1 One of the simplest of magical arts which comes under the heading of
natural magic is candle burning. It is simple because it employs
little ritual and few ceremonial artifacts. The theatrical props of
candle magic can be purchased at any department store and its rituals
can be practiced in any sitting room or bedroom.
2 Most of us have performed our first act of candle magic by the time
we are two years old. Blowing out the tiny candles on our first
birthday cake and making a wish is pure magic. This childhood custom
is based on the three magical principals of concentration, will power
and visualization. In simple terms, the child who wants his wish to
come true has to concentrate (blow out the candles), visualize the
end result (make a wish) and hope that it will come true (will power).
3 The size and shape of the candles you use is unimportant, although
highly decorative, extra large, or unusually shaped candles will not
be suitable as these may create distractions when the magician wants
to concentrate on the important work in hand. Most magicians prefer
to use candles of standard or uniform size if possible. Those which
are sold in different colors for domestic use are ideal.
4 The candles you use for any type of magical use should be virgin,
that is unused. Under no circumstances use a candle which has already
adorned a dinner table or been used as a bedroom candle or
night-light. There is a very good occult reason for not using
anything but virgin materials in magic. Vibrations picked up by
secondhand materials or equipment may disturb your workings and
negate their effectiveness.
5 Some magicians who are artistically inclined prefer to make their
own candles for ritual and magical use. This is a very practical
exercise because not only does it impregnate the candle with your own
personal vibrations, but the mere act of making your own candle is
magically potent. Specialist shops sell candle wax and molds together
with wicks, perfumes, and other equipment.
6 The hot wax is heated until liquid and then poured into the mould
through which a suitably sized wick has already been threaded. The
wax is then left to cool and once is this has occurred the mould is
removed , leaving a perfectly formed candle. Special oil-soluble dyes
and perfumes can be added to the wax before the cooling process is
complete to provide suitable colors and scents for a particular
magical ritual. Craft shops which sell candlemaking supplies can also
provide do-it-yourself books explaining the technicalities of the art
to the beginner.
7 Once you have purchased or made your ritual candle it has to be
oiled or 'dressed' before burning. The purpose of dressing the candle
is to establish a psychic link between it and the magician through a
primal sensory experience. By physically touching the candle during
the dressing procedure, you are charging it with our own personal
vibrations and also concentrating the desire of your magical act into
the wax. The candle is becoming an extension of the magician's mental
power and life energy.
8 When you dress a candle for magical use, imagine that it is a
psychic magnet with a North and a South pole. Rub the oil into the
candle beginning at the top or North end and work downwards to the
half-way point. Always brush in the same direction downwards. This
process is then repeated by beginning at the bottom or south end and
working up to the middle.
9 The best type of oils to use for dressing candles are natural ones
which can be obtained quite easily. Some occult suppliers will
provide candle magic oils with exotic names. If the magician does not
want to use these, he can select suitable oils or perfumes from his
own sources. The oils soluble perfumes sold by craft shops for
inclusion in candles can be recommended.
10 The candles you use can be colored in accordance with the following
magical uses:
white
red
pink
yellow
green
blue
purple
silver
orange- spirituality and peace.
- health,energy,strength,courage, sexual potency.
- love affection and romance.
- intellectualism, imagination, memory and creativity
- fertility, abundance, good luck and harmony
- inspiration, occult wisdom, protection and devotion
- material wealth, higher psychic ability, spiritual power & idealism
- clairvoyance, inspiration, astral energy and intuition
- ambition. career matters and the law.
11 If you wanted to use candle magic for healing, you would select a
red candle to burn. To pass an exam, burn a yellow candle, to gain
esoteric knowledge burn a blue candle or for material gain, burn a
purple one. It is obvious these colors relate to the signs of the
zodiac and the planetary forces.
12 The simples form of candle magic is to write doesn't the objective
of your ritual on a virgin piece of paper. You can use color paper
which matches the candle. Write your petition on the paper using a
magical alphabet, such as theban, enochian, malachain,etc. As you
write down what you want to accomplish through candle magic -- a new
job, healing for a friend, a change of residence, a new love affair,
etc. -- visualize your dream coming true. Visualize the circumstances
under which you might be offered a new job, imagine your employer
telling you that your salary has been increased or conjure up a
vision of your perfect love partner.
13 When you have completed writing down your petition, carefully fold
up the paper in a deliberately slow fashion. Place the end of the
folded paper in the candle flame and set light to it. As you do this
concentrate once more on what you want from life.
14 When you have completed your ritual, allow the candle to have
completely burned away. You do not need to stay with the candle after
the ritual, but make sure that is safe and that red-hot wax will not
cause damage or fire. Never re-use a candle which has been lit in any
magical ritual. It should only be used in that ritual and then
allowed to burn away or be disposed of afterwards.
15 If you are conducting a magical ritual which involves two people
(e.g. an absent healing for a person some distance away) then the
second person can be symbolically represented during the ritual by
another candle. All you need to do is find out the subject's birth
date and burn the appropriate candle for that zodiacal sign. These
are as follows -
ARIES
TAURUS
GEMINI
CANCER
LEO
VIRGO
LIBRA
SCORPIO
SAGITARIUS
CAPRICORN
AQUARIUS
PISCES- red
- green
- yellow
- silver
- orange
- yellow
- pink
- red
- purple
- black
- all colors
- mauve
Last amended June 11, 1989