Romani Vixen
December 19th, 2005, 02:45 PM
Lesson Two: Getting Candles
Within candle magic, we place our energy into our candles. Crafting your own candles is a great way to put that extra energy into them. Some people don't have the time, money (though it's not a lot), or space to do this. If you feel that you can't make them, don't fret. Keep reading through the thread.
In this lesson I'll be covering buying candles, how to cleanse them, and cheap ideas for candles. We'll also be learning how to make your own candles. It's easier than you think!
Buying Candles
We all know that we can run down to the grocery store and buy some overpriced candles. We can go to the candle store at the mall or on line and get some really fancy and overpriced candles. But there are easier ways!!!! (cheaper too! can you tell I'm a starving art student? )
Keep an eye out for sales. I managed to find small votives at Freddies for the Jack-o-lanterns for 25 cents each. Of course I got extra!!
There are tall glass container glasses. These are usually found with images of saints on them. They're a great deal, and if you don't want the picture, you can soak the container in water and then scrape it off.
Tea lights are great!!! You can occasionally find colored ones, but at the discount stores (read 'whatever-mart') you can generally get a bag of 100 white ones for $6-7.
Birthday candles are as cheap as you can get. They're basic, and not good if you want it to last a long time, but they do work! Just don't get the trick candles (herm... might be a good idea for an outdoor ritual though).
Thrift stores are places of wonder. You can generally find a vast variety of candles. Avoid ones that are partially burnt, and of course, make sure that they aren't too mangled.
Occult shops are good places to find candles generally. The ones here in Portland all seem to have small tapers for a reasonable price. They're also likely to have the specially shaped ones... or know where you can get them.
A note to those not in the US... I'm sorry... I don't know how much they cost over there.... but this should give you a rough idea of what to look for.
Cleansing Purchased Candles
If I have purchased candles, I like to cleanse them, just to be safe. But I *always* do this if I used candles from a thrift store... they've been handled more and sometimes need a physical cleansing as well.
For the physical cleansing (if it has dirt stuck on), simply use a small knife to peel off the offending dirt encrusted wax.
To do the spiritual cleansing, take a bowl/sink/casserole big enough to fit all the candles you'll be cleansing. Put in a couple tablespoons of salt (give or take depending on the size of the container)... I like sea salt. Gently put in the candles. Add lukewarm water, it shouldn't be too hot, but I find a little warmth helps salt disolve. Swirl this around (or stir) three times in a counterclockwise motion. The number 3 is quite powerful, and clockwise is a direction for sending things out... such as any energy that's in the candles.
For those in the class, like myself, who follow a Kemetic (Egyptian) path, you'll want to substitute natron for salt in the above directions.
While stirring, you can say a chant or simply visualize the energy going out of the candles and then out of your home.
A sample chant would be:
Mighty oceans of the sea,
Let these candles be fresh and clean.
By the power of three,
As I Will,
So mote it be!
I'm really not that good at composing chants, so I highly encourage you to write your own! lol
Let the bowl of water, salt and candles sit overnight, preferably in sight of a full moon, or sun for Kemetic practitioners and others who feel that the sun is the cleansing globe in the sky. When you take them out of the water, be nice... talk to them. Dry them off gingerly, but thoroughly.
Yes, I talk to my candles, and the trees, and my bed.... they're all part of my life... and they like it when I talk to them... and I get better results! lol Besides, what do you expect? I'm a Gypsy!
Basic Candle Crafting
Supplies:
There are a few supplies that you'll want to get. It depends on what type of candle you want, and your budget. All of the tools that you'll be using for candle making will have to be ones that you aren't going to miss. Removing wax is difficult at best, and you really won't want to cook in these anymore.
A double boiler is essential. Wax can't be heated directly, so the container that it's in needs to be put in a pot of water. The container that I use for my wax is a candle pitcher. It's a decent size, and I got a kit including this for $20 at Michaels arts and crafts. For the bottom pot, choose something of reasonable size. Again... thrift stores are your friend! For the inner pot (the one that the wax will be in) you can really use anything. I like the handle on my pitcher, but old rinsed out cans work ok too. I've seen some people who use channel lock pliers as a handle.
A wax/candy thermometer is *quite* useful, though not necessary. I found that it made my candles come out nicer looking, and the process was much easier.
Wicking is of course necessary. Get the size that you need depending on what type of candle you'll be making. If it isn't already, you'll need to prime the wick. Do this by dipping the entire thing in wax once, for a few seconds, then lay flat to let it dry. Once it's dry, cut the wick to size.
Molds are one option. You can get a lot of sizes and shapes. They're also less labor intensive than taper candles... but I don't think as cool! Some molds have a small hole in the bottom. This is to thread the wick through, then seal with putty. Just a warning... molds are where the budget tends to get thrown out the window. Remember, you can always get the fancy molds later if you can't afford it now!
If your mold doesn't have a hole, you need to use a pre-tabbed wick. Or you can tab your own wick, or just use a bolt or large heavy bead at the bottom. Tabs will make it smoother and look nicer, but we can't always afford the fancy stuff.
What exactly are these tab thingies that I'm talking about? If you purchace a tea light or votive, you can easily see the metal tab at the base of the wick. This helps keep the wick where it needs to be. To tab your own wick, after you've primed it, measure it, and crimp on the tab with pliers.
Coloring for the candles is also advised... required if you want colored candles! A lot of web sites tell you that you can use crayons for coloring the candles. This is true, but I've found that the quality of the color is vastly inferior. If you're on a budget, go for it! But don't expect deep or intense colors, particularly if it's a dark color... like black or brown. I use crayons (see starving art student comment) except for black. You'll need a lot of crayons to color the wax anyways. My *approximation* is 2 crayons per 3/4 lb wax. But remember that you can use the blue, indigo, royal blue, etc from a single box to make your nice blue candles.
If you want smelly candles, you'll need either candle scent, or ground herbs.
You'll also need a wooden spoon to stir your wax (I use a couple of bamboo scewers) and plenty of news paper to cover the counters with.
Remember that you won't necessarially need *all* of these supplies... so don't freak out. It depends on which type you want to make.
Crafting
No matter which type of candle you want, you'll need to cover the work space with newspaper, and warm the wax. Don't use too much water in the lower section of the double boiler, or it'll go all over the place. I like to warm it on med-high until the wax is almost all liquid. Once it's up to heat (discussed shortly) you'll add the color. Remember that it's easier to add than to take away, so do a little at a time, stirring until it's even. Then you'll add scent. If you're using dried herbs, make sure that they're ground. I havn't tried essential oils, but I'd imagine that they'd work as well.
Many people prefer beeswax to parafin. Unfortunately, many people can't afford to make candles from it. I like to add 1 part beeswax to 3 parts parafin. this adds a little more nature and a lovely scent.
Tapers
These are the cheapest, yet most labor intensive. I love the look!
I have the most success with my tapers when the wax is at 185-190 deg F. If you don't have a thermometer, you'll have to play the guessing game. When it's melted, turn it to med-low. That *should* do the trick... but it's still kinda tricky. Play with it and keep an eye on your temperature.
Take your primed wick and cut your length. I like leaving 2" extra beyond what I want for the candle height (for a 6" candle I use 8" wick). *Stir your wax often and watch the temp*. Dip the candle into the wax, then allow the dipped candle to cool before dipping again. Repeat the process until your taper is as thick as you wish.
If you aren't using a thermometer, you'll need to do a little more guess work. The wax is too hot if your candle doesn't get bigger after a few dips. It's too cool if it starts to solidify around the edges.
You'll most likely want to rig up a hanger of some sort for letting the candles cool in between dippings. This can be anything. I use an opened cupboard, with cans at the edge to hold the end of the wick. You can also buy fancy dipping contraptions. These are most useful for mass production.
When your candle is as thick as you want, trim the bottom end as it will have developed a cone of sorts. You can now roll it on a clean newspaper to straighten it if necessary. Give it a couple more dips to smooth it out and you're done!
Votives
These are rather easy. You can get the molds for them at most craft stores. You'll also want to buy pre-tabbed wicks, or tab them yourself.
Heat your wax to 185 deg. F. Pour the wax into the containers. Let them stand for a few minutes, then insert the wick carefully. This lets the wax harden just a little to hold the wick in place.
Let the candles cool for about an hour. Heat the wax to 190 deg. F. Top off the candles to fill the hollow that forms in the center. You may need to top it off more, though you shouldn't need more than 3 or 4 pourings total for a votive. Each time, get the wax to an additional 5 deg. This helps to make sure that the wax adheres to the underlying layer.
Allow the votives to cool overnight and turn upside down to remove from the mold. If it sticks a little, you can put it into the fridge for a few minutes to get the wax to shrink a little more.
Other Molds
You can find a lot of different types of molds. For the taller ones, you'll want to tie the top end of the wick to a pencil, or the like, to keep it straight in the container. Some stores have two part molds that come in some really neat shapes (I'm getting a Shroom and Buddah next!) that you use special clamps for. They're not too hard, just be sure to read the instructions for it, particularly if it's plastic.... you don't want the wax too hot for it!
You can also find some of the specially shaped molds for seven knob candles, sculls, and others... keep this in mind.
On the Cheap
I honestly think that tapers are the cheapest to make, but if you find that you don't have the time (or whatever) to make them, but don't have the money for molds... you can do some nice substitutions.
Container molds are great looking and easy. You can use old glasses, canning jars... you name it! Use a tabbed wick, and pour the wax in... topping it off when it cools.
You can do make shift votives using old yougurt cups as the mold. I found that they don't look as nice, but they're functional.
Cardboard milk cartons make nice rip away molds.
Many things can be made into molds, use your imagination! ... and a thought for safety of course.
Sand candles
Sand Candles are great fun, and quite cheap. If you live in an appartment, or another place with no yard of your own, fill a large bowl or box with sand. If you do have a yard you have it easy! lol In your dirt/sand you dig out the form of your candle. A traditional shape for these is like a cauldron. You can get creative though... wet it down a little to help it keep it's form (spray bottles are ideal). You can then inscribe a sign or sigil (rune, pentacle, whatever) in the side. Make interesting shapes if you like. Determine by the shape how many wicks you'll need. Suspend the wicks from a stick or pencil that runs across the opening. I don't like my wicks to actually touch the dirt. I've found that they burn cleaner if they don't. Pour in your wax, and top off when necessary.
After you've topped it off and it's cooled completely, gently lift it out of the dirt. There will still be particles stuck to the wax, like a crust. If you've used a yard, you may have larger bits of debris that you can pick off.
Storing left over wax
Wax melts fastest if it's in small pieces. I found small shaped muffin pans work well. You can find them at thrift stores for a reasonable price. You can also pour the wax into any old cup or old margarine tub. Store them where they won't get dirty, and obviously, away from heat. Gallon ziplocks in the closet work great!
There are other types of candles you can try your hand at, such as gel candles. I have no experience with them, but they seem easy.
This lesson has no homework. I do highly encourage everyone to get out there and make some candles though! Remember that the more effort you put into it, the more results you have!
Within candle magic, we place our energy into our candles. Crafting your own candles is a great way to put that extra energy into them. Some people don't have the time, money (though it's not a lot), or space to do this. If you feel that you can't make them, don't fret. Keep reading through the thread.
In this lesson I'll be covering buying candles, how to cleanse them, and cheap ideas for candles. We'll also be learning how to make your own candles. It's easier than you think!
Buying Candles
We all know that we can run down to the grocery store and buy some overpriced candles. We can go to the candle store at the mall or on line and get some really fancy and overpriced candles. But there are easier ways!!!! (cheaper too! can you tell I'm a starving art student? )
Keep an eye out for sales. I managed to find small votives at Freddies for the Jack-o-lanterns for 25 cents each. Of course I got extra!!
There are tall glass container glasses. These are usually found with images of saints on them. They're a great deal, and if you don't want the picture, you can soak the container in water and then scrape it off.
Tea lights are great!!! You can occasionally find colored ones, but at the discount stores (read 'whatever-mart') you can generally get a bag of 100 white ones for $6-7.
Birthday candles are as cheap as you can get. They're basic, and not good if you want it to last a long time, but they do work! Just don't get the trick candles (herm... might be a good idea for an outdoor ritual though).
Thrift stores are places of wonder. You can generally find a vast variety of candles. Avoid ones that are partially burnt, and of course, make sure that they aren't too mangled.
Occult shops are good places to find candles generally. The ones here in Portland all seem to have small tapers for a reasonable price. They're also likely to have the specially shaped ones... or know where you can get them.
A note to those not in the US... I'm sorry... I don't know how much they cost over there.... but this should give you a rough idea of what to look for.
Cleansing Purchased Candles
If I have purchased candles, I like to cleanse them, just to be safe. But I *always* do this if I used candles from a thrift store... they've been handled more and sometimes need a physical cleansing as well.
For the physical cleansing (if it has dirt stuck on), simply use a small knife to peel off the offending dirt encrusted wax.
To do the spiritual cleansing, take a bowl/sink/casserole big enough to fit all the candles you'll be cleansing. Put in a couple tablespoons of salt (give or take depending on the size of the container)... I like sea salt. Gently put in the candles. Add lukewarm water, it shouldn't be too hot, but I find a little warmth helps salt disolve. Swirl this around (or stir) three times in a counterclockwise motion. The number 3 is quite powerful, and clockwise is a direction for sending things out... such as any energy that's in the candles.
For those in the class, like myself, who follow a Kemetic (Egyptian) path, you'll want to substitute natron for salt in the above directions.
While stirring, you can say a chant or simply visualize the energy going out of the candles and then out of your home.
A sample chant would be:
Mighty oceans of the sea,
Let these candles be fresh and clean.
By the power of three,
As I Will,
So mote it be!
I'm really not that good at composing chants, so I highly encourage you to write your own! lol
Let the bowl of water, salt and candles sit overnight, preferably in sight of a full moon, or sun for Kemetic practitioners and others who feel that the sun is the cleansing globe in the sky. When you take them out of the water, be nice... talk to them. Dry them off gingerly, but thoroughly.
Yes, I talk to my candles, and the trees, and my bed.... they're all part of my life... and they like it when I talk to them... and I get better results! lol Besides, what do you expect? I'm a Gypsy!
Basic Candle Crafting
Supplies:
There are a few supplies that you'll want to get. It depends on what type of candle you want, and your budget. All of the tools that you'll be using for candle making will have to be ones that you aren't going to miss. Removing wax is difficult at best, and you really won't want to cook in these anymore.
A double boiler is essential. Wax can't be heated directly, so the container that it's in needs to be put in a pot of water. The container that I use for my wax is a candle pitcher. It's a decent size, and I got a kit including this for $20 at Michaels arts and crafts. For the bottom pot, choose something of reasonable size. Again... thrift stores are your friend! For the inner pot (the one that the wax will be in) you can really use anything. I like the handle on my pitcher, but old rinsed out cans work ok too. I've seen some people who use channel lock pliers as a handle.
A wax/candy thermometer is *quite* useful, though not necessary. I found that it made my candles come out nicer looking, and the process was much easier.
Wicking is of course necessary. Get the size that you need depending on what type of candle you'll be making. If it isn't already, you'll need to prime the wick. Do this by dipping the entire thing in wax once, for a few seconds, then lay flat to let it dry. Once it's dry, cut the wick to size.
Molds are one option. You can get a lot of sizes and shapes. They're also less labor intensive than taper candles... but I don't think as cool! Some molds have a small hole in the bottom. This is to thread the wick through, then seal with putty. Just a warning... molds are where the budget tends to get thrown out the window. Remember, you can always get the fancy molds later if you can't afford it now!
If your mold doesn't have a hole, you need to use a pre-tabbed wick. Or you can tab your own wick, or just use a bolt or large heavy bead at the bottom. Tabs will make it smoother and look nicer, but we can't always afford the fancy stuff.
What exactly are these tab thingies that I'm talking about? If you purchace a tea light or votive, you can easily see the metal tab at the base of the wick. This helps keep the wick where it needs to be. To tab your own wick, after you've primed it, measure it, and crimp on the tab with pliers.
Coloring for the candles is also advised... required if you want colored candles! A lot of web sites tell you that you can use crayons for coloring the candles. This is true, but I've found that the quality of the color is vastly inferior. If you're on a budget, go for it! But don't expect deep or intense colors, particularly if it's a dark color... like black or brown. I use crayons (see starving art student comment) except for black. You'll need a lot of crayons to color the wax anyways. My *approximation* is 2 crayons per 3/4 lb wax. But remember that you can use the blue, indigo, royal blue, etc from a single box to make your nice blue candles.
If you want smelly candles, you'll need either candle scent, or ground herbs.
You'll also need a wooden spoon to stir your wax (I use a couple of bamboo scewers) and plenty of news paper to cover the counters with.
Remember that you won't necessarially need *all* of these supplies... so don't freak out. It depends on which type you want to make.
Crafting
No matter which type of candle you want, you'll need to cover the work space with newspaper, and warm the wax. Don't use too much water in the lower section of the double boiler, or it'll go all over the place. I like to warm it on med-high until the wax is almost all liquid. Once it's up to heat (discussed shortly) you'll add the color. Remember that it's easier to add than to take away, so do a little at a time, stirring until it's even. Then you'll add scent. If you're using dried herbs, make sure that they're ground. I havn't tried essential oils, but I'd imagine that they'd work as well.
Many people prefer beeswax to parafin. Unfortunately, many people can't afford to make candles from it. I like to add 1 part beeswax to 3 parts parafin. this adds a little more nature and a lovely scent.
Tapers
These are the cheapest, yet most labor intensive. I love the look!
I have the most success with my tapers when the wax is at 185-190 deg F. If you don't have a thermometer, you'll have to play the guessing game. When it's melted, turn it to med-low. That *should* do the trick... but it's still kinda tricky. Play with it and keep an eye on your temperature.
Take your primed wick and cut your length. I like leaving 2" extra beyond what I want for the candle height (for a 6" candle I use 8" wick). *Stir your wax often and watch the temp*. Dip the candle into the wax, then allow the dipped candle to cool before dipping again. Repeat the process until your taper is as thick as you wish.
If you aren't using a thermometer, you'll need to do a little more guess work. The wax is too hot if your candle doesn't get bigger after a few dips. It's too cool if it starts to solidify around the edges.
You'll most likely want to rig up a hanger of some sort for letting the candles cool in between dippings. This can be anything. I use an opened cupboard, with cans at the edge to hold the end of the wick. You can also buy fancy dipping contraptions. These are most useful for mass production.
When your candle is as thick as you want, trim the bottom end as it will have developed a cone of sorts. You can now roll it on a clean newspaper to straighten it if necessary. Give it a couple more dips to smooth it out and you're done!
Votives
These are rather easy. You can get the molds for them at most craft stores. You'll also want to buy pre-tabbed wicks, or tab them yourself.
Heat your wax to 185 deg. F. Pour the wax into the containers. Let them stand for a few minutes, then insert the wick carefully. This lets the wax harden just a little to hold the wick in place.
Let the candles cool for about an hour. Heat the wax to 190 deg. F. Top off the candles to fill the hollow that forms in the center. You may need to top it off more, though you shouldn't need more than 3 or 4 pourings total for a votive. Each time, get the wax to an additional 5 deg. This helps to make sure that the wax adheres to the underlying layer.
Allow the votives to cool overnight and turn upside down to remove from the mold. If it sticks a little, you can put it into the fridge for a few minutes to get the wax to shrink a little more.
Other Molds
You can find a lot of different types of molds. For the taller ones, you'll want to tie the top end of the wick to a pencil, or the like, to keep it straight in the container. Some stores have two part molds that come in some really neat shapes (I'm getting a Shroom and Buddah next!) that you use special clamps for. They're not too hard, just be sure to read the instructions for it, particularly if it's plastic.... you don't want the wax too hot for it!
You can also find some of the specially shaped molds for seven knob candles, sculls, and others... keep this in mind.
On the Cheap
I honestly think that tapers are the cheapest to make, but if you find that you don't have the time (or whatever) to make them, but don't have the money for molds... you can do some nice substitutions.
Container molds are great looking and easy. You can use old glasses, canning jars... you name it! Use a tabbed wick, and pour the wax in... topping it off when it cools.
You can do make shift votives using old yougurt cups as the mold. I found that they don't look as nice, but they're functional.
Cardboard milk cartons make nice rip away molds.
Many things can be made into molds, use your imagination! ... and a thought for safety of course.
Sand candles
Sand Candles are great fun, and quite cheap. If you live in an appartment, or another place with no yard of your own, fill a large bowl or box with sand. If you do have a yard you have it easy! lol In your dirt/sand you dig out the form of your candle. A traditional shape for these is like a cauldron. You can get creative though... wet it down a little to help it keep it's form (spray bottles are ideal). You can then inscribe a sign or sigil (rune, pentacle, whatever) in the side. Make interesting shapes if you like. Determine by the shape how many wicks you'll need. Suspend the wicks from a stick or pencil that runs across the opening. I don't like my wicks to actually touch the dirt. I've found that they burn cleaner if they don't. Pour in your wax, and top off when necessary.
After you've topped it off and it's cooled completely, gently lift it out of the dirt. There will still be particles stuck to the wax, like a crust. If you've used a yard, you may have larger bits of debris that you can pick off.
Storing left over wax
Wax melts fastest if it's in small pieces. I found small shaped muffin pans work well. You can find them at thrift stores for a reasonable price. You can also pour the wax into any old cup or old margarine tub. Store them where they won't get dirty, and obviously, away from heat. Gallon ziplocks in the closet work great!
There are other types of candles you can try your hand at, such as gel candles. I have no experience with them, but they seem easy.
This lesson has no homework. I do highly encourage everyone to get out there and make some candles though! Remember that the more effort you put into it, the more results you have!