Used candles--what to do with them?

[Saeryn]

OK, here's a question. When I've burned a candle for a working, there is usually a bit of the candle left over. Since I really shouldn't re-use a candle for another separate working, what should I do with it?

Somehow, I don't feel that I should just toss the remainder of the candle into the trash. Or should I? :confused:


~~Saeryn

[MammaStar]

I try to save them up. Then later, I'll melt them down and make something else with them. Not for anything magickal though, usually decorative. That way, they look nice but still have that tiny bit of magic mixed in. :D

[Emy]

I save them and later melt them to make new candles, but those are rarely used for magick though, but since I like having lots of candles lit they come in handy anyways,... if you don't want to melt them and make new candles, well I guess you could just let it burn down anyways, I mean just light a candle, just because it's nice to have candles around. :)
Or of course you could always bury them, if you like to...

Blessings

[Starlight]

When I need to relax or I want to meditate I like to burn my used candles along with some incence! :)

[phoenixsong]

What about if you use tealights? The leftover candle ends up as a thin coating on the little metal holder, and though I've heard that you're supposed to bury candles when they're finished with, I can't do that in case an animal would get hurt on one.

[Methanespirit]

Although I save and melt down candle stubs, I have yet to find a wick material that burns as well as what they come with. It seems as though any string that is chosen for a wick either burns too much causing plenty of smoke or it doesn't burn at all. Does anyone have information about what material to use for a replacement wick?

..............Methane

[Eudaimonia]

You should probably burn the candle all the way out, to insure the spell works. This is usually neccesary if you're doing candle magick, not just using the candle as a suppliment. If you have burned the candle while doing a spell do aid someone, add it to a satchet or poppet for that person. Lastly, you can always melt it down and make it into another candle, or save them for when the power goes out!

[Artemis84]

I'm really practical, so I just cleanse the candles and reuse them. I realize that most Pagans would gasp at the thought, claiming that energy is still clinging to them. But my thinking is, I don't want to have to buy dozens of candles when I have perfectly usable ones right at home. But if you don't want the candles that leave stubs, you can always get the evaporating kind. Micheal's sells them for 35 cents each, and lower on holidays.

[bansidhe]

evaporating candles ?! wow! i have been enlightened!

i collect all the remains and make new candles! waste not want not! :)

[white_draco]

I melt mine down or have fun flinging hot wax on people...lol, jk
I turn them into candles...or I sometimes burn them.

[lucidfire]

evaporating candles? that sounds kind of neat.

Sometimes I save old candle pieces in a jar and make new ones later on. I pondered burying them or something, but it seemed kind of silly. I'll usually wait until I feel it's safe and then just toss them, but I like to wait until things are a bit cleared just to be on the safe side ;)