April 13, 2020  /  Uncategorized

How do I begin to practice Candle Magic?

Introduction

From the earliest times fire has been a central part of magickal and spiritual practice and drawn us towards it. We have all felt the profound spiritual resonance that comes from being close to fire, the warmth and comfort in the home or the meditative state we drift into just by staring into the dancing energy of the flickering flames. All the four elements wield powerful influence upon our emotions and connection to the universal energy. Walking barefoot through the waves as the water meets the beach, feeling the power of the storm whipping through our hair or the overwhelming scent of the earth as we stroll along the forest path in the early morning while the dew still dampens the ground. It is elemental. It is potent.

Candles symbolically encapsulate all 4 elements. The flame is the fire element but the candle body represents earth, the melted wax represents water and smoke represents the air

Can I cast magick spells?

Yes. Anyone can use magick. It is a part of all of us, and the universal energies that surround us are available for anyone to connect with. You don’t have to be a witch, follow the Craft or delve deeply into the occult. With clear intentions, plenty of focus and simple instructions you can learn how to cast and create your own spells that will change your daily life.

The root meaning of ‘witch’ is derived from the old English word ‘wyk’. It means to ‘bend and shape’ and sums up the essence of spell craft. We bend and shape our lives to our liking using spells to express the changes that we seek and connect us to the Universal energies which make that change possible.

However some simple principles are important:

1) Seek no harm to others is a valuable guideline for most magickal practice.
2) Be motivated only to achieve what is in our highest good to achieve.
3) Set aside bad intention, pursuit of revenge or that which is not in our best interests to receive. There is much talk of ‘the power of three’ and the risk of negative intentions bouncing back threefold just as positive intentions can be multiplied threefold. It is a matter for every individual to determine what type of practice fits within your own moral framework. Trust your own intuition. I prefer to think in terms of Karma. The universe will not deliver what it is not in your best interests to receive and leave those who have treated you badly to receive their own karma.
4) Magic will usually take the most direct and simple route so be very clear on what you intend. ‘Never have to work with that woman again’ – might sound great at the time but getting sacked might be less so!!! Be very clear on your intentions and focus on the steps needed to secure your intention!!
5) Spells should only be cast for yourself and not others. By all means share your practice if you wish and show others how to perform what they wish for themselves but it is best to avoid casting for others and in my view NEVER without explicit consent. Interfering with other people’s free will is a personal line for me but you must find your own.
6) Spells should be born out of need to work well which doesn’t mean desperation but it does mean for your highest good.

How does Candle Magick work?

Candle Magick allows us to symbolically harness the elements and these universal energies to manifest our will. It is a very straightforward way to begin your own magickal journey and to develop ritual practices or spells that help you manifest your intentions no matter which faith or pathway you follow.

Reinforce and strengthen your Spell

1) Use of coloured candles bring strong associations to qualities and attributes which can make the visualization of your intention more focused and therefore more effective. Specific colour attributes are listed here but remember it is YOUR association with the colour which matters most as it is your intention and visualisation which is the key to your spell craft. Spell candles are ideally solid colours rather than dipped. You choose the colour or colour combination which best suit your intention for each ritual.

Using Colour

Red – assertiveness, courage, creativity, energy, passionate love, sex, strength
Orange – ambition, concentration, eloquence, legal issues, intellectual pursuits, success
Yellow – attractiveness, clarity, happiness, intelligence, persuasiveness, travel, confidence
Green – growth, fertility, harmony, health, prosperity, wealth, luck
Blue – dreamwork, healing, intuition, loyalty, peace, spirituality
Purple – connecting to the higher self, communing with higher beings, meditation, psychic
abilities and development
Pink – beauty, compassion, femininity, partnerships, romantic/innocent love, morality,
White – all-purpose (can be a substitute for any other color), cleansing, purification, truth,
reflecting energy (PISCES
Black – absorbing energy, banishing, breaking things (bad habits, hexes, etc.) discovering
hidden wisdom, protection, self-defense
Grey – invisibility (not literal), loneliness, neutralizing energies and spells, wisdom
Brown – abundance, family, friends, gardening, grounding, pets, stability

Using Anointing

Anointing or dressing the candle. During the process of anointing each candle focus on the intention and how it will be manifested. Typically about 50-100 strokes should do it. You may feel your fingers becoming tingly with the energy. You might not. All that matters is to focus on your intent. This builds the psychic connection with each candle and the link to your spell. It becomes charged. I do this as part of my ritual once personally cleansed and in my meditative and sacred space.

Anoint or dress the candle by rubbing a natural oil gently into the candle. You can buy a magickal oil, make one or use an essential oil. However any natural oil is fine. Grape oil is popular but any unscented oil is a good base to use. However if using essential oils take care that you know the properties of your chosen oils as some can be chemically toxic or cause allergic reactions if in contact with the skin. Many essential oils are chemically manufactured rather than a natural product so be aware and make sure that what you are using is enhancing your spell in the way that you think. Herbs and oils can also have specific attributes and by choosing ones that are appropriate to your spell you can further strengthen and enhance your spell.

Different traditions use different methods to anoint. I use a small amount of my preferred oil and rub the oil into the candle starting in the middle and rubbing out towards the bottom of the candle. When that has been done for bottom section I start again in the centre and work the oil out towards the top of the candle. It is the focus on your intention and connection with the candle which I feel is essential in this step. It is appropriate to recite an affirmation during this process. The form of words could be whatever you feel appropriate but this is an example

“I cleanse and consecrate this candle in the name of the Lord and the Lady. May it burn with strength in the service of the light.”

You may choose to roll the oiled candle in your chosen herbs that you feel are appropriate to enhance the spell or not. It is entirely a question of which practices you feel most comfortable with.

Using Carving

You may wish to inscribe or carve symbols, runes or names into your candle which are appropriate for your spell. The same principle as dressing the candle is used. To draw something to you, write from the top to the middle, and then from the bottom to the middle. To repel things, write from the middle to the ends.

Other Enhancements

How do I know what herbs, crystals, numbers or other useful things might be good for my spell or to place in my sacred space for this ritual?

It takes a long time to build up your own database of spell ingredients and materials for every situation but don’t worry because lots of people have been there before you!! Google is useful!

Witches use Tables of Correspondences to detail useful ingredients, herbs and materials by intention so you can easily find things to use in your spell or to substitute for missing items in a spell you want to use. The White Goddess website has a searchable database of correspondences you can use http://www.thewhitegoddess.co.uk/correspondences/index.asp

Performing the Spell

So I get all this theory but HOW DO I DO A SPELL?
Everything starts with your intention. Decide your Magical Objective.

– Be precise and specific about your goal – things can go very wrong if you are not very clear on EXACTLY what you are manifesting!!!!!
– Always be realistic
– Keep your intention ethical.
– Break down big objectives into a series of smaller steps to get you to the goal

Design your spell

– Choose your candles and the objects you would have on your altar or use in the ritual.
– Use the table of correspondences to help select useful items you are drawn to use.
– Decide on a time, day or phase of the moon that you feel is right for your spell.
– Write a short chant or invocation that fulfills the purpose of your spell. You can google and adapt. It is personal to you.

Collect your materials and organise your sacred space

– This is part of the spell. You are building the psychic link between your intention and the objects to be used in the ritual therefore you must be focused while you select the materials and layout your altar or sacred space.
– Select the incense to be used, crystals or natural materials, flowers herbs or magickal items.

Prepare your self for the ritual however best suits your practice.

– I enjoy a ritual bath and cleanse, anointing and preparing myself with a meditation focused on my intention before entering my sacred space.
– anoint the candle/candles selected for the spell while focused on my intention and in my sacred space. Runes, herbs or carving would also be added at this stage and while in my sacred space.

When the time has come to cast your spell, sit before your candle and follow these steps

Meditate as long as necessary to relax yourself. Take a few deep breaths, release tension and let go of distractions and concerns.
Begin to visualize your goal, as if your objective has already been fulfilled.
Try to experience the feelings you would have if your goal were accomplished. You would probably be happy, relaxed, and relieved. Imagine what you’d look like, how would your life would be changed if your spell was successful.
When you have a clear visualization in mind, repeat your chant/ invocation as often as you feel is necessary to raise energy. When you feel yourself bursting with your goal in mind, light the candle.
Imagine the candle’s aura (the light aura right outside of the flame) is growing, getting bigger and bigger, filling the whole area. Imagine it growing out, expanding into the universe to bring you to your goal. You may continue chanting if you desire.
Spend some more time visualizing yourself attaining your goal. Hold the visualization as long as possible.
Make sure your candles are in a safe place to allow them to burn down and leave them to burn down if it is a one day ritual. Candles should not be left to burn unsupervised. Bury the candle remains in the earth to complete the ritual.
If the spell requires repetition over several days it is fine to extinguish the flame and re-use the candles over the following days but usually spell candles are only used once and for one ritual. When extinguishing spell candles avoid blowing them out as it is scattering the intention and ruins the spell. Use a snuffer or cleanly extinguish them by an appropriate method.

And Finally….

There are few hard and fast rules, you will find with practice that you develop the methods and materials that work best for you. Everyone is different. Adapt others spells freely to make them your own but make sure that what you do has a reason and purpose and is clearly thought through.

Remember magick finds the easiest route and may manifest itself in mundane and routine ways. There is no such thing as coincidence!