Basics Of Candle Magick

The following is an easy, efficient procedure for candle magick. It can be adapted as necessary for your desired magickal intent.

Choose what color candle you will need:

Black: banishing, hexing, cleansing, scrying into hidden issues.
Blue, Dark: joy, creativity, group efforts, peace, communications
Blue, Light: devotion, inspiration, peace, tranquility
Brown: money, business, home-hunting, earth rituals
Gold: success, sun, God rituals, fortune, good luck
Green: prosperity, fertility, good fortune, renewal, earth rituals
Indigo: deep meditation, karma work, opening psychic powers
Magenta: swift changes, beauty
Orange: power, healing, stimulation, success, Sun rituals
Pink: love, platonic love, friendship, kindness, emotional healing
Purple: wisdom, contact with spirits, opening psychic powers
Red: passion, love, sex, courage, vitality, force of will, victory
Silver: Moon rituals, Goddess rituals, fortune, good luck
White: purification, healing, can substitute for any color, lunar rituals
Yellow: communications, intellect, healing, swift changes

Decide what kind of candle you will use: taper, votive, image, or other type. A votive candle is good for when you have less time to spend in ritual. Once you've chosen your candle, set up your altar according to the nature of your spell.

Carve your candle. A push-pin thumbtack is perfect to use for this. However, you may wish to use a special carving tool. A friend made a wonderful carving tool out of an antler tip and a nail for me.

Consult your rune charts and decide which ones fit your spell. Don't worry if the wax flakes a little, just concentrate on each rune and each letter as you carve your intent into the wax.

Choose an appropriate oil (if available) and anoint the candle. Start at the middle and rub up toward the wick then return to the middle and rub down toward the bottom. When you begin from the middle point, you balance the energy of the candle.

If you wish,. anoint the candle with a drop or two of your blood (do this only if the spell is for you). If you prefer, or if the spell is for someone else, you can stick a few strands of the spell recipient's hair or fingernail clippings to the candle with wax from a candle adapter.

If you desire, roll the candle in powdered herbs or spell powders.

Raise energy and charge the candle with your intent.

Firmly set the candle in a holder and put it on your altar until you are ready to cast the spell. Wax candle adapters are available in most craft stores and they make it easy to fit a candle into a holder that's a little too big.

When preparing your candle, you can do so in circle if you wish, but it isn't necessary.

Let the candle burn itself out if at all possible, unless you are doing a multi-day spell. If you have to extinguish it for any reason, focus on closing the energy down for the day, not on eliminating it. Then, as soon as you can, burn the rest of the candle.

If you are worried about leaving a candle burning, do what many Witches do: start the spell in circle, then when you have to stop, put the candle in the bathtub in a heat-resistant dish that rests a few inches above the porcelain of the tub. Make sure that all towels, shower curtains, and other flammable bath paraphernalia are well out of reach. Then close the door so animals and children can't wander in and get hurt.

There are varying opinions on to how to extinguish the candles on an altar. One theory is that by blowing it out you're blowing away the energy. Another says that by pinching it out, you're pinching off the energy. I usually wet my fingers and pinch out the flame, but my suggestion is that you buy a candle snuffer. They are safe, effective, and you're not really using much of your own energy to put out the flame.

Refer to your rune charts, color charts, and timing charts to coordinate your spell if you are not using one that has been pre-designed.

Chanting while a candle is burning is very effective. Again, make sure the chant matches the intent of your spell.

Wash candle holders between spells.

You can make your own candles, if so inclined, and add oils and herbs directly to them during their creation.

If you are working out of phasewith the moon, pour a little Moon Water (either new or full) into the bottom of a stainless steel pan and place the candle holder in the center of the water. Make sure the water doesn't pour over the top of the holder. This will surround the candle with the energy of the proper moon phase for your spell. You can float spell powders and herbs on top of the water

Embracing the Moon © 1999 by Yasmine Galenorn and Llewellyn Publications. All rights reserved. No part of this book may be printed or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission from Llewellyn Publications except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.