways in which your goal might
manifest -- could you be getting a raise at work? Perhaps someone who
owed you money will arrive out of the blue to repay their debt.
Once you've written down your goal, fold the paper, concentrating on
your intent the whole time. Some people like to say a small incantation
as they do this -- if you're one of those people, this is a good place
to do it. It doesn't have to be anything fancy. You can use something as
simple as:
Extra money come my way,
I could use a little cash today.
Extra money come to me,
An it harm none,
Three times Three
As I will, so it shall be.
Place one corned of the folded paper into the candle's flame and
allow it to catch fire. Hold the paper as long as possible (without
burning your fingers) and then place it in a fire-safe bowl or cauldron
to burn the rest of the way on its own. Allow the candle to burn out
completely. When the candle has burned out completely, dispose of it,
rather than saving it to use again for another working. Usually there's
not much left of a candle except a stub of wax, and you can either bury
it outdoors or dispose of it in whatever manner you choose
