Candle magick is where most witches begin, and many never need anything more. A candle is cheap, easy to find, and holds all four elements at once: the solid wax is Earth, the melted wax is Water, the flame is Fire, and the smoke and the air that feeds it are Air.
Choosing a candle
Size. Small is better. A spell candle should usually burn all the way down in one sitting. Birthday candles, thin chime candles, and tealights burn down in anything from twenty minutes to a few hours.
Color. Match the color to the intention. The short table below covers the most common uses, and the full color correspondences are in the library. If you have only white candles, use them. White stands in for any color.
| Color | Use it for |
|---|---|
| White | Cleansing, peace, and any purpose at all |
| Black | Protection, banishing, and letting go |
| Red | Courage, energy, and passion |
| Pink | Self-kindness, friendship, and affection |
| Green | Money, growth, and health |
| Blue | Calm, healing, and honest communication |
| Yellow | Study, confidence, and clear thinking |
| Purple | Intuition, wisdom, and spiritual work |
Newness. Use a fresh candle for each spell. A candle that has already been burned for one purpose carries that purpose with it.
Preparing the candle
- Cleanse it. Wipe it with a damp cloth, or pass it through incense smoke.
- Carve it. With a pin or a toothpick, scratch a word, your initials, or a simple symbol into the wax.
- Dress it. Rub a drop of plain olive oil into the wax while you concentrate on your intention. To draw something toward you, stroke from each end toward the middle. To send something away, stroke from the middle out to the ends. Keep oil off the wick.
- Charge it. Hold the candle in both hands. Picture your goal as already accomplished, and imagine that picture soaking into the wax.
Some people roll an oiled candle in dried herbs. Loose herbs can catch fire, so if you want to use them, sprinkle a small pinch around the base of the holder instead.
A basic working
A simple candle spell
You will need
- A small candle in a suitable color, and a stable holder on a heatproof surface
- A pin for carving, and a drop of olive oil
- Your intention, written in one sentence
What to do
- Ground and center. Read your intention aloud.
- Prepare the candle as described above.
- Set it in the holder, light it, and say your intention once more.
- Watch the flame for a few minutes. Hold the picture of your goal lightly in your mind.
- Say: "As this candle burns, so it is done." Then let the picture go.
- Stay with the candle until it burns out. If you must stop, snuff it out and relight it later to finish.
- Write the spell up in your journal.
Timing
Work to draw things in while the moon is waxing, and work to release things while it is waning. See moon phases. You can add the planetary day of the week if you wish, such as Thursday for money or Friday for love. If the need is pressing, do the spell now.
Blow it out or snuff it out?
Many witches prefer to snuff a spell candle or pinch it out with wet fingers, on the grounds that blowing scatters the intention or pits Air against Fire. This is a custom and not a law. What matters is that the candle is properly out.
Reading the flame
There is a body of folklore about what a candle's behavior means. It can be a pleasant addition to a working, as long as you remember that drafts and the quality of the wick affect a flame far more than anything else.
- A tall, steady flame is taken as a sign that the work is going well.
- A low or struggling flame suggests obstacles, or that more preparation is needed.
- A dancing or crackling flame suggests strong feelings, or resistance.
- A candle that burns down cleanly is a good sign. A great deal of leftover wax suggests unfinished business.
Candle safety
- Never leave a burning candle unattended, and never fall asleep while one is lit.
- Use a stable holder on a heatproof surface, away from curtains, paper, dried herbs, hair, and sleeves.
- Keep candles out of reach of children and pets.
- Trim the wick to about a quarter of an inch, and keep the candle out of drafts.
- If wax catches fire, smother it with a lid. Do not pour water on it.
- If an open flame is not safe or not allowed where you live, use a battery candle. The intention is yours, and it works the same.
What to do with the remains
Let leftover wax cool, and put it in the household trash. Do not bury wax or leave it outdoors, because paraffin does not break down. Our article on low-waste witchcraft has more on disposing of spell remains responsibly.