Candle Magick
Origin of Candle Magick
Candles have a deeper meaning than just being lit to cover up darkness. Since ancient Egyptian times, candles have been used inside of tombstones to help guide a Spirit into the afterlife. During the mummification process, candles were placed in the tombs to aid in light, protection + as offerings. This ceremonial ritual was believed to ward off evil spirits + protect the dead.
Beeswax, Tallow and Bayberry were the ingredients used during these times. They were created into different lengths + shapes. The main usage of these candles was for religious ceremonies, funeral rites + medicinal practices.
Candles are used in Hoodoo and Vodou for the same thing. Once lit, they amplify + release innerg. Light yours for manifesting + empowering your intentions. Make your desires + wishes, become a reality when you set your intentions.
Starting from the beginning
before there was electricity, there was the...
Tallow Candle
Back in ancient times, tallow material was the most common inexpensive, accessible + ready to use candles. Rendered from the fat of animals, mostly cattle + sheep, this type of candle aided in brightening the world for daily activity usage such as reading, warmth, homes, domestic activities + much more as well as being an essential use in religious rituals + processions.
The demand for tallow candles grew high to the point where chandlers + candle makers perfected their craft to create them for functional use as well as to be appealing to the eye. With the extreme smokey + very unpleasant odour that produced from it once burned, the upper class turned to luxury, wealth-built status beeswax candles. The unpleasant aroma from tallow candles poured out from animal fatty acids (stearic, oleic, + palmitic acids) when burned or when lit in warmer climates.
As for beeswax candles, the pleasing scent + less smokey effect, creating a much cleaner burn, yet costly material of obtaining beeswax created the luxury, wealth status.
With the remake of tallow candles, it now has less of a smokey effect, making it more eco-friendly. It is now mixed w| soy or beeswax. Maybe even both depending on the crafter. However, it is said that when burned in this day in age, it emits a remembrance feeling of warmth, comfort + significant connection to the past.
Tallow now is not only used in candles, but for...
1. Cooking: Used the fat for long-lasting shelf life.
2. Soaps: With additive of lye for cleansing properties + long-lasting effect.
3. Lubricant: Currently maintaining tools + equipment. In the past to keep machinery + other industrial equipment lubricated in order to function properly.
4. Cosmetics: For nourishment + moisturization of skin. Mostly found in lip balms + creams.
5. Crafting + Art: Creating crayons, paint. fabric + paper.
With a quick google search + referencing a reliable source, you can find more info on the ancient tallow candle, including info on how to create your own from scratch.
"7-Day"
Ancestral
- Average burn time is about 60-100 hours. The larger the longer burn period. The thicker the wick, the quicker the burn.
- These are considered your "5", "7" + "9" day candles.
- Remove labels before sitting on an altar.
- Best to use to from start to finish when work is required for an entire moon phase.
- Remove any + all labels to write directly on jar during spell work. Best to use permanent marker when inscribing.
- When making sinkholes find the best method that fits you. Using a heated screwdriver + plunging a hole into this candle can be a great way to create a hole to fill w| herbs, roots + curios.
"Table Decorum"
Taper
- Average burn time is 1 hour per 1 inch. Roughly 7-9 hours if taper is short. Standard tapers are 12 inches long + have a burn time of 12 hours long.
- Best to burn bottom of candle (cylindrical part) to help the wax melt + position it in place of the wet wax until dry. This will help it stand in place without a candle holder.
- Add anointing oils or coating w| a substance that will allow for herbs to stick when dressing.
"Basic"
Pillar
- Approximate burn time of 30-80 hours. Larger Pillars take even longer.
- Best candle to dress + scribe on due to its height.
- Use the same method as ancestral candles w| creating sinkholes to fill w| herbs.
- Great for placing on an altar for an offering as well.
"Shelf-top"
Votive
- Average burn time is 15 hours for smaller votives + 75 hours for larger ones. Burn time also depends on wax used to create + the wick used.
- Easy to dress, but you may have difficulty inscribing if you are incapable of writing in a smaller font.
"Accent"
Tealight
- Average burn time is 3-5 hours long but can be 8-10 if quality is great + candle is a bit larger.
- Not the best for spell work, but anything is possible. Use for quick intentions.
- Be careful when making sinkholes in the process of candle dressing, due its very short height.
"Short-burn"
Chime
- Average burn time of about 1-2 hours per inch of candle diameter.
- Known as your "ritual" candles that comes in an array of different colors. Best candles for quick spell work.
- Great candles to light during meditation sessions.
- Just as w| taper candles, heat the bottom of the candle to allow its own wax to help it stand if you prefer not to use candle holders.
"Figure/image"
Figural
- Burn time depends on size + quality of the figural candle. You'd have to weigh the candle + divide the weight by the candle's hourly burn rate.
Essentially it would be the post burn weight subtracted by the weight of the candle, then divided by the hourly rate.
- Best candles for spell work focusing on direct intentions as they are representative to specific people, animals, objects + spiritual concepts.
- Physical representation helps to channel + direct spiritual innerg more effectively which makes these candles best for uses in:
1. Love + Relationship Spells
2. Healing + Protection Spells
3. Prosperity + Success
4. Cursing + Hexing
Double Action Candle/ Reversal Candles
All Candles-
Red + Black
Use: Reverse a love-jinx spell
Alternative: Individual red + black candles
-
White + Black
Use: Return evil to the sender, spell reversal
Alternative: Individual white + black candles
-
Green + Black
Use: Remove a money-jinx
Alternative: Individual black + green candles
