Preparing Your Candles for Magic

There’s something undeniably enchanting about candle magic. The flickering flame, the warm glow, the scent of wax melting—it all creates an atmosphere of sacred energy, drawing the mind into focus and amplifying intentions. But before you light that wick and send your desires into the universe, preparing your candles properly is essential for effective spellwork. Here’s how to do it.

1. Choose the Right Candle: Selecting the right candle is the foundation of your magical work. Consider:

• Color Correspondences: Different colors align with various intentions.
• Size and Shape: Tea lights are great for quick spells, while pillar candles or seven-day candles are perfect for longer rituals.
• Scented or Unscented? Essential oil-infused candles can add another layer of magical correspondence, but make sure the scent aligns with your goal.

• Black: Protection, banishing, easing depression or fear.
• Blue: Friendship, peace, creativity, independence.
• Brown: Strength, healing, diplomacy.
• Gold: Wealth, happiness, abundance,
• Green: Health, abundance, success, good fortune.
• Orange: Joy, charisma, creativity.
• Pink: Love, self-love, romance, friendship.
• Purple: Focus, insight, intuition.
• Red: Love, sex, passion, vitality.
• Silver: Respect, psychic ability, divination.
• White: Calm, peace, wisdom (and can be a substitute for any other color).
• Yellow: Happiness, creativity, fun, kindness.

2. Cleanse Your Candle: Candles pass through many hands before reaching you, absorbing energy along the way. To ensure it carries only your intention:

Moonlight or Sunlight: Letting your candle bathe in natural light can also purify and charge it.

Smoke Cleansing: Pass your candle through incense smoke (sage, palo santo, or your herb of choice) to remove lingering energies.

Salt Bath: If the candle is unscented and uncolored, you can bury it in salt overnight for deep energetic cleansing.

3. Dress and Anoint Your Candle: Anointing your candle infuses it with energy and intent. Here’s how:

• Oils: Use an oil that matches your spell’s purpose—lavender for peace, cinnamon for success, or rose for love.

Choose an appropriate essential oil for your intent and anoint your candle. Put the oil on your finger and swipe the oil onto the candle in one smooth motion towards your body. Visualize your wish coming toward you. Repeat until the entire candle has been coated in oil.

Application Direction:

• For drawing something toward you: Start at the wick and move downward.
• For banishing or releasing: Start at the base and move upward.

Dressing in herbs or crystal chips:

Herbs & Crystals: Rolling your candle in crushed herbs or placing small stones around it can enhance the magic.

While the candle is still wet from the oil, you can roll it with appropriate herbs, spell powders, or crystal chips.

There are so many herbs and oils you can use – here are just a few examples:

• Basil: Love, protection, wealth.
• Bergamot: Love, success.
• Chamomile: Love, purification, sleep, wealth.
• Cinnamon: Wealth, protection.
• Lavender: Happiness, peace, purification.
• Neroli: Success, wealth.
• Orange: Divination, love, luck.
• Parsley: Protection, purification.
• Patchouli: Fertility, lust, wealth.
• Rosemary: Healing, protection, purification.
• Rose: Healing, love, passion.
• Vetiver: Grounding, protection, wisdom.

4. Carve Symbols or Sigils: For an extra boost of power, carve your candle with:

• Names (yours or someone else’s if working for another)
• Symbols (runes, astrological signs, pentacles, etc.)
• Sigils (personal symbols created with intention)

5. Charge Your Candle with Intention: Before lighting your candle, hold it in both hands and focus on your desire. Visualize your goal manifesting as if it has already happened. Speak your intention aloud or silently in your mind, filling the candle with your energy.

6. Light the Candle & Release the Magic When you’re ready, light your candle with purpose. Watch the flame and pay attention to how it moves—dancing flames, flickering, or sudden bursts might carry messages from the universe. Let the candle burn completely if possible, or snuff it out respectfully if needed.

Candle magic is a powerful and accessible form of spellwork. Taking the time to prepare your candles ensures that your energy and intentions are aligned, giving your magic the best chance of success. Whether you’re manifesting love, protection, abundance, or clarity, a well-prepared candle can be a beacon guiding your desires into reality.

Happy spell casting! ✨

Photo by Marc Mintel on Unsplash

Photo by Road Ahead on Unsplash