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Candle Magick

Candles do not have to be elaborate, large and fancy to work powerful magick. A birthday candle works just as well as a $25.00 one. Candles are tools. And like all tools, they do not contain any magickal power of their own. The power of any candle spell or ritual is only as powerful as the amount of energy you put into it. You can light the 'right' coloured candle on the 'right' day of the 'right' moon phase, annoint it with the 'right' oil and say words you found on a web site to make your spell, but absolutely NOTHING will happen if you don't put every ounce of yourself into it that you can. That means saying those words with real conviction, putting real thought and personal power into what you want from your spell or ritual, and following it up with actions that will help bring about that intent.

Before performing a candle ritual or spell, some Witches like to annoint their candles during a waxing moon to consecrate, and charge them with magickal energy. Here is one of the many oils you can use to anoint candles with along with a candle blessing. For a reference table of other oils that can be used, please see my page called 'Oils' in the section called 'Herbs, Incense, Oils, etc.'

Goddess Oil

1/2 teaspoon dried yarrow
1/2 teaspoon dried sweet basil
1 teaspoon powdered myrrh
3 drops lavender oil
1/2 cup olive oil

Place all ingredients in a clear glass jar and gently swirl in a clockwise direction to slowly agitate the oils. (As you do this, fill your mind with images of the Goddess and visualize Her divine power as an aura of white glowing light radiating from your hands into the jar of oil, charging it with magickal energy.)

Seal the jar with a tight-fitting lid and store it in a cool, dark place for at least seven days. Strain the oil through a cheesecloth and use it to anoint candles for love spells, Goddess invocations, divinations, healing rituals and all positive forms of magick.

Candle Blessing Ritual

Using your bare hands, rub anointing oil into the wax starting at the middle of the candle and work your way to the top as you say:

I CONSECRATE THEE
AS A TOOL OF MAGICK
BLESSED BE!

Start again in the middle and this time work your way down to the bottom of the candle and say:

I CHARGE THEE WITH POWER
IN THE NAME OF THE GODDESS
SO MOTE IT BE!

Keep in mind that their is a lot of room for experimentation here to find out what process works best for you. You may find that you'd rather rub your candle differently while charging it with whatever intent you have for it. Instead of using an oil, you may want to carve the intent of the candle along it's stem instead, or do it along with using an oil. It's important that you feel comfortable with the way you go about doing your magickal workings, so don't be afraid to try something different just so long as it feels right for you. That means, don't just skip something because your too lazy to put in the effort. Magick is all about effort, so if your not willing to put 100% of yourself into your spell or ritual, don't bother.

Imagination and creativity play a key role in candle magick. Your spell can consist of a coloured candle and a powerful prayer, or be more elaborate, incorperating other objects into it. For example you could write your intent on a piece of paper, read it out loud and burn the paper. Or use a string. Strings are often used for breaking things like bad habits, or separating yourself from people that have a negative influence in your life...cutting the cord so to speak. Speak your intent (preferably in a chant or rhyme) and burn the string into two pieces. A small bit of hair can be burned to add more of a personal touch to spells. Not too much. Hair stinks when it's burnt!

You'll notice that I have references for days, colours and so on to help you know more about candle magick. These are just guidelines. In the real world your bound to find that you can't follow every reference every time you do a spell. For example, you may not be able to do it on the particular night listed as most condusive to your need, or have the right coloured candle on hand. Don't sweat it. Do the spell on the night that's best for you, and remember that a white candle can be used in place of any other coloured one. Even another colour candle can be used. Remember that the power is coming from you. The candle only carries energy when you charge it, and it's that energy that matters, not the colour of the candle. You may find that you need candles to be the specific colours that are recommended to help you focus. If you do then make sure you always have a large selection of coloured candles on hand. Although I have candles in every colour imaginable, I find that white tea light candles work well for me. Again, experiment and find out what feels right for you.

When performing candle magick, think about what size candle you need. Candles can only be used for a single spell. You can't perform a money spell with it one day, and use it to send healing to an ailing friend later on. An individual candle can only be 'programed' for one use. So when thinking of what you need your candle for, take into consideration how long it will be burning, and if you'll be burning it on more than one day. Using a giant candle for a spell that will last an hour is just a waste of wax. If you are not going to let the candle burn out completely, a good thing to do is store the unused portions of them with others until you have enough to melt down to make a candle that can be used to light for the earth over and over. If you aren't able to do that, then let the candle burn completely, or bury the unused stubs in the earth.

Can't get outside to do it because of the weather? No problem, a must for city witches is a planter of soil used specifically for burying left over spell materials. Once the weather turns warm, put the earth in a bag and bury it outside. Personally, I find throwing left over spell materials in the garbage disrespectful, and recommend not doing it. If you can't keep a pot of soil in the house to dispose your left over spell materials, just put them all into the same plastic bag and hide it until you can bury it outside in the earth.