Candle use in Magic
Colored candles are often used in spells as one of the 'ingredients' they help to focus the mind and bring added energy with their color or their smell. Candles are used to represent fire in spell work. In the past candles were probably used simply to add light to the room where magic was being crafted. Many use candles to help increase the ambiance of a meditation or healing session. These are the most basic uses of candles in magic. They are not the only ways to use candles in magic.
Candle Types
Candles come in various sizes and shapes to suit the needs of any practitioner. There are the traditional candle sticks that most of us are familiar with. Typically these are 8 or more inches tall. Votive and tea candles are easy to find in most stores. Then there are thick pillar candles that can burn for a long time, some are straight candle others are encased in tall glass 'jars'. The jar type candle can be plain or have a motif painted or printed on the outside of the glass.
Than there are candles that are shaped into a variety of things. Skulls, flowers that can be floated in water, hands, animals, etc. Most any thing you can think of for shaped candles can probably be found with a bit of work. There are seven day candles which often have distinct 'bulbs'. Each of these bulbs counts as a day. These are used in spells that need to be cast several times to enhance the effect.
Candles can be as ornate or as simple as you choose. Manufactured, handmade, big, tall, round, square and who knows what else. You can make your own candles, many stores have the necessary items for you to purchase and books on how to do it.
Candle Colors
The color of the candle you use depends on what magical use you have for it. Candles come in a variety of colors. Some are one solid color all the way through, some have a coating of one color over a white core. Some candles are multi colored either in layers or are dipped in various colors. The best way to tell what the 'true' color of your candle is would be to cut a small portion off the end so that you can see the core. Now don't get upset if you find out that your candle has a white core, it can still be used for the purpose you had originally intended it.
White:
A balance of all colors; Spiritual enlightenment, cleansing, clairvoyance, healing, truth seeking; Rituals involving lunar energy. May be substituted for any color candle.
Yellow:
Activity, Creativity, unity; brings power of concentration and imagination to a ritual; use in rituals where you wish to gain another's confidence or Persuade someone, or in rituals that require solar energy.
Gold:
Fosters understanding and attracts the powers of cosmic influences; Beneficial in rituals intended to bring about fast luck or money, or in rituals Needing solar energy.
Pink:
Promotes romance, friendship; standard color for rituals to draw affections; a color of femininity, honor, service, brings friendly, lively conversation to the dinner table.
Red:
Health, passion, love, fertility, strength, courage, will power; Increases magnetism in rituals; draws Aries and Scorpio energy.
Silver:
Removes negativity and encourages stability; helps develop psychic abilities; attracts the influence of the Mother Goddess.
Purple:
Power, success, idealism, psychic manifestations; ideals for rituals to secure ambitions, independence, financial rewards, or to make contact with The spiritual other world; increases Neptune energy.
Magenta:
Combination of red and violet that oscillates on a high frequency; Energizes rituals where immediate action and high levels of power or spiritual healing are required.
Brown:
Earthly, balanced color; for rituals of material increase; eliminates indecisiveness; improves powers of concentration, study, telepathy; Increases financial success; locates objects that have been lost.
Indigo:
Color of inertia; stops situations or people; use in rituals that require a deep meditational state; or in rituals that demand Saturn energy.
Royal Blue:
Promotes laughter and joviality; color or loyalty; use to attract Jupiter energy, or whenever an influence needs to be increased.
Light Blue:
Spiritual color; helpful in devotional or inspirational meditations; Brings peace and tranquility to the home; radiates Aquarius energy; employ where a situation must be synthesized.
Blue:
Primary spiritual color; for rituals to obtain wisdom, harmony, inner light, or peace; confers truth and guidance.
Emerald Green:
Important component in Venusian rituals; attracts love, social delights, and fertility.
Dark Green:
Color of ambition, greed, and jealousy; counteracts these influences in a ritual.
Green:
Promotes prosperity, fertility, success; stimulates rituals for good luck, money, harmony, and rejuvenation.
Gray:
Neutral color useful when pondering complex issues during meditation; in magic, this color often sparks confusion; it also negates or neutralizes a Negative influence.
Black:
Opens up the deeper levels of the unconscious; use in rituals to induce a deep meditational state, or to banish evil or negativity as in uncrossing rituals; attracts Saturn energy.
As you can see White candles can be used as a substitute for any color. So if your candle has a white core it is still good to use for the intended purpose. Preference is of course to have a candle that is a solid color for the given magic to be performed, but exceptions can be made if needed.
Other considerations
Some candles will burn out quicker than others depending on how they are made. Emergency candles often burn for between 4 and 6 hours with little to no drip. Tall jar and pillar candles can burn for a long time, making them a perfect substitute for 7 day candles. Measure the candle and mark seven equal segments on the jar or the pillar. This is often cheaper than buying a seven day candle. Candle that are scented can be used to enhance the spell provided that the scent is appropriate. You can also scent plain candles with essential oils. Just coat the candle with the oil.
Make sure that you have a good solid candle holder and base for your candles if you intend to burn them for long periods. The holder should have a broad base so the candle does not tip and cause a fire. Also a broad base ensures that a recently extinguished candle will not tip and spill wax. Placing a plate under the candle and holder should catch all the wax that is dropped and prevent a cheap candle holder from scorching the surface it is one. Never leave candles unattended. This could cause a fire. Always be certain your candle is out before leaving it unattended. Most candles cool off quickly so that should be easy enough.
Candles can be relatively cheap to expensive. It is hard to stock up on them knowing you may not use the whole candle for your working. Flea Malls, yard sales, thrift stores and dollar stores are good places to find candles so that you are not spending more than you need to. Tea lights are great for the practitioner on a budget, you can often find large packs of them for a small cost and they are perfect for a single use.
You can reuse a candle for different spells. Pillars and Jar candles can be divided into separate sections and used for multiple spells. Old candles can be cleansed and reused. It is not the ideal way to do it, but the option is there. Make sure that if you reuse a candle that was anointed or scented with oil that the oil will work in the next spell.
Candles are used by many people for many reasons, most of them mundane. Candle magic is a good practice for those who are in the 'broom closet' or who choose not to bring excessive attention to their beliefs.
Candle Magic
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