How to tell if your candle spell worked...

[Tammy Sullivan]

The following is a list of common symbols divined from the wax drippings. (for use after completion of the spell) also use the north point as the 12 o clock sign, and it helps you know how long it will take. for instance if the candle begins it's drip at the 3 o clock point you know it will be either 3 days, 3 weeks, or 3 months. Just a helpful tip.

Acorn - Youth, Strength, Man, Small start for large accomplishment

Airplane - Travel, New projects

Anchor - Voyage, Rest, Problem solved, Security

Arrow - News, Disagreements, Direct action

Basket - Gift, Security, Comfort

Baby - New intrests, Beginnings, Security

Bees(hive or comb) - Fertility, Industry, Community, Self-sacrifice

Bell - Celebrations, News(good or bad depending on other indicators)

Bird - Psychic power, Flight, Luck, Friendship end, Communication

Boat - Discoveries, Travel, Companionship

Book - Wisdom, Learning

Bottle - Celebration, Success

Broom - Goddess, Purification, Healing, End of a problem, Changes

Bridge - Crossing to new endeavors, transition, partnership, Travel

Butterfly - The soul, Spiritual contact, Frivolity, Insincerity

Castle - Financial gain, Security, inheritance, life of bounty

Cage - Isolation, restriction, imprisonment, containment

Camel - Long journey, need to conserve energy or goods, Relocation

Cat - Wisdom, spiritual access, Female friend, Domestic strife

Car - Local travel, Movement in buisness affairs

Cauldron - Goddess, Transformation, Endings/new beginnings, Vitality

Candle - Illumination, innovation, inspiration

Clock - Time indicated for a spells completion, change

Chair - relaxation, pause, comfort, entertainment

Clouds - Mental activity, thoughtfulness, problems, hidden obstacles

Coffin - end of a matter, lengthy but not serious illness

Clover - good fortune, success, rural location

Cow - Money, property, comfort, tranquility

Cradle - Newcomers, beginning of a new idea or project

Crescent - Goddess, wish granted, newness, freshness

Cornucopia - Goddess, abundance, fertility, prosperity, protection

Cross - (solar + God, nature works with power) Suffering,conflict

Cup - Love, harmony, close friendship, gift

Dagger - complications, dangers, power, skill

Distaff - creativity, changes, sexuality

Dog - fidelity, friendship, companionship, faithfulness

Duck - plenty, wealth, success

Elephant - Advice needed, obstacles overcome, good luck

Egg - Increase, fertility, luck, creativity, new start, hoarding

Eye - Introspection, awareness, evaluation, spirit

Fan - indiscretion, disloyalty, things hidden, inflammations

Fence - retention of possessions, defense, isolation

Fish - riches, luck, sexuality, productivity

Flag - Warning, defensiveness, identification with group/ideals

Flame/Fire - purification, change, domination of the will

Flower - marriage, unhappy love affair, passing joy

Glove - protection, luck, aloofness, nobility, challenge

Gate - oppertunity, advancement, change, new directions

Gun - power to gain goals, discord, slander, infidility

Hammer - hard work rewarded, building, creativity, fortitude

Hat - honors, rivalry, independence, self assertion

Hound - advice, help given, companionship, trust

Heart - love, pleasure, confidence, strength of will

Harp - contentment, spirituality

Horns - God, fertility, spirituality, forces of nature

Horse - travel strength, work, grace, power

Horseshoe - protection, luck, start of a new enterprise

Hourglass - Caution, passage of time

House - security, authority, success, comfort

Key - understanding, mysteries, oppertunity, gain, security

Kite - warning for caution, new ideas

Knot - restrictions, marriage, bindings

Knife - duplicity, misunderstanding, direct action

Ladder - initiation, rise or fall in status, connections

Lion - power, strength, influence, ferocity, pride, domination

Lock - protection, concealment, security, obstacles, sealed

Man - visitor, helpful stranger

Mirror - reversal, knowledge, karma

Moon - the Goddess, intuitive wisdom, guidance

Mountain - hindrence, challenge, obstacle, journey, steadfastness

Mouse - poverty, theft, frugality, inconspicuosness

Mushroom - shelter, food, business complications, fairy contact

Nail - labor, construction, unity

Owl - wisdom, spiritual communication

Palm tree - respite, relief, security, protection, blessings

Parrot - gossip, flamboyance

Peacock - luxury, vanity, baseless pride

Pineapple - hospitality, good things hidden by harsh exterior

Pipe - truth obscured, concentration, comfort, ease

Purse - monetary gain, possesions kept close

Ring - eternity, wheel of the year, containment, wedding

Rose - love, lost or past love, fullness of life, healing, caring

Salt - purity, stability, cleansing, grounding

Scales - balance, justice, careful evaluation

Scissors - duplicity, arguements, seperation, division, strife

Shell - Goddess, emotional stability, luck, artistic ability

Ship - travel, news, material gain, romance

Skull - consolation, comfort, personal hurts, endings and a new life

Snake - God and Godess, wisdom, immortality, knowledge, prophecy

Spider - good luck, industry, entrapments, secrecy, cunning

Spoon - luck, sustanance, the basic needs of life secured

Sun - the God, success, energy, power

Star - good luck, divine protection, oppertunity, success, destiny

Swan - good luck, love, evolving beauty, noble spirit

Sword - power, strife, conflict, overcoming adversity

Tree - blessings of nature, good fortune, stability, power, security

Turtle - fertility, security, defense against obstacles, slow gain

Umbrella - temporary shelter, limited protection

Unicorn - purity, nature, fairy blessings, Otherworld intervention

Well - blessings from the Goddess, inspiration, spirituality, health

Wheel - completion, eternity, season/life cycles, rebirth, gains

Windmill - business dealings, factors working together

[Mithrea]

The bit about the candle drip beginning corresponding to a length of time is interesting. I've never heard it before. Have you found it to be very accurate?

[Tammy Sullivan]

actually yes I have found it to be accurate. The information comes from Anne Moura's book "Green Witchcraft" a book which I highly recommend.

[Lavender]

If you're interested in candle magic, check out Patricia Telesco's Candle Magick book too.

[Nissala]

okay, now I have to go get more books! :D
I love you people!!! your more informative than ..than... uh... going to school!!!!

:D

[Mithrea]

Originally posted by Wildchild
If you're interested in candle magic, check out Patricia Telesco's Candle Magick book too.

You know I bought that book years ago and I can't find it. I know if I buy another copy, it will turn up within minutes ;) :D

[Lavender]

Heh! I know what you mean. The best way to find a missing object is to go out & buy another one!

I was lucky enough to find that book at a discounted book bin. There's another thread somewhere talking about candle magic too. I'll see if I can find it.

Here's the link to the discussion on candle magic books:

http://www.mysticwicks.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=12630&highlight=candle+magic

[WtchyChick13]

Greta, thank you so much for this! I do candle spells almost exclusively and the info you provided here is perfect for me. I had read a few things about the "Green Witchcraft" book and have thought about getting it--I guess it was a good thing I stumbled upon this thread! I actually had the book in my hand at the bookstore recently and then put it down. It didn't feel like the right time for me to get it. (Sounds funny, but that's how I decide what I buy at the time.) I guess it's time now! :)

Wildchild--thanks for suggesting the Patricia Telesco book. She's one of my favorite pagan authors and I'm surprised I don't own that one yet. Everytime I think I've caught up on my Telesco collection--she writes 3 or 4 more new ones and my budget won't allow me to spend as fast as she writes!!! LOLOL :D

[Mystic Wolf]

Hmmm.. Interesting. I hardly ever have candle drip though. I simply use 6 inch household candles and there is rarely any wax left over. Sometimes the candles will take 5 -6 hours to burn all the way down and sometimes they will take 30 minutes. I find that the faster burning candles bring fruition faster.

What does it say about multiple candle spells? Some of my work requires up to six different candles for a particular spell. In our coven work there could be 3-4 candles per covener going at times.

[Azure]

I find that the faster the candle burns, the more intense the power being released, at least on occassion.

I do lots of my candle stuff with those little candles that burn down in a couple of hours. I use longer lasting ones for things that need more "umph" behind them.

[SnowStar]

maybe I'm cheap, maybe I'm impatient, or maybe I'm a little of both, but for spells and rituals that require a candle to burn completely down, I use birthday candles usually. Anything else can take up to 8 hours to burn out, and I'm not home nor am I awake while I am at home for that long. The only time I'll ever use a full sized candle is as azure said...when it needs a little extra "umph". For the few spells that I actually do using candles, though, it seems to work quite well.

[Tammy Sullivan]

Mystic wolf,
At some point or another the wax has to melt and run down the side. That is the point you use as your time indicator. Let me know how it works out for you!

[Lavender]

This is quite fascinating. I use a lot of candles but I don't do many candle spells. I usually use beeswax ones that I make myself. Some are very small ~ 2 inches and look like birthday candles. Beeswax candles don't drip unless you tip them over.

[WtchyChick13]

At some point or another the wax has to melt and run down the side.

Not necessarily. I've used those dripless candles on many occasions--especially if I use a holder that has no reservoir for the excess wax and the good ones do not drip at all, the wax evaporates as it is burned.

I also use birthday candles a lot. They are great for a quick spell or for reinforcing a spell that has already been worked.

I agree with a lot of you that waiting for some of those larger candles to burn down can be almost counter productive. What I've done in the past is mark a large candle--say a taper--at a certain point and while working the spell say something like, "and when the flame hits this mark, the spell will be complete."

This is also good if, like me, you are broke and need to recycle a bit. OR, if you want to do a 7 day (or 3 day, or 4 day....) spell and want to use the same candle for it. This way, the candle burns to the marked area each nite, you use one candle and the spell gains it's strength as the days go on.

Just a few happy tidbits from a short witch! LOL :)

[Mystic Wolf]

When I don't have time to let a large candle burn all the way down, I'll put them in the bathtub with about a half-inch of water in it. Then if they tip over they are protected.

[Tammy Sullivan]

Originally posted by Mystic Wolf
Hmmm.. Interesting. I hardly ever have candle drip though. I simply use 6 inch household candles and there is rarely any wax left over. Sometimes the candles will take 5 -6 hours to burn all the way down and sometimes they will take 30 minutes. I find that the faster burning candles bring fruition faster.

What does it say about multiple candle spells? Some of my work requires up to six different candles for a particular spell. In our coven work there could be 3-4 candles per covener going at times.
I have been skimming back through the Green series lately and found nothing about multiple candles, sorry. Also if you have no drip I would just ignore the time factor bit as well as I saw no refrence to that either. I'm sorry I did not address this point sooner, MW, hope it helps though.