Candle Magick, EVERYBODY has done it on their Birthday!

Lighting candles for world peace, for a deceased family member, to pray, to send hope, or to wish for something is an age old tradition that people in all parts of the world still use today. Lighting candles is part of almost every single culture's customs from religious practices to wishing on a birthday cake. Although the procedures may differ, or the words describing the practice may be different, the core beliefs and the purpose for lighting the candles remain the same. The information on this page will explore this tradition in a magical sense. The word magical is a word connected to practices dating back to when Paganism was the world's largest spiritual practice. You will also discover other prominent religious groups who use candles for praying, like the Orthodox Church for example. The bottom line is, anyone of any faith or culture, young or old can use a candle to focus their intention and send out energy to achieve a desired affect.

Many years ago, Pagans used tallow lamps or lit bonfires with sacred woods, however, using a candle is a perfectly fine substitute in today's world.

The candle, for magickal purposes, represents a person; the wax of the candle represents the body, the wick symbolizes the mind, and the flame is the person's spirit.

In candle magick, the person performing the ritual must have a definite purpose. The purpose explains why you are performing the magickal act, it defines your intentions and what you want to manifest. Maybe your purpose would be to bring love into your life, or to find a job. Being specific is a good idea when forming the purpose; take your time and find the right words. Then the candle is told its purpose and then burned transforming it into a message (much like a prayer) through the smoke and flame, to the Divine Spirit.

A virgin candle, a candle that is new, or hasn't been used yet in any way (such as decoration), is the type of candle that must be used. A candle may absorb and become affected by energy that is in the environment and so you should always smudge(with white sage for example) the candle and clear any charge that the candle might have so that those vibrations do not affect your work.

Some people prefer to make their own candles for their rituals. By making your own candles you infuse your own vibrations into the candle which then creates a very strong magickal charge. By making your own candle you can also add special herbs and oils to the wax for a specific purpose or to honor the God and Goddess.

Any candle size or shape is fine, although ornate, very large, or an unusually shaped candle could distract the magician from focusing on what needs to be done. A clear and focused mind is key when performing any magick.

You can make your candle any color, scent, or filled with herbs.

Check out my other Squidoo pages with info on:
How to Make Candles: Everything You Need to Know

(**coming soon!**)
Magickal Oils
& Magickal Herbs

Choose a candle that has a color suitable for your purpose. Colors emit their own unique vibration and so it is important to choose one that will attract certain spiritual influences to help with your intent.

Listed below are some colors and the symbolic energies that they are often times associated with:

Black: To absorb or remove, unblock, protect, for meditation, binding, uncrossing and hexes, absorption, to dispel negative energy, to open the mind up to deeper levels o unconsciousness, evil, loss, discord, ancient wisdom, and the male aspect of the God.

White: The Goddess, peace, higher self, purity, consecration, divination, healing, truth, spiritual strength, spirituality, lunar energy, meditation, clairvoyance, to repel destructive forces, to raise vibrations, create illusion, confound enemies, virginity, wholeness, protection. White is also associated with the Moon and female energy. The color white is a combination of all colors, therefore it be used for any purpose

Gray: To erase, neutralize and return to the cosmos without repercussion. Aid in balancing. Silver / Gray also symbolizes Cancellation, Neutrality, and Stalemate

Silver: The Goddess, telepathy, clairvoyance, clairaudience, psychometrics, intuition, dreams, astral energies, female power, spells to remove negativity, cancellation, neutrality, and stalemate

Gold: Money, the god, the sun, attraction, persuasion, charm, and confidence

Copper: Passion, money goals, professional growth, career maneuvers
Indigo: Promotes inertia, meditation, stop gossip and lies, neutralizes another's magick, repentance

Brown: Color used when learning to center or ground yourself with the Earth, good for survival, friendship (human form, familiars, and household pets) favors, locating lost objects and to increase powers of concentration. Brown also symbolizes earth, stability, solid foundations, healing the earth, material needs. It is also associated with the hearth and home.

Red: Anger, courage, fertility, passion, lust, love, ,sex, health issues relating to blood or the heart, physical strength, revenge, energy, career goals, vibrancy, survival, will power, element of fire, fast action, blood of the moon, protection from psychic attack, conquer fear, the will, and attracting power

Rose: Enhancing relationshios

Pink: Love especially romantic love, emotional well being, peace, affection, caring, partnership, soul mate, friendship, harmony, tenderness, spiritual love, caring, loving yourself, healing emotions, good will.

Hot Pink: Joy of sensual pleasures

Dark Pink: Break ups, bad prevailing conditions, dispels gloom.

Magenta: Spiritual strength, intuition, ability to penetrate all planes and realms of existence, works quickly, can be used with other colors for faster results, spiritual healing, exorcism, and quick changes of favorable nature.

Purple: Brings more of what you have, access to wisdom and knowledge of higher realms of magick, understanding life's mysteries, spirituality, spiritual protection, healing, influencing people in high places, self assurance, third eye, psychic ability, household protection, to drive away evil, expansion, knowledge, reaching your higher self and highest potentials.

Lavender: Intuition, dignity, spiritual shield

Blue: Religion, peace, calmness within, good fortune, opening of blocked communication, wisdom, harmony, meditation, the element of water, spiritual inspiration, loyalty, truth, tranquility, sleep protection, astral projection, prophetic dreaming, soothing, cooling, bliss, spiritual well being, and healing. Blue has a female energy to it, and is associated with the moon, Venus, Saturn, and Jupiter.

Light Blue: Used in devotional and inspirational meditation. It can be used to bring peace and tranquility to the home. Blue also symbolizes understanding, patience, and health.
Dark Blue: Changeability, depression, impulsiveness
Royal Blue: Loyalty, laughter, joy, and successful group enterprises.
Silver Blue: Deep wisdom and understanding

Turquoise: Awareness, meditation, creativity

Green: Money, healing, luck, plants, material, healing, tree and plant magick, used to counteract greed and jealousy, herbal magick, faery magick, rejuvenation, business, fertility, good fortune, growth, abundance, healing, and success. Green has both Male and Female energies so it is a very balanced color.

Sea Green: Emotional healing, protection, calming

Emerald Green: Attracts love, social delights, and fertility

Dark Green: Ambition, greed, jealousy

Yellow: Gain insight into problems, alter dark mood swings, the sun, intelligence, accelerated learning, memory, logic, imagination, breaking mental blocks, symbolizes element of air, stimulates intellect, ability to adapt, creativity, mental skills, diplomacy, counseling, concentration, inspiration, thinking, communication, new beginnings, and the mind in general.

Yellow-Green: Jealousy, sickness, cowardice, anger, discord

Orange: Discourages laziness, business goals, property deals, ambition, general success, justice, legal matters, friendship, mental agility, quick changes, luck, attracting positive energy, energy building, fun, and energy for goals

Peach: Gentle strength, joy

Astral Colors

*Aquarius Jan 20 - Feb 18 Dark Blues and Violet

*Pisces Feb 19 - Mar 20 Pale Greens

*Aries Mar 21 - Apr 19 Red and White

*Taurus Apr 20 - May 20 Light Blues

*Gemini May 21 - Jun 21 Yellow

*Cancer Jun 22 - Jul 22 White and Silver

*Leo Jul 23 - Aug 22 Red and Yellow

*Virgo Aug 23 - Sept 22 Brown

*Libra Sept 23 - Oct 22 Deep Purples and Indigo

*Scorpio Oct 23 - Nov 21 Red

*Sagittarius Nov 22 - Dec 21 Rich Purples

*Capricorn Dec 22 - Jan 19 Red and Rich Greens

If you can find this book, GET IT! Candle Lighting Encyclopedia (Paperback) by Tina Ketch-Bennett

Product Description
Studies have been performed to determine the psychological effects that various colors have on human behavior. These studies were conclusive in their results - the same principal holds true when lighting colored candles.

From the Author
Growing up in the Catholic Church gave me years of observation, as people would light candles.

My mother had told me that when you light a candle in church the lighting of the candle put focus on your prayer. Hum focus on a prayer. I pondered this for quite some time. If you said a prayer to God he may or may not answer. And if you lit a candle and said your prayer, the candle, the flame, something there would put focus on the prayer. My question was really "if you focused really hard on what you wanted God to help you with would he not hear the prayer without the candle?" Sometimes it was easier to listen than to ask questions.

As years passed my curiosity in lighting candles only intensified. I spent years practicing; lighting different colors at different times, lighting candles with intent for something to happen and without. Before I knew it I was conduction research on candle lighting in the 6th grade. I would give my friends instructions on what color to light and at what times. I would write down who lit what, when, why and what happened next. I then began to keep a list of my friends who were lighting candles and what I thought was pertinent information about them. Things like, did they go to church, and how many brothers and sisters they had, where they lived, what I though their home life was like. And before I knew it I was studying them and not the candles. The 6th grade was a busy year for me.

As time passes I found myself absorbed in the study of human behavior, the psychological effects of color and the psyche of personal environmental conditions, religion and spirituality. I called it an observer of life. I wanted to know how and why some people had good luck and why some did not.

My mother told me early on that all men were created equal. This statement like so many others that I had heard was not going to be taken at face value. I could except the concept that all men were created equal but I knew that all conditions of men were not equal thus the conditions of life once again became a focus of intense study for me.

My early indoctrination into the Catholic Church gave me my base in which to conduct my research. I studied intently the apostle's creed. There are twelve articles in this creed, there are twelve apostles, and there are twelve months in a year, there are twelve sighs of the zodiac, twelve consultations, etc. Each apostle was the epitome in personality of one each of the twelve signs of the zodiac. And the list went on and on. There was an association here between religion and the universe in my mind and I had deemed it in my mind to put it together. An example of this is that the third apostle James the less, held in his life the personality of the third sign of the zodiac which is Gemini. Gemini is the third sign of the zodiac; James was the third apostle of Jesus. Gemini is the sign of the twin. James was a twin. Gemini is the sign representing communication and writing. James after Jesus' death went on to write one of the epistles of the New Testament. The sign of Gemini is the equivalent of travel. James loved to travel and did extensively. To know James the Less is to know the sign of Gemini.

My research and studies have proven conclusively that each condition of life; each behavioral antidote has a corresponding vibrational level of resonance, which emanates color.

In Volume I of the Candle Lighting Encyclopedia you will find a list of over 1600 different life situations and conditions with the corresponding color in which each emit. As well you will find the day in which to light which color of candle to manifest your desire, or conversely to eliminate such conditions from your life. You will find the color of candle to light for such things as to find a lost love, to improve your financial conditions, to insure the health and well being of yourself and your family.


You will find the personality definition of each apostle in conjunction with the twelve signs of the zodiac, and the color of candle to light for their assistance, along with the date in which to light the candle.

You will find a list of over 300 Saint, Martyrs, and Holy Men, and the day that they represent. If it is the assistance of a Saint that you are looking for, light a candle to this saint on the days listed for their assistance.

Is there a correlation between the day that you were born and the Saint that represents that day? Are there any similarities between the apostle that represents the month that you were born and your innate characteristics, and behavioral patterns? You might be surprised!

I think this book is a must for anyone who wishes to take control of their own life and live the life that they desire and not a life of circumstances and happenstance.

Lighting candles using this book is not magic - it's logic!

The purpose for dressing a candle is to establish a psychic link between you and the candle. By physically touching the candle during the dressing procedure you are connecting with it by charging it with your own energies; at the same time you should be concentrating on your purpose. This process infuses the desire of your magickal act into the wax. The candle is becoming an extension of the magician's mental power and life energy.

When you dress a candle for magickal use, imagine that it is a psychic magnet with a North and a South pole. Rub the oil onto the candle beginning at the top or North end and work downwards to the half-way point. Always brush in the same direction. This process is then repeated by beginning at the bottom or south end and working up to the middle. If you want to attract something to yourself start in the North and stroke towards you, and then turn the candle around so that you can continue dressing the candle on the South end by stroking towards you again (if you want to remove something from yourself do this in the opposite manner so that you are stroking away from yourself).

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.

You should have a clear mind and already know what your purpose will be, you should have your candle smudged, ready to be dressed and infused with its purpose, and you should have your Book of Shadows, or magical journal ready to guide you through your spell. Don't forget your matches!

Right after your spell is complete but before you open your circle, take a few moments and visualize yourself in a future setting with your purpose manifested. Imagine exactly how you would feel, and what is around you in your environment. Meditate on this for about 5 minutes. Then blow your candle out and open your circle. Repeat the spell every day at the same time until you see the first signs that your spell's purpose is manifesting. Then do the spell one last time and let the candle burn all the way through. (if you think that you won't be able to do this ritual every night at the same time, then try to do it consecutively as many times as you can, 3 times is good, and then let the candle burn all the way through- be sure to write down your experiences in your Book of Shadows or your magickal journal so that you can learn from your mistakes or to record and improve on what you know works for you)

As with all magickal workings, please be careful and think about whether your actions will harm another. Are you creating an attraction spell? Using the astral colors for a type of person you wish to meet seems ok, but creating a spell to attract a specific person who is not attracted to you is wrong. You will be going against that persons' will. Granted, what is right to someone may be wrong to someone else. Use your judgment when creating spells. You are the one who must decide the difference, so please BE CAREFUL! Always take time before creating your spells to consider the outcome and remember that for every action there is an equal and opposite reaction.

Sunday - Is associated with the Sun and the colors of - Yellow, Gold and Orange.
Sunday is the best time to deal with such matters as: Health, Success, Careers Goals, Ambition, Personnel Finances, Advancement, Drama, Fun, Authority, Figures, Law, Fairs, Crops, Totem Animals, Volunteer and Civic Services, Promotion, Man's Mysteries, Children, Buying, Selling and Speculation. Also used for Physical Strength, Achievement, Healing Energy and Divination.

Monday - Is associated with the Moon and the colors of - White, Silver, Grey and Pearl.
Monday is the best time to deal with such matters as: Psychic Pursuits, Psychology, Dreams, Astral Travel, Imagination, Women's Mysteries, Reincarnation, Short Trips, Women, Children, Public, Domestic Concerns, Emotions, Fluids, Magick, Spirituality, Nursing, Full moon magic, Purity, Protection, Truth, Meditation, Peace, Sincerity, Justice, Warding off Doubts and Fears, Anything to do with Water and Bodies of Water, Antiques, Trip Planning, Household Activities, Initiation, Astrology, New-Age Pursuits, Archetypes, Totem Animals, Shape-shifting and Religious Experiences.

Tuesday - Is associated with Mars and the colors of - Red, Pink and Orange.
Tuesday is the best time to deal with such matters as: Passion, Partnerships, Courage, Swift Movement, Action, Energy, Strife, Aggression, Sex, Physical Energy, Sports, Muscular Activity, Guns, Tools, Metals, Cutting, Surgery, Police, Soldiers, Combat, Confrontation, Business, Buying and Selling Animals, Mechanical Things, Repairs, Gardening, Woodworking, Hunting and New Beginnings.

Wednesday - Is associated with Mercury and the colors of Purple, Magenta and Silver.
Wednesday is the best time to deal with such matters as: Wisdom, Healing, Communication, Intelligence, Memory, Education, Correspondence, Phone Calls, Computers, Messages, Students, Merchants, Editing, Writing, Advertising, Signing Contracts, Siblings, Neighbors, Kin, Accounting, Clarks, Critics, Music, Editors, Journalists, Visual Arts, Hiring Employees, Learning Languages, Placing Ads, Visiting Friends, Legal Appointments and Astrology.

Thursday - Is associated with Jupiter and the colors of - Blue and Metallic Colors.
Thursday is the best time to deal with such matters as: Business, Gambling, Logic, Social Matters, Political Power, Material Wealth, Publishing, College Education, Long Distance Travel, Foreign Interests, Religion, Philosophy, Forecasting, Broadcasting, Publicity, Expansion, Luck, Growth, Sports, Horses, The Law, Doctors, Guardians, Merchants, Psychologists, Charity, Correspondence Courses, Self-improvement, Researching, Reading and Studying.

Friday - Is associated with Venus and the colors of - Green, Pink and White.
Friday is the best time to deal with such matters as: Romantic Love, Friendship, Beauty, Soul-mates, Artistic Ability, Affection, Partners, Alliances, Grace, Luxury, Social Activity, Marriage, Decorating, Cosmetics, Gifts, Income, Gardening, Architects, Artists, Beauticians, Chiropractors, Dancers, Designers, Engineers, Entertainers, Fashion, Music, Painting, Poetry, Courtship, Dating, Household Improvements, Planning Parties, Shopping, Herbal Magick, Luck, Fertility, Physical Healing, Balance, Prosperity, Courage, Change, Material Things, Peace, Harmony, Relationships and Success.

Saturday - Is associated with Saturn and the colors of - Black, Grey, Red and White.
Saturday is the best time to deal with such matters as: Binding, Patience, Stability, Neutralization, Material Gain, Protection, Karma, Death, Manifestation, Structures, Reality, Laws of society, Limits, Obstacles, Tests, Handwork, Real Estate, Dentists, Bones, Teeth, Farm Workers, Sacrifice, Separation, Stalkers, Murderers, Criminals, Civil Servants, Justice, Math, Plumbing, Joint Money Matters, Wills, Debts, Financing, Real Estate, Discoveries, Transformation and Relations with Older People.

Written and Compiled by George Knowles

A speedy, clean burn means things will go well with the spell or blessing and that one will most likely get what one wishes for. If a glass encased candle burns and leaves no marks on the glass, that is best. If a free-standing candle leaves little or no residue(such as herbs that may have been added or a bug that flew into the wax), that is best.

If a free-standing candle runs and melts a lot while burning, one may observe the flow of wax for signs. For instance, if one is burning a bride-and-groom type candle for love, and the woman's wax runs all over the man's, then the woman desires the man more than he desires her -- or if one is burning a green money candle and the wax melts and runs down onto the monetary offering, then the spell is "eager to work" and the candle is "blessing the money." Some people try to influence the way melting wax runs; they do this as part of the spell-work, to increase the likelihood that things will go the way they want. Others prefer to let nature take its course and to watch running wax for signs, without interfering at all.

When a free-standing candle burns down to a puddle of wax, most workers will examine the shape of the wax; they may see something of importance there; the shape may suggest an outcome regarding the matter at hand. For instance, a heart-shaped wax puddle is a good signification if one is burning a red candle for a love spell -- and a coffin-shaped wax puddle is a good signification if one if burning a black devil candle against an enemy. Wax puddles come in all kinds of shapes; most candle-magicians treat them like tea-leaves when they look at them.

A smokey, black, sooty burn (especially one that messes up a glass-encased candle) means things are going to go hard -- the spell may not work, the blessing may fail, the person is in deeper stress or trouble than you thought. If the work is being done against an enemy and the enemy's candle burns sooty and dirty, then it is likely that the enemy is fighting your influences.

If a glass-encased candle burns half clean and half dirty or if a free-standing candle lets out a lot of smoke but then burns clean at the end, that means there is hidden trouble with the person, or someone is working against your wishes. Things will not go well at first, but with repeated work you may get them to go better.

If a candle tips over and flames up into a fire hazard, or if it goes out before completely burning, those are very bad signs. Someone is working against the practitioner.

When a candle burns up very fast the work will go well but it may not last long. If one lights candles for several people and one burns faster than the others, then that person is most affected by the work, but the worker's influence may not last long.

In European-American traditions, many people bury candle wax and other ritual remains after a spell is cast. Burial toward the appropriate quarter of the compass is considered a thoughtful way to go about this. Some neo-pagans dispose of ritual or spell remains in a bonfire or fireplace.

As mentioned above, you will need a "virgin candle", a purpose for doing the spell/prayer, oil to dress the candle, matches, and knowledge about magick, as in what it is, how to use it properly for your highest good, as well as information from someone with wisdom on the subject of magick (my advice is to look for a book that resonates with you and learn all that you can before hand).

You will need to know what casting a circle is and why and how you would do it.

You will need to know what the "rule of three" is as well as other universal laws dealing with energy since you are dealing with energy that will affect you, or others.

You will also need to know how to end the spell properly.

For All Others

If you are part of a certain faith or religion you can use candles for prayer as well. Seek guidance through someone in your community who is experienced or knowledgeable about how your group prays in this aspect. (you could also search for a book written by someone of your faith with a respected reputation).

This is to prevent ourselves from trying to outsmart your Self by asking for something you may want badly, but which is really not conducive to your well-being. Remember, your Higher Self, or Guardian Angel, or Spirit Guide (whatever you choose to call this force/being) is looking out for you. Given the chance, He/She will guide you to the correct path.

This clip is so funny! it is a good reminder to be safe when using candles.


Remember folks, always take precaution when lighting candles!! All store bought candles come with instructions for proper use; be sure to use the candles in a safe way.

Buster's new adopted Brother uses a candle to pray. Angry, Buster decides to light a candle of his own.
"This is America baby, you pray how you want to." Buster's Mother
Click here to watch video