The energy of a burning
candle can increase the power of a spell or ritual
Casting Magic Spells with
Candles
by Summer Fey Foovay
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 spell caster,
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, Buddhist and Hindu meditation and
many other belief systems.
As a Pagan, I believe that
the candle lends its own energy, the energy of the flame, the light
energy, the heat energy, and increases the power of spell work 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
its own energy. Those thoughts and that energy go 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
abundance is a good thing! Soon, my mind will calm down, and I can
choose 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 indeed, 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 spell books 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.
Artist, writer and web
designer, Summer Fey Foovay's articles, clipart, and ecards can be
found at
Demented-Pixie.com.
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