The popularity of candles has reached an all-time high. Candles are used by folks from all walks of life for relaxation, meditation, aromatherapy, and, most importantly, to achieve that “peaceful homey” feeling of being in your own sanctuary. This simple yet profound tool can make powerful magic. Take a moment and notice how candlelight transforms a dark room and fills the atmosphere with the energy of magical light. Suddenly the potential for transformation is evident.
Green: money, prosperity, growth, luck, jobs, gardening, youth, beauty, fertility
Dark blue: change, flexibility, the unconscious, psychic powers, emotional healing
Pink: love, friendship, kindness, faithfulness, goodness, affection
Brown: home, animal wisdom, grounding, physical healing
Black: banishes, absorbs, expels the negative, heals serious illness
Gold: solar magic, money, attraction, the astral plane
Orange: the law of attraction, success with legal issues, mutability, stimulation, support, encouragement, joy
Light blue: patience, happiness, triumph over depression, calm, deep understanding, compassion
Red: strength, protection, sexuality, vitality, passion, courage, heart, intense feelings of love, good health, power
White: purification, peace, protection from negativity, truth, binding, sincerity, serenity, chastity, gladness, spirit
Purple: female power, stress relief, ambition, healing past wounds, goddess-hood, business success
Gray: neutrality, impasses, cancellation
Yellow: mental power and vision, intelligence, clear thinking, study, self-assurance, prosperity, divination, psychism, abundance, wisdom, the power of persuasion, charisma, a sound sleep
Every candle contains all four elements:
- Air: Oxygen feeds and fans the candle flame
- Earth: Solid wax forms the body of the candle
- Water: Melting wax represents the fluid elemental state
- Fire: The flame sparks and blazes
How to Charge a Candle
Charging a candle means instilling it with magical intent. candle that has been charged fills your personal space with intention and expands it into all four elements and into the celestial sphere. Ritual candles are chosen for their colour correspondences and are carved, “dressed,” or anointed with special oils chosen for their particular energy.
Once you clarify your intention, cleanse your candles by passing them through the purifying smoke of sage or incense. Further charge your candle by carving a symbol into the wax. You can warm the tip of your ritual knife using a lit match and carve your full intention into the candle wax. As you engrave the appropriate magical works onto the candle, you are charging it with energy and the hope and purpose of your spell. Some highly successful examples of this that I have used and witnessed in circle gatherings are: “Healing for my friend who is in the hospital; she will recover with renewed and increased health.” get the raise I am asking for, and more!” “New true love enters life in the coming season, blessed be.”
Next, you should “dress” your candle with a specific oil. Every essential oil is imbued with a power that comes from the plants and flowers of which it is made. You can also use oils to anoint yourself at the crown of the head or at the third eye to increase mental clarity. By using the inherent powers of essential oils and anointing both your tool and yourself, you are increasing and doubling the energies, in this case the candle and yourself.
Essential oils are highly concentrated extracts of flowers, herbs, roots, or resin extract, sometimes diluted in neutral-base oil. Try to ensure you are using natural oils instead of manufactured, chemical-filled perfume oil; the synthetics lack real energy. Also, approach oils with caution and don’t get them your eyes. Clean cotton gloves are a good idea to keep in your witch’s kitchen for handling sensitive materials. You can avoid any
mess and protect your magical tools by using oil droppers. Do not use essential oils in the first trimester of pregnancy and consult an aromatherapist if using in the later stages. Find a trusted herbalist at your local metaphysical shop; usually they can offer much in the way of helpful knowledge. I have included as much as I can in the following at-a-glance guide to oils.
You can find more spells, recipes, and rituals for a happy home in The Kitchen Witch’s Spell Book by Cerridwen Greenleaf. To get more great blog posts like this one - direct to your inbox – be sure to sign up to our mailing list here.