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Candle Spells

The use of candles in magic can be a very powerful means of casting a spell. The lighting of a candle can be a very evocative act, and candles play integral parts in magical practice. Candles, lanterns, torches, and bonfires have been utilized in magic and religious ritual for untold centuries. These have all been used ceremoniously as a means of harnessing the force of fire to enhance our ability to manifest our intent.

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The element of fire represents transformation and the “flame of spirit”; using fire in the working of magic aids the ability of spiritual power to transform our lives in the physical world. When we charge a candle with both energy and intent, the charge is stored within the candle until the wick is lit; as the wax melts, the charge is released and poured forth from the flame to begin manifesting our desire. The flame of a charged candle transmits the energy of our intent continuously until the flame is extinguished. A candle can therefore be left burning to continue our spell even after we have ceased to transmit our personal energy.

In order to focus your intent before you charge a candle, you may do one of two things: (1) write out your desire on a piece of paper which could then be placed beneath the candle, or (2) write your desire on the candle itself. If you choose to write your desire on the candle itself, starting at the base, carve the words into the wax in a clockwise, upward spiral. After focusing your intent, charge the candle by simply holding it in both hands while summoning power and focusing on your desire; mentally pour this energy into the candle, willing that it stay in the candle until the flame is lit. The charged candle is now ready to be used in the appropriate ritual for your desire.

Candles are anointed or “dressed” with magical oils to enhance their vibration and speed the magic. To dress a candle, first prepare and charge the candle. Then rub oil on the candle starting from the middle and rubbing up to the tip, then again from the middle rub oil down to the base. The candle is now ready for the spell.

The following spells make use of candles and the basic altar setup. A variety of intentions have been included in these pages, but remember that you can modify these spells to suit your own personal needs.

Healing

For this spell, you will need an accurate diagnosis of illness. You will need to remember that you must only visualize the patient (whether you or someone else) in a strong, healthy state from the very beginning.

Items needed:

Procedure

Begin by taking a cleansing bath and then arrange the altar. Once you are settled before the altar, carve the patient’s astrological symbol into the candle; while holding their astrological candle, go into a meditation. When relaxed, visualize the patient in a healthy, strong state of being. See them laughing and having fun. Fill yourself with the joy of seeing the person in good health. When this feeling and visualization are at their peak, pour energy into the astrological candle and charge it with a healthy state of being.

Next, place it on the altar and pick up the blue and white candles. Grasp each candle firmly in the proper hand and charge these candles with the energy of healing. Then, with the pin, scratch your desire onto each candle and the symbol of a circle. Anoint them with healing oil and set them back on the altar. Light the incense and gaze at the photo or personal items of the patient while blotting out the diagnosis on the piece of paper with ink or pen. The diagnosis no longer exists. Drop the paper in the cauldron for it to be consumed by the healing power of the incense.

While visualizing the patient in perfect health, light their astrological candle, then the blue candle, then white candle. While lighting the candles, chant:

With no harm, for good of all,
Away from you, the illness falls.
Healthy mind, healthy heart,
Healthy body, magic impart,
Illness purged, spirit cleansed,
All your suffering at an end.

Again, visualize strongly the patient in a healthy, strong state of being and feel as if the healing has already occurred. Keep this visualization for as long as you can, then open the circle. Leave the candles burning (if it’s safe to do so) for at least an hour, preferably until they burn out on their own. Bury the remnants of this spell on a Sunday, a day for healing and success.

Purification of Self

To purify oneself is to remove any accumulated negative energy or “psychic grunge” that has built up on your aura and is causing you distress. This is a relatively simple procedure and does not require the usual altar setup; only a single candle, some oil, and a bath.

Items needed:

Procedure

Fill the bathtub as usual for a cleansing bath. Once it’s full, step into the bath and go into a meditation while holding the candle. When you are relaxed, visualize a strong white light filling you from the top of your head, down your body, to your toes. As this light fills you, any negativity is broken, dissolved, and eliminated by the power of the light. See the light then forming an “egg” of light around you to ensure continued cleansing. When your visualization is strong, charge the candle with the ability to purify you as it burns to dissolve any residual negativity in the general area. Now, come out of the mediation. With the pin, carve a triskele on the candle, light it, and relax in the bath for as long as desired. When the bath ends, drain the water completely while you remain in the tub. Visualize that all negativity is literally going down the drain, leaving you pure, strong, and healthy. Extinguish the candle and anoint the soles of your feet, bend of the knees, abdomen, wrists, back of the neck, and forehead with purification oil. It is done.

To Bring Forth Visions

This candle spell enhances your ability to scry, or gaze into shiny surfaces to receive psychic visions, and can be used with any scrying medium such as black mirrors, pools of ink, water-filled cauldron, crystal balls, etc. The time of the full moon is the best time for psychic work, but divination is used as need dictates.

Items needed:

Procedure

Begin by taking a cleansing bath and meditating on what it is you wish to see or understand through visions. Arrange the altar and light the incense. Anoint the third-eye area of your forehead with psychic oil and grasp both candles, one in each hand (purple in left, white in right). Go into a meditation in which you visualize a beam of white light streaming down to enter your third eye and fill you with the power of clear vision. See that this light streams down into your hands and enters the candles, charging them with the ability to aid your psychic vision. Open your eyes, and with the pin, scratch your desire for visions on each candle as well as the symbol of an eye. Then anoint the candles with psychic oil and place them on each side of the scrying medium, far enough behind and away so that they will not cast a reflection into it. Now, take up or place hands on the scrying medium and breathe your energy and the white light into it, filling it with the power to spark your psychic vision and reveal that which you seek. Finally, gaze into the medium and try to see it as having infinite depth. After a time, images will begin to show themselves and may either be symbolic or actual scenes of the past, present, or future. Be sure to keep notes on what is seen.

To Bring Love

This spell is designed to attract someone to you who possesses desirable characteristics. These characteristic must be very specifically drawn out and expressed during the casting of the spell. Before beginning this spell, you must have a clear concept of the type of person you seek and write down the essential qualities you wish them to have on fresh, unlined paper. You must write down their gender and a preferred age range. Ideally, this spell could be performed on Beltane eve (around the thirtieth of April) while Venus is in a positive aspect, but any night when the moon is waxing or full will do. If you wish to invoke the power of Venus into this spell, you may add a green candle placed behind the cauldron and dressed with love oil when you dress the other candles.

Items needed:

Procedure

Gather the ingredients, take a cleansing bath, arrange the altar, and cast the circle. Once the circle has been cast, sit before the altar holding the piece of paper and go into a meditation. When you are in a meditative state, visualize your ideal mate. Imagine them as clearly as you can. See them already in your life and infuse that image with a gratified feeling of love. Feel the security, joy, and happiness of reaching this goal as strongly as you can. Next, while still in your meditation, summon energy and program this energy by continuing to focus all your thoughts and emotions on your ideal mate. Now, open your eyes, set the paper on the altar, and grasp the two candles, one in each hand (red or purple in left, pink or lavender in right). Pour the magical energy into the candles; grasp them tightly and will that they be charged with this power. Next, with the pin, scratch your desire into the candles. Anoint the candles with love oil. Place them back on the altar and light your incense while continuing to focus on the joyful feeling of love in your life. Look once more at your list of desired qualities and then safely place it beneath the red or purple candle.

When your energy, emotion, and visualization are strong, light the candles (first left, then right) and chant the following spell:

Flames of love burn bright for me,
Enchant someone I shall desire.
Let our hearts merge strong and free,
We now join our spirit fire.
According to free will and for the good of all
A strong, true love, I hereby call.

Again, visualize strongly and feel the love that you are working toward as though you already have it. Keep this visualization for as long as you can before opening the circle, leaving the candles burning (if it’s safe to do so) for at least an hour or preferably until they burn out on their own. Fold the list of qualities into as small a square as possible and keep it with you until the spell has worked; once the spell has worked, bury the remnants of this spell in the ground on a Friday, the day of Venus, Goddess and planet of love.

To Bring Needed Money

To cast this spell first, determine what your actual need is and the amount of money needed to achieve it. Next, write down the need on a square of fresh, unlined paper. Ideally, this spell could be performed in the spring and while Jupiter is in a positive astrological aspect, but this spell is best performed during the waxing or full moon.

Items needed:

Procedure

Gather the ingredients, take a magical cleansing bath, arrange the altar, and then cast the circle. Once the circle has been cast, sit before the altar. Hold the piece of paper and go into a meditation. When you are in a relaxed, meditative state, visualize your magical need. Imagine it as clearly as you can. See it as already manifested and infuse the vision with a gratified feeling of achievement. Feel the security, relief, and happiness of reaching this goal as strongly as you can. Next, while still in your meditation, summon and program this energy by continuing to focus all your thoughts and emotion on your goal.

Open your eyes, set the paper on the altar, and grasp the two candles (one in each hand—green in left, gold in right). Pour the magical energy into the candles; grasp them tightly and will that they be charged with this power. Using the pin, scratch your desire into each candle. Anoint the candles with money oil. Set them back on the altar with the piece of paper (safely) placed under the green candle. If you have chosen to use a royal blue Jupiter candle as a third candle, now is the time to charge it. Scratch the symbol of Jupiter on the royal blue candle and anoint it while asking for the power of Jupiter to aid and magnify your spell (Jupiter’s power is that of growth, luck, influence, and expansion). Now, with all in readiness, light the incense, the green candle, the Jupiter candle (if used), and the gold candle while chanting:

Only for good, shall it be;
Power of growth, shine on me;
Golden magic, now released;
To bring the gift that [I/we] need!

Again, visualize strongly, and feel that which you are working toward as though you already have it; focus not on the money, but on the need for the money. Keep this visualization for as long as you can before opening the circle. Leave the candles burning (if it’s safe to do so) for at least an hour, or preferably until they burn out on their own. Bury the remnants of this spell in the ground on a Thursday, the day of Jupiter.

To Bring Peace

This spell is designed to calm angry tempers and return a home to a peaceful environment. This spell may need to be repeated often (each moon cycle, perhaps) in order to keep the peace.

Items needed:

Procedure

First, take a cleansing bath. Arrange the altar and then go into your meditation. When relaxed, visualize a storm subsiding over the ocean and see the ocean become calm and still. Then, gradually transfer that image into one of your home. See your home filled with calm, still, peaceful energy and soft, blue light. Feel an inner sense of tranquility and ease. When your visualization and emotion are strong, charge the candles with peaceful energy. Scratch your desire for peace into the wax and dress the candles with peace oil. Light the incense and as you gaze upon the picture or items from the family, visualizing them all coexisting peacefully. When your visualization is at its peak, light the candles (left then right) and chant:

The currents calm and spirits rejoice,
Harmony fills body, mind, and voice.
Terrible storm, cast away
Our peaceful life, here to stay.
By free will, for good of all, and harming none,
So I say the battle is done.

Again, visualize strongly and feel the peaceful home life you wish to bring as though it has already occurred. Keep this visualization for as long as you can before opening the circle. Leave the candles burning (if it’s safe to do so) for at least an hour or preferably until they burn out on their own. Bury the remnants of the spell on a Friday to promote love or a Wednesday to promote communication.

To Enhance Spirituality

This spell will create a new sense of spirituality and oneness with all things. It will open your mind to greater awareness.

Items needed:

Procedure

First, take a cleansing bath and then arrange the altar. Go into the Third Eye Meditation (see page 45) and visualize yourself filled with power (do not disperse it at the end of the meditation like usual). When you are ready, charge the candles to radiate spiritual energy and help you to connect to all things through body, mind, and heart. With the pin, scratch your desire for spirituality and the symbol of a knot (a basic pretzel shape is fine) on the candles. Dress the candles with the spirituality oil. Next, light the incense while gazing at the statue or image of the chosen deity. Speak to the deity. Ask that they will guide you in your ways and that you will grow as a deeper, more spiritual person. When you feel filled with peace and spirituality, light the candles and chant:

Silver threads that bind us all,
Move through me, break the wall.
All forms of life, shall I see,
Their inner essence and spirituality.

Visualize silver threads reaching out from you in all directions and bringing you information from any being that you encounter. This information will be regarding that being’s spiritual essence and will show you that all is one. We are all connected through the power of spirit. Each being in existence has its own destiny and role to fulfill as part of the greater macrocosm. Bury the remnants of this spell on a Monday, the day of the moon.

To Call an Animal Familiar

This spell is designed to draw an animal familiar to you. Before performing this rite, it is best to clearly decide on whatever physical, mental, and personality qualities you want the familiar to possess. Make a list of these attributes on a piece of paper and copy it down in your magical journal. Doing so will fine-tune your intent and ensure that the most “correct” familiar is drawn to you. Include on this list the type of animal you wish to have as your familiar. If you have no specific preference, simply ask for the animal familiar that is best suited to your life. Taking the time to clearly define the type of familiar you would like helps a proper match to be drawn to you. The more qualities and conditions you specify, the longer the spell can take. After all, calling for a familiar with certain qualities draws one to you; it doesn’t make one for you. Be patient. This spell is best performed on the full moon.

Items needed:

Procedure

After you have gathered the ingredients and arranged your altar, you must take a cleansing bath. While bathing, contemplate all the practical factors involved in this spell such as how you will care for the familiar and all the attributes you want them to possess. The final step of preparation is to use one of the beginning meditations (such as the rainbow meditation) to bring you into a relaxed meditative state. It is now time to begin the spell.

First, it is necessary to summon energy, cast the circle, and light your altar candles. With the pin, scratch your desire into the brown candles and dress them with the oil as you pour energy and the loving desire to bond with an animal ally into the candles. Now, sit before the altar and light the charcoal in the cauldron. Sprinkle some of the burning mixture into the cauldron. As the scented smoke swirls, rises, and drifts through the air, study your list of attributes and visualize your ideal familiar; feel a deep emotional bond to the familiar.

When your energy, connection, and visualization are strong, light the candles (first left, then right) and chant the following spell:

For all good and by free will
Let my magic now fulfill.
Loving kinship now begin,
Ally, helper, guardian, friend.
Come to me, blessed spirit,
This bond now forged, may it never end.

Stare into the dark brown candle’s flame as you focus on a “pulling” sense, creating a sort of energy current, a pathway for your familiar to reach you. As you do this, look once more at the list of attributes. Then light this list in the dark brown candle’s flame and drop it into the cauldron. Say aloud to yourself, “It is done.” Leave the candle burning for at least one hour (if it is safe to do so).

It is now necessary to ground your energy as you have been taught. After the candle is extinguished and has cooled, gather all the leftover bits from your spell and bury them in the earth. Then, of course, clean and put away your ritual tools.

To Remove Someone’s Love for You

This spell will help you end an unwanted relationship or help quell the unwanted advances of an admirer.

Items needed:

Procedure

First, take a cleansing bath and arrange the altar. Light the incense and go into a meditation. When you are relaxed, envision the one whose passions you wish to cool and see them slowly turn from their normal-colored self to black and white and then to gray. As you continue on, see them drift up and out of your life as if they were a dried leaf in autumn. When your visualization is strong, grasp the black and gray candles and charge them with a calm, un-aroused, bland, stale feeling of total disinterest. With the pin, carve your desire and an inverted pentagram into the wax (not for evil, see Symbolism section on page 56) and anoint them with the oil. Next, return the candles to the altar and pick up the photo or personal item. Focus on the item and feel your mind filling with complete rejection of the person whom it represents. When you are ready, light the candles left to right. In the flame of the black candle, ignite the photo or personal item and set it in the cauldron while chanting:

Your passion for me shall wither away,
Removed from you, by light of day.
Your ardent affection, unreturned,
Out of my life, it shall be burned.
By my will, for greater good,
You are released; free and unbound.

Visualize strongly and feel a peaceful existence without the person ever bothering you as though it has already occurred. Keep this visualization for as long as you can before opening the circle. Leave the candles burning (if it’s safe to do so) for at least an hour, preferably until they extinguish on their own. Bury the remnants of the spell on a Wednesday, the day of communication.

Candle Making

It may be helpful to learn how to make your own candles for use in ritual. It is never a good idea to reuse candles from previous spells in new spells. Doing so would confuse the energy transmission and alter the spell. It is wise to melt down the globs of old wax and leftover candles from old spells and make some new candles to use. The fire and melting of the candle-making process releases any stored energy out of the wax; thus, purifying and readying it for use in new magic.

Items needed:

Procedure

Coat the inside of the mold with a thin layer of the oil. I have used old pill bottles for candle molds, but you can find metal and silicone candle-making molds at arts-and-crafts stores. There is also special mold-release spray that helps to free the wax from the molds. Whatever your choice of candle molds, tie the wick to the pencil and set the wick inside the mold, laying the pencil on top of the mold to hold up the wick. Now, break up the beeswax into chunks and place in the double boiler. Since I don’t have a double boiler, I have used a pot of boiling water with an old wok placed over the top and have had good results. Either way, be sure that you only use your double boiler for candle making. Boil the water first, then add the second piece holding the wax to melt it; stir continuously.

You may need to reheat the water occasionally, but I wouldn’t leave the stove on the whole time. Steam burns hurt—this I know! When the wax has melted, wipe off the moisture from the bottom of the wok (or whatever) and then pour some wax three-fourths of the way up into the mold. Let the wax cool for at least an hour until a depression forms on the surface. When the wax has cooled, melt more wax in the double boiler and take the knife and break a hole in the depression in the candle. Slowly pour a little bit of wax in this hole to seal it and create a smooth surface. Let the candle cool overnight before pulling it out of the mold by the wick. It may be difficult to get the candle to release without breaking the mold; tapping the mold against a counter top helps.

After the candle has been freed from the mold, you may wish to smooth the outer surface of the candle. This can be done by boiling water in a large pot (to be used only for candle making), removing the pot from the heat, and very carefully dipping the candle into the water, holding it by the wick. This is must be done quickly; just dip in and pull out. The hot water melts the wax slightly and creates a beautiful smooth surface. After this, the candle can be charged for its purpose and used in magic. During the candle-making process, you could add herbs or oils into the wax of the candle in order to infuse it with the energies of those items, but this is a matter of preference.

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