Witch 101: Candle Magick

Apr 3

If you’ve ever walked into a metaphysical store, aside from the wafting smell of sage or incense, you’ve probably noticed a bunch of candles for sale. That’s because candle magick is a staple in the witch community, as they represent the four elements. Fire is represented by the lit candle, water by the melted wax, air by the smoke, and earth from the unlit candle.

Candle magick is a simple and inexpensive way to practice witchcraft. Candle magick, like witchcraft in general, is tailored to your own taste. There’s no specific path of rules you have to follow, the only thing that matters is that your intention is there. You can use candle magick as a way to emphasize your manifestations, set an intention, aid in spells, or even to communicate with your spirit guide or a deity.

A rough guide to candle magick, in steps:

1. Cleanse your space

For almost every practice in witchcraft, it is crucial to cleanse your space. It’s easy for unwanted negative energy to overtake your space, and this is a way to reset the energy. You can choose different ways of cleansing your space, whether by smudging ethically sourced sage, incense, dried herb bundles, or whatever else you decide works best for your practice.

2. Figure out what type of candle is best for you

If you’ve searched witchcraft on Depop, you’ve probably seen chime candles. I’ve had the most experience with chime candles, and even contacted my spirit guide through a white one. They’re inexpensive and last an average burning time of two-two and a half hours. They’re really easy to carve your intention into, but a little bit more difficult to dress. The average price for chime candles should be anywhere from $0.50-$1, and $1.50-$2 for the metallic ones.

Photo courtesy of Practical Magic Store — *Photo courtesy of* *Practical Magic Store*

Tea candles, a.k.a. votive candles, are another small candle that is a great option for candle magick. They’re the easiest to use and you’re able to find a bunch of them for a really cheap price. They last a burning time of three hours and unlike the chime candles, they are really easy to dress, as well as carve your intention into.

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I’m sure you’ve seen the prayer candles at Walgreens or Target, with Jesus and other biblical figures, or even mock ones with celebrities on them. Those prayer candles are more commonly known in the world of witchcraft as pillar candles. They’re more of an expensive option, with prices ranging from $8-$15. Pillar candles are intended to keep burning, but obviously, we don’t want you to burn your house down. If you want you can use a pillar candle for many sessions, but if you go that route, it is more recommended to use pillar candles for a seven-day magick spell, something that needs to be “marinated” for several days.

You can also buy a candle with a pre-set purpose from your metaphysical store or online. They tend to have the purpose on the candle, along with color and sometimes a scent that correlates to the intention.

3. Pick out what color candle you’ll use

Here’s a basic list of colors and their meaning, pick the one you feel best represents your intentions…

White: attracting, manifesting, cleansing, protection, grounding, healing; white is also associated as an all-purpose candle and can be used as a replacement for other colors when they’re not available
Black: banishing and releasing negative energies, transformation, enlightenment, protection
Red: passion, strength, lust, survival, fast action, and career goals
Orange: general success, justice, property deals, legal matters, selling or winning
Yellow: focus, teaching, joy, clarity of thought, speech, and positive energy
Green: growth, element of earth, plant magic, physical healing, and monetary success
Light Blue: pursuing inspirational meditations, truth, harmony, and guidance while amplifying creativity and perception
Dark Blue: spiritual inspiration, calming, and opening blocked communication
Lavender: peace, gentleness, inner healing, spiritual growth, and contact with higher self and inspiration
Purple: enhancing your third eye, psychic ability, influencing higher places, and uncovering hidden knowledge and spiritual power
Pink: love, self-love, affection, nurturing, caring, and romance
Silver: moon energy, astral travel, female energy, telepathy, and intuition
Gold: sun energy, winning, male energy, and happiness
Brown: earth or animal magic, concentration, balance, home, finding lost items, and friendship

4. Set your intention

Find a clean place in your home where the candle won’t be disturbed and clear away anything that doesn’t match your intention, then surround the candle with things that do match the intention. You can set your intention by speaking it aloud, writing it into the candle, manifesting it, or however you normally set your intention. There is no wrong way to do it!

5. Dress the candle

There is no specific guide on how to dress a candle! You can add drops of essential oil, sprinkle herbs, carve your intention into the candle, carve symbols or a sigil. It’s really up to you! If you want to carve your intention, write from the top of the candle to the middle, and then the bottom to the middle. If you dress the candle with oils for manifestations, put it on from the top to the middle, and then the bottom to the middle. If you’re practicing a banishing spell, put the oil from the middle to the top, then middle to the bottom.

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6. Once the candle is lit, watch the flame

If you’re communicating with a deity, you can use the flame as the main way to connect. When I used candle magick to talk to my spirit guide, I asked the flame a question aloud and watched the flame to see its response. Usually, I take a strong reaction from the flame as an answer to the question. For example, when I was figuring out who my spirit guide was, I prepared a spell and asked the candle to send me a sign if my spirit guide was Artemis. Once doing so, the flame immediately bounced up and down, which I took as a “yes.”

If you want to let the flame vibe and have no idea what to do next, but are not ready to end the session, do something that calms you. Listen to music, journal, read tarot, take out the pendulum and ask some questions, drink some tea made with herbs, meditate, however you relax. These are great ways to further your intentions and keep the energy flowing.

I advise not going on your phone or questioning your intentions. They’re a quick way to kill the energy you had going. If you plan on letting the candle burn out until the end of it, you can leave them in small, stable bowls of water, a sink or bathtub, or a fireplace, but make sure the focus on your intention is still strong.

7. All done? Do not blow out the candle

If you feel that your spell is all done, but the candle is still burning, do not blow out the flame. Blowing out the flame is like you’re saying it’s done, it’s over. But if you smother or smudge the flame, you can relight it.

Once you’re all done, remember to show gratitude. Recognize the work you’re putting in the intention and give thanks for everything that’s already in motion. Then go on with the intention, you’re the one doing the work, not the candle itself.

That’s basically it! Go out and practice candle magick! But please stay safe around an open flame and protect yourself while doing a spell.