The Basics of Candle Magic
December 23, 2021
Candles are an integral part of any spiritual or religious practice. When lighted, the candle flame pierces the veil that separates the material and spirit worlds, carrying our messages, intentions, and prayers to the other end.
Types of candles commonly used for spiritual work
These free-standing candles are really convenient and relatively cheaper than the others. However, I’ve seen some shops selling them at exorbitant prices while claiming they were “charged” candles. I’m pretty sure they mean overcharged. Depending on the sizes, chimes and tapers typically burn down within two to five hours.
The visual symbolism in these candles enhances the focus, and they are usually meant for more elaborate work. For example, human figurine candles can be used in moving love spells to bring someone closer or breakup spells to move someone away. Such candles tend to burn messy due to their irregular shapes and leave behind piles of wax (which can be used for divination).
Red female figurine candles
Traditionally, they are vigil or novena lights meant to burn continuously for several days. The candles are already blessed and dressed with oils and herbs, so you just have to place the petition/picture/personal concern beneath the candle, pray your intention, and light it.
I personally prefer to use a shorter glass candle like the ones I’m selling in my shop because a jar candle is so much easier to relight (when I have to snuff it out when leaving it unattended) or tend to the flame.
Colour symbolism
- Green: money, finances, attraction, gambling luck, abundance, prosperous business, job
- Red: passion, strength, sexuality
- Pink: romance, love, friendship
- Orange: opening the roads to new opportunities, promote changes
- Blue: healing, peace, psychic visions, protection
- Yellow: success, happiness, devotion, employment
- Brown: court case, finding things
- Purple: mastery, influence, control, power, spiritual abilities
- Black: curse, banish, illness
- White: blessing, purification, spirituality
In fact, all kinds of spiritual work can be performed using white candles. The colours are meant to add an extra layer of representation. It is somewhat like putting a love letter into a pink rose-scented envelope or sending a formal document in a Kraft paper envelope, when in fact, a plain white envelope will do.
Coloured chime candles
How to prepare a free-standing candle for use
- Inscribe the name/date of birth/petition/sigil/symbol
- Poke a hole underneath and insert a strand of hair or some other personal concerns
- Dress with appropriate oils, upwards to attract and downwards to repel
- Roll in appropriate herbs, or lightly sprinkle some sachet powder on it
Above are just some suggested methods. There are a few others, so find one that is suitable for the type of candle and the work to be performed.
Signs and Meanings
There are many online articles on the topic of candle flame divination. Some suggest a flickering flame indicates a spirit presence. Others say a popping candle represents someone sending ill will. However, I do not find these interpretations to be entirely true.
Honestly, I’d not pay too much attention to how the flame behaves, except when it burns too low or sooty. A candle flame that burns bright and high is generally better than a dim one. It shows the work is stronger. And soot indicates resistances. If the flame goes out repeatedly or simply will not light up, the spirits do not want you to continue the work anymore. You may have to ask them why.
The only time you need to take special heed is when it behaves erratically. Otherwise, mostly, it is going to burn like a normal candle. What do I mean by that? I can only quote one example because this only happened to me once throughout my years of burning candles for spiritual work.
It was during my first time calling upon Archangel Raphael when a section of his green chime candle started peeling downwards, followed by another next to it, and the next, until it finished circling the whole candle, resembling a flower dropping its petal one by one.
When the candle eventually burned down, its wax remains looked exactly like a fish, complete with its eye. That—was a sign from Archangel Raphael, who is often depicted holding a fish, a symbol of his healing of Tobit with the fish’s gall in the scriptural story.
Therefore, there may be times when signs show up in the wax remains. Do make the observations, but do not read too much into it. Signs are always good as they signify the requests are heard by the spirits. However, it does not necessarily mean the work will manifest. On the flip side, even if you don’t get any signs, it does not mean the spell will fail.
A simple spell to attract a sweet new love
Get a white chime candle and use a rose thorn from a white rose to carve the words “may all my love come to me” on it. Then dress it with come to me oil, damiana, jasmine flowers, catnip, cubeb berries, lemon balm, and lovage. Pluck out the rose petals and scatter them around the base of the candle.
Light the candle and keep your gaze on it until it burns down completely, all the while visualising your new love coming to you full of sweetness and affection. Keep the remaining wax in a safe place. Do this spell every Friday until the person appears.
Lastly, please observe fire safety when burning candles. Always place them on a heat-resistance surface and never leave them unattended.
Hope you find the information useful.
I’m Alurea, a spiritual doctor, teacher, and tarot reader in Singapore. My spiritual practice is a mixture of African American Hoodoo and Native South American Shamanism. I’ve been working extensively with Archangels, Catholic saints, and other divine spirits for a decade.
If you’d like to have rootwork done on your behalf, please feel free to contact me contact@alureaconjure.com to discuss. I accept clients worldwide.
If you’d like to have a personal reading done, please order it at my shop.
Various candles are also available for sale in my shop.