Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid. Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven. Matthew 5:14-16

How Do I Dress My Candle for Ritual Burning?

This is a common question we receive at the MISTIC. There is no single right or wrong answer.  In the end Readers, do what feels most right to you. We dress candles every day for our customers and are happy to share our thoughts on making such devotions with you.

I can tell you this, however, the procedure of treating and preparing your candle is just as important, if not more so than actually burning the light. Go into the preparation of candles as if you are performing surgery. Take a spiritual bath before you begin. Dress in light colored, comfortable clothing. Work in a sacred space or at your altar. Light altar candles to illuminate the task at hand. Burn incense related to the job your doing. Say prayers to God, the Saints, your Spirits, Ancestors or Alignments to witness your work. If you do the job half-baked, your results will be half-baked. Remember, they call this Spiritual Work not Spiritual Easy!

Looking at the Candle section of the website, you will find many types of candles. It can be difficult to decide which type of candle is going to be most effective for the work you are doing.

I categorize candles into two easily distinguished classes: 1.) Glass Encased "Jar" Candles and 2.) those not in a glass casing.

The When and How of Working With Glass Encased or Jar Candles

Glass candles are used primarily for vigils, novenas and are a present day replacement for magical lamps. I never use them on their own for spiritual work on specific targets (people or institutions). When working on another person, the visual symbolism of a figural candle is too strong to pass on. Plus, because this is the most difficult type of work, you need all the extra steps and help that you can get. Figural, Pullout and Jumbo candles allow you to spend a lot of time focusing and visualizing your intentions. They also allow usage of the maximum amount of herbal material (oils, powders, herbs). Lastly, because there is no barrier (the glass) between you and the wax - your influence is pervasive on the candle.

Glass Candles work great for drawing new things - working as a receptacle for prayers which are building up over a number of days. Use them for increasing luck, success, spiritual power, mastery, money drawing and finding new love. They also can be used to promote health, encourage peace in the home and find new employment.

It is also good to burn jar candles during long term uncrossing rituals or for spiritual protection.

Jar candles are great when you need to keep "heat" on a situation. If you are performing work for seven or nine days, you might keep two altar candles lit during the process. Or, if you are doing something more specific, like "Come To Me", you might keep a dressed Come To Me Jar Candle lit on the altar for the entire time you work a figure candle.

The same applies to work done with Saints. For instance, if you are using St. Anthony to find a lost boyfriend, work a male figure candle on him, but also keep a Saint Anthony candle lit the entire time you are working.

Jar Candles are easy to prepare. All candles should be cleaned before use. You might do this when you receive them so they are dry and ready to go for ritual.

We clean our candles with Florida Water before doing anything else to them. This not only removes dust & debris but also takes off any negativity that may have attached itself to the light. Many spiritualists use Holy Water for this job or blessed salt water that they have consecrated to the Spirit.

Preparing Jar Candles for Ritual

1. MARK THE CANDLE ~ Each candle should be labeled according to its intent. We use toothpicks to mark ours, but any small, sharp implement will do. At the Mistic we carve the Old Testament Star of David into the top of our Jar candles. This consists of two triangles, which can be traced around the wick. We further label each candle by adding the target’s initials in the wax.  Or if it is for money we write the amount in the top of the candle. If we don’t have a person’s name we might write something to identify them like: "the judge" or "nosy neighbor"�?The only candles which do not need markings are the basic altar candles.

3. DRESSING CANDLES ~ We are finally ready to put oil(s) and whatever other ingredients we desire onto our Candles. Some people like to punch a number of holes into the wax of the candle to make little wells for the oil.

For Jar candles, anoint the exposed wax at the top with your index finger (projective, magic finger) in a clockwise direction for DRAWING and counterclockwise for REMOVING. This mimics the movement of the Sun. If you put holes in the wax, pour in some oil and then rub it in with your finger. Now sprinkle your powders, herbs, glitter, magnetic sands - whatever else you are using in the same manner.

As you add each ingredient, make a statement of what you need it to do for you. For instance, if doing a love drawing work on a specific person, you might state:

Come To Me oil is for drawing "John Brown" to me with passion and love.

We KNOW that what is most important in dressing the candle is your PRAYER and FOCUS on your intentions.

4. NAME THE CANDLE~ Even if you have already marked the candle with the target's initials, you should also create a name paper for the work. Or you might want to place a petition under the candle. By the light of your altar candles, and before the candle you are using for work, create the written document or record of what you intend the candle to do.

Take your marked and dressed candle and dedicate it to the Spirit. Many old Hoodoos present their candles to the four directions  (North, South, East & West) then offer it up to God, Jesus & The Holy Spirit. Or they may sprinkle Holy Water on the candle three times and actually baptize the candle in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Ghost.

Some further dedicate the light to a Patron Saint by saying a simple prayer: “Saint so & so (or Holy Spirit), confer your Blessings upon this instrument which I use in thine name.�?/P>

In most instances, you will want to place your candle on a plate or saucer under which you have put the name paper or petition. When you light the candle, once again state your intentions. For instance, with a Come To Me candle you might state,

"With this candle, I Susie Smith will draw John Brown to me in love, friendship and passion for a romantic relationship."

The last step is to say whatever prayers, affirmations or incantations you desire over the candle flame. Remember to repeat the prayers whichever number of times applies to the type work you are performing. Lastly, spend some time (after praying) visualizing the end result of the candle work - what your ultimate goal is for the candle burning.