An introduction to candle magic, giving you a step-by-step guide to jump into candle magic. Including color meaning, flame divination, and easy spells to start manifesting your reality.
Candle magic is a form of ritualistic witchcraft that has been around for centuries. It is used to bring about change and manifest goals, desires, and wishes. This type of magic is an ancient practice, and it still has the power to unlock the potential within every one of us. If you are interested in dabbling in witchcraft, you may want to let it burn. With candle magic, of course!
Candle magic harnesses the energy of the fire element and draws in energy from the universe to help create positive change in our lives. A candle’s flame is believed to be connected with the spiritual realm, allowing us to tap into its energy and use it for our purposes. Candles can also be associated with deities and other powerful forces, so when we light a candle, we can connect to those deities and spirits as well. Burning a candle links the physical realm with the spiritual, and another key element is the color of the candle you use in your ritual or spell. It is also important to remember that, like any magical practice, it requires an open mind—you can’t expect things to happen for you before putting in some work!
You will want various candle colors to start with, depending on what you want to accomplish with your spell or ritual.
Color Meaning
White: Healing, truth, divination, peace, used in place of any other colors
Black: Safety, protection, banishing, binding, repelling, shapeshifting, baneful magick
Brown: Endurance, solidarity, grounding, study
Red: Love, lust, courage, strength, success, victory
Orange: Bold, change, daring, joy, quick-action
Yellow: Vibrant, energy, intelligence, focus, learning, happiness
Green: Abundance, prosperity, wealth, healing, fertility, nature
Blue: Calm, inspiration, emotional healing, honesty, communication
Purple: Third-eye, knowledge, spiritual, royalty, intuition, imagination
Pink: Love, friendship, femininity, attention, devotion
Silver: Wisdom, psychic ability, intelligence, memory, meditation
Gold: Development, inner strength, realization, finances
How to complete a candle spell or ritual
You will want to ready the space you’ll be using for your spell or ritual. Clear your altar, circle, or other space, and cleanse the energy throughout the space. You will want to get everything you’ll need before you begin. Gather all your tools, including candles, herbs, or oils for anointing, paper (for writing your intentions down), tools to carve into your candle such as an athame or knife, and matches and/or a lighter.
1. Set your intention
It’s important to set an intention before beginning any spell or ritual. This is the why behind the how and what that you are doing. You’ll want to focus on your intention throughout the duration of your spell or ritual. Sometimes people like to write down their intentions once the candle is lit, so you can do that if you wish, as well.
2. Use your intuition
Use your gut. Listen to yourself during the spell. If you need to change something in the moment, do it. Go with your flow state and listen to your inner voice.
3. Dress your candle
By anointing your candle with whichever oil you choose, you are marking your spell candle and making it an extension of your mind and intention. Visualize your intention and the outcome of your spell while anointing your candle; this allows the energetic force given by your visualizations to merge with the candle, and by burning, will ignite your intentions in the spiritual and astral.
If you are using herbs or other ingredients in your spell or ritual, you can sprinkle or roll your candle in them now. All while concentrating and imagining your intention and purpose have already been achieved.
4. Complete your spell or ritual
Light your candle. Continue to visualize, meditate, or say out loud. You can complete all other steps of your spell and ritual now. If you have a certain way you close out your rituals, do so at the end. I like to thank the elements and release them, along with any deities and spirits I work with. Then I open my circle.
Analyzing Your Candle Flame
You will want to analyze your candle’s flame as it burns during your spell or ritual, as this will give you some insight into whether your spell is or will be successful. Different flames mean different things. Of course, this is not an extensive list, but this will allow you to get started.
Clear Burn - An uneventful flame that burns evenly with little to no smoke is typically a good sign. It means your spell is going as planned, and results should manifest as you want.
Dancing Flame - A dancing or erratic flame signifies strong chaotic energy. A large dancing flame suggests success, while a small dancing flame suggests overwhelming opposing energy is at play here.
Flickering Flame - A flickering flame, where the candle dims and brightens repeatedly, is a sign that spirits or deities are present. If you are working with them during devotional work, it is a sign of success.
Popping Flame - A popping flame that is noisy suggests there is some interference from outside forces. An uneven burn, continuous whistles, hisses, or sputters suggest something is trying to communicate in regards to this spell/ritual, and you need to listen.
Flame Suddenly Goes Out - A flame suddenly going out suggests the work is finished, and there are strong opposing forces that will not let this occur. Leave it be.
Other Correspondents, You May Be Interested In
Chakra Corresponding Colors
Root chakra: Red
Sacral chakra: Orange
Solar plexus chakra: Yellow
Heart chakra: Green/Pink
Throat chakra: Blue
Third-eye chakra: Purple
Crown chakra: Violet/White
Days of the Week Correspondents
Monday: Silver, white
Tuesday: Red, orange
Wednesday: Purple, yellow, light blue
Thursday: Royal blue, red
Friday: Pink, green
Saturday: Black, Purple
Sunday: Gold, yellow, orange
Zodiac Corresponding Colors
Aries: Red
Taurus: Green
Gemini: Yellow
Cancer: White, Silver
Leo: Gold
Virgo: Green, Brown
Libra: Pink, Purple
Scorpio: Black
Sagittarius: Purple
Capricorn: Brown, Grey
Aquarius: Blue
Pisces: Green
Three Easy Spells for You to Try
Self-Love
Red candle
Rose petals
Lavender
Orange peel
If you would rather not anoint the candle, you can put all ingredients on charcoal coal and burn the dry ingredients as your candle burns.
Allow yourself to sit in the moment as the candle burns, and tell yourself or out loud the things you love (or want to love) about yourself.
Protection
White candle
Rosemary
Salt
Anointing oil of your choice
Anoint the candle and sprinkle or roll in salt (sparingly) and rosemary. As the candle burns, think of the clear intention of protection.
"With this salt, I place an earthly barrier around myself, my home, and my loved ones. With this rosemary, I cleanse all and bring in a loving embrace. With this flame, I have a shield that burns away all negativity and harmful energy that may enter my home."
Prosperity
Green candle
Olive oil
Mint
Bay leaf
Three gold coins or crystals
Anoint the candle with olive oil and mint. Place three gold coins or crystals around the candle. As you light the candle, meditate, or stare into the flame. Write "prosperity" on the bay leaf, and burn it with a candle flame.
"With this candle, my money grows. With this spell, my prosperity flows."
Now go, get lit!
I hope this breakdown allows you to jump straight into candle magick and start giving it a go! Candle magick is an incredibly powerful form of witchcraft that can help us connect with our inner selves and manifest our deepest intentions into reality. All it takes is setting an intention and following the steps outlined above — the rest is up to Spirit, the Universe, etc!
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