Candle magick is one of the easiest forms of magick and the most used by novices. It requires little ritual and few tools. In fact, the tools for candle magick can be purchased just about anywhere. These so-called tools basically entail a candle and a way to light it.
You will not always want or need candles for your altar, but they are popular and are often used to draw or dispense energy in spell work. They are also used to focus during meditation, chants or prayers and provide mood and symbolism through their colors. Color is one of the languages of the soul, influencing our mood and emotions. Just look at inspired or meditative paintings. The artist has used colors and patterns of color to draw you in and inspire certain emotions or states of mind.
The style, size, and shape of your candles are based on need, cost, associations, and convenience:
* Large pillar candles are best when you need to burn the same candle continuously or relight it several times in the course of your spell. If for instance, you needed to light the candle on certain days or during certain cycles of the moon, a pillar candle would be the most obvious choice. Small pillars are easier to find and more economical than larger ones though they don’t last as long.
* Seven-day candles usually come in glass containers so they can be left unattended with ease. I’ve seen these sold in some supermarkets. They are popular to leave lit at gravesites. These are good for times when you need to leave a continuous flame for long periods of time.
* Votives and tea lights are very economical, plentiful, and can be used in a variety of holders. They also come in a variety of colors. These require less supervision than tapers and pillars.
* While tapers are plentiful, versatile, available in many shades of color, they do require close supervision. They could easily fall over and start a fire if left alone too long.
* Specially shaped candles can be poured at home into molds or purchased in various shapes. Homemade candles are the best for magickal uses because you know what has gone into them. While you can scratch symbols and whatnot into store-bought candles, and anoint them, homemade candles can be crafted from the start for a specific purpose. You can also use all natural ingredients, which in my opinion will enhance any magickal working.
* Some Pagans keep a special pair of candles to represent the God and Goddess. A black homemade candle is the preferred God representation, while a white Homemade candle represents the Goddess. Both are used for light and tool consecration.
* Candleholders serve not only to make your candles burn more safely, but also add height, shape and depth to your altar space.
The only real requirement when using candles for magickal use is that it has not previously been used in a spell. All your tools pick up vibrations as a matter of course. Using secondhand materials or equipment may disturb your workings and impair their effectiveness. You can of course cleanse the candle and trim the wick, but it is no substitute for a new candle. If you plan to reuse candle stubs to make new candles, make sure you use only stubs of candles that have not previously been used for some magickal purpose.
An often-neglected aspect of candle magick is the anointing of the candle before use. The fact that this part of their ritual use is neglected should give you some indication of how necessary it really is. That’s not to say that your spellwork wouldn’t benefit from anointing the candle before you begin your ritual, but it is not compulsory. The conscious act of anointing the candle for use before beginning your work will only add to the power of the final spell. Anointing is also a way of dispelling any negative energy clinging to the candle. If you’ve bought the candle at a store or online, do you really know where it’s been and how it was made?
The proper way to dress or anoint a candle is NOT by rubbing the oil up and down, and it is NOT done simply by drawing your oiled hand in one direction. To properly anoint a candle, you must start at the middle of the candle and draw your hand upwards. This will serve to draw the energy of the candle upward when you light it. Then starting at the middle, draw your hand down. Repeat this as many times as you feel necessary. There is no set number to do this. I feel there should be a warning also that you choose your oils carefully. A dressing of volatile oils is a fire hazard we can all do without.
Color is one of the most important parts of magick, especially candle magick. Most witches will collect an array of different colored candles to use in different spells. Each color has its own magickal meaning. These colors represent certain energies, goals, people, and non-physical beings, such as deities or spiritual forces. They have a symbolic meaning immediately recognizable to our subconscious. Colors influence the flow and amount of energy in our bodies. The ancient Egyptians utilized color in their temples for healing, while in India, color is associated with the chakras.
Some magical systems use complimentary colors together, such as red and green, to create an optical illusion that appears to flash when placed together. Such "flashing colors" are said to have great power in attracting the corresponding magical forces. These can be used in almost any type of ritual or spell work when the visual aspect of the color is important. Keep in mind that because one color can mean several things, when you are using different colors, you should "inform" each color of its purpose.
It must be said that not all colors mean the same to all persons and all cultures. The particular symbolism of any given color can vary widely from source to source. Many books offer different suggestions for colors when used in magick. In addition, there are also colors for astrological signs and planetary or elemental magic, which may be relevant to the time at which your ritual is performed.
In the end, when choosing your colors, do what seems right to you. If you do not agree with some aspect mentioned in a book, don’t use it. Going against what your heart tells you just because a book tells you to do something can only lead to the failure of your spell.
Colors (the simple list)
Continue on to the Color page for an extended list of color corrrespondences.
Colors
White : protection, peace, purification, chastity, happiness, halting gossip, spritual truth and strength, breaking curses, and meditation
Pink : emotional love, fidelity, friendship, entertainment, morality, overcoming evil
Red : lust, strength, courage, power, sexual potency, physical health, vigor, protection
Orange : legal matters, success, courage, concentration, encouragement
Gold : intuition, protection
Yellow : divination, psychic ability, mental ability, wisdom, visions, persuasion, confidence, charm
Green : healing, money, prosperity, luck, fertility, beauty, employment, youth
Blue : healing, sleep, peace, psychic and spiritual awareness, prophetic dreams, protection during sleep
Purple : extra power, exorcism, healing, ambition, reversal of curses, speed in healing illness
Brown : healing animals, the home, protecting pets, attracting help in financial crises
Grey : stalemate, neutrality, cancellation
Black : evil, loss, sadness, discord, curses
If you'd like to try your hand at making some candles of your own, try some of these easy Candle Crafts.