from Episode 56: Candle Magick, Color Magick & Carromancy

Candle Magick is a form of sympathetic magic that involves using candles as a focal point for intention-setting, manifestation, and ritual work. It is a practice found in many cultures and traditions around the world, and appearing in just about every tradition of witchcraft and magick.

Time to Explain Sympathetic Magick:

Sympathetic magic, as a concept, comes from anthropology and the study of magic that suggests a connection between objects or actions and their effects on other objects or events. It is based on the principle that like attracts like, and it operates on the idea that by manipulating one object or performing a certain action, one can influence another object or event that is symbolically linked to it.

For example, when using an individual’s picture in a spell to bring them good luck, the picture would be the the sympathetic link for the person you are sending good fortune to. You may be familiar with hair, nail clippings or even poppets used in this way, and molded candles also come into this practice in a big way - appropriate to mention here. Another example is the use of twine to bind an object that, in relationship to an individual, may produce the effect of binding them as well. This could be useful in a situation where the individual may be engaging in harmful activity and the practitioner wants to keep that harm from spreading. You may recall the words used in the 1996 film, The Craft: “I bind you Nancy from doing harm, harm against other people and harm against yourself.”

Within the concept of sympathetic magick, there are two laws often used to explain the application:

The Law of Similarity states that things that resemble each other are believed to have a connection or influence over one another. For example, a poppet or hand made doll that is made in the likeness of an individual may be used in sympathetic magic rituals to affect that person's current situation, well-being or fate. Similarly, and historically, using a model or effigy of an animal in a hunting ritual has been used to influence the success of a hunt.
The Law of Contagion states that objects that have been in contact with each other continue to have a connection even after they are separated. For example, hair, nail clippings, or personal belongings of an individual may be used in sympathetic magic rituals as what is sometimes referred to as a tag lock to exert influence over that person. Similarly, items associated with a specific event or individual, such as a piece of clothing or a photograph – as mentioned before in my very dated movie reference - may be used to affect the outcome of that event or individual's life.

Studied by anthropologists and practiced my magickal practitioners all over the world and throughout history, Sympathetic Magic is used in rituals related to healing, fertility, protection, hexing, hunting, and all other aspects of daily life — and it reflects our fundamental human beliefs about the interconnectedness of the physical and spiritual worlds, as well as the power of symbolism and ritual in influencing outcomes.

History and Origins of Candle Magick:

The history and origins of candle magic can be traced back to ancient civilizations where fire played a central role in religious and spiritual practices in ancient civilizations. The practice likely originated from early humans' observation of the power of fire and its transformative properties.

Early humans used fire for warmth, protection, and cooking, but they also recognized its spiritual significance. Candle-like objects made from materials such as beeswax, tallow, or animal fat were used in religious ceremonies and rituals as offerings to gods and spirits. As such, fire was revered by many for its transformational properties and its connection to the divine.

Ancient Egypt:
The ancient Egyptians were known to use candles or torches made from reeds and animal fats in their religious ceremonies and funerary rites. They believed that light helped guide the spirits of the deceased to the afterlife.
Ancient Greece and Rome:
Both Ancient Greece and Rome incorporated candles into their religious practices. Candles were often lit as offerings to deities in temples, shrines, and during festivals. The goddess Hestia, keeper of the hearth, was honored with the lighting of candles in ancient Greek households.
Ancient Americans:
Candles are not known to exist in the Americas until 1 AD, however, this could simply be a matter of a lack of documentation. It is believed that some Native American peoples burned a fish oil from eulachon or “candlefish” which is a type of smelt found on the Pacific Northwest. Resinous woods, sometimes soaked in animal fats, fish oils and plant oils, were also commonly used to create torches and the central fire in a shelter was often the place where storytelling took place, lending some understanding of the cultural and spiritual significance of fire here as well.
Ancient Celts:
For the Ancient Celts, candles themselves would come later on, but fire itself was extremely sacred — as they relied on fires, bonfires and torches for illumination and warmth as well as for ceremonies and rituals. These fires held significant spiritual and symbolic meaning for the Celts, representing purification, protection, and the transition between seasons.
Medieval Europe:
Candle magic as it is recognized today began to emerge during the Middle Ages. During this time, candles were used not only for illumination but also as tools for spiritual practices within religions such as Christianity. Churches and monasteries used candles in religious rituals, symbolizing the presence of divine light and the Holy Spirit — which, lets be honest, is candle magick.
Alchemy and Hermeticism:
In medieval and Renaissance Europe, alchemists and practitioners of Hermeticism incorporated candles into their esoteric practices. Candles were seen as vessels for concentrating and directing spiritual energies, as well as for illuminating the practitioner's inner journey towards enlightenment and spiritual transformation.
Witchcraft and Folk Magic:
Candle magic also became further developed and refined within the context of witchcraft and folk magic traditions. In medieval and early modern Europe, practitioners of witchcraft utilized candles in their spells and rituals for purposes such as healing, protection, divination, and influencing outcomes.
Modern Revival:
By the 20th and 21st centuries, candle magic experienced a revival alongside the resurgence of interest in various forms of occultism, witchcraft, and esoteric spirituality. Various options were also made readily available, from the size and type of candle itself - tealights, votives, tapers, chimes, pillars and glass container candles - to the materials used to produce them - paraffin wax, soy wax and beeswax, among others.
Today:
Today, Candle Magick is practiced by individuals of diverse spiritual backgrounds, including Wiccans, Pagans, practitioners of modern witchcraft, and those interested in New Age spirituality.

Throughout its history, Candle Magick has evolved and adapted to various cultural and religious contexts, but its central premise has remained the same: harnessing the transformative power of fire and intention to manifest desired outcomes and connect with the divine.

Symbolism of Candles:

Candles are rich in symbolism, representing elements such as fire, light, illumination, transformation, spirituality, the human experience and much more. The color, shape, and size of the candle can also carry specific meanings within Candle Magick.

Here's a breakdown of some symbolism associated with candles:

Light: One of the most fundamental symbols of candles is light itself. Light represents illumination, enlightenment, and the dispelling of darkness. In many spiritual traditions, lighting a candle is symbolic of bringing clarity, wisdom, and understanding to one's life.
Fire: Candles harness the element of Fire, which is associated with energy, passion, creativity, and transformation. Fire is both a purifying and destructive force, representing the power to burn away obstacles and ignite change.
Divinity: Candles are often used in religious and spiritual practices as symbols of divine presence and connection. The flame of a candle can sometimes be seen as a manifestation of the divine spark within each individual and a symbol of the divine light that guides and sustains the universe.
Spirituality: Candles are commonly used in meditation, prayer, and ritual work to create a sacred atmosphere and facilitate spiritual connection. The act of lighting a candle can serve as a ritual in itself, marking the beginning of a sacred space and inviting spiritual presence and guidance.
Hope and Faith: Candles are often associated with hope, faith, and resilience in the face of adversity. Lighting a candle in times of darkness or difficulty can symbolize hope for a better future, faith in higher powers, and the belief that light will ultimately triumph over darkness. A lot of the times when a member of my coven shares a difficult situation with the rest of us, we will light a candle for them – as a way of influencing the situation for the better and providing energetic love and support when we can’t be together.
Protection: Candles are also used for protection in many spiritual traditions. The flame is believed to ward off negative energies and malevolent forces, providing a sense of security and safety (especially a black candle in this case which we will get to soon).
Guidance: In some traditions, candles are used as symbols of guidance and direction. A candle flame can serve as a guiding light, leading individuals on their spiritual journey and illuminating the path ahead.
Cycles of Life: The burning of a candle can be used to represent the cyclical nature of life, death, and rebirth. As the candle burns down, it symbolizes the passage of time, the impermanence of existence, and the potential for renewal and regeneration.
Unity and Community: Candles are often used in communal rituals and ceremonies as symbols of unity, solidarity, and shared purpose. Lighting candles together can foster a sense of connection and belonging among participants, symbolizing their collective intentions and aspirations.

In short, candles hold deep symbolic significance in various spiritual and cultural contexts, serving as powerful tools for transformation, connection, and spiritual expression.

So, how do we engage on Candle Magick and how does color come into play?

Practicing Candle Magick:

Setting Intentions:

A fundamental and necessary step in Candle Magick is setting an intention. What am I lighting this candle for? For what purpose am I engraving, anointing, dressing, charging, lighting and meditating over this candle for? Practitioners typically focus their thoughts and energy on a specific goal or desire while preparing, charging and lighting spell candle. The candle serves as a physical representation of the intention, and as it burns, it releases the energy of your magick and intention into the universe or the spirit realm.

You can light a candle as an offering to Venus every Friday, perhaps a pink candle or, even better, a pink candle anointed with a love oil. In this case, your intention is the offering to Venus herself and that’s all there is to it. It’s a simple yet effective and sacred act of reverence. When it comes to spellwork, however, the intention is where we start.

Coming to an Intention:

I just had a job interview and I want to work a spell that will help bring some luck my way.
I’ve been feeling ready to get back into the relationship pool, so I want to bring some love energy into my life.
Shit’s getting weird in my house and I feel uneasy, so I want to banish unwanted or harmful energy and clear this space to make way for the good stuff again.

This is where we begin…

Special Timings:

Based on your intended goal, you may want to time your candle magick with a moon phase, planetary transit, day or the week or even hour of the day that might energetically assist with your spellwork. A Thursday during a Waxing Moon in Taurus us an excellent time for spells that attract good fortune and abundance. A Saturday during a Waning or Dark Moon in Scorpio, Capricorn or Aquarius is conducive for bringing a situation or phase to an end.

If you have a dire need or need to perform an emergency spell, there is no need to weight for an energetically supportive timing. Your magick can still be effective without it. However, optimal timings and cosmic or spiritual assistance can enhance the effectiveness of your spells. Just always be mindful of the respect and gratitude that should be given to planetary bodies, spirits and deities that are be called upon for assistance.

Incorporating Color Magick:

This bring us to Color Magick, which is just one more layer of magick in your candle spellwork but a somewhat important layer when regarding Candle Magick. When choosing your candle, you can burn a tealight or a birthday candle if you need to cast a quick simple spell, a chime, a votive or a taper if you prefer them, or a big pillar or a seven day candle if you want to make a big gesture. Additionally, however, you can start to energetically strengthen and focus your magick with the use of color — followed by anointing, dressing, engraving and of course charging. Lets take a quick dive into Color Magick.

Color Magick:

It simply won’t serve anyone to explain Candle Magick without covering the properties of color but Color Magick reaches much deeper than simple correspondences. I was fortunate enough to take a Color Magick workshop with Coco from Moonflower Spirit that opened me up to a vast world of color magick that I didn’t even know existed. There are ways that we can work with color in not just our magick but in our daily lives, our mental wellbeing and in every facet of our spirituality that is very much worth diving into. Coco is a Rainbow Color Witch as well as a Reiki Master and Tarot Reader who offers Essence of Color readings, among some other amazing services, and I highly recommend her as an entry point to the wide world of color magick. She truly is wonderful!

For the sake of this Candle Magick crash course, we are only going to cover some basic elements of each color, namely their their elemental and astrological influences and how you can incorporate them into your Candle Magick.

Although they are not technically colors, white and black are included and profoundly powerful in color magick. Black is the absence of color and white contains all color but, none the less, they are magickally significant.

The White Candle:

One important truth - and an incredibly useful tip - is that you can perform almost any candle spell with a white or natural colored candle. There is no need to purchase all the colors of the rainbow if your budget doesn’t allow it. So, if you need to perform a spell and you have only white candles in your possession, you are perfectly fine.

I will only say this once because I loathe the concept of “catch all” elements in witchcraft. The cliched, “Rosemary is an all-purpose herb that you can use for any spell.” is simply not true. In fact, I find the concept of “catch all” anything to be reductive and lazy, in its least harmful form, and outright disrespectful to the spirits we work with, in its most harmful form. So you simply won’t ever hear me generalizing in this manner. An argument could possibly be made for clear quartz — and I’m absolutely not encouraging anyone to go out and purchase all the things (that’s NO way to practice). However, what I am saying is when you start to get acquainted with the spirits of the items that you work with, i.e. plants, crystals, etc., you will discover how incredibly unique they are and will no longer be very quick to generalize them in any way. I am saying all of this, however, with the exception of the white candle.

A white candle, or a standard wax colored candle, is in fact suitable for any of your endeavors. Incorporate color into your magick is a beautiful way to practice – but if hard pressed white is all you really need.

As we know, white is the reflection of all light and color and, therefore, it can and does hold within it all the properties of those color but it does also have it’s own inherent properties in Color Magick. So, let’s start with White.

Color Properties:

**White**

**Element:** All elements (earth air, fire and water)
**Planet/Luminary:** Moon, Sun
**Day of the Week:** Monday, Sunday
**Tarot:** High Priestess, the Moon, Suit of Swords
**Magick:** cleansing, clarity, blessing, healing, divine connection, innocence, truth, consecration, dream work, connection to spirits or the spiritual world, psychic connection, purity, rest, moon magic, angelic work, devotion, harmony, peace, purification, universal truth

**Black**

**Element:** Earth, Water
**Planet/Luminary:** Saturn, Pluto
**Zodiac:** Scorpio, Capricorn
**Day of the Week:** Saturday, Tuesday
**Tarot:** the Devil
**Magick:** Banishing transformation, uncrossing, endings, domination, protection reversing repulsion, freedom from evil, cursing, cloaking sophistication, security, emotional safety, closure, breaking patterns, grief, mourning, absorbing, removing, trapping, encasing, the unconscious, mystery, shielding from the evil eye

**Blue**

**Element:** Water
**Planet/Luminary:** Jupiter, Neptune, Moon
**Zodiac:** Pisces, Cancer
**Day of the Week:** Monday, Thursday
**Tarot:** the Star, Suit of Cups
**Magick:** reconciliation, harmony, peace, kindness, healing, ideas, intelligence, wisdom, loyalty, sleep, meditation, communication, creativity, dream work, trust, blessings, calm, forgiveness, truth, bliss, inspiration, fidelity, honesty

**Brown**

**Element:** Earth
**Planet/Luminary:** Saturn, Earth
**Zodiac:** Capricorn, Virgo
**Tarot:** the Hermit, the Suit of Pentacles
**Magick:** Justice, balance, grounding, court cases, legal matters, matters, being down-to-earth, practical matters, seriousness, reliability, support, stability, safety, earth, nature, animals, home, nostalgia, balance

**Gold**

**Element:** Fire
**Planet/Luminary:** Sun
**Zodiac:** Leo
**Day of the Week:** Sunday
**Tarot:** the Sun, Strength
**Magick:** prosperity, fame, luxury, generosity, optimism, wisdom, enlightenment, victory, sun magic confidence, life force, power, attraction, magnetism, vigor, charisma

**Gray**

**Element:** Water, Air
**Planet/Luminary:** Saturn, Mercury, Moon
**Zodiac:** Cancer, Capricorn, Virgo, Libra
**Day of the Week:** Saturday
**Tarot:** the Devil
**Magick:** neutrality, neutralizing, invisibility, working in gray areas, anonymity, hiding from others, working in-between worlds, secrets, occult and arcane wisdom, reversing, uncovering mysteries and secrets, lifting curses, undoing prior spell work

**Green**

**Element:** Earth
**Planet/Luminary:** Earth, Venus
**Zodiac:** Taurus, Capricorn, Virgo
**Day of the Week:** Thursday, Friday
**Tarot:** the Empress, the Heirophant, the suit of Pentacles
**Magick:** prosperity, abundance, wealth, generosity, money luck, career, growth, fertility, gambling luck, business, a good job, harmony, balance, healing, self love, altruism, universal love, contact with fae and nature spirits

**Orange**

**Element:** Fire
**Planet/Luminary:** Sun, Mars
**Zodiac:** Sagittarius, Leo
**Day of the Week:** Sunday, Tuesday
**Tarot:** The Lovers, the suit of Wands
**Magick:** new opportunities, new ventures, new beginnings, change of plans, encouragement, opening the way, removing blocks, physical comfort, warmth security, ambition, creativity, courage, optimism

**Pink**

**Element:** Air, Fire
**Planet/Luminary:** Venus
**Zodiac:** Taurus, Libra
**Day of the Week:** Friday, Sunday
**Magick:** Romantic love, friendship, soul mates, sweet feelings, emotional healing, heart connection, affection, family love, admiration, physical tranquility, nurturing warmth, youthfulness, healing grief, compassion forgiveness, beauty, unconditional love

**Purple**

**Element:** Water
**Planet/Luminary:** Jupiter, Neptune
**Zodiac:** Sagittarius
**Day of the Week:** Thursday
**Tarot:** the Wheel of Fortune
**Magick:** Empowerment, controlling, commanding, mastery, power, ambition, achievement, charisma, luxury, expansion, psychic ability, spirituality, authenticity, truth, transformation, insight, justice, wisdom, polities, divination, ESP, intuition, wishes, influence

**Red**

**Element:** Fire
**Planet/Luminary:** Mars, Venus
**Zodiac:** Aries, Sagittarius, Leo, Scorpio
**Day of the Week:** Tuesday
**Tarot:** the Emperor
**Magick:** passionate love, energy, action, attraction, sexuality, magnetism, will, force, anger, fire within, courage, warmth, lust, drive, pleasure, vitality, vigor, excitement, desire

**Silver**

**Element:** Water, Air
**Planet/Luminary:** Moon, Mercury
**Zodiac:** Aquarius, Cancer and Gemini
**Day of the Week:** Monday, Wednesday
**Tarot:** the Chariot, the High Priestess and the Moon
**Magick:** dreams, intuition, psychic work, courtesy, honor, moon magic, rhythm, cycles, divination, illusions, glamour spells, wisdom

**Yellow**

**Element:** Air
**Planet/Luminary:** Sun, Mercury
**Zodiac:** Gemini, Libra, Aquarius, Leo
**Day of the Week:** Sunday, Wednesday
**Tarot:** the Fool, the Magician, the Sun, the suit of Swords
**Magick:** optimism, prosperity, happiness, good luck, success, confidence, visibility, fame, self-esteem, communication, concentration, focus, inspiration, intellect, logic, memory, knowledge, learning

Color Magick, in essence, can be much more comprehensive and specific. For example, shades of blue, like light blue, royal blue and navy blue may have differing properties and uses in magick, have differing planetary and/or elemental rulers. For the sake of this primer, however, we are keeping it simple. I encourage you to explore more color magick when you have time and as you advance your practice.

Preparing a Spell Candle:

So, we’ve established our intention and we’ve chosen a candle color. I should say at this point - even with just a white candle - you can hold your candle, charge it, speak an incantation or say a prayer, light it up and be done. The point of this exploration in Candle Magick is to look at the many layers of ways we can strengthen and focus your magick. So, let’s go further.

Engraving:

When performing a candle magick spell, practitioners may choose to engrave their spell candle with words or symbols that align with their intention. This is an instance when knowledge of symbology and sigils can come in handy — likewise, its a great time to start building your own personal system of symbology based on your own UPG (unverified personal gnosis) — but words and basic symbols are more than effective.

For example, a money candle spell performed on a Thursday may call for dollar signs as well as the symbol for Jupiter, as that is the planet that rules over Thursday, as well as abundance and prosperity. This is also an opportunity to get, using names, words or phrases in addition. Again, this an added layer of meaning, intention, focused power and energy.

The tool you use for engraving your spell candles is entirely up to you. You may decide that you want a special engraving tool to keep on your altar or you may opt for a small blade you already have on hand. You could even use a fork. There is no set rule here, so decide when feels right and what works within your ability or budget.

Now, we may move on to dressing our spell candle, starting with anointing.

Annointing:

When we anoint a candle, we essentially coat it in a substance, which could be a carrier oil, an anointing oil, a special water or even your own saliva. This act adds extra potency and power to your intention and also ready’s the candle to be dressed with herbs or salts, giving it a surface that these extra elements can stick to.

I like to use an anointing oil, preferably one that I’ve made myself or one that I’ve purchased from a trusted source, and anoint the candle from the base to the wick to give it a thin coating. It’s important to note here that practitioner anoint their candles differently depending on their tradition, the intended goal of their spell or their personal preference. You may come across witches or magickal practitioner who insist that you have to anoint a spell candle from the wick down, from the base up, from the midway point in both directions or so on and so forth. I do it the same exact way every time – with the exception of a double action reversal candle – and some practitioners might scream after hearing that but, that’s simply just too bad. My personal belief is that my intentions and the energy I’m putting into my candle spell is radiating off of my hands, so I don’t fuss over the method by which I administer my anointing oil. You may feel differently and I encourage you to explore different methods until you find what works for you.

Dressing:

It is now time to dress our anointed candle. At this point, our knowledge of plant spirits will come in handy and you may want to have a reference on hand. Developing your knowledge of plant magick properties will take time - and the more you do, the more you will learn. In the meantime, a trusted herbal magick encyclopedia will be your friend!

As you know by now, plant spirits are a major part of my practice and I seldom cast a candle spell that isn’t dressed or assisted by an herb of some kind. There are just so many powerful ways they can show up and assist with our spellwork - and practice is one way of building not only a relationship with these plant spirits but, again, building upon our own UPG.

Now, we couldn’t possibly go through the the many plant allies you can use in candle magick, like we did with color, but I will share my method:

First, I choose an herb, or a few herbs, whose properties align with my intention and, second, I will grind them together in my mortar and pestle. This is a great time to speak your intentions and appeal to the plant spirits to assist you in your working. When I’m finished, I’ll spread the ground up herbs on a plate or a tray and roll my anointed candle over them to coat it.

If you’re working with a candle in a glass container, you can poke holes in the top to administer your anointing oil and then sprinkle your intended herbs on top. What’s important here is that you do NOT turn your candle into a flaming torch, so a little goes a long way – and for this reason I NEVER anoint my candles with Florida Water. It is extremely flammable! Save it for other purposes please, especially where fire is concerned.

Charging a Candle:

When we charge a candle for a spell, we are further infusing it with our intention through words, built up energy, meditation or prayer before lighting it. Why is this important? The key element to most spells is a kind of programming that occurs when we convey the intended outcome that we wish to achieve through magick. Speaking incantations, prayers or mantras out loud, writing petition papers and charging objects, such as candles, all help with this process. In fact, many practitioners would agree that there is a vast difference between an charged and an uncharged candle.

This is why I want to share the candle charging exercise from Madame Pamita’s The Book of Candle Magic, below:

Before doing your first spell, there are some quick experiments that you can do to demonstrate that there are differences between a charged candle and an uncharged candle. When taking your first baby steps in candle magic, it's useful to be able to see these differences. Remember that the candle itself has no power. It is only a tool holding the imprint of the power put into it so that together you can manifest your intentions in the real world.
My colleague, Janine of Key & Clover, suggested the following beautifully simple experiment that can be used to note the difference in energy in a candle spell. In it, you compare the burn of a candle when it has been charged with your intention and prayer against one that has not been charged with your energy.
Candle Charging Experiment
Needed:
Two birthday candles
Small dish
Matches or lighter
In the following exercise, you will observe the difference between a candle you have energetically charged and one that has not been charged. In your high school science class, you might have learned that the procedure for doing an experiment is having two components: one called the control (not modified), and one that is the variable (modified). The experiment itself is the comparison of the two. In this experiment, you are going to charge one candle and leave one candle unaffected and see the difference in how they burn. You won't be doing a spell in this experiment; instead you will simply infuse one candle with your positive energy and leave the other as is (although we could say that this is a spell for continued contentment).
Take two identical birthday candles from the same packet and set them on a table. Close your eyes and rub your palms together until you start to feel some warmth between them. Hold your palms a few inches apart from each other and notice the sensations you feel. Now, pick up one of the candles and hold it bet ween your palms. Close your eyes and focus your thoughts in a positive direction. You can visualize a positive time in the past, focus in a confident way on future dreams, or just count your blessings in the present. Feel energy radiating from your hands into the candle. The important part of this experiment is to hold your intention positively, confidently, and without doubt or fear.
If you have a hard time with visualization, you can repeat affirmations that reinforce positivity, such as "I am happy" or "Everything always works out for me.” You can also simply feel a sense of well-being contentment, and peace. If your life is in a state where it's hard to feel those good feelings, then sitting down and writing a list of things that you can be grateful for in your life right now would be a great place to start. Whatever you do, don't skimp on this part. Spend several minutes holding your candle and loading it up with positive energy. If you get distracted, put the candle back down and rub your hands together again. When you get the sense that you are complete (and you have held the candle for at least a few minutes of focused energy), the experiment can begin.
Affix both candles to a dish. If you are using beeswax candles, and the weather is warm, you can affix them by pressing them onto the dish; otherwise, slightly warm the dish or use a match to melt just a bit of the bottom of the candles and affix them to the plate.
Now, light both candles and observe how they burn. If you have made a real effort in infusing the one candle energetically, you will see a difference in how it burns. Often people report that the candle burns with a stronger flame, a flame that is more active, or that the charged candle burns faster than the control candle.

Burning a Spell Candle:

We are finally ready to light our candle and cast our candle magick spell - although I would say that this entire process has been the spell and lighting the candle is simply casting all the built up energy into the universe or the spirit realm, with the help of Fire. One thing I like to do when I light a spell candle is to continue with my visualization, specifically focusing on the outcome of goal accomplished. I imagine what my life, my situation, my relationship, etc. will be like once my desire is realized and my spell is a complete success. I like to stay focused in this mental space for a few minutes and then let the candle burn do it’s work.

At this point, whether I let the candle burn all the way down or I extinguish it with the intention of relighting it again at a later time, I would consider this simple candle spell complete.

Post Clean-Up & Disposal:

After a candle has burned down completely, practitioners may choose to dispose of the remnants in different ways, such as burying them in the earth or disposing of them in running water, depending on the intention of the ritual. I want to implore you to be extremely mindful of the materials you’ve used and whether it is safe or harmless to a particular environment before doing so, however. In the case of a natural body of water, there is virtually no situation where introducing strange objects, even natural ones, won’t somehow throw off or harm the delicate eco system in the natural body of water. I learned this by listening to more than one water priestess or water witch speak on it and I trust their expertise on the topic.

As far as burying your items is concerned, you want to avoid burying paraffin wax and certain ingredients, especially any salts, which could be harmful to the soil. I often simply dispose of my spell work remnants in the garbage, which yes, isn’t 100% harmless either but we have to do whatever is in our ability to reduce the amount of harm we might do to the environment.

~

Like all forms of magick, the effectiveness of Candle Magick largely depends on the practitioner's belief, focus, and intention. Some people may find profound meaning and results in candle magick, while others may approach it more skeptically or as a form of psychological ritual.

Overall, candle magick is a versatile and accessible form of magick that can be tailored to individual beliefs and intentions, offering a way for practitioners to connect with their spirituality and manifest positive change in their lives.

The Candle Magick Spell is complete…

Unless I want to observe what happens with the wax as and after it burns…

Carromancy

Carromancy, also known as ceromancy or wax divination, is a form of divination that involves interpreting patterns formed by melted wax or candle drippings. It is a practice found in various cultures and spiritual traditions around the world.

Here's an overview of carromancy:

History and Origins: Carromancy has ancient roots and has been practiced in different forms across cultures for centuries. The exact origins of carromancy are unclear, but it has been documented in diverse cultural contexts, including ancient Greece, Rome, Persia, and various indigenous traditions.
Methods: Carromancy typically involves melting wax or candle wax and observing the shapes, patterns, and formations that emerge as the wax cools and solidifies. Practitioners may drip the wax into a container of water, onto a flat surface, or directly onto a special surface designed for carromancy readings.
Interpretation: Interpretation of carromancy readings relies on intuition, symbolism, and personal or cultural associations. Practitioners may look for recognizable shapes, symbols, or images in the wax formations and interpret their meanings based on traditional symbolism or their own intuitive insights.
Symbolism: The interpretation of carromancy readings can vary widely depending on cultural background, personal beliefs, and the specific context of the reading. Common symbols and motifs found in carromancy include animals, plants, objects, geometric shapes, and abstract patterns, each of which may carry specific meanings or messages.
Types of Wax: Carromancy can be practiced using different types of wax, including beeswax, paraffin wax, or candle wax. Each type of wax may produce different textures, colors, and patterns, which can influence the interpretation of the reading.
Tools and Accessories: In addition to wax or candles, practitioners of carromancy may use various tools and accessories to enhance their readings, such as candle holders, divination trays, or symbolic objects to focus their intentions and energy.
Rituals and Practices: Carromancy readings may be performed as part of a ritual or ceremonial practice, often with specific steps or procedures to prepare the space, set intentions, and focus the practitioner's energy. Rituals may incorporate elements such as meditation, prayer, or invocation of spiritual guides or deities.
Applications: Carromancy can be used for various purposes, including gaining insights into personal challenges, seeking guidance on important decisions, exploring spiritual or metaphysical questions, or connecting with higher wisdom or guidance.
Ethical Considerations: As with any form of divination, practitioners of carromancy should approach the practice with respect, integrity, and a sense of responsibility. It is important to recognize that divination readings offer guidance and insights, but ultimately, individuals have free will and agency to make their own choices and decisions.

Overall, carromancy is a versatile and intuitive form of divination that offers individuals a means of accessing deeper insights, wisdom, and guidance through the symbolic language of melted wax and candle drippings. Like other forms of divination, carromancy can be a powerful tool for self-reflection, spiritual growth, and navigating life's challenges and opportunities.

Safety Considerations:

Safety Considerations: Practitioners of candle magic should always prioritize safety. This includes:

Using sturdy candle holders and placing candles on a stable surface.
Never leaving burning candles unattended.
Keeping candles away from flammable materials and out of reach of children and pets.

Candle Magick, Color & Carromancy