Candle Magic
Probably since the first candle was lit by an early Egyptian (or
Roman, depending on how picky you want to be about what makes a
"candle") candles have been a part of ritual and magic. The
ancient peoples considered the flame a live entity and the light
and warmth it shed energy which added to the energy of the
people, or the spellcaster, to take their prayers to the rulers
of the universe.
Yes, I worded that bit rather carefully. For you see, candles
are equally a part of Christian ritual, Pagan ritual, Buddist
and Hindu meditation and many other belief systems.
As a Pagan myself, I believe that the candle lends it's own
energy, the energy of the flame, the light energy, the heat
energy, and increases the power of spellwork or ritual. The
ritual or spell, the anointing of a candle with scented oils,
the color of a candle, the chant that is spoken while I hold it
in my hands and focus on my intentions all this and more direct
the energy towards the purpose I have in mind. Because the
candle continues to burn even when ritual or prayer is done, it
serves as a reminder and a signal that I am still thinking of my
purpose, even if I don't spend all day repeating some chant or
prayer!
Candle magic can be very elaborate, or very simple. Candles can
be the focus and main part of a spell, or a tool to reinforce
other spell focuses.
The simplest candle spell, one you will hear Pagans and even
non-pagans often use is simply to say to someone who is
suffering; "I am burning a candle for you."
What that means, is that I am thinking of you; yes, but more
than that. I have lit a candle for you. For instance; if you are
sick, I probably chose a green candle for healing energy. I held
it in my hands and thought about you and how much I wish you to
be healed. I prayed to The Goddess to send healing energy to
you. And then I lit this candle and put it on my altar, or any
place in my home where it is safe and I will see it now and
then. I allow it to burn until it burns itself out. Each time I
pass that candle as I go about my day, I look at it and think of
you and send you healing energy with my thoughts. The candle
reminds me, the candle focuses my thoughts and energies, and
adds it's own energy. Those thoughts and that energy goes forth
into the universe, and the universe sends it to you as healing
energy.
If you were sad or down, I might burn a pink candle for you and
send you loving thoughts, or perhaps yellow for sunnier days. If
your life is in a state of chaos, I would probably chose blue or
purple, colors of serenity and peace.
If you are under some sort of attack, I would burn a black
candle for you. Far from meaning negativity or "bad" things,
black is the color that absorbs all other colors. Thus, it
absorbs all of the negativity being directed towards you and
releases it through the burning flame back into the nothingness
that it came from. Black also stands for knowledge for the same
reason - it absorbs all and the mind that absorbs all it
perceives becomes wise.
Often runes or symbols are carved into a candle to focus the
intent even more specifically. A dollar sign carved into a green
candle focuses the energies on bringing money and abundance. If
I were burning that black candle of protection for myself, I
would carve a pentagram into it, the symbol of the Goddess, for
I believe she protects me. A symbol should be meaningful to you,
specifically. If a four leaf clover means good luck to you and
you want to draw good luck, then feel free to carve that symbol
into a green or yellow candle (or any other color that seems
right) and burn it to bring good luck.
Candles are cleansing and can be used to cleanse and realign the
vibrations in your home, or an area of your home. I have my
studio in my house and now and then I have so much work, so many
ideas, I feel overwhelmed. The result is I tend to do nothing -
go off and play video games maybe! When I notice myself feeling
that way, I get a bright yellow candle, a color of happiness and
abundance to me. Lit in my studio, the flames consume all the
worry and insecurities that keep me from pursuing my dreams. The
flickering flame helps me to focus and to remember that an
abundance is a good thing! Soon, my mind will calm down, and I
can chose the most important project (like maybe an article on
candles...) and get down to work.
Friendly as they are, candles also demand respect. Candle flames
are, yes indeedy, FIRE. Take care where you set a candle, and
what you set it on. This doesn't mean you have to go buy an
expensive holder, I've burned many a candle on the saucers of my
dish set, but have a care. Just be sensible. Burning a candle
near a curtain blowing around a window is a bad idea and it
doesn't take a genius to see that.
If you have cats it is best to consider how they behave around
candles. Many of my cats would never get near one - but Pearl
will stick her face in it (many the singed whiskers she has
had), and has also gleefully and purposefully knocked a burning
candle down off the top of a bookcase! (I was sitting a few feet
away - watching and thinking she wasn't REALLY going to knock it
completely OFF was she? OH NO)
Never leave a candle burning and leave the house, or go to
sleep. Shit happens and you probably don't want to send the
massive amount of energy your burning house would generate!
There are quite a few books written on candle magic, and many
more general spellbooks also contain candle spells if you wish
to do more research or learn more specific spells.
Meanwhile...I'll have a candle burning for you.
You can send a card with a burning candle and a message to
someone to tell them you are burning a candle for them here.