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The History of Candle Magick We often seem to assume and imagine that witches and other pagans of the past used many different color candles for their different magickal intentions, and maybe even made their own candles, using beeswax. But is this an accurate assumtion? And is it absolutely necessary to use a corresponding color in your spells or rituals? Is it also necessary to use beeswax candles in order to have the "best" results?
Candles of the past were generally only available in white. The dyes that are used to color candles must be oil soluble, and oil soluble dyes were hard to come by in the past- plant based dyes were rare and usually were not able to create colors such as blue, green and indigo, and pigment dyes were not available because the technology needed to utilize them was not available in the past. And there are other dyes that didn't become available until the 19th and 20th centuries. With that in mind, it is safe to say that witches and pagans of the past were not using colored candles in their practises.
Something else to keep in mind is that beeswax may not have been widely used to make candles in the past. Huge amounts of honey had to be sacrificed when taking wax for candles, so it isn't likely that many people were making their own beeswax candles. Buying beeswax candles was also costly, so the regular and less fortunate people in communities weren't able to afford them. Generally the wealthier folks used them, and it isn't likely that the witches of the villages were buying beeswax candles. Many people did use animal fat (tallow) to make candles, but beeswax candles were not widely used in the past.
Candles have a unique place in our society today, and are also an incredible link with our past. Unlike anything else, candles convey messages of romance, warmth, spirituality, secret wishes and brightness, all with the simple construct of wax and wick. Embraced by almost every faith, creed and nationality, there is something special about a solitary flame and the energy exchange that it puts forth. It touches our souls. Who among us has not been be touched by the commonality of candles in our religions? People of all faiths and walks of life, and many different creeds, can join together in a candlelight vigil to grieve, or come together in prayer. Candles are unique tools indeed to link mankind to the Divine.
Few people in modern civilization haven't had contact with candles. In fact, most of us encounter them every year blazing forth upon a birthday cake, ready for us to blow out and "make a wish." Our enchantment with birthday candles as children predisposes us to the belief that magic and candles naturally go together. Not only "birthday wishing" but any religion we were likely exposed to as children was surrounded with the symbolism of candles. Many older church sanctuaries even have a special place to light a votive for remembering a departed loved one or to send special prayers for the living who are in need. Candles "connect" like a conduit between people, to the Divine, and to the deceased. In our everyday homes, they are special reminders when we need a lovely "romantic" candle light supper, a "relaxing" candle light soak in the tub or even just "warmth" to look at on a frosty winter night. They set the tone and focus us.
The popularity of candles has skyrocketed in our world of electric lighting. There are now more colors, better production methods and much nicer scents than our ancestors could ever have wished for. Due to the popularity of aromatherapy, essential oils are also more widely available for home use. Properly anointed, our energies become focused on what exactly is our "will" and "intent" each and every time we glance at the dancing flame. Magicians of the past were successful without the use of colored candles. Using a "proper" color is obviously not a necessity. They were also successful without the use of beeswax- many did not have it available to them.
My point? Color is just an aid for YOU. It doesn't necessarily hold it's own powers. Using a color that you feel corresponds with your intention can aid you in obtaining the proper state of mind, focus, and direct your energy properly. The color, on it's own, is not lending power to your work. The color is an aid in setting your "mood," so to speak. If you plan to practise candle magick, beeswax and "appropriate" color does not have to be an issue.
The History of Candles
Illuminating the darkness was one of early man's first concerns, along with finding a source for heat on cold dark nights. Gaining control of fire solved both the illumination and heat problems. Archeological records reveal that Paleolithic humans began to the creation and use of fire. It is speculated that by this period in history, early man had begun to use fire for cooking. Cooked foods, particularly meats, improved the diet of early humans, because fire released proteins in food. While fire was being used for cooking, our ancestors would have discovered the unique ability of animal fat to burn as a fuel. How often have we in modern times had to run out and douse a barbecue grill because grease has caught fire? Those who have ever cooked with grease in the kitchen are well aware of the quick ability of fat to burn. The precursor to candles would have been a torch or lamp. A portable source of flame such as a greasy torch, in addition to a fire pit, would have provided a much more efficient method of lighting a cave. The candles of early man were plants, like reeds or grasses, in animal fat. Some have speculated that the soot caking the walls of the famous Paleolithic caves of France and Spain may have been caused by torchlight while the artists were creating the cave paintings. Others have hypothesized that the indentations in the cave walls were used as sconces to hold the torches. Soot was a common drawback to the use of animal fat for lighting. Things would not improve until the modern era.
The Egyptians have been credited for both the inventive use of soaking pithy reeds in animal fats for "rushlights", and the early use of beeswax. As early as 3000 BC, beeswax candles looking pretty much the same as our beeswax candles do today--cone shaped and with a reed as a wick, have been found placed in tombs of rulers. Romans quickly adopted and improved the methods of candle making, adding a "wick" of woven fibers. Romans used these "candles" to illuminate their homes and places of worship. Although many ancient cultures also used clay type oil lamps for illumination, the principles were the same, a "wick" usually made of flax to hold the flame and "fuel" of animal fat, plant oils (such as olive oil) or beeswax. The word "candle" comes to us from the Latin candere, meaning "to shine."
Although there is more information readily available for the Mediterranean civilizations, people all over the world had a history of illumination. The Chinese extracted oils from the seeds of the tallow tree for this purpose. Also in Asia, wax was derived from insects called "Cocus" as well as plant oils, and molded into paper tubes. As ancient man became aware of the uses for, and methods of, deriving oils from animals and plants, he was also learning about herbs, spices and fragrance, all of which was later to develop into the spice and oil trade. In India, wax was made from boiling cinnamon and skimming the remaining wax to make candles for temple use. In India, there was a ban on the use of animal fat candles in temples. On the other side of the world, native people were also using things like Jojoba nuts for oil, and learning how to use shrubs like the wax myrtle, bayberries. Animals were also discovered to have an oily wax content, and Native Americans made use of "candlefish" (a very oily species of fish) which could be threaded with a wick impaled on forked stick and used as a torch.
With the archeological finds of Egypt and the Mediterranean countries of early candle and oil lamp use, illumination took on a whole new religious significance. A light in the darkness became hope for the ancients. Light symbolism of many of the ancient pagan religions included that of the Ancient Hebrews. In the Temple of Jerusalem, God occupied the Holy of Holies as a cloud of light. Oil and light figure heavily in the Chanukah story of "everlasting flames" on the sacred menorah. When Hellenistic Greeks seized control of the Temple, the defending Jews regained control and rededicated their Temple. There was but ONE vial of precious oil to keep the sacred flame lit, which would have burned for only one day. Instead of only one day, however, it lasted a miraculous eight days...long enough to allow the Jews to make more oil. Modern celebrations of Chanukah have replaced the ancient oil menorah with candles, in celebration of the miracle of those eight days. The menorah of nine branches holds a candle for each day, with a ninth branch for the shamash or "servant" light.
Early Christianity shunned the use of lights, because of the popularity of honoring the divine with light was viewed as pagan. Indeed, the Greek funeral custom was to accompany the dead with torchlight or candlelight so that the soul of the dying could not be seized by demons. Many church leaders in the first three centuries of Christianity spoke openly about the disdain they had for candles and lights. At this time Rome also had a competing salvation religion that centered on the Egyptian goddess, Isis. The followers of Isis kept her temple lamps lit at all hours, both day and night, to symbolize constant hope. Despite the fact that Christ called himself the "Light of the World," the early Christians resisted adopting anything obliquely seen as pagan into their religion. At the turn of the third century, Tertullian is credited with saying "on days of rejoicing, we do not…encroach upon the daylight with lamps." However, those who converted still celebrated with lights. They simply adapted their pagan ways and lit the darkness in celebration of the new religion. When the frustrated church leaders met at the Spanish council, the Synod of Elvira in 305, Lactanius, scoffed, "They kindle lights," he said of the pagans, "as though to one who is in darkness. Can he be thought sane who offers the light of lamps and candles to the Author and Giver of all light?"
The early Christian leaders were upset about the multitude of candles being used, and condemned it as an abuse of superstition to burn them during the daytime in cemeteries. Evidently, the new Christians were lighting candles in memory of their dead loved ones. The people loved candle lighting so much they did not want to give it up. They continued to do what was labeled as a "folk custom" by church leaders - lighting candles for the dead at funerals and, of course, in the catacombs of Rome. Vigilantius made it a reproach against the orthodox to light candles while the sun was still shining. Finally, due to the efforts of Saint Jerome and Constantine (who reportedly changed day into night with "pillars of wax"), cooler heads prevailed towards the end of the third century, and candle lighting became an integral part of the church. Although Saint Jerome thought it wrong for the pagans to light candles for their gods, he saw nothing wrong with people using candles to celebrate joy. As long as believers were lighting their candles for the presence of God, everlasting life and hope, Saint Jerome was supportive, and finally candles and lights became part of the early Roman church. In fact, the church became quite stringent about candle usage by the time of the fourth century, putting forth guidelines on candles and their functions for the various services provided by the church. New symbolism of candles and flames emerged to coincide with the church beliefs. Primarily the focus was on beeswax symbolizing the virgin mother, the wick symbolizing the soul of Jesus Christ, and the flame representing the Divinity which absorbs and dominates both. By the twelfth century candles had become the norm in churches, rather than oil lamps. The word ceremony comes from the Latin word ceremonious, meaning "the person who carries a wax candle at public rituals".
Pope Gelasius in the fifth century established a feast day called Candlemas, during which all of the church's candles were blessed, though the blessing of the candles did not come into common use until the eleventh century. In Dorsetshire England, the custom of giving the poorer tradesmen a large candle at Candlemas continued up until this century.
As far as the mass production of candles and the availablility of affordable candles in stores, it didn't happen until the twentieth century. Many other developments in candle making didn't become available even until the nineteenth century- development of stearin and paraffin, mordanting and braiding of wicks, etc. As far as pre-electicity lighting, most people used oil lamps for light, which were much less expensive.
So, candle magick may indeed be an old art- but the use of colored candles is not an ancient art. Candles were available and used in the past, yes. But, if someone tells you that the Celts were using colored candles in their religious practises, they are not feeding you with accurate information. Or if you read a book that suggests that witches in the sixteenth century were using red, green, and purple candles in their magickal practises, this is likely to be information you won't want to trust.
Snuffed Out Feel like being labeled a heretic or a witch? Book, Bell, and Candle refers to the excommunication ritual of the Roman Catholic Church. While we may scoff at the implications now, during the Middle Ages this could mean social shunning and dire consequences to one's standing in the community. The phrase, "Bell, Book and Candle" may bring you fond memories of a cute comedy film from 1958 starring Kim Novak and Jimmy Stewart, but during the Middle Ages, this was a curse.
From "The Devil's Dictionary" by Ambrose Bierce.
EXCOMMUNICATION, n. This "excommunication" is a word In speech ecclesiastical oft heard, And means the damning, with bell, book and candle, Some sinner whose opinions are a scandal -- A rite permitting Satan to enslave him Forever, and forbidding Christ to save him.
This very serious form of excommunication was called "anathema" and found ("apostasy, heresy, or schism,") in the Roman Pontifical canon of 1364. So what was Bell, Book and Candle? It's unclear if the church still does this, but a bishop performs the rite with a bell, holy book and candle upon the altar. Twelve priests with lighted candles attend and the following is said:
'We separate him, together with his accomplices and abettors, from the precious body and blood of the Lord and from the society of all Christians; we exclude him from our holy mother the church in heaven and on earth; we declare him excommunicate and anathema; we judge him damned, with the devil and his angels and all the reprobate, to eternal fire until he shall recover himself from the toils of the devil and return to amendment and to penitence."
The priests answer, "So be it!" The bell is rung to symbolize a death toll, the book is shut, and the candles are blown out and dashed to the ground to indicate the sinners soul being cast out of the church and away from the sight of God. Who says there is no magic in the church?
The next major rift in the history of candles came when Protestants gained a position of power, particularly in England. As with other trappings of High Mass, the Protestant faith banished candle burning as a "idolatry." Ceremonial lighting was banished by law. When it was discovered that Queen Elizabeth I had two lit candles in her private chapel, it was enough for scandalous attention. She was, after all, the reigning Protestant "virgin" queen of England. The Catholic faith and all that went with it was viewed as superstition. There is a documented case of gentlemen being arrested for "use of wax lights and tapers" in the Durham Cathedral. Protestants scoffed at the Catholic ceremonies and called it "Candle Religion". One would think that Protestants were fearful of the Bell, Book and Candle rite mentioned above!
During medieval times most people could not afford the beeswax candles. Candle making became a registered trade guild of craftspeople, remembered in the old nursery rhyme about "the butcher, the baker, the candlestick maker." The art of making candles was called "chandling," and the Guilds themselves were sometimes differentiated by two separate types of Chandlers. Wax Chandlers primarily made the higher-end candles of the nicer smelling beeswax and the Tallow Chandlers made candles out of mutton fat. For the most part, common folks could only afford the tallow candles as the beeswax tapers were costly. The types of rendered animal fat most frequently used for tallow were from cattle, pigs and sheep. The tallow acquired from sheep, or mutton tallow, was preferable as it burned longer, and the smoke and smell was not as bad. Either way, tallow candles had a distinct acrid odor and nasty sputtering. Up until this century, many women looked forward to spring cleaning as a ritual as the time to get the soot and grime out of her house from the long winter months. Though we detest spring cleaning in the present time (if we even do actually DO it) it was an entirely different story before the coming of electricity. In my own family history, my great aunt can still recall how her grandmother would scour the house from top to bottom just to get rid of the dirt. It wasn't just dirt. It was greasy dirt.
We have great choices in our modern world of colored candles, but prior to this century, colored candles were not commonplace. In fact it would have seemed odd if you actually had colored candles in your home in the days of old. The dyes used today weren't readily available. Most candles were the natural color of the ingredients that went into their making. You might not know what color a mutton fat candle was, but you can be reasonably sure it wasn't a nice mauve pink with a tea rose scent attached to it! To put it quite simply, the technology to produce oil soluble (remember, we are dealing with oils and mutton fat) dyes was not in place until recent history. It's possible that alchemists, ceremonial magicians and perhaps even a few witches were able to make individual candles with natural pigments from plants, but they would only have been able to color the wax to the warmer shades of the color spectrum. There was, of course, always the possibility of adding herbs and other special ingredients if you were making your own candles for occult purposes, but the vivid colors we see in candles today were just not possible.
During the settlement of America, Colonial women discovered the use of bayberries, and bayberry oil. This addition to the history of candle making is completely American, as bayberries (from the plant known as Wax Myrtle, Myrica, Candle Berry, Arbre suif, Myricae Cortex, Tallow Shrub, Wachsgagle) got their common name from what the early colonists called them when the berries were first found growing near Cape Cod Bay. It's no wonder we think of the East Coast when we see or smell bayberry candles, which are highly aromatic and have wax more brittle than beeswax. Not only could the colonists make candles with this bayberry wax, it has also been documented that the oil could be used in a shallow dish, with a string serving as a wick. It was a vast improvement over tallow, because the bayberry oils were richly scented and smokeless after snuffing. The popularity of extracting bayberry oil for candle making did not last long because of the arduous process used to collect the bayberry oil. It takes one and a half quarts of bayberries to make enough oil for a taper. Settlers also used "pine knots" made from pitch pine trees to light their homes.
Because there were no chandler guilds set up for the new settlers in America, it usually fell to the lady of the house to create the illumination for the family. This involved saving every scrap of household grease, gathering tallow from the slaughtered farm animals, and knitting her own wicks from cotton thread. When it came time to make candles, she would generally make a large quantity of them at a time, saving enough tallow and grease to make the family's soap supply as well. Colonial and pioneer kitchen often came equipped with wooden racks for dipping tapers and candle molds.
June 10, 1861
My wife said I should write down how to make candles since I was writing down how to do stuff. I'd a', had her write it down, but she don't write so good as me. When ye kill a beef or a sheep, ye gather all the fat ye can from inside the hide and around the guts and save it. After ye've got a passable bunch of it, ye put it in a big pot and build a fire under it. Not a big fire, mind ye, else the stuff may catch on fire its own self. Ye let that come to a boil and then boil it right easy for two or three hours. They ye strain it through a crocus or burlap sack and throw out the chunks that are left. The liquid that's left is called tallow except us poor people call it "taller" (pronounced like gal). Ye keep that warm enough to stay liquid, cause if it gets cold, it gets hard like soap. Ye take a stick and tie about 6 flax threads onto it about 2 inches apart. Let one end of the threads hang down about 6 or 8 inches. These are the wicks for yer candles, so make 'em as long as ye want. Hold the stick over the pot of tallow, with the strings hanging down and then dip the strings into the tallow. When they're all good and wet, pull them out and make sure they're all hanging down straight. Gotta get 'em straight quick a'fore the tallow gets hard. This is called dippin', the wick. After the tallow hardens, dip 'em into the pot again and pull 'em out quick. Do it quick a'fore the tallow on the strings melts off. Let that harden and then keep doin', it. Every time ye dip it into the pot, it puts on a layer of tallow. Keep doin', it until the candle gets as big as ye want it to be. Then cut the strings off the stick and ye've got six candles. The rich people have got candle molds that look like a hollow candle. Ye open it up, put a flax string through it, close it and then pour it full of tallow or bees wax. When it hardens ye've got a candle. It's quicker but molds cost money. Ye might guess that since candles take a lot of time to make, we don't waste 'em. If we set up much past dark, we usually set by the fireplace for the light it gives off. We save candles for company or if my wife has to sew something at night and can't see by the firelight.
Part of the problem with candles in the old days was that they were too soft. They quite often drooped in hot weather. The first major change in candle making since medieval times was the discovery of spermaceti (solidified oil from the Cachalot or Sperm Whale). When a Nantucket fisherman caught a sperm whale in 1712, the whaling industry was born (which later led to the over hunting of whales). The whale oil burned cleaner than other oils, and became used as a fuel. Spermaceti wax hardened the usual tallow or beeswax candles so they were no longer soft when temperatures were hot during the summer months. The popularity of whale oil waned in the United States soon after the Civil War. With the discovery of better ingredients, whale oil is no longer used in candle production. An interesting historical note is that when it came time to measure the intensity of a light bulb, a spermaceti candle was used as the basis for calibration. The Standard International Candle is the intensity of light emitted from a 1/6-pound spermaceti candle, burning at a rate of 120 grams per hour, duplicated in an incandescent lamp.
Several changes came about in the past two centuries to make vast improvements in candles as we know them. Stearin and stearic acid refined tallow with alkali and sulfuric acid, removing the odor and hardening the animal proteins. These additives also increased the burning time of candles. Several inventors were involved in the mass production of candles. In 1825, patents were issued for M. E. Chevreul and J. L. Gay-Lussac for candles made of stearin. Stearin can still be found in candles today. It is a compound of plasmatic acids (palm oil) mixed with stearic acid (a byproduct of the slaughter industry, which increased the burning time and the melting point, making for stronger sturdier candles. Joseph Morgan is credited with the 1834 invention of a piston-cylinder machine that allowed the non-stop production of candles. Shortly after stearin use had become prominent, in 1850 paraffin was discovered as a by- product of the oil industry. Paraffin was made by distilling the residues left behind in crude petroleum production. Today, paraffin has been further refined so that it burns even more cleanly, and with no unpleasant odor. If you think about it, burning candles is a way to recycle. Two byproducts of very messy industries (slaughter and petroleum) keep our flames burning better than those of our ancestors. With the introduction of paraffin, candles became more economical. Paraffin became the most widely available and easily obtainable ingredient in centuries of candle making.
Vast improvements were made to wicks as well when in 1834 "mordanting" was discovered. It causes the wick outside the flame to curl and turn to ash. Mordanting is also sometimes referred to as "pickling" the wicks. Today wick manufacturers plait the wicks by machine, and they emerge as flat thin strips. The wicks are dipped into a solution which may contain ammonium phosphate, ammonium sulfate, ammonium chloride, borax, boric acid and potassium nitrate. If a wick is not mordant, it remains straight and does not curl outside the flame. At one time every pioneer home had a "wick trimmer" which was used to trim the wicks on the burning candles. There were even men called "candlesnuffers" who went around with snuffing scissors to cut the carbonaceous matter off of wicks. Mordanting solved this problem. The burning tip of the wick now drops outside of the flame zone, and is reduced to a bead of glowing ash which automatically decomposes as the candle burns.
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Candle Magick Introduction Today, while most magickal systems encompass the use of candles in their rituals, candles are usually relegated to a passive role. Few practitioners know the real potential of the candle and fewer still recognize its use as a system of Magick. Many magickal and religious systems still incorporate candles into their practices but most have forgotten or now ignore the magickal roots of fire. This omission, for whatever reason, greatly reduces the effectiveness of the candle as a magickal tool or petition conveyance. Candle Magick, like any other system of Magick, can be made as simple or elaborate as one wishes. If you prefer the rigors of a challenge, Candle Magick can offer you this or it can offer you the simplicity of merely lighting a dedicated candle. Long complicated rituals and strange languages are not necessary here and often the simplest Candle Magick can give the same results. Candles, coming in a variety of shapes, sizes and colors, look wonderfully innocent and nondescript. A magickal candle does not have to be of a specialty figure such as black cats, mummies, crosses, or human figures. Although it is appropriate to use such candles when necessary, the standard taper or votive may be substituted when in the "public" view. Candle Magick will not solve all your problems immediately nor will it change the world overnight, but it is powerful tool towards those ends. It can also help you to realize that events can be altered and influenced by the will. Candle Magick further demonstrates that we are not helpless bystanders or victims, and we can take appropriate action to alter our reality. For that very reason, Magick has been feared throughout the ages. In my experience, these candle-workings can be effective regardless of what a person's private or religious path might be. What happens in the candle-lighting process detailed here is that we call upon the Higher Powers to lend assistance. Certainly we all perceive these Powers in our own ways. When we prepare ourselves and our setting, and then prepare our candles and finally light them, we send out energy inviting change. I don't claim to know precisely where the messages get delivered, but have seen that they can have worthwhile results. The simplest, non-metaphysical explanation might be that when we clearly acknowledge to ourselves that we're ready for change, we heighten our awareness of the opportunities for transformation that are around us constantly. I've used the vague but inclusive term "Higher-Powers" ~ I know what face I see when I work with a candle, and the one you see might be entirely different, which is fine. Anointing with Oils
Oil plays an integral part of candle production from its basic stages to the mixtures of scents blended with the wax. Many religions including and starting with pagans believed in the powers and properties of oils. In candle magick, anointing with oils is an integral part of the process. While some authors stress that "dressing" a candle with oil isn't always necessary, they pretty much agree that anointing a candle with corresponding oil is indeed preferable. The action of "anointing" has long been a part of sacred religions and belief systems. As soon as processes were developed to process plants into essential oils by ancient civilizations, trade routes became established for the spices, incense, essential oils and cooking oils, such as olive, dates and palm. Most interesting yet is the sacredness of olive oil, which began cultivation in Greece around 2500 BC. "Liquid gold" are the words that Homer used to describe olive oil. It is here that wonderful pagan mythology and religion "blended" together. Athena and Poseidon had a contest over who would claim a Greek city that they both wanted as sanctuary. Poseidon gifted the city with a spring of saltwater, however Athena touched their hearts with the gift of an olive tree. Thus the city came to be known as Athens. Olive oil connected man to the gods. Not only did people eat foods with olive oil, they used it for lamp fuel. Within the trade routes of other Mediterranean countries, essential oils from other flowers and spices began to develop. The word perfume comes from the Latin "per", meaning through, and "fumum," meaning smoke, meaning not only oil based fragrance as we know it, but it also incense (the smoke). Incense and oils began to take their places of religious significance in China, and India as well. It seemed that every region began perfecting the art of plant essences and oils.
Anointing with oils became a ritual. Thousands of years before the time of Christ, the Egyptian and Chinese were learning the arts of extracting oils, resins and spice. The Egyptians used their herbal skills not only to prepare their dead, but to leave in the tombs, which were filled with precious oils for the afterlife. This knowledge was also used to heal the sick and to anoint leaders. Kings, priests, and prophets all were anointed with oils. Manuscripts from King Khufu records the use of herbs, oils and salves for religious purposes and healing around 2700 bc. Scientists later discovered that Ramesses II had his nose stuffed with peppercorns, although it was perhaps to retain it's distinctive shape during mummification, one would think that the art of preserving bodies, masking the odors of decomposition and ceremony/ritual was all involved with the Egyptian selection of herbs for both the deceased as well as the living. Even Cleopatra's love of fragrance rekindled the interest in it in Rome during the time of Julius Caesar. With the intermingling and trade between Mediterranean countries, all became familiar with the uses of oils. This tradition permeated all the religions and regions. As with the Hebrews in the Old Testament, the New Testament makes plenty of mentions of anointing with oil. There are 188 references to oils in the Bible. The early Hebrews were possibly well acquainted with oil use during their contact with Babylon and Mesopotamia. The early dynasties of Egypt are referred to in the Bible with the stories of King David, Joseph, King Solomon, and Moses. It is with the introduction of Moses that anointing with oils becomes very specific. "Moreover, the Lord spoke unto Moses saying: Take thou also unto thee principal spices of pure myrrh...of sweet cinnamon...of sweet calamus...of cassia...and of olive...and thou shalt make it an oil of holy ointment, an ointment compound after the art of the apothecary: it shall be an holy anointing oil." Exodus 30:22-25. Sources point that Biblically, anointing with oil religiously started in 1446 BC during the 18th dynasty with Moses and the Exodus from Egypt.
When Christianity arrived, anointing with oil took on a new significance. The Hebrew word for Messiah is "anointed one" and when the Christ child was born, the Bible mentions that precious substances of frankincense and myrrh are brought to him by the wise men. Christ's feet are washed and anointed with oil of spikenard by Mary Magdalene at the Last Supper, and when his body is removed from the cross, it is wrapped in linen soaked with myrrh oil to be placed in the tomb. (Myrrh is purifying and prevented decomposition). During biblical times the known oils used to heal the sick were frankincense, myrrh, galbanum, rosemary, hyssop, cassia, cinnamon and spikenard. In translations of Greek and Hebrew, anointing oil means "The Holy Spirit poured out." After his conversion, the emperor Constantine bequeathed not only aromatic precious oils, but deeded into perpetuity the farms to produce them for the church all over the Byzantine empire.
With the establishment of papal authority, royal anointing became necessary for a king to claim his crown. In the ceremony of coronation, most essential was the anointing of the new king. This was why Joan of Arc fought to regain control of Rheims so that Charles VII could be crowned and anointed with holy oil. The first record of royal anointing was Visigothic Wamba (672). It is said that when Wamba knelt and oil was poured over his head, a vapor arose that was believed by the people present to have been a supernatural portent. We may believe that the royal anointing was part of the Divine Right of Kings included in scripture: I Peter 2:13: "Submit yourselves to every human institution for the sake of the Lord, whether to the sovereign as supreme, or to the governor as his deputy...even when they are perverse." Augustine pointed out, "Obey even an evil king as long as he counsels nothing directly against God, for his tyranny is sent as a punishment for the sins of the people." Although each kingdom had a specific ceremony for crowning and anointing the king, the anointing itself usually consisted of the oil being placed on the head, hands and shoulder blades.
What was the oil recipe that went into the anointing of Kings? Well, this would generally be the same oil that was used in baptisms, the oil of catechumens. There were specifically three types of holy oil: Oil of the Catechumens, the Sacred Chrism and the Oil of the Sick. Normally these oils are blessed by a bishop on Maundy Thursday, the day of the calendar year in which the Last Supper is celebrated. For the most part oil of catechumens is olive oil, blessed by a bishop to ward off evil and to bring strength and wisdom. Almost all European royalty was anointed with the oil of catechumens (also the same oil used for baptisms), except for the French Kings. From the coronation of Clovis in 496 to Louis XVI, the kings of France were anointed with an ampula containing the Sacred Chism. Chism was more of a balm than an oil, and was used for the consecrating of bishops, chalices and altars. It is said to be one of the most powerful of the oils in the church's arsenal. The same ingredients in the biblical reference to Moses are said to be in Sacred Chism--- principal spices of pure myrrh...of sweet cinnamon...of sweet calamus...of cassia...and of olive...Unfortunately, the ampula that anointed the French kings for centuries was destroyed in the French Revolution. What remained after the destruction of the ampula was rescued and used for Charles X in 1825.
Throughout the Middle Ages, the oil and spice trade flourished along the older routes that were known as far back as 1700 bc. With the discoveries of Marco Polo, and the Crusades, the trade in oils and spices surged. When the plague broke out and black death took it's toll, some thieves were caught robbing the dead. Their secret for avoiding the sickness? They were spice traders who had rubbed themselves down with essential oils to avoid being infected. As you can see, the tradition of using oils for religious, protective, or magickal purposes is an old and varied one. Anointed candles can be used for purposes both magickal and religious. On a spiritual level, what do we consider that anointing with oil will do? As with its use in all religions, it further connects us with the Divine. It links us spiritually, heals, and purifies us. Not only do we dress our candles with oils, we anoint ourselves with them in hopes of gaining a more spiritual contact with the gods.
When one glances at the attributes of an herbal or plant encyclopedia one sees not only the folklore-magickal notations but also some very alarmingly accurate information regarding its medicinal properties. No matter what your reason for using essential oils, whether it be for health care, aromatherapy, or to "dress" your candles and yourself with magical properties, our ancestors of centuries past left records, ascribing the "gender", zodiac, planetary elements of every herb known to them.
In ritual magick, we anoint a candle with specific corresponding oils to further bring about our will and intent to the purposes we have in mind. The first step is finding a quality candle in the corresponding color that fits the intent you have in mind. The first step is finding a quality candle in the corresponding color that fits the intent you have in mind. There are cheap candles everywhere. I am just as guilty as the next person of spotting something that looks like a good buy and being disappointed later at the results. Quite often, the cause of the problem is cheap wax and poor wicking materials. There is nothing more frustrating than have a candle sputter out halfway through the burning process and needing to get a knife to cut around the wick getting enough wax off to re-light the candle. Equally annoying is the candle that burns okay for awhile and suddenly the wall of the candle collapses leaking hot wax and burning the wick down in no time flat. There's an entire bag of wasted wax in my basement full of candles that have collapsed in the burning process, which leads me to an important point. Even the mammoth three wick candles that I normally use for altar lighting (these are usually 6 x 6 or larger) are not a good buy if half the candle is wasted during the burning process. You just end up with a heavy candle "carcass" to unload. In an ideal situation with a quality candle, properly anointed and focused on, should burn down and completely out with very little material remaining. Unfortunately, even with expensive candles this might not always be the case. Tips on Candle Magick
Because there might be a mess of hot wax, it's important to mention the where and how to burn candles. After a few hours spent ironing red wax out of my living room rug a few years ago (Important tip: If you have a candle spill on carpeting, the best plan of action is plenty of paper towels on top of the wax and ironing it to get the wax to absorb into the paper toweling), I have found that in addition to the regular candle holder, it also helps to put a serving tray or extra large plate under the candles to catch any flow of hot wax that might get out of hand. My favorite things to put on an altar or a table are the metal beverage trays that you find at novelty stores. Any tray with an edge will protect not only your carpet, but also your altar tools if they are nearby. I have been known to burn more than one candle at a time on the large trays. Also, if you are scouting around at auctions or second hand stores, saucers, dinner plates and shallow bowls from chipped or mismatched china sets make absolutely wonderful extra things to set candles, on either with a holder, or if it's a fat pillar, you can place it on the plate if there is enough of a rim. Scout out second hand places for old elegant china. One of my best investments is an entire box full of china nobody wanted at an auction because a few pieces were missing and a few of the plates were chipped. For ten dollars I had enough plates with gold edging and roses to not only fit under candles, but to use under leaky plant pots.
It is also important to keep an eye on candles while they are burning. Those warning labels on candles that say "Never leave a burning candle unattended" should give you room for pause. Several people I know who are reluctant to pinch the flame out when they have a spell candle going, have suggested that the safest place would be to place the candle in a bathtub. I have never taken that risk. If in doubt, I snuff it out (which is why I have a candle snuffer in almost every area of my house.) I never "blow" a candle out which is being used for spellwork. If I do get called away for an emergency, I use a candle snuffer to put the flame safely out until I can get back to re-light it. Before lighting a candle, it's best to plan to stick around the house for a few hours. Safety first! Many firemen can probably attest to the number of fires that have been started via unattended candles. It's also important to factor in the possibility of pets and small children, and to place lit candles in a fairly protected zone. Choose where you plan to have open flames carefully. There are several places in my house where I quite often have several candles going. If you do leave the room they are in, it is a good idea to pass by quite often to keep an eye on things.. After all, the candle and flame is a symbol of your will and intent. In checking on your burning candle, you are reminded of what has been set into motion with your spell, and you focus again on it. If you aren't watching or keeping an eye on your candle how can you be in the right mindset to do the mental work?
If you happen to find a quality candle supplier and are ready to put some candle magick to use, the first question is what size candle will best suit your need? Many of my altar candles - those that serve a dual purpose of honoring the Goddess and the God, and those that correspond elementally with the four directions - are my primary candles in addition to any other candle work I might do. Quite often those six main candles are lit in addition to any spellwork type of candles to aid in the energy. This might not be important to everyone, but in my own workings it is primary to be balanced. In this type of situation, since they will be used daily, weekly, monthly, large candles come in handy. Anointed and dedicated to the individual purpose they serve, they serve as constant reminders that it is the "religion" and "honoring" that is daily of my focus, regardless as to whether or not there is a spell candle present on the altar.
Votives are an excellent choice for candle magick work. Most often when you think of votives, you think of their association with Catholic mass and services. A Mass offered for a votum, is a special intention. So we frequently find in prayers the expression, votiva dona "gifts offered with desire [of receiving grace in return]". Votives have even derived their name from Latin "Votum" which means prayer, wish, desire/vow, promise to God. I like to think they are superb beacons and messengers. They are quick (usually can be burned completely in an evening or a day) and usually inexpensive. Those handy little glass votive holders are easy to be found and really contain the wax so you usually burn the entire candle without much waste at all. For this reason I find them exceptional value-wise and extremely handy to have around because they store easily and make "quick work" of things. Take comfort in the fact that many church sanctuaries also use votives for the parishioners to light for remembrances and special prayers. Because they are small but stocky, you may find it helpful to inscribe a small sigil, rune or magickal symbol on them.
Tapers are wonderful to work with as well. Quite often you can find excellent quality tapers on sale when stores change their stocks. As they are widely available in a variety of colors. Because they may be fragile and can break, long slender tapers should be carefully stored. Due to this fragility, they are best left either unscribed or with minimal inscription and enjoyed in a elegant standard type candleholder or some beautiful ritual candleholders. However, I find tapers a joy to anoint and nearly as fast as a votive to burn. Quite often when I am planning to do hours worth of work in a room, tapers will keep me company throughout the night. Perhaps it's because of their classic candle shape, but they really do offer a unique feel in candle magick.
Pillars - Short squat pillars, mini-pillars and the larger column candles offer a unique opportunity because they can not only be inscribed with many magickal sigils, runes or drawings, but offer enough surface area to often etch in or write out the entire working. In fact, you may come across a need to not only work out prose on paper, but feel compelled to inscribe the entire candle with it. Even if left uncarved, multi- hour candles like these can continue to burn with the same energy you need daily until the entire candle is burned if you have a particular working that you know will take some time.
Making or buying quality candles - Anyone can make their own candles by simply following a good guide on candle-making available at any bookstore or library. Molds can be purchased or even made from household items (such as milk cartons and coffee cans) Sputtering wicks, or smoky wicks, or wax that burns too quickly are all problems which can occur in either store bought or homemade candles If the wax cracks, it could be that the candle was cooled at too rapid a temperature. Most chandlers use silicon spray on molds to help in getting a candle out. Candle making is a fine art to perfect.
Here are a few tips on some candle problems
* Excessive Dripping - Usually this happens when the wick is too small and cannot absorb the melting wax. Be sure the candle is not in a draft that is blowing melted wax over the edge. Sometimes if the wick is the proper size, the wax is too soft or has too low of a melting point for the wick to absorb the wax.
* Rapid Burning - Not enough stearic acid in the wax, and the candle has been cooled too rapidly
* Cave-ins on the sides -The candle was not pierced in the center of the cavity around the wick well, which leaves the cavity in the middle of the candle to contract inwards.
* Excessive Smoking - When the wick is too large for the candle, the flame consumes wax faster than the wick can absorb it.
Again the key to a quality burning candle whether you make it yourself or buy it, depends upon the materials: the wicks, the wax, the stearin additive, the dye and the oil fragrance.
Some wax formulas that are used today:
70% paraffin + 20% stearic acid + 10% Beeswax
90% paraffin + 10% stearic acid
48% paraffin + 52% beeswax
It's important to select the right size of wicks for candles too: * Nightlights, tea lights and low light long burning candles-usually use a wire wick that has meltable wire inserted into a cotton wick
* 1- 3 " votives and columns should use a 15 ply mordanted wick * 4" pillars and taper should use a 24 ply mordanted wick
* over 4 " should use a 30 ply mordanted wick
If you were like me as a kid, and baked crayons in your Easy Bake Oven, you probably thought that crayons were wax, and would probably make a good candle. This turns out not to be true. If you use crayons in your homemade candles as one of the dye ingredients, the crayon will cause a chemical reaction that "eats up" the wick and put the candle out. The best dyes to use for coloring homemade candles are those MADE for being used in candles; oil-soluble aniline dyes which can withstand both the heat and the acid nature of stearic acid.
If you are creating your own candles, there are ways of making your candle flame burn a unique color, if you add some ingredients to the wax. Sodium chlorate or potassium nitrate added to the wax will give you a yellow flame. Strontium nitrate added to the wax will produce a red flame. Calcium chloride makes an orange flame. Borax, copper nitrates, barium nitrate will produce a green flame, and Lithium chlorate will produce a purple flame. You can either add the chemicals to the wax or soak the wick in them.
If you are adding an essential oil or fragrance to a candle, it should be added just prior to pouring the wax. Too much oil will cause the wax to mottle. Three pounds of wax can be scented with a quarter of an ounce of oil, or you can saturate your wick in essential oil.
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Carving and Dressing Candles
As a candle is a tool, it is preferable to consecrate it as such. You can do a simple little ritual of your own or within your particular tradition of the craft. The purpose is to charge the candle with power, and charge and seal the magical tool with your will. If you are going to "dress" the candle with corresponding oils, you can consecrate, dress, charge and carve your candle all within the same steps. It's not simply enough to mindlessly say the words; you need to really focus on your goal mentally. Intent is always of utmost importance. If you are a solitary practitioner, feel free to individualize the consecration and dressing phase of charging your candles. If like me, you have a dish of salt, water, and smoldering incense on the altar at all times, you can use these elements to cleanse the candle and charge it.
One important word about carving on candles, some sources suggest that you can heat the tip of your athame to carve the wax. I disagree, and would suggest sharp small easy to handle pushpin tacks, or a long nail are better choices for this than a beloved ritual tool! It is easier to carve if you heat the tool you are using in a flame, but be careful of burns!
For anointing, the proper way to dress a candle is to start at the middle (center) and rub the oil towards the wick, then to start at the middle and rub the oil down towards the base. My only contention with this well known method of candle "dressing" is to first of THINK of the energy. In most cases, this is indeed the correct way to dress a candle. Most of us are intending to send energy OUT like a beacon to someone in need of a healing, banishing, or attraction to someone or something who is yet unknown to us. However, in my own practice with money candles, my intent is to draw more of that energy IN. When I mentally visualize what I want to do with a candle, I have at times switched the process around and started at the wick, drawing the oil to the middle of the candle and then going to the bottom and anointing from the bottom to the middle. While this is my own particular practice and my own particular style, I believe it's important to know mentally what you are hoping to accomplish with the will and intent...do you want that energy sent out, or do you want to bring something in? It's a logical question, and quite often when candle magick I have energy drawing in on one set of candles and energy going out with another set of candles. For me, it's a system of balance. I usually oil the candle all around the sides with either the "OUT" or the "IN" method of candle anointing.
Timing
Much has been made of the astrological influences of candle magick and spellwork. Ideally, I personally consider the moon phase to be the most important.
NEW MOON - If the goal you desire is one of a new beginning or a "start", the best time to do this is during a New Moon (this is when the moon is dark in the sky) While many do not like to work with a New Moon, I have come to discover it's one of my favorite times to work. This is the time I can to tie up loose ends, smudge the house, seal and protect. This is also a great moon to work with when you need to retreat a little bit and revive yourself. As it is the moon of "hidden knowledge" this would be an opportune time to try to ferret out information that you feel you need to know. Although the darkness in the sky is startling during a new moon, it is often associated with dormancy. We know the moon is still there, even though her reflection may be hidden. I prefer to think often of some of the darker sides of the Goddess or the darker Goddesses themselves.
WAXING MOON: While the moon is slowly filling in from a crescent on it's way to full is the best time for work that "increases". I find this an excellent time to do financial, job, attraction or anything else that needs "increasing" in volume or intensity.
FULL MOON: The full beauty of a full moon night is enough to make you gasp. Ideally, this is the time for things to come to full fruition, especially if you have been working on candle craft goal to coincide from the waxing moon into the full moon. I like to think that the Goddess can hear you better on a full moon, but seriously, whether culminating an "increase" to end on the full moon, or starting a "decrease" to begin on the full moon to decline on the course of a waning moon, the full moon has an advantage because it seems like our invocations and focus are all in high gear.
WANING MOON: When the moon is slowly crescenting bit by bit into the new moon, this is an excellent time to work on banishings or getting things out of your life that you need let go of and leave behind. Again, if it's taking you longer to let go of things or get rid of situations in your life that have outlived their usefulness, you can always gear your candle working to culminate on the New Moon.
Often, a situation might arise which must be dealt with immediately, and cannot wait until the appropriate lunar phase. Listen to your guy instinct, and act when you must. Of course, there are always "ideal" times to light a candle. In fact, if we were to get really obsessive about perfect timing, we could consider the appropriate positioning of astrological elements, days, hours, months, and corresponding archangels to help us along. Let's face it, it's struggle enough to keep track of corresponding colors and oils to meet with our end goals!
Naturally one should rely on one's own instincts as to which color of a candle would work the best purpose for a healing, or a sabbat. We can sometimes associate what is best for "fertility" or "money" simply by visualizing the green of a field or cash and associating that with the color of a candle. There are ancient ties with candles and scientific methods too. Within the color spectrum there are seven primary wavelengths or vibrations. Ceremonial Magicians have even ascribed colors to the Kabbalah. Without overwhelming yourself on technicalities of color, you can always make exceptions or go with what feels best. If you have a friend who's going through a tough time and pale blue does NOT feel like the right color to use, why not send healing energy with an orange candle to give her the zing and zest (and not to mention the strength) to handle whatever she may be dealing with?
One of my favorite candles to make is one that I call "Justice". The inspiration for that candle came from watching a woman judge on television. I loved her no nonsense approach to the riff raff that came before her bench. Wouldn't it be great, I thought, if I could create a candle that would push justice along? It was my way of focusing on letting the gods sort out whatever cluster of mess was coming across my path. Funny thing about that candle is that I was willing to own up to my own actions and take on the self responsibility for my part in the mess, but in real life, just because "you" may be paying attention, doesn't mean other people are. There was no color correspondence in anything I ever came across for "Justice" , but in my visualization the color black seemed most approachable. It was comparable to a judicial robe, and I also felt strongly that it banished negativity and protected. So black candles became my own very own "Justice" candles.
The most important point in selecting a colored candle is to find one that relates to your own path, your own tradition and most importantly, to your "will" and "intent."
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Color Correspondences
WHITE: purity, innocence, cleansing, centering, truth, psychic ability, spirituality, protection, power of divinity, healing, Planet: Moon, Zodiac sign: Cancer. May also be used as an all purpose corresponding color. Associated to the South and with the element of Air by Kelley and Dee (Enochian)
BLACK: meditation, uncrossing, protection, banishing of negativity, endings, death, binding, ridding self of bad habits, Planet: Saturn, Element: Earth, Zodiac: Scorpio. Samhain Associated to the North and with the element of Earth by Kelley and Dee (Enochian)
RED: South, fire, blood, passion, will power, sex, energy, health, protection or defensive needs. Zodiac: Aries (Golden Dawn), Leo, Scorpio. Planet: Mars Associated to the East with the element of Fire by Kelley and Dee (Enochian)
RED-ORANGE: Taurus
ORANGE: encouragement, adaptability, stimulation, attraction, friendship, organization, career success, Zodiac: Leo, Gemini Planet: Mercury. Samhain
ORANGE-YELLOW: Cancer
YELLOW: east, air, intelligence, imagination, mind power, creativity, confidence, success, action, attraction, concentration, communications. Zodiac: Leo, Planet: Mercury
GREEN: north, earth, fertility, luck, abundance, success, money, health, healing. Zodiac: Pisces, Taurus. Planet: Venus. Associated to the West with the element of Water by Kelley and Dee (Enochian)
BLUE-DARK: west, water, loyalty, wisdom, devotion, deep emotional ties, occult power, protection. Zodiac: Pisces
BLUE-LIGHT or PALE: Tranquility, patience, peace, health. Planet: Venus
PURPLE: psychic ability, protection, power, wisdom, honors, clarity, spirituality, Planetary: Jupiter, Moon, Mercury
BROWN: earth, stability, home, work, friendships.
GRAY: neutralize negative forces and influences
GOLD: sun, the God, riches, good luck, Leo
SILVER: lunar/moon, the Goddess, psychic abilities
PINK: honor, love, beauty
The Candle and Effective Use of Color Just as with the days of the week, the various colors of the spectrum also have old traditional associations with myriad human areas of concern. In my artist's- eye translation of a scientific explanation, color is a form of energy, traveling as light at different wave lengths that vary in speed depending on the hue: When we work with color, we very literally manipulate energy. We live in a sea of living energy. Our conscious mind perceives in the form of color, only a fragment of this living energy. Our subconscious, however, misses nothing, and, as psychologists are finding, these color radiations have a tremendous influence upon our health, thoughts and actions. A major tool in Magick is the proper use of color to one's best advantage. In dress, decor, or healing, color is of the utmost importance to one's success. Knowing what a color can do on a conscious, as well as a subconscious level, is what Candle Magick is all about. The following will introduce you to thirteen different colors. White A pastel combination of all colors, White reflects light with little to no absorption. Whenever in doubt in a magickal act, use White, which is the most highly balanced form of spirituality possible. White contains virtues in their highest form, and is therefore very protective. It is beyond the word or term God/dess. It is the Creative Source itself, zero, the alpha, the light from which all life springs, the female aspect of God, the Craft of the Wise, the full of the Moon, the symbol of the life giving mother, and all female mysteries. Associations: - Planet: Moon
- Day: Monday
- Hours: 1st/8th/15th/22nd
- Energy: Female
Color: Silvers/Pearls/Creams/Grays/Iridescent Whites (Pale Pinks, Violets, Blue hues, etc.) Key Phrases: To seem unreachable, untouchable, incorruptible; to repel destructive energies; to raise vibrations; to heal emotions, births, rapes, children, and pets; to build purity, balance the aura, confound enemies, create illusions, and contact spirit helpers. Black An intense concentration of all colors, it absorbs light. Unlike other colors, Black reflects very little, if any, light back to the viewer. This can give the false impression that Black is the absence of color. It is actually the absence of color reflection. Think of this color as a black hole in space. It absorbs all light with little or no reflection back, thus it becomes a receptacle or a transporter for all that you do not need or want. Properly used, Black can be one of the most useful and powerful colors available. However, misused, it can cause disaster. Associations: - Planet: Saturn
- Day: Saturday
- Hours: 1st/8th/15th/22nd
- Energy: Female
Color: Dark Blues, Black, Dark Browns, and most dark colors Key Phrases: To absorb or remove anything; to end something, to remove or encase undesirable energies; to break up blocked or stagnant situation. The great mystery solver. The Crone, the Unconscious. Brown Earth energy. It is feminine in its nature and related to its sisters the Moon and Saturn. Being a relatively balanced combination of Red, Yellow, and Blue, depending on the intensity level, it can be used successfully on Monday, Friday, or Saturday. Brown is one of the more complex colors, with varied associations. Associations: - Planet: Moon, (Tan/Browns/ Venus, (all)/Saturn
- Day: Monday/Friday/Saturday
- Hour: 1st/8th/15th/22nd
- Energy: Female
Color: Browns, earth tones Key Phrases: To acquire basic material needs for survival; to learn to ground and center your consciousness with the earth; to obtain money that is not transient by working with your hands, i.e. laborer, farmer, gardener, etc.; to attune with trees (re-browns) and communicate with their intelligence. Gray This color is unique, due to its aspect of neutrality. Gray can be used to neutralize anything from a Magickal act that no longer serves your best interest, to the neutralization of destructive energies in a passive, non-karmic fashion. It is a perfect balance of Black and White, and therefore absorbs and repels. With this quality, Gray draws in the undesirable energies and then sends them out to the universe for dispersal as neither destructive nor constructive properties. Associations: - Planet: Moon
- Day: Monday
- Hours: 1st/8th/15th/22nd
- Energy: Female and Male
Color: Gray Key Phrases: To erase, cancel, neutralize, and return tot he universe without repercussion; to eradicate or jumble destructive forces; to attract neither destructive nor constructive energies to your life (this include people and situations). Blue Blue transforms violence, anger, and hate. It soothes and cools. It gives peace, calm, harmony, satisfaction, bliss, oneness, and understanding of the spiritual realms. It is predominantly feminine energy, and is ruled by either the Moon, Venus or Saturn, depending on the hue. However, many consider Royal Blues as belonging to the expansive male energies of Jupiter. Therefore, it is left up for the practitioner, to experiment and decide for him - or herself which works best. Associations: - Planet: Moon, Venus, Saturn, Jupiter
- Day: Monday, Friday, Saturday, Thursday
- Hours: 1st/8th/15th/22nd
- Energy: Female (sometimes Male when used with Jupiter/Thursday)
Colors: Blue Whites/Moon, Blues/Venus, Dark Blues/Saturn, Royal Blue/Jupiter Key Phrases: Religious beliefs in a pure and healthy state, inner calm, peace from within, first contact with Higher Self, spiritual well being, wisdom, truth and light, dedication, and loyalty. Yellow Yellow is a color on mental clarity, swiftness, and accuracy. A sunny, positive disposition with spiritual attuning to the healing forces of male energy (refer to Gold). Associations: - Planet: Mercury
- Day: Wednesday
- Hours: 1st/8th/15th/22nd
- Energy: Male
Colors: Yellow Key Phrases: To obtain knowledge; to learn swiftly; to gain insight into problems. Yellow represents all institutions of learning, particularly upper level studies (especially in sciences). Alters dark mental mood swings. Enhances the knowledge of healing, the ability to concentrate, and the retention of memory. Yellow attracts people, as it has a warm compelling energy, and can also be used to compel another to do your bidding. Gold The male half of the Cosmic or Universal Life Force - sun energy. Intelligent action or action motivated by deliberation and knowledge, usually with healing, money, or wealth in mind. Gold is related to Orange and Yellow, in that it is a higher vibration of these two colors, and any on of the three can actually be used on Sunday (sun) with success. The choice here is for the practitioner to experiment, and then to decide which color suits his or her needs. Generally speaking, Orange vibrates to physical and mental action, while Yellow vibrates to mental action only (better attributed to Wednesday/Mercury). Lastly, Gold would be indicative of intelligent, quick action, with a monetary emphasis. Associations: - Planet: Sun
- Day: Sunday
- Hours: 1st/8th/15th/22nd
- Energy: Male (Amazon/Female)
Colors: Gold Key Phrases: To attract money and power (you constantly will have to work to keep it however); to heal and rejuvenate your being; to attract happy, active people into your life. Gold imparts the energy and intelligence to take proper action in a monetary situation. Attracts stock market gains, transient abundance, the appearance of wealth and grandeur. Epitomizes the gambler, the risk taker; chasing a pot of gold at the end of an elusive rainbow. It expedites money you know is coming but has not yet arrived due to red tape, lawsuits, etc. Red Red is a fiery color that attracts and magnetizes, but must be used with discernment to avoid disastrous results. The shade of Red used or considered in your magickal act will be of extreme importance here. Stay with the lighter, brighter shades of Red and leave the darker shades for the more experienced practitioners for now. The darker are for wars, battles, blood, hate, and danger. Associations: - Planet: Mars
- Day: Tuesday
- Hours: 1st/8th/15th/22nd
- Energy: Male (Amazon Female)
Colors: Red Key Phrases: Lust, physical desire, anger, base energy, war, blood, pain, attracts and magnetizes, courage, enemies, danger. Red stimulates and energizes. Cherry-Reds are for physical and mental lovemaking, but without the brutal force of the darker hues. Pink Pink is a lighter shade of red. It deals with a spiritual, emotional love rather than the physical form. Pink represents love that comes from the heart that is freely given without condition, such as the emotions and feelings between parent and child, close friends or family. Associations: - Planet: Venus
- Day: Friday
- Hours: 1st/8th/15th/22nd
- Energy: Female
Colors: Pink Key Phrases: Love from the heart, without the sexual connotation, purest form of love, raises vibrations, love without selfishness, feminine, spiritual healing, banish lower vibrations and hate, love of friends and family, affections, unselfish emotions, to start a relationship. Orange Orange is a combination of Yellow/Mercury/mental agility and Red/Mars/action-energy. Thus you have the best of both worlds, the energies and actions of Red, yet the intelligence to know how to use this action. The overaggressive nature of the Red/Mars is now toned and tapered with the healing wisdom rays of Yellow/Mercury that nurtures the entire system. Sunday is the best day to use the color orange. It can be used on Tuesday or Wednesday with success, depending on your magickal goals. If used on Tuesday, the emphasis is on Physical action. If used on Wednesday, it is on mental action whereas Sunday is a balance of both. Associations: - Planet: Sun/Mars/Mercury
- Day: Sunday/Tuesday/Wednesday
- Hours: 1st/8th/15th/22nd
- Energy: Male (Amazon Female)
Colors: Orange, rarely Red, sometimes Yellow Key Phrases: Prosperity, energy building, attracts others in a positive way, attracts success, good luck and fortune. Builds vitality, energy, and stamina. Encourages fun and discourages laziness. Enhances mental agility, accompanied by the ability to take physical action toward a desired goal. Energizes the entire system. Promotes a happy-go-lucky appearance. Green Green really does bring the luck of the Irish, but in cases of money, you could be chasing rainbows. Money sought with this color seems to fade quickly and trickle in a little at a time, just enough to whet your appetite (refer to Gold or Brown). Think of Green as being and elusive leprechaun and you will better understand what I mean. Green stimulates growth, especially concerning your garden and communication with plant life or garden faeries. Green is an Earth color, and is used on Friday. Depending on the magickal system you employ, it may be used on Wednesday, as Wednesday is also used for healing. Green used on Friday gives an emotional healing (matters of the heart), while Wednesday emphasizes healing knowledge. Associations: - Planet: Venus/Mercury
- Day: Friday/Wednesday
- Hours: 1st/8th/15th/22nd
- Energy: Female or Male
Color: Green Key Phrases: Money, healing, fertility, good luck and fortune. Attracts success. Communication with the plant kingdom (darker Greens) or faeries (Pastels). The secrets of healing are yours when you turn to this color. Use in conjunction with herbal healing techniques. Purple Purple is the color of expansion in all forms. If you want to do something in a big way, this is the color to use. Purple expands anything you desire, i.e., spirituality, business, money, health or love. The Royal Blues are less expansive, dealing more with the emotional and spiritual levels of Jupiter. Therefore, the Royal or Dark Blues are attributed to Saturn. A word of caution, however: if you do not already have the items you desire, do not use Jupiter. Jupiter only expands and brings you more of what you already have. To obtain the items of the desires, use Sun/Sunday/Orange in order to manifest what you currently do not have in your life. Associations: - Planet: Jupiter
- Day: Thursday
- Hours: 1st/8th/15th/22nd
- Energy: Male
Colors: Purple, sometimes Royal Blue, Dark Purple/Saturn Key Phrases: Money begets money, the rich get richer; poverty begets poverty, the poor get poorer. Purple brings more of what you already have, in a big way. Wisdom, high idealism, knowledge of the higher realms of Magick, spiritual protection and healing, the becoming of your highest potential, becoming your God/dess self, reversal of a jinxed condition. Manipulation of law, business, commerce, courts, judges, people in a position of power over you. Enhancement of power, psychic ability, male energy. Influence older men of power and women with a strong male nature. Protective energy, bestows fame, power, and recognition in a chosen field. Progressive energies that continually expand the field. |
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Communicating With the Candle The candle itself can be equated to the human body or human potential. It is composed of the magickal elements of Earth, Air, and Water. Once energized and lit, Fire and Spirit are added: Al the elements necessary for Magick and life embodied in one compact unit. The Symbology of the Candle Will: The energy you place into the candle is the unseen factor that creates change in accordance with your desires. That which gives shape and life to an action leading to an ultimate reaction. Will is symbolized by a properly energized and lit candle. Elemental Kingdom - a thought form created by the Magician. Halo: The aura or halo around the flame represents divinity achieved, the life hereafter, the transmuted state of God- self. Elemental Kingdom- all on a spiritual level only. The Body: The physical properties of the candle exclusive of the wicking. Whether you use a vegetable wax, a tallow or petroleum base, oil or bees wax, all the elements are brought to bear when the candle is lit. When unlit, all elements are present except Fire, Spirit and Will (if undedicated). Elemental Kingdom - as indicated - Earth-Air-Water. Flame: The flame of the candle represents the seat of the soul. The spirit's transcendence and knowledge of its own divinity. Elemental Kingdom - salamanders. (Each tiny flame houses a living salamander.) Wicking The wicking represents the human potential when unlit. Once lit, it becomes the vehicle by which transmutation is made possible. Symbolized by the rising of the Kundalini. Elemental Kingdom - gnomes when unlit, sylphs and salamanders when lit. Candle Holder The candle holder represents reality as we perceive it along with all that contains and sustains us here on Mother Earth. Elemental Kingdom - Earth/Gnomes. The Language of Candles As you begin working with candles, you will discover that they have a unique language. The language is expressed by the dancing of the flame, the wafting of the smoke, and the snap and crackle of the burning wax. In order to successfully interpret how your magickal work is progressing, you will be communicating not only with your own subconscious, but with the Fire elementals as well. No two candles will ever react the same way when lit even when they are homemade and all things are known to be equal in their manufacture. Though undedicated, a candle has unique properties that individualize it form others of the same batch. When dedicated and lit, each candle displays its unique personality (shaped from your desires) that is communicated by the tiny Fire Element or Salamander housed within the flame. Communication with you will vary slightly from candle to candle depending on the task assigned it and how well you have aligned your intention. As your candle burns, free your mind and concentrate on the candle. Watch how the smoke rises and the flame dances and listen to the sound it makes. The smoke may rise to the East or waft to the South, the flame may flare or dwindle, and the sounds may be of a popping nature. Ask yourself how these actions relate to the Magick you are performing. The answers you perceive are often startling and revealing about the true nature of your desires. Do not be surprised if the unenlightened attribute the language of your candles to the myriad of "logical" explanations regarding drafts, chemical compositions, atmospheric conditions, etc. When the results are in and heads are scratched in dismay, just remember that "All of Magick Is a Seeming Array of Uncanny Coincidence to the Unenlightened." The Flame You will soon realize that your candle flame will frequently wav, dip, and bob regardless of how carefully you shield it against drafts. This is called a dancing flame, one of the ways a candle communicates with you. The dance has meaning and. once understood, can help you determine how your Magick is progressing. Strong Flame: this indicates that power and energy are going into your desires for manifestation. This is a very good sign. When a figure candle is used, a strong flame generally indicates that the person represented by the figure is winning or angry or is using authority over another. when two figure candles are present, the higher and stronger flame represents authority over another. Weak Flame: This can show you that you are facing heavy opposition and must redo the Magick several times in order to overcome the power you are facing. The weak flame can also indicate, on a figure candle, that the subject is losing the battle, argument, etc., against another. The weak flame that goes out usually means that you have missed your target altogether. Start over and b more careful of the intentions you put out. Jumping Flame: This is an attention getter. It can indicate raw emotions along with explosions of energy, depending on the candle used and its intended purpose. When two figure candles are being used, a jumping flame usually means that an energetic or heated discussion or argument is taking place. Rainbow Flame: As indicated by the name, this flame is composed of various colors. They have the same meanings as those listed in the colors page listed in this site. Flame pointing North Something physical is manifesting. This can be of long duration. Flame Pointing East Something mental is manifesting. New Ideas, intuitions. Flame Pointing South Something is happening that is aggressive in nature, a steamy, hot situation. Flame Pointing West Something emotional manifesting. A good sign of success. The Smoke The following general rules apply when interpreting the direction your candle smoke takes: North You will have to work for what you want. Success will not be easy or rapid. Perseverance is the key here. In the case of health, it can mean a condition can get worse. Look to other omens for more information. East Success comes with thought and strategy. Carefully review the situation. Patience is the key here. South Success comes rapidly with your request. In the case of health, your recovery is immanent. West When the smoke wafts to the West, the issue is too emotional. Step back, You are too involved. Look at the situation from a detached point of view to clear the mind. Then, reanalyze the problem. Is there something you are overlooking? The Talking Candle Candle chatter denotes communication on some level. That level will depend on the magick you are performing. Chatter is most common when using figure candles and can denote who is getting told what and by whom. Soft, infrequent Chatter: Indicates intimate conversation and, at times, pure thoughts. Mild, Frequent Chatter: Someone in a position of authority is giving orders or directions. Strong, Frequent Chatter: Denote Arguments, quarrels or loud disagreements. Remember, the language of the candle is important. The direction of the flame, the wafting of the smoke, and the audible chatter are all a from of communication for divination into past, current, and future events. Take notes and learn the language of the candle so you can better understand the workings of your magick. Whenever you are looking for omens in candle language, always use your common sense. Remember that each magickal act is different and reach candle is unique. Combine this awareness with your subconscious interpretations of the omens and you will find that your interpretations will vary from those of others under similar circumstances. experiment to find out what is right for you. |
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The Oil and Dressing of Your Candle You'll need oil to anoint the candle. This is called "dressing" the candle and it's a very crucial part of every candle spell: you're "addressing" it so its message is delivered accurately. Sure, you can buy perfumed candles that are already scented: please, save them for relaxing in the tub. You can even buy candles that are already dressed, but since the point is to personalize the candle exclusively to you, what good does it do to have the candle dressed by someone else? Dressing your own candle assures that you are attuning that candle to your intentions, personalizing it, enlisting it as your ally. What kind of oil? Ah, more decisions! Many metaphysical shops and botanicals (the wonderful herb shops located in Spanish speaking neighborhoods throughout the country) sell oils suitable for candle dressing. Some are attuned (through the herbs they contain) to certain colors, some have colorful descriptive names like "Come To Me" and "Fast Luck." Select these oils based on color and/or purpose, and pick a scent you find pleasing. A small vial will suffice for starters: you can gradually collect a variety of oils for different candle occasions. You can also make your own oils, using specific herbs, essential or perfume oils and small amounts of any mild-scented vegetable oil, such as grapeseed or almond. (See Oil Recipes) How to apply your oil to your candle is determined by your intention: Inviting Stroke: When your aim is to call something to you and bring it into your life, apply the oil first around the top of the candle (in a clockwise motion, looking down at the wick), the bottom (again, clockwise, with the candle upside down), and then center (that is, around the candle's "waist", clockwise as you hold the candle upright). Then rub more oil from the top in toward the candle's center and from the bottom up to the candle's center. As you do this, hold a clear mental image of drawing good things to you, pulling them in toward your own heart-center.Banishing Stroke: When your intention is to move stuff out of your life, reverse this process: apply oil in a counter-clockwise motion to top, bottom, and center, then rub out and away from the candle's center, keeping a clear picture of things departing as you do so. For Novenas (tall candles in glass): These burn for days and many people feel safer about leaving them unattended (still in a bathtub or sink, please). Obviously you must dress them in a different manner. To write directly on the candle, reach down with your tool and scratch the words into the wax around the wick. Then, apply your oil around the wick and on the glass around the bottom only, working clockwise to draw to you, counter-clockwise to send away. With novena candles, petitions can be fastened directly around the glass jar itself, so the light of the candle's flame will shine through the paper as the candle burns. While a number of books suggest always applying oil from the center out (what I consider the banishing stroke), I learned the inviting/banishing methods that I use many years ago and they've always felt right to me. Does that mean the books are wrong, I'm wrong, or that it really doesn't matter how it's done? No, it means that what ultimately makes these things "right" is one's own intention. Do what feels right for you and be consistent with your intention. Fragrance Associations Monday/Moon/Whites/Emotions White Rose, White Garden Lily, or GardeniaTuesday/Mars/Reds/Aggression Pine, Carnation, or HoneysuckleWednesday/Mercury/Yellows/Mental Lily of the Valley, Lavender, or BayberryThursday/Jupiter/Purples/Expansion Magnolia, Sandalwood, or Sage Friday/Venus/Greens/Love Primrose, Thyme, or LilacSaturday/Saturn/Blacks/Endings Water Violets, Black Orchid, or HyacinthSunday/Sun/Oranges//Creating Rosemary, Rue, or ClovesFragrances Ruled By The Moon Balm Coconut Eucalyptus Gardenia Jasmine Lily Lotus Myrrh Poppy Sandalwood Water Lily Wintergreen Fragrances Ruled By MarsAll Spice Carnation Dragon's Blood Ginger High John the Conqueror Honeysuckle Hot Peppers Peppermint Pine Snapdragon Fragrances Ruled By MercuryAzalea Bayberry Clover Fern Lavender Lemon Grass Lily of the Valley Mandrake Mint Hemp Tobacco Fragrances Ruled By JupiterAnise Datura Lime Magnolia Maple Meadowsweet Nutmeg Oak Sage Sandalwood Fragrances Ruled By VenusAdam and Eve African Violet Cherry Lilac Primrose Spearmint Strawberry Thyme Vanilla Fragrances Ruled By SaturnBlack Orchid Hyacinth Iris Morning Glory Opium Poppy Pansy Patchouli Peyote Solomon's Seal Water Violets Fragrances Ruled By The SunCedar Cloves Chrysanthemum Cinnamon Frankincense Juniper Marigold Rosemary Rowan Rue |
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Candles Shapes and Figures Adam and Eve Candles: These are human figure candles that come in a variety of colors. They can be used for anything from love (Pink) to gaining a new job (Green). Just use your imagination and the information in this site. Altar Candles: The Altar Candles are used to represent the Deities or Powers with which you wish to communicate. This is a method of honoring them and their presence while tapping into their energy. Two Altar Candles are placed on the altar, one to the left side and one to the right. The candles must always be taller and longer burning than any others on the altar. They must be lit first and extinguished last. Which of the Altar Candles is lit first depends on the type of Magick you are performing. Color not withstanding, the right candle represents male energy while the left represents female energy. Colors will vary from system to system and from Deity to Deity. Astral Candles: These are "Personal Candles" of colors and shapes you feel right for you or another person. They are not to be confused with Zodiac Candles (listed later) that are affixed to you by birth sign. Astrological Candles: See Zodiac Candles. Cat Candle: the Cat Candles are used for luck, jinx- breaking, and hexing, depending on the oils and energies placed into the candle. They are usually are found in three basic colors: · Black: used to banish bad luck and bring good luck. Gamblers should alter burning times between seven and eleven minutes per night. · Red: generally used for gaining the love of another by feminine (feline) guile. · Green: can be used to obtain money of a transient nature or to heal a sick pet. Compass Candle: A Compass or Directional Candle is employed to help you determine a specific direction to take in life. It is usually a taper that drips freely when lit. After assigning each of the four quarters a direction that you believe you would like your life to proceed in, observe the candle closely. The wax will drip in the direction that is best for you to take, not necessarily the one you might want, but you will be told what is best based on your present abilities. Cross or Crucifix Candle: Sometimes referred to as the "Flora" or "Floral Cross" Candle, this comes in a variety of colors. It is generally burnt for protection and banishing. It can be used to represent angels which are called in to protect the home. One angel for each day of the week in the appropriate color. Dehexing Candle: The best colors of Dehexing Candles are Gray, Silver, Black and bi-colored Reversible Candles. · Black: Absorbs anything coming to you. · Gray: neutralizes anything coming to you. · Silver: reflects the incoming energy back to the sender. The curse, jinx or crossing that was meant for you now rests on the sender. With the gray color, your energy must remain neutral. · Reversible Color: is usually found in a combination of Red and Black, with the Black absorbing the incoming energy and the Red concentrating it, adding any tidbits of your making, and returning it to the sender with interest. Devil Candle: This ominous candle is used to banish a jinxed or crossed condition in the home or place of employment, or about one's person. It is commonly used to exorcise someone of undesirable habits, energies, and entities. Mainly used in conjunction with the Psalms. It can be used to create a jinx, hex, or crossed condition. Devotional Candle: Devotional Candles, a from of Novena Candle, are usually those found in picturesque, heat resistant glass containers. The pictures on the glass are usually of various Saints or Loas while a prayer is normally inscribed on the reverse. Double/Triple Action Candle: Double Action Candles have two colors. They are usually referred to as dual action or dual purpose candles. Exemplified by the Red and Black Reversible candle mentioned above. Triple Action Candles have one more color than the double action ones, hence one more action in combination. As an example, a typical triple action combination would be Red (passion), White (protection), and Green (money). Floating Wick Candle: This candle merely exchanges the wax body for one of fragrant oils. A floating wick is suspended in the oil that lies within a decorative holder. These not only are beautiful at social gatherings, but you can remove stale cooking or smoke odors as well. You can energize the oil body as you would a wax body, but you must do so through the glass as the oil has no solid structure. Glass Oil Candle: Though similar to the Floating Wick Candle by virtue of using oil instead of wax in a (glass) container, the Glass Oil Candle's wick does not float. It is suspended into the oil body from a separate metal or glass fixture. The Glass Oil Candle comes in a variety of shapes, sizes, and colors, and is extremely useful in Magick as a Perpetual Flame or Altar Candle. The fragrant oils can be exchanged to match the Magick you are performing. The thick glass is usually safe and heat resistant. The container usually has a small opening where new oil can be added without extinguishing the flame. As many of the containers are transparent, it is easy to see when the oil needs replacing. As an Altar Candle for a magickal act, use the glass tapers. A neutral yet high vibrational oil in a thick crystal taper burns long after your Magick is complete. When using the Glass Oil Candle in a magickal act, always imbue the container first with your will. Do not anoint the container however. Instead, with your will, imbue the oil meant to go into the container. In this way, the container has stored energy and power along with the oil. Hand of Glory Candle: The Hand of Glory Candle and spell dates well into the early Middle Ages. According to Anna Riva in Candle Burning Magick, the spell was attributed to Albertus Magnus. Whether Magnus was the originator of this work or was simply passing on even older folk lore is not known. The real danger of not understanding the "whys" or "hows" of Magick is well depicted with this legend. It also illustrates the real need for you to master the basics and then build upon them for your own understanding of Magick. There are several legends on how to obtain and use the Hand of Glory. Generally, the hand of a hanged thief or some successful criminal (at least until he was hanged) was taken, then processed and dipped into hot wax. The hand was then set afire so that the light from it would render its carrier invisible, along with paralyzing anyone seeing it. Before you start digging around in your local graveyard, let's examine the thoughts behind this magickal legend. First, the taking of the hand of an executed man, once a thief, now a spirit and invisible to mortal eyes, was believed to bestow his invisibility trait to the possessor. Second, the legend is so incomplete that the exact "facts" cannot be ascertained. You can do much better with Creative Visualization or Candle Magick and leave the hands with the owners. With Creative Visualization, you can cloak yourself in a cloud of mist using the energy from the solar plexus. This raises the bodily vibrations tot he point of invisibility. I use this method on our car when a traffic cop is getting ready to pounce. Remember though to lift the veil before driving off or you may find yourself in frequent auto accidents! With Candle Magick, you can control the mind of those you wish to be invisible to by using image candles. By willing others not to see you, you can come and go as you please. Combining the two methods for a more theatrical approach, obtain some graveyard dust. Create a white, wax image candle of yourself, including the dust within the wax. Conjure your Magick around your will and your desire to become invisible to others. As you burn the candle, envision yourself surrounded by a white cottony substance. This takes a lot of concentration, since anytime you lose your concentration, you drop the veil and again will be visible. The Guardian Flame Candle: There are many magicians who will only light a ritual candle with the "Sacred Flame" that has been dedicated to a Deity. This flame stands as a guardian in the home or temple. The glass Oil Candle is excellent for his purpose. Household Candle: An all-purpose candle used for Magick. Invocation Candle: An Altar Candle used to invoke a specific Deity. The Seven-Day Novena Candle is frequently used as an Invocation Candle as it is tall and will normally outlast other candles on the altar. Jumbo Candle: A larger, thicker version of the Household Candle. Knob Candle: this candle has seven small knobs, one atop another, and stand approximately seven inches high. One knob can be burnt each day while concentrating on what you desire to manifest into your life. A separate oil is used for each knob or an all purpose oil can be used on all seven knobs, the choice is yours. The Black Seven Knob Candle provides an excellent way to banish undesirable energies from your home and the surrounding area. Burn one knob each day, starting on the Full Moon and working until the New Moon for best results. Use a Green Seven Knob Candle or a White Seven Knob Candle to build a protective wall around your home and those you love. Mummy Candle: Traditionally, this candle is used to acquire success and power. We prefer to use to ward off illness, dangerous situations, or the specter of death. Novelty Candle: Any candle that is not housed in glass and has a shape other than cylindrical. Some examples of the Novelty Candle are the Cat Candle, the Skull Candle, the Seven Knob Candle, and the Adam and Eve Candles. Novena Candle: generally, this is a seven- to twelve-day, glass-enclosed candle. Frequently it is inscribed with pictures of various Saints along with prayers or chants on the reverse. Seven-Day Novena: This long-burning candle is housed within a thick, heat resistant glass, and comes in three varieties: Plain Novena, the Spiritual Novena, and the Specialty Novena. Each comes unscented and in a variety of colored wax and glass casings. · Plain Novena: This is an unmarked Seven-Day Candle found in a variety of colors. · Spiritual Novena: This candle comes with various depictions of Saints or Holy Personages on the glass container along with specific prayers or petitions to that Saint. The scene in which the Saint is depicted is usually a clue as to the Saint's power and use. · Specialty Novena: This candle is made of specific colors and sports specific designs on the glass container. It is named for the various actions it is to perform, and is often confused with the Novelty Candle. Remember, Novelty Candles do not come in glass containers and are not cylindrically shaped. Their names include Lucky 13, Controlling, Double Action, Reversible and many others. Offertory Candle: This is the name for the main candle that offers your desires, goals, or wishes out to the Universe for manifestation. It is also known as a Purpose Candle. Phallus Candle: A candle in the shape of the male organ, it can be used for anything dealing with male sexuality, sterility, or impotence. Protection Candle: A candle of any shape and size. The color here is what counts. Burn a White candle or a Saint Candle whenever doing destructive Magick (banishing disease, for example) to protect yourself from harm. Also use Silver if you are doing destructive Magick against another person who also knows Magick. Should your Magick return unexpectedly, neutralize it with a Gray Candle. Some Novena Candles are considered Protection Candles. San Capistrano to keep away enemies; Saint Anthony for a job; Saint Jude for court problems; Sacred Heart fro Marriage; Santa Clara for drug and addiction problems; Saint Michael for general protection. Whenever using the Saints, always write down your desire nine times on parchment and tape it to the candle bottom. Using the Saints is not hard as the prayers are usually inscribe right into the candle containers. Rebirthing Candle: A candle, with three or more days of burning time, that is used to guide the dead across to peace and rest. Skull Candle: This candle, shaped in the form of a human skull, comes in several colors, the most common of which are Black, White, Red, and Green. Traditionally, the Green Skull Candle is used to make someone who is gullible easier to separate fro his or her money. It can be used to heal mental or physical disorder of the mind, brain or cranium. We have used the Green Skull Candle to aid in memory retention fro College. A Friend of ours had a brain tumor and asked for help. As the Black Skull is normally used to cause great harm, suffering and pain, we focused that destructive power and directed it toward the tumor. It stopped enlarging and then could be removed safely by surgery. We then used the Green Skull on a waxing Moon to promote health and healing. The Red Skull could be used to force someone physically to move away or to make him or her fall out of love with another person. Of course, the reverse could also be attempted depending on the Moon Cycle. The White Skull Candle is the best one to use to bend someone to your will, contrary to our chart, as the Yellow Skull is very hard to find. This is a very good reason to learn to make your own candles. Skull Candles of the appropriate colors can be of great aid to activists who must deal with bureaucracies. The large entities can be equated to headless monsters that feed off the life energies of their employees. By using the Skull Candle to represent the thought form of the bureaucracy, you can tap this thought form's energy and thus control much of what happens to it. By making the thought form feed upon itself, you can destroy it or allow it to restructure. Snake or Bust Away Candle: This candle is used to break free or "bust away" from evil. It is used to break free of undesirable conditions, situations or habits. Specialty Candle: The same as the Specialty Novena Candle mentioned previously. As the use of Novena and Specialty Candles varies a bit from my own method of candle Magick, the colors, oils, and traditional meanings will vary slightly from what has been told to you here in this site. As Anna Riva has a wonderful book entitled Devotions to the Saints, further reference is not required here. Vigil Candle: Any candle will suffice when burnt not only for a long period of time for another's benefit but also to peacefully demonstrate for a cause or action. Witch Candle: Traditionally used as an extremely potent love candle, the idea of being to "bewitch" your intended. Yoni Candle: The female counterpart of the Phallus Candle. Shaped like a Vulva, this candle is used in sex Magick, safe birthing, and most anything dealing with women and their sexuality. Zodiac or Astrological Candle: This candle is used to represent each of the twelve signs of the Zodiac. It is specifically colored, scented, and adorned with the information pertinent to the individual sign. Its use, normally in conjunction with other candles, is to represent your goal or target. The Zodiac Candle would be placed on the altar and then moved closer to the target candle to simulate the merging of the two. |
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Money Candle Items Needed: - 2 to 4 pounds of paraffin
- Thin candle wicking
- Green candle dye (or a green crayon)
- 1/2 tsp. ground cinnamon
- 1/2 tsp. ground nutmeg
- A small bowl
- Patchouli essential oil
- A large pot
- A clean coffee can
- Baking soda (for fire safety)
- 1 wooden spoon
- Wax paper
1. To speed the melting process, grate or chop the paraffin into small pieces before melting. Fill the large pot about 1/3 full of water. Place on high heat until boiling. Place the paraffin in the coffee can, and set the can into the pot.
Turn the heat down to medium. Watch the paraffin as it's melting. Paraffin easily bursts into flames over high heat (this is exactly why it's used to make candles). If flames appear, place a lid over the can or drench the area with baking soda to snuff out the fire. If you keep the heat low you should have no problems. 2. While the paraffin is melting, place the two spices into the bowl. Mix them together, empowering them as you visualize money manifesting in your life. Infuse the herbs with your goal. 3. Check the paraffin. For best results, you should have at least 6 inches of melted paraffin. If there's less, add more paraffin. (If the paraffin has melted, but has begun to harden, the heat is too low. Turn it up a bit.)
Add a few chunks of green candle dye to the paraffin and mix with the wooden spoon. Alternately, remove the paper wrappings from a green crayon, break it into pieces, and add this to the paraffin.
The dye will melt. Stir until the paraffin is evenly colored. The finished, dried candles will be a shade or two lighter than the color of the melted paraffin. More dye may be necessary to create the desired dark green shade. 4. Once the paraffin has been tinted, sprinkle the spices onto the paraffin with your projective hand. Dust off your fingers over the pot and stir the herbs into the paraffin with the wooden spoon. Stir clockwise and visualize.
Add eight to sixteen drops patchouli essential oil to the paraffin and again stir with the wooden spoon.
Smell the paraffin. It should be heavily scented. If not, add more patchouli oil. 5. Begin dipping. Hold a length of cotton wicking between your thumb and forefinger. Dunk it into the paraffin. It will probably just float on the surface the first few times you do this, for the wick lacks enough weight to plunge it to the bottom of the can. After dipping, remove it and hold it in the air for a moment or two until the paraffin has set, then dip again.
Dip again, lifting the wicking completely from the melted paraffin, allow the paraffin to set, and re-dip. Repeat as needed. The longer you wait between dippings, allowing the paraffin to harden, the faster the candle will build up. If you simply dunk and dunk and dunk, the hot paraffin will melt each proceeding coat and you'll end up with a soggy piece of wick.
With proper dipping, the candle will soon form. Its bottom will grow into an inverted cone-shape from the paraffin that drips down the taper's sides as it cools. This is natural; don't worry about it. 6. When the candle has achieved the proper width, hang it dry in a spot where it won't be touched for several minutes.
Test the candle after 20 or so minutes. The paraffin should have set but the taper should still be warm. Check it periodically to be sure that it hasn't completely hardened before the next step. 7. Turn off the heat under the paraffin. Place the wax paper on a counter or table. Lay the candle on the paper and gently, with an easy rocking motion roll the candle back and fourth on the wax paper. This straightens the taper and reduces irregularities on its surface. 8. When the candle is fairly straight, cut off the inverted cone at the bottom of the candle with a sharp knife. Dip the taper two more times into the melted paraffin and hang to dry until hard. You've just made a money candle. (To save time and produce more tapers, make two, three, or four at a time. Hang each to dry as you dip the next.) 9. To use your Money Spell Candle, choose a time when you'll be alone. Smell the rich, prosperous scent and visualize money manifesting in your life.
Hold the candle tightly between your palms. Send energy into it, saying something like the following words: I charge you by Jupiter,
I charge you by the Earth,
I charge you by the Sun, Moon, and Stars:
Bring money to me,
Prosperity.
Money to me,
Prosperity.
Money to me,
Prosperity. Set the candle in a holder. Light it. Sit or stand before it, watching the flame transform the wax into a liquid. Visualize the candle releasing the energies that you've placed within it. Sense it sending out the power to bring your need for money into manifestation. Let the candle burn down to its end (if in a safe location). Or allow it to burn for 4, 8, or 16 minutes daily until your need manifests. Note: Never blow out the candle. Always use a candle snuffer. |
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EAR CANDLING Ear candles are used to cleanse and harmonize the different energy fields of the individual (the aura) in preparation for the state of trance and to drive out negative energies. Ear candles are a clearing therapy and are used very successfully for many problems associated with the ears and the head area. The lymph system and metabolism can be influenced by this intensive, pleasant and completely painless method of operation. The process involves the use of a hollow candle with the narrow end held gently onto the edge of the ear. The flame creates a relative vacuum in the ear which draws out poisons, old wax, residues of past infection and fungus. It will also pull out fluid, right through the membrane of the inner ear. The ceremonious glands of the ear are constantly secreting wax and candida grows prolifically in the ear because it is a dark, moist area - a perfect place for mould to grow. This ancient remedy was used by the Egyptians, Chinese, Greeks and the Hopi Indians of North America and is now widely used in many countries throughout the modern world. Each candle is still carefully made by hand from the traditional recipe, using linen in its natural form and honey extracts. Locally administered heat stimulates the peripheral blood circulation, thus intensifying the immunological defense system, in addition to strengthening the cleansing circulation of the lymph glands. Stimulation also occurs to the energy points and reflex zones. The excessive build-up of earwax, impacted plugs and candida fungus can cause hearing problems, infections and discomfort in the ears. Hearing impairment often creates distress and frustration, which in some children can even have an effect on their learning ability and speech. The Hopi Indians of North America have long understood the problems associated with this build-up in the ears and developed a soft wax tube that they inserted in each ear in turn. A heat vacuum is created, drawing material from the ear up into the candle, where it is then evaporated in the flame. Candling provides the ears with deep cleansing, removing wax and debris build-up that is normally difficult to reach. It is non-invasive and gentle and is recommended for both children and adults. Ear candling may obtain beneficial results in the following cases:
Fungal problems.
Excessive wax build up.
Sinus irritation.
Toxic residue from medications.
Glue ear or swim ear.
Nose bleeding problems.
Foggy head.
Before taking a flight.
Earaches In case of ear infection or suspected ear infection it is recommended that medical advice be sought. Once infection is clear than ear candling can be performed and with regular application may help in the prevention of further infections. In the prevention of ear infections treatments once a week for a month and then once a month thereafter maybe helpful. Treatments can be gradually reduced as ear problems decrease. Ear candles cleanse and harmonize the different energy fields of the individual (the aura). Ear candles are a clearing therapy and are used very successfully for many problems associated with the ears and the head area. The lymph system and metabolism can be influenced by this intensive, pleasant and completely painless method of operation. The process involves the use of a hollow candle with the narrow end held gently onto the edge of the ear. The flame creates a relative vacuum in the ear which draws out poisons, old wax, residues of past infection and fungus. It will also pull out fluid, right through the membrane of the inner ear. The ceremonious glands of the ear are constantly secreting wax and candida can grow prolifically in the ear because it is a dark, moist area. Locally administered heat stimulates the peripheral blood circulation, thus intensifying the immunological defense system, in addition to strengthening the cleansing circulation of the lymph glands. Stimulation also occurs to the energy points and reflex zones. A heat vacuum is created, drawing material from the ear up into the candle, where it is then evaporated in the flame. Candling provides the ears with deep cleansing, removing wax and debris build-up that is normally difficult to reach. What To Expect During An Ear Candling Session . . .
During an Ear Candling session you lie on your side with your body in a straight alignment. A special conical candle is inserted into a protective plate . . . The candle is lit and slowly begins to burn. The small tapered end of the candle is gently placed into your ear canal. The ear candle -- by its shape, design and length -- draws ear wax and fungus deposits from deep inside your ear canal.
As the ear candling session progresses, extracted ear wax and fungus will be burned off, but a majority will be collected in the bottom part of the candle. After the candle has burned down and been extinguished, the therapist will cut open the remnant and show you the former contents of your ear canal. Most people cannot believe what has been collected there! Expect to be amazed!
I've never had an ear candling before . . . isn't it painful? No, there is no pain whatsoever. You will only feel the candle being carefully inserted in your ear. You may also hear some crackling and popping, as the ear wax is being pulled from within your ear. All you have to do is just relax and enjoy your ear candling session time . . .
If you have excessive hearing loss, you may feel some heat during the ear candling session since your feeling (tactile) senses are keener than a person with relatively better hearing. If you are one of these people . . . and you experience some discomfort -- you may request that the therapist stop the procedure briefly -- after a short intermission, you can continue with your session. What Happens After An Ear Candling Session . . .
For a short time after your ear candling session . . . you may feel a lightness in your head and noises may seem to be much louder to you. This can be relieved by putting a little ear oil on some cotton and inserting this in each of your ears. You will most likely notice improved hearing, because the wax blockage is no longer present in your ears . . .
For a day or two after your ear candling session you may feel a warmth, or some itching in your ears. This is very easy to resolve. . .
You can relieve the itching by simply putting a drop or two of Hydrogen Peroxide in your ears and then gently wipe them out with a cotton swab. Or if you prefer, use the same procedure, but with Echinacea liquid instead of the Hydrogen Peroxide.
You may also notice your sinuses are draining, or that sinus drainage increases after your ear candling session. This is beneficial and will relieve the pressure in your sinus areas. If you have had occurrences of sinus headaches, you should experience a decrease in their frequency. Also you may experience a heightened sense of taste, smell and sight. Conditions that may benefit from Ear Candling: | | | | | �?Headaches | �?Ringing in the Ears | �?Migraines | | �?Ear Infections | �?Plugged Ears | �?Chronic Sinusitis | | �?TMJ Dysfunction | �?Hearing Challenges | �?Imbalance | | �?Excessive Wax | �?Inner Ear Pressure | �?Ear Aches & Pain | You can have future ear candling sessions whenever you feel the time is right . . . just use your own judgment . . As a suggestion, consider this . . . Most dentists recommend an oral exam and cleaning every 6 months to maintain good oral hygiene. Aren't your ears just as important as your teeth? An ear candling session every 6 months would certainly be practical and beneficial.
Ear candling is simply an Old Home Remedy . . . It is NOT a cure for any disease, illness or ailment! We believe Ear Candling can have many positive health benefits for you. But, you must be the ultimate judge in determining if this time-honored practice, will be beneficial to you. |
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