the library: candles and candle magick
Candles can be a significant part of the Pagan's life. They are generally used in rituals, spellwork, and magick. Many use candles on their altars to represent the God and Goddess. Some use an additional candle on the altar for the purpose of lighting ritual candles, incense, smudgesticks, etc. Candles can be used to represent the Element of Fire and can also be used in corresponding colors to represent all the Elements in ritual work. Candles can even be used to create their own special magick or as part of spellwork.
Candle Magick is unique in that it can represent all of the Elements on its own: the candle itself is made with the Elements of Earth, Air and Water. Lighting the candle introduces the Element of Fire. In Wicca, the fifth Element of Spirit can be represented by the wick itself as it holds the potential of the candle. Light the wick and your intention will charge and burn.
Consecrating your candles, and anything else you use in your spellwork or rituals, before you use them is always a good idea. This will remove any energy that may have become attached to the candle. A good rule of thumb with consecrating anything is once you consecrate it for specific purpose, you should use it only for that purpose. With that said, we are very practical witches at The Hearth and feel if your electricity goes out and your ritual candles are all you have on hand, go ahead and use them to light your way! Just be sure to get new candles and consecrate them for your next ritual.
More information on consecrating is available in the Consecration section of The Library.
Once your candles are consecrated, you should charge them before using them. This can be done in a number of ways, or even in a way constructed completely on your own. Charging is a personal thing. A couple of common ways are:
- Anoint them with oils associated with your intentions. Rub the oil into the candle. There are different methods to do this. We start at either the North or South end and rub into the center. If the spell work is to decrease something, negative energy for example, start at the North and work down to the center. When increasing, start at the South and work up to the center.
- Simply touch your candle, meditate on your intention, and visualize your energy and your intention flowing into the candle.
No matter what method you use to charge your candles, asking the God and Goddess to bless the candle and your intentions is always a good idea.
Personalizing a candle can add extra power to your spellwork. Our favorite method of personalizing candles is to melt the wax from a separate candle (such as a simple birthday candle) onto the ritual candle and press a thumb into the warm wax. This leaves your own unique mark -- your fingerprint-- on the candle.