MAGICKAL CANDLE TIPS

• Never light candles near windows with curtains that can blow about and catch fire.

• Use a snuffer or damper to extinguish candles. Blowing may break the magick by interfering with the flow of energy between the spiritual planes.

• It is best to use a single candle per invocation. Whenever possible, allow a candle to burn out completely, or relight the same candle for the same invocation in the future.

• It is best to light candles with matches. However, a good rule of thumb is to use matches (fire and wood) for earthly actions, and a lighter can be used for spiritual actions.

• When several people are lighting candles for ceremonial purposes in a group (marriages, parties, NYE celebrations), use the flame of one candle to light another.

• If individual desires are sought, even in groups, each individual should light their own candle.

• If your wish is to release energy, or to free yourself from something, throw candle remains in the trash outside your home.

• If your wish is to attract something, stimulate something, or encourage increase, place the candle in the garden or keep for reuse in another personal request ritual.

• Never, ever, ever, reuse candles that have been used in rituals or spells for others.

  It is OK to recycle paraffin to repeat a request, renew a request, make a new candle, or mix colors as long as it is personal, involving the same person and the same magick.

HOW TO ANOINT A CANDLE

Some spells call for the use of intention oils or essential oils for an added boost. Here are a few ways to anoint a candle.

• If using inscribed runes or sigils, anoint the candle after inscribing. Put a few drops of the oil on the tips of your fingers. Beginning in the center of the candle, work the oil upwards toward the wick. Then, starting from the center again, stroke downward to the bottom. This will draw energy up from the earth’s core and down from the Universe, bringing your intention into the material world.

• If your desired outcome is release, it is good to anoint the candle from the bottom all the way to the top. This will draw energy from the earth’s core, collect the unwanted energy on this plane, and release it out to the Universe through the flame.

BANISH HUMILIATION & SHAME

ITEMS NEEDED

• 3 of Swords Tarot card for suffering, regret, and heartache (one you can burn)

• Black candle for banishing

• Nettle for exorcism

• Rosemary - exorcism

• Castor oil to absorb negativity

WHAT TO DO

• Combine the nettles and rosemary in a bowl

• Ground & Center

• Cast a circle & call the four quarters

• Anoint the black candle and dress it with some of the herbs.

• Meditate on the 3 of Swords Tarot card. Think about your humiliation and shame. Tap into your feelings and don’t shy away from the physical pain that may arise.

• As you feel the pain of your humiliation, see it leaving your body and pouring into the card.

• Turn the card face up and sprinkle the remainder of the herbs onto it.

• Say:

Suffering and heartache, I send you away. Along with my demons, you shall not stay, Humiliation that was brought on me, Goes with you, too, so let it be.

• Repeat this incantation as you slowly burn the card into a fireproof dish.

• Take the ashes from the burnt card and sprinkle them around the black candle.

• Allow the candle to burn all the way down.

• Collect the wax and ashes, and bury them together.

ABUNDANCE & WEALTH

This ritual should be performed every day at the same time for 9 consecutive days.

Items Needed

• a green candle

• a white candle

• blue sage bundle or leaves

In this spell, the green candle represents the money/wealth that you hope to acquire and the white candle represents you. The blue sage is to amplify energy to attract wealth and abundance. Start on day one with new candles.

What to do

• Smudge the candles with the sage. While smudging, focus on your intention. Visualize the abundance or wealth you wish to manifest.

• Place the candles on your altar, nine inches apart from each other. Exactly where or what position is not important, but they must be nine inches apart.

• Continue to burn the blue sage throughout this ritual.

Light the candles and chant these words:

Money, money come to me, In abundance three times three, May I be enriched in the best of ways, Harming none on its way, This I accept, so mote it be, Bring me money three times three.

• Move the white candle one inch closer to the green candle as you chant.

• After the chanting, extinguish the flames.

• Repeat this spell for a total of nine days, each day moving the white candle one inch closer to the green candle. It is important to continually visualize the wealth you desire with each step of the spell.

• On the ninth day, when the candles touch, your spell is finished. On this last day, you may let the candles burn until there is nothing left.

BREAK BAD HABITS

Best performed during a waning moon.

ITEMS NEEDED

• Black pillar candle to burn every day for at least a week

• Cedar, cinnamon, dragon’s blood, or frankincense essential oil (optional)

Find a quiet place to work where you will not be disturbed or interrupted.

WHAT TO DO

• Center, ground, and focus on the habit you wish to break. Why do you want to end this habit? How has having this habit harmed you or held you back? What do you need to change to rid yourself of this habit for good?

• Light the candle and stare into the flame, thinking about the habit you wish to banish.

• Say:

I call upon the cleansing fire, to unmake that which I desire. I rid myself of (habit to break) evermore. This habit of mine shall be no more.

• Visualize the flame flaring and roaring up like an inferno. Open yourself to this blaze, inviting it to burn through you, cleansing you of your unwanted habit. As the candle wick burns, so your bad habit burns away.

• Spend a few minutes meditating on ridding yourself of the unwanted habit.

• snuff the candle out and store it someplace safe.

• The next night, take out the candle and repeat the ritual.

• Repeat every night for a week. On the last night, allow the candle to burn completely down.

• Bury any remnants and ashes in the earth.

• If the habit persists, continue the spell longer if needed, until wither the habit is broken or the candle burns down completely.

CAREGIVER APPRECIATION

March 3rd is Caregiver Appreciation Day. Please do something personally to honor the caregiver(s) in your life. When I went to the hospital to give birth to my son, I had no idea I would labor for 36 hours! It was scary and exhausting. I am told that at one point I left my body altogether. During that time nurses entered the room and, soothed by my (perceived) calm, felt free to share their own birthing stories. Apparently, I held hands, gave blessings, and dried tears as contractions pounded through my body. My BFF was there, watching the monitor in disbelief. When we spoke about it later, she expressed sheer amazement at the kindness and care I showed others in my time of distress. I don't remember ANY of this. All I remember is hospital staff ensuring I felt safe and keeping me supplied with ice chips. It was a powerful moment for me of giving and receiving care at the same time.

ITEMS NEEDED

• Picture of your favorite healing deity (I love Archangel Michael)

• Your altar

• Small green candle

WHAT TO DO

• Cast a circle

• State your intent to honor caregivers.

• Light the candle.

• Focus on the flame and think of a time when someone showed you or someone else loving care.

• Ask your healing patron to send energy to caregivers who need it the most.

• Give thanks.

• Release the diety and clear the circle.

• Allow the candle to burn all the way down.

CLEANSE YOURSELF OF NEGATIVITY

ITEMS NEEDED

• Black candle

• Essential or fragrance oil (optional) - chamomile, lavender, dragon’s blood, sandalwood, rosemary, mint or vanilla

WHAT TO DO

• Find a comfortable place to sit. Spend a few minutes getting centered and grounded. Clear your mind of al thoughts.

• Set the candle in front of you and light the wick.

• Gazing into the flame, focus on the problem or issue caused by the buildup of negative energy within.

• Find your way to the root of the problem while keeping your gaze on the candle’s flame.

• When you discover the source, visualize white light showering you from above. Feel this light washing away anger, negativity, and any minor malady from your body.

• Say:

Lord of the Sun and Cleansing Fire, to be free of negativity is my desire. All pain, anger, and depression be gone, only positive energies from here on. Free me from darkness, return me to light. May my spirit be pure, serene, and bright.

• Continue to stare into the burning candle, imagining the bright light of the flame surrounding you and burning away negative energies. Feel all anger, depression, anxiety, and fear dissipating and being consumed by the fire.

• Stay connected to this energy and visualization until all the negativity is gone.

• Place the candle in a safe area where it can burn out on its own.

• Bury any remains in the earth.

DISTANCE HEALING RITUAL

For those times you wish to perform a spell or ritual for someone who is not present. This works best for healing spells or rituals at your altar.

ITEMS NEEDED

The yellow candles represent the sun. They give light and life. Red candles are for health and strength. The orange candle lights the way for optimism and encouragement.

• 2 yellow altar candles

• 3 red candles

• one orange candle

WHAT TO DO

• Place 1 yellow candle in the northeast

• Place 1 yellow candle in the northwest

• Place 3 red candles on the east side of your altar

• Place 1 orange candle on the west side of your altar

• Light the candles (in no particular order) and say:

Power of Light, Power of love, The fire burns and we heal, With harm to none and blessings to all.

FIND THE RIGHT JOB

This ritual is for when you are looking for a job and already know where you plan to apply. Remember to leave space for the Universe to guide you to the position and company that is right for you. If you are applying to multiple companies, say all the names in your incantation.

ITEMS NEEDED

• Red Candle

• Green Candle

• Needle

• Small bowl of whole milk

WHAT TO DO

• Etch the name of the company you want to work for on the green candle.

• Light the red candle first and say aloud all the positive qualities you possess that make you a good fit for the job you want. Take as long as you need to be thorough.

SELF-HEALING RITUAL

ITEMS NEEDED

• White, pink, green or blue candle

• Apple, blackberry, cedar, cinnamon, cucumber, lemon, mint, pine, rose, rosemary or sandalwood essential or fragrance oil (optional)

WHAT TO DO

• Find a comfortable place to sit here you can work undisturbed. Ground and center.

• If you choose, engrave the candle with the runes, then anoint it with one of the listed oils.

• Close your eyes and get a clear vision of yourself in your mind. See the energy pulsing inside. Feel your energy shimmering and sparking throughout your entire body.

• Focus on the area of your body that is causing you pain. See this unwanted energy as a black smoke swirling around that part of the body.

• Light your candle and hold your hands on either side of the flame — close enough to feel the heat.

• Close your eyes (being careful not to burn yourself), and sense the energy within your body respond to your call to move the unwanted energy out through your palms.

• Visualize the black, smoky energy being transformed into a white glowing ball between your palms. Feel it mixing with the healing energy of the candle flame.

• Say:

Candle flame burning bright, bless me with your healing light. Of this (sickness or pain) shall I be cured, my health and energy to be restored.

• Take the ball of healing energy and place it on the place of illness or injury. See the white light chasing way any remaining darkness. You may feel tingling, light pressure, or some other movement of subtle energy at the site of illness or injury.

• When all darkness in that area has been replaced with glowing white light, place the candle in a safe place to burn out completely.

• NOTE: chronic illness or injury will take more than one session. In these cases, snuff out the candle and store it away for the next time you repeat this ritual for the same issue.

IN HONOR OF WOMEN

Here's a beautiful ritual for any time you wish to pay homage to women in recognition of their contributions to the world.

ITEMS NEEDED

• Cypress Incense or Essential Oil

• Purple or white votive candle

• Goddess statues and pictures of women you wish to honor

WHAT TO DO

• Before the ritual, sit as you burn cypress incense or diffuse cypress essential oil. Write about women who have made a difference in the world and in your life. Show gratitude by making a donation in their honor or some gesture of activism.

• Freshen your ancestral altar and adorn with goddess statues and pictures of women you wish to honor. You can include Grandma's pearl necklace, a handkerchief that belonged to Auntie Mae, or anything you like.

• When you are ready, carve the symbol for "woman" into the candle. Light the candle and say:

To those who suffer, bring relief, alleviate their pain and grief. Satisfy all those in need, honor them by word and deed."

• Meditate while staring into the flame of the candle. Think about how life has been made better by the women you are honoring. Take the warmth of the flame into your heart as you give thanks for the advances they pioneered.

• Allow the candle to burn all the way down. When done, do something special for yourself or for a woman you love and respect.

MAKE UP AFTER A LOVERS’ ARGUMENT

There's an old saying, "Never go to bed angry." Easier said than done. As tensions rise and anger builds, arguments can shift from trying to calmly make a valid point to wanting to be right for the sake of 'winning.' Contrary to love songs, chaotic emotions serve no positive purpose for your love relations. Know when to sacrifice the point and salvage the relationship with dignity. The subject can always be revisited at a later time when things settle down.

ITEMS NEEDED

• Sage smudge stick

• Matches or lighter

• Bowl or shell

• Large feather

• Whistle or other noisemaker (party squeaker, whistle, spiritual rattle, etc.)

• Green, yellow or white votive candle

• Your favorite essential oil spray mister (lavender, sage, palo santo, rose, vanilla --- whatever calms your nerves)

WHAT TO DO

• Begin by smudging yourself, the other person, and your bedroom. Set an intention to clear the space of any bad feelings between you.

• Use the feather to waft smoke and walk around the bedroom three times. Make sure you guide smoke into the corners of the room where unwanted energy tends to build-up and hide.

• Recite these words while walking around the room:

Hearts of love and smoke of sage, cool the embers of our rage. Ease the pain of what’s been said before we rest upon this bed. Our differences we will respect and come to embrace and not reject. And so it is.

• Light a white, green or pink candle. Stare into the flame and say these words three times:

Candle fire burning bright, release the need to fuss and fight.

• Use the whistle or other noisemaker all around the room paying special attention to corners where stubborn energy may gather and become stagnant.

• To calm things down, mist the room.

• Walk out of the room and re-enter, noticing the lightness and open air.

LOVE & CLARITY SUNRISE RITUAL

This is a beautiful way to greet the sunrise in gratitude and to call in love and clarity. Best performed in the kitchen.

ITEMS NEEDED

• 1 pink candle

• Rose (any color)

• Clear glass bowl

WHAT TO DO

• At sunrise, float a rose in a clear bowl of water. Light a pink candle next to the bowl. Using your left hand, stir slowly and invoke:

These waters cleanse my soul and being. Now, with a clear mind and heart I am seeing. I am love; my heart is as big as sky and earth. From the east to the west, love universal gives life its worth. Blessings to all, so mote it be.

• Leave the bowl on your kitchen altar for three days and three nights.

POWER OF 4

In Tarot, the number 4 symbolizes structure, foundation, stability, stagnation, manifestation, practical application, formation, concentration, organization and planning. It is the result of a well-built foundation and proper application. It is the natural outcome of desire and imagination.

Try this simple ritual on the fourth of any month to restore balance in all areas of your life.

ITEMS NEEDED

• 4 Candles - any color. I like using 4 different color candles for this ritual. Each set with an intention to bring balance to a different aspect of life: Love, Work, Spiritual Development, Recreation. Create your own aspects based your personal needs.

WHAT TO DO

• Light 4 candles at once and recite your prayer, spell, affirmation. This can be achieved by lighting a white candle and holding the wicks of the 4 smaller candle to its flame at the same time.

• Sample chant (repeat three times):

Four the quarters, full of power, earth, air, fire and water. Four the seasons, blessings through all, winter, spring, summer, fall. Four for balance in my life, work and play, dark and light. Four for a year with growth as its base, with joy for all in measured pace. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. And so it is!

PROSPERITY BATH RITUAL

Best performed 3 nights before the full moon, the night of the full moon, and 3 nights after the full moon using the same candles.

ITEMS NEEDED

• Money Bath Salts

• Altar Candle

• God & Goddess Candle

• Green pillar candle

• Lodestone oil

WHAT TO DO

• Bring energy through the head and feet to rid the body of any negativity.

• Immerse yourself in the water and focus on your goal. Soak for 20 minutes.

• Exit the tub and allow negativity to drain out with the water. Give thanks.

• Cast a protective circle using salt.

• Light altar candle.

• Light God & Goddess candle

• Anoint green pillar candle with lodestone oil or a prosperity oil. While anointing, visualize energy flowing from you into the candle.

• Light the green candle and meditate on your goal while staring into the flame.

• Allow candles to burn for at least 10-15 minutes.

TRUTH

Sometimes our feelings and conscious thought may get in the way of seeing or accepting what is really going on. Other times, we know that something doesn't seem quite right about what we're being shown or told, but we aren't able to get a clear picture. Here's a simple ritual for calling in the truth.

ITEMS NEEDED

• Dried Thyme

• Red Candle

• Small Bowl

WHAT TO DO

• Place thyme in a small glass dish and say:

Purification I do conjure so that thoughts be spoken, no longer pondered.

• Light the candle and say:

Passion so red set to the fire, let the truth be said, that is my desire.

• Drip a small bit melted wax from the candle onto the herbs and say:

Mists of thyme, fire of red, send the truth to my head.

Open your front door to release the herbs to the wind. Let "thyme" fly and wait for the truth to be revealed.

OVERCOME ADVERSITY

Best done under the waning moonlight. Perform this ritual someplace where you can leave the items in place without disturbance.

ITEMS NEEDED

• 1 Black candle

• 1 Tbs. dried basil (protection)

• 1 Tsp. dried marjoram (peace and harmony)

• Jalap root (inner power)

• Tonka bean (luck)

• Smooth stone

WHAT TO DO

• Place the black candle on the ground and light it.

• Sprinkle basil, marjoram, jalap root, and tonka bean around the candle.

• Visualize yourself overcoming any adversity or anything that is getting in your way.

• Say:

I am triumphant over all adversity. I am free to live as I choose. Love surrounds me completely. I am strong and I simply will not lose.

• Pour three drops of the candle wax onto the smooth stone.

• Snuff out the candle and turn it upside down (smother the wick in dirt)

• Leave the ritual ingredients as they are

• Carry the smooth stone on you for the next week, then store in a safe place.

NEVER-ENDING WISHING BOWL

ITEMS NEEDED

• Large Bowl

• Different colored candles (match the color to your wish)

• White candles (for binding)

WHAT TO DO

• In the bowl, drip a few drops of different colored candle wax on the bottom; stick a white candle to that spot.

• Light the white candle each morning and add a coin to the bowl. Make your wish for the day.

• Blow out the candle before you leave home.

• If you have an immediate need or desire, remove a coin from the bowl and either toss it into moving water (ocean, lake, pond) or bury it in rich soil so your message will resound into the earth.

• When the bowl is filled with coins, remove most of them and donate them to charity, give them to a homeless person, or use them to purchase something for others (healthy treats for a school event, bottled water for the homeless on a hot day, etc.). Your kindness will multiply and return to you threefold.

• Never remove all of the coins. Leave a small amount in the bottom of the bowl as seedlings.

• Continue to replenish the candle wax, add remove and spend coins, and replace the white candle as needed for perpetual use of this powerful manifesting tool.