snuff or blow?

[luna rising]

This thread is not pornographic, as the title may suggest.
I have always read that you should never blow your candles out - you should snuff them. Blowing them out is like blowing away all the magic.
But last weekend I bought a new book (can't remember the author's name, I'm at work), and for eery prayer or ritual she says to blow the candle out and send the energy out into the universe -- and this makes total sense to me.
So I know the old saying - for the most part, if it feels right, then it is right - but I was curious as to how many of you are blowers, and how many are snuffers? :hehehehe:

[Isil Darkmoon]

I've heard you shouldn't blow them be cause it puts one element (air) dominant over another (fire). I do both, though. Non-magical candles I always blow out (and I burn a LOT of candles!) I generally blow out ritual candles, too, unless at the moment I go to do it it "feels" wrong, then I pinch them out with my fingers or use my athame to douse the wick in its own wax. I don't own a snuffer but have contemplated buying one many a time.

[Jenne]

NEVER blow, here. Snuff only. And I'll use my fingers if I can't find my snuffer! *need to buy a new one!*

[Gareth]

During rituals we snuff them.
Other times we simply blow them out.

[Felidae]

Snuffer here!

... Somehow that just sounds wrong! :)

[Flaire-FireStar]

Snuffer here!

... Somehow that just sounds wrong! :)

Yeah, well, I'm a blower. :lol:


But last weekend I bought a new book (can't remember the author's name, I'm at work), and for eery prayer or ritual she says to blow the candle out and send the energy out into the universe -- and this makes total sense to me.

This is what I believe too. *nods*
And the fact that a) I don't have a snuffer and b) I'm afraid of getting burnt! :p

[Avalon]

I snuff any candles that I light for a ritual or spell, but I blow my little yellow altar candle out...I light that one every morning for everyone's requests, and I rather like the idea of the smoke carrying the energies out into the universe.

[mothwench]

hmm. i've always blown em out, cause it never really occured to me not to. :huh: this makes me ponder... maybe blowing them out is good for banishing/ridding magic and snuffing them out is for increasing/summoning/wishing...

[banondraig]

hmm. i've always blown em out, cause it never really occured to me not to. :huh: this makes me ponder... maybe blowing them out is good for banishing/ridding magic and snuffing them out is for increasing/summoning/wishing...

hm, i like that theory. but what about the air over fire angle? maybe blowing out would be best for something air-related, like a spell to help one study. ah, it's so complicated.

[Cobalt Cobra]

I snuff them out if I am solemnly ending a ritual, such as a prayer to kind of quietly close. If I am doing an active spell, I blow them out, or sometimes snuff out w/ my fingers.

[blueiris]

for that whole element thing, wouldn't it still be air over fire if you just snuffed it? Because then you would be denying it oxygen -air- and it would make it go out.
And for the record, I do both, so I didn't vote. :)

[banondraig]

dang! more complications! fire doesn't burn without oxygen, ever. it's technically a chemical reaction. so it's really an issue over overabundance versus starvation, which brings us back to mothwench's idea of increase/decrease or attraction/banishment.

[mothwench]

for that whole element thing, wouldn't it still be air over fire if you just snuffed it? Because then you would be denying it oxygen -air- and it would make it go out.
And for the record, I do both, so I didn't vote. :)
i was thinking about this earlier, and i dunno, the snuffer's made of metal right (please don't laugh at me. no okay, even i'm laughing, you can laugh at me. :rolleyes: ) and i correspond metal to earth. so it would be earth over fire? :huh: i dunno. my head is still spinning from reading the color correspondence thread.
:lol:

[Ben Gruagach]

i was thinking about this earlier, and i dunno, the snuffer's made of metal right (please don't laugh at me. no okay, even i'm laughing, you can laugh at me. :rolleyes: ) and i correspond metal to earth. so it would be earth over fire? :huh: i dunno. my head is still spinning from reading the color correspondence thread.
:lol:

That's exactly how I think of it, so the claim that it's rude to fire to use another element to put it out just doesn't make any sense to me. If you can't use another element (air if you blow, earth if you snuff, or water if you lick your fingers and then pinch it out) then how can we put out a candle? Or are we supposed to leave a candle to burn out on its own? That doesn't make sense either because how often do you have hours and hours to wait for your candles to burn out on their own before you're allowed to finish up a ritual?

In the end I think it's a personal preference, and does not really matter so long as you put the candle out with respect.

[Yasmine Galenorn]

This thread is not pornographic, as the title may suggest.
I have always read that you should never blow your candles out - you should snuff them. Blowing them out is like blowing away all the magic.
But last weekend I bought a new book (can't remember the author's name, I'm at work), and for eery prayer or ritual she says to blow the candle out and send the energy out into the universe -- and this makes total sense to me.
So I know the old saying - for the most part, if it feels right, then it is right - but I was curious as to how many of you are blowers, and how many are snuffers? :hehehehe:

I think the whole issue is overanalyzed. I do whatever I need to at the moment. If the candle snuffer is near, I use it. If not, I may blow it or pinch it out depending on the candle and how much wax I'm chancing getting on my skin.

Yasmine :colorful:

[SylverStar]

I always heard not to blow them out either. But blowing them out realliy works for me. Also when I blow the candles out I visualize that energy being blown in the direction it needs to go.

[banondraig]

i usually use a snuffer in ritual, as opposed to blowing out for mundane purposes. the snuffer just feels more right.

[blueiris]

(I've never done a candle spell so...) I think it would make sense to blow the candle out if you're trying to banish something and send things away and snuff it if you want something to come to you.
And by the way, that earth metal idea does make sense to me, too. so either way, if you want to put out a candle another element has to do it, be it water, earth or air.

[Calzaer]

No matter how you put out a candle, you're putting one element over fire. Blow it out or put a glass over it? Air. Snuffer? Earth (snuffers are usually metal). Pinch it? If you lick your fingers first (and you really need to), Water.

So I just blow it out. *shrug*

[Calzaer]

On a side note, if I'm feeling really show-offy, I can wave my hand just right over the top of a candle and put it out with a single pass. I'm out of practice, tho, so it may take me a few tries now. :lol:

{edit: Well crap, now I'm going to blow through (pun intended) a whole box of matches trying to get back in practice!}

[Lunacie]

That's exactly how I think of it, so the claim that it's rude to fire to use another element to put it out just doesn't make any sense to me. If you can't use another element (air if you blow, earth if you snuff, or water if you lick your fingers and then pinch it out) then how can we put out a candle? Or are we supposed to leave a candle to burn out on its own? That doesn't make sense either because how often do you have hours and hours to wait for your candles to burn out on their own before you're allowed to finish up a ritual?

In the end I think it's a personal preference, and does not really matter so long as you put the candle out with respect.
Gotta say I agree with this. I've always felt like I was sending out the energy with my breath when I blow out the candles.

[IvyWitch]

Wow, complicated answer here from me...

Normally I snuff my candles. Especially the happy scented Yankee candles. It's better to snuff those to reduce the amount of soot and lessen the chances of the part of the wick you want to cut falling into the candle. Normally I snuff ritual and spell candles because I try to use only one candle for one purpose - so, if I have a week long protection spell that I'm using a white candle for, I'll snuff it after every day, and if at the end of the week I haven't burnt the whole thing, I'll blow it out and then cleanse it before I use it for something else. Same for holidays and rituals. I don't know why I do it that way, I just started doing it that way naturally and it became a habit.

[luna rising]

Thanks for sharing your methods, everybody. It is also good to know that not everyone uses the same method everytime. I am a big fan of spontaneity. I might not be able to spell it, but I am a fan.

[Kitase Raikua]

I was under the impression that blowing out a candle, like lighting them w/ matches is an affront to the spirits....

I snuff, lol.

[dragonspirit 69]

I am a partylite consultant and so I always snuff because I's better for the candle .

[Yasmine Galenorn]

I was under the impression that blowing out a candle, like lighting them w/ matches is an affront to the spirits....

I snuff, lol.

Uh...what DO you light them with? Flint? :colorful:

Yasmine :colorful:

[Aidron]

I snuff them out on most occassions, simply to show respect to elemental fire.

Though in some cases I blow them out (most often in banishings).

In terms of lightning them, since it was brought up, I use lighters or matches, whichever is convenient, and never flint. ;)

[AuroraSilvermist]

Regarding the "air over fire" argument; wouldn't snuffing the candles out put earth over fire, at least symbolically? Just a thought. Or maybe I'm trying to rationalize, because I blow them out. ;)

I remember reading that it was an ill omen to have to blow more than once to extinguish a candle, though. I'm not particularly superstitious, but I do try to blow them out in one puff. Somehow it seems more...respectful.

[Morr]

I blow them out..
i like that smell of the smoke... plus it always looks like (to me at least) that the smoke is sorta going up to the heavens/air/sky along with my prayers..

[mato]

:rotfl:
Ok I know no one has mentioned it but arent snuff and blow common slang for coke and meth?
:lol:

[Ouroboros]

Bah, I thought there was good drugs in here.

:elf:

[Ouroboros]

:rotfl:
Ok I know no one has mentioned it but arent snuff and blow common slang for coke and meth?
:lol:

Actually Meth's term is Crank - and Snuff is internationally known as the sniffable version of tobacco. Like you have smoking, chewing, and sniffing tobacco.

[mato]

huh... neat... I guess... If your into that sort of thing. I neither snuff nor blow my candles. I prefer to let them burn. If I dont have the time to burn them all at once I dont light them.

[luna rising]

*snicker*

[Ouroboros]

huh... neat... I guess... If your into that sort of thing. I neither snuff nor blow my candles. I prefer to let them burn. If I dont have the time to burn them all at once I dont light them.

I'm so into drugs, and barely do them anymore at the same time.

[banondraig]

I was under the impression that blowing out a candle, like lighting them w/ matches is an affront to the spirits....

I snuff, lol.

so how do you light them? i never use matches myself, i hate the sulfur smell they make. do you use a cigarette lighter, flint, what? i'm curious.

[PeleRising]

I do both... for ritual candles i either let them burn themselves out or i snuff/pinch them out... for all other candles~ if i cant put the lid on them and in doing so snuff them out~ i blow them out.

[argento_occhi]

i blow them out, mainly cos i've never thought to do anything else. i have got a snuffer, but for me, the candles i light are lit for deities (i don't do candle magick) and when i blow them out, it's like i'm sending them back to the statues. (i'm kemetic pagan, btw). I light the candles to invite them in when i say the prayers of awakening in the morning, and when i blow them out, the go into the statues. Yes, i know it's a strange way to look at things and not entirely kemetic (going via the candle), but it's what i connect to. i don't really do any'wiccan' type rituals or spells, so the elements, while i acknowledge their existence, are not .... i dunno.... can't think of the right words...... they're not.... involved? no, that's wrong. they're not ... not, as important, but not, as important to ritual, i suppose. it's hard to put into words. i hope that makes some iota of sense. (i'm low on caffeine, that may explain a lot)

bright blessings,
argent

[Yasmine Galenorn]

In terms of lightning them, since it was brought up, I use lighters or matches, whichever is convenient, and never flint. ;)

I use lighters. I'm horrible with matches--can't light them for anything. I also have one of those long fire starter propane things that you use to start charcoal and whatnot...that's handy because I burn most of my candles in the fireplace so I don't have to stick my head in there to reach the candles. Frankly, anything that gets the flame going works for me. And most of my candles are allowed to burn out by themselves, so I seldom have to put them out with regards to spells. On the rare occasions I burn deity candles, the gods don't seem to care how I put them out, so I usually use a snuffer.

Yasmine :colorful:

[xblue420x]

I snuff and pinch mostly. I used to blow them out all the time and then it just started to feel bad...Like when I was watching the smoke and what it was doing when I blew it out...It just wasn't right..So then I started pinching them out all the time. The problem with me pinching them out was that I would burn myself sometimes and I'm a massage therapist-so my hands are very valuable and its not good having big burn blisters when I'm trying to give a massage.(who woulda thought??:rolleyes: ) I FINALLY bought my snuffer and its the best thing that has happened to my fingers in awhile heh. I still pinch them out every once in awhile, but the only ones I blow out are the ones in diffusers(cuz I can fit my hand or snuffer in them)
As for lighting them, lighters or matches. I try to keep matches close to my altars, just because I think that theyre more natural and better for ritual/spell work. If there aren't any matches I use a lighter. Ordinary candles I always use lighters cuz theres millions of them around the house.
haha yeah way too much explination for such a simple question..I need to work on that
BB!
Blue

[asher]

i do both it depends on how i feel

[sweet nothings]

I blow them out...consider me wierd if you want but I feel a bit more connected to my ritual if I end it with my own breath...

[Lunacie]

Lots of good reasons here for snuffing, pinching, and also blowing. Sounds like there isn't a right or wrong way, per se, which is what I've always thought myself. I use fireplace matches to light candles. They stay lit better and don't burn down so quickly when you have one of those candles that seems to resist catching fire.

[zakzekezedd]

I can't keep track of a snuffer, so I usually blow them out. I had read in several sources that you should always snuff them out for a variety of reasons, but recently I read where blowing out the candles adds the "magic" of your own breath(something from deep within yourself)to any ritual or spell. I always say a "Thank-you" to fire whenever I do blow out a candle. Perhaps it is as much a matter of your own demeanor as how you put out the lights? (Just a thought)

[WynterWynd]

Rituals, I'm a snuffer or a pincher:D
Regular ol candles, I'm a blower:smoke:

[sweet nothings]

Wanna kno whats funny? After posting in this thread I read in one of my books that blowing out a candle blows away the magick...but I honestly can't believe that. I mean (once again, *opinion*) I charged the candle with my own energy, and it's not going to go away that quick. I'll chase it if it even tries to escape..*evil grin*

[Lunacie]

If my magic could be "blown away" that easily I'd simply hang up my witches hat. :T

[WynterWynd]

I don't really buy into that 'blowing away the magics' stuff....but I have to use that snuffer I have sometimes:lol:

[KoKoMe]

I have gone with my own instinctive intuition in distinguishing candles.I have done all the above and including using droplets of water.I have read all the books too,but in the ehd I did what I thought best!
BB
Kokome

[Mythrel]

I snuff typically...

[KoKoMe]

Oops,did I really say distinguish I meant extinguish.I am sure you all knew what I meant,I just had to know I knew! Well if you will excuse me I better go get some more coffee!!
BB
Kokome

[Toad]

When using candles in work...I always pinch them out. In my mind this is my way of exerting my control over the element. I am the one directing the elements energy...I am the one to decide when that energy should cease for, etc.

[blugirrl1]

i blow, but wouldn't mind getting a snuffer for rituals. on the blow side though hubby has a habit of coming in and if i am on bed meditating he blows my candles out, drives me nuts. so i made a no blow sign for nearby . oh well hazards of having a non pagan hubby i suppose.

[Rowan MoonDragon]

I'm a sunfer, myself. :lol:

[Shadowolff]

I do both, so I didn't vote. I usually let them burn themselves out -- unless I'm going away from home, and then I'll put them out for safety reasons. But it always feels a bit, I dunno, sad? empty? -- not quite right -- to ban the flame...

Worst thing I ever did with a burning candle, though, was to fall asleep while holding one. That's what I get for trying to read by candlelight, not lol.

It was a pillar candle, about four inches tall by that time; I was lying on my back, head raised on a pillow but otherwise flat, holding the candle on my chest with my right hand, and holding the book in my left. I didn't realize I was so sleepy... until I woke myself up by moving a little and pouring hot wax on the side of my ribcage. You can imagine my shock when my eyes flew open to see the flame six inches or so away!

I think developing the habit of sleeping with a crystal in hand (and waking with it still clutched tight) let me keep hanging on to the candle. Whew. No desire to relive the Burning Times, folks...

[ShadowCat13]

I feel like they should be blown out- I think that snuffing them out is kinda rude- but thats just me :)

[luna rising]

When using candles in work...I always pinch them out. In my mind this is my way of exerting my control over the element. I am the one directing the elements energy...I am the one to decide when that energy should cease for, etc.


That makes a lot of sense, never thought of it that way.

[theblackrose]

I like to blow them out, always, it makes me feel like im putting a little extra of my energy into casting the magic to its destination, like giving it a gentle push on the back and saying 'there you go, its time for you to move on now...' type of thing you know? dont quite know how to explain it, so sorry if youre all scratching your heads reading this thinking 'what the hell is this girl on about?' lol

[LadyTrinity]

:flowers: :flowers: :flowers: :flowers: :flowers:

I heard that suffing is best but honestly.. I just blow mine out. I find it easier.


:flowers: :flowers: :flowers: :flowers: :flowers:

[ShadowCat13]

I like to blow them out, always, it makes me feel like im putting a little extra of my energy into casting the magic to its destination, like giving it a gentle push on the back and saying 'there you go, its time for you to move on now...' type of thing you know? dont quite know how to explain it, so sorry if youre all scratching your heads reading this thinking 'what the hell is this girl on about?' lol

:lol: I know exactly what ya mean! thats why I said I blow mine out. I just thinks its kind of an insult to pinch or suff it out and say ok done with you now- bye- But by blowing it out, I have always felt that it releases it and adds more of your energy into it. I kind of see it as a way of showing thanks.

[Dusk]

I blow them out. I have a snuffer but have not yet used it or a ritual.

Lately, I've been using birthday candles and letting them burn themselves out.

[lednevir]

I agree with the bvooks by Z. Bubapest and snuff.Mostly with my snuffer but at special times I lick my thumb and first finger until they are really wet and touch the flame.

[pixiedust_3]

Snuff! Blowing spreads the magic into alter universes and around into the air and not to you. It wastes the whole ritual of the magic. I personally snuff with my finger because the engergy touches me, and therefore goes inside me.Get it? Lol. :colorful:

[scaerie faerie]

I've always blown them out, and it's never done any harm. :)



But last weekend I bought a new book (can't remember the author's name, I'm at work), and for eery prayer or ritual she says to blow the candle out and send the energy out into the universe -- and this makes total sense to me.


That's pretty much my thinking, too (and always puts me in mind of blowing out your candles when you made birthday wishes as a kid...)

[Kalika]

I blow mine out, 'cause I don't have a snuffer... :p

[Flutterby_whispers]

wow lol who woulda thunk something like this could get so complicated! lol

I honestly don't think it's an issue unless you make it an issue. The universe knows your intentions and I really don't think how you blow your candle out is going to affect those intentions unless you allow it to affect what you've just done. I sometimes think we get too caught up in the order of things and forget about the power of intention.

I honestly think you should do what you feel is appropriate at the time and not let little things get in the way ~ or how others do it affect your own way of doing things :)

I often blow my candles out, rarely do I snuff .. However I know ppl who are the exact opposite. I feel that we are both able to carry out successful and meaningful rituals and that how we blow our candles out is simply a matter of preference and personal thought.

I edited as I felt how I worded things sounded snippy and that wasn't my intention at all :huddle:

[Lucius]

NEVER blow, here. Snuff only. And I'll use my fingers if I can't find my snuffer!
Same thing for me. <3

[Brynn]

I just use my fingers to put them out so I guess I'm a snuffer.

[Fang of Loki]

I use my right thumb and pointer finger to snuff the flame out. Loki is a fire god, so I believe that he may smile upon you when you are willing to "stick your hand in the flames", even if it's only for a brief moment.

[KissMeImIrish!]

I've heard conflicting arguments for snuffing (with fingers or snuffer) and blowing, and as far for as which is the *right* way to do it, everyone and their monkey has had their say. Me, I just snuff, with a snuffer. I've heard to do it with your fingers, but tried that once and ended up toasting my tips nicely. Let's just say even burning flesh can overpower incense. :sick:

[Pan]

I blow them out. I have a snuffer, but I just blow 'em out, anyway. The elements (and whatever else) should know I don't mean any affront by it.

[CaitrionaMorgaine]

So here speaks up my best friend (the chemistry major) from over my shoulder.

Technically, fire is the process of taking earth, adding oxygen, and creating fire and water as a byproduct. He's explained all this to me, something to do with taking earth (the wick of the candle), adding air (the chemical reaction of lighting the wick is adding oxygen to the chemicals present in the wick itself)....you are creating fire (light and heat) and water as by products. Fire produces condensation, aka the water.

He considers the wax a water substance since it slows the fire down.

So techincally, the lighting of a candle contains the elements of earth, air, fire and water.

As for snuff or blow, it all depends on if I have my snuffer handy. *grin* If you snuff you are removing the presence of an element (air), and if you blow you are creating an excess of air. Either way you are throwing the balance of the elements off.

Blessings, ~Rhiannon

[luna rising]

That's pretty much my thinking, too (and always puts me in mind of blowing out your candles when you made birthday wishes as a kid...)


I cannot believe I never made that association, but you are absolutely right. :thumbsup:

[Taliesyn]

On a side note, if I'm feeling really show-offy, I can wave my hand just right over the top of a candle and put it out with a single pass. I'm out of practice, tho, so it may take me a few tries now. :lol:

{edit: Well crap, now I'm going to blow through (pun intended) a whole box of matches trying to get back in practice!}

Sounds like me- BUt a little drama never hurt anyone, did it?

SO I say we start our own way- Swipers unite!!

[scaerie faerie]

I cannot believe I never made that association, but you are absolutely right. :thumbsup:

I always am. ;) :hahugh:

[rhinoa]

I really don't think it matters ultimately which you do. I do tend to blow mine out though to send my wishes in to the cosmos rather than suffocate then. Do whichever you prefer :)

[Semele]

another both here.

[frigga]

Blow to send energy, snuff for banishing!

[rottencandy7]

i don't really do any rituals or anything, but i always light candles at night before bed, and before going to sleep, i send out blessings to loved ones and blow my candles out. :p

guess im a blower :lol:

etc: i just realized this is an old post. yikes! :awwman:

[Dawa Lhamo]

etc: i just realized this is an old post. yikes! That's ok!

I blow them out. I've never really analyzed it or anything. I have this image, though, of me and my brothers when we were young waiting until we could blow out the candles on the altar after ritual. They always let us do that. ^_^ Since they never had a problem with it, I don't suppose that I do. ^_^

I always feel pretentious when I use a snuffer anyway. ^_^

Tashi delek!
Dawa Lhamo

[halfwaynowhere]

well, i try to snuff, mainly because i'm not really allowed to be using candles in my room, and blowing them out makes my room smell like smoke... i don't have a snuffer though, but i usually use candles that i can just flip a cup over or something to snuff them out.

[Bix]

I once tried to waft the candle out by waving my hand in front of it. I was too scared to try and snuff it out with my fingers. That technique ended up me hitting the candle, knocking it over, and getting wax -everywhere.- So, I'd rather just blow it out...at least until I get some sort of snuffer.

[enchancea]

Snuff

[colusaskye]

blow
i've never thought to do otherwise, and it works for me.

edit: except, sometimes i leave the candle burning (attended), depending on what i'm doing. when it goes out, it goes out, and i generally use small tea candles...

[cheddarsox]

I was really surprised to see this thread, never thought about the issue before! It is surprising to me that all the intention, effort etc of a ritual could be "blown away" by the method used to put the candle out. I don't think the magic is in the ritual as much as in the intent..so I would say it only matters if you let it matter.

I blow, because it seems whenever I snuff I wreck the candle by losing the wick in the wax.

cheddar

[-Ember]

Snuff mostly.

In part because I use breath to move energy... messes up what I established. There is a difference between intentionally using the breath to carry the intent, and just blowing on it.

In part for politeness... I've often invited beings to use the candle for a physical representation (ie:elemental candles.) Blowing the candle out to me would be like blowing in their faces.

In part because snuffing just has a sealing feeling to me. Perhaps if I was trying to disrupt a pattern and leave it disrupted. But usually spell work to me is either disrupting a pattern and establishing a new one to replace it or it is a matter of reinforcing an existing habit. Not disruption only.

In part to avoid a bad habit... the grove I belong to snuffs. I would hate to blow out a candle out of habit durring a group working when there are some to whom it does matter.

edited: I almost forgot...

In part because snuffing just is a gentler transition. Not whiplash abrupt.

[PoisonIvy]

Snuffer. I like to use the lampblack to make ink.

[Mistress_Ravenshadow]

i use a snuffer.. i find that sometimes when a candle is blown out the wick smolders and burns down too low.. i also find they dont smell as much when snuffed out.. I dont like the smell of blown out candles unless its a beeswax candle then its not so bad

[ealawyn]

I snuff because I was taught an old maritime superstition that for every candle blown out, a sailor is lost at sea. :sailing:

Putting old family superstition aside, I don't see how it matters in majick. Sometimes I say to hell with the sailors and blow out the candles anyway and nothing goes wrong with my spell casting. To each, his own, I guess.

[mothwench]

i know that superstition... only it's slightly different over here: you're not to light a cigarette over a candle flame, else a sailor dies.
weird. :lol:

[XanderAmon]

If you're REALLY badass, you'll lick your fingers and snuff the candle that way. ;)
Hmm. I might actually be tempted to try that one of these days...

[cheddarsox]

In part because snuffing just is a gentler transition. Not whiplash abrupt.

Isn't that funny...I feel just the opposite! To me snuffing is so final, almost like killing the thing, where as blowing feels like I am gently sending the energy on its way.

This is all so interesting!

I never heard the superstitions about the sailors either. Thanks for sharing those.

cheddar

[Airyn]

I usually burn my fingers and get ashes on them when I try to snuff them out, plus I like how the smoke kind of hangs in the air like energy, so I just blow out candles.

[zilith]

I voted snuff but pinch is more accurate.

[HorseCrow]

I do not believe it makes any difference on the magick part, whether you snuff or blow. I personally snuff, but that has nothing to do with magick, but simply the fact that I don't like the smell that comes with the smoke, when you blow them out.

[Karma Chameleon]

I just blow my candles out. Maybe I'd use a snuffer if I had one.

Stuff...that reminds me of a Jimmy Buffet song. _whistle_

[Scheherazade's Muse]

There should be a third choice: whatever is handy at the time.
Personally, I snuff and blow depending on if I have my snuffer with me :)

[raminda]

I blow it out.

[AstralMagick]

I pinch it out because of the reason stated-it's said you're supposed to.

[DracoJesi]

I put my hand completly over it and see how long I can stand the pain (joking)

actualy i never thaought about it, i gues I just blow em out, its easier LOL

ever tried roasting marshmelows via candle? :D

[AstralMagick]

I think it's more fun blowing a candle out, so whenever I'm not using one for magickal purposes, I blow it out, otherwise, I pinch it. I would snuff, but I don't think there is one in this house.

[Luminessence]

I've read that you're not supposed to blow them out because it's disrespectful in some way, but it makes more sense to me to blow them out, so that's what I do. I prefer to blow them out because I like the thought of sending the energy out into the world. Snuffing the candle just doesn't have that same effect, for me.

Also, I don't own a snuffer, and I'm too afraid of fire to put it out with my fingers. Lighting a match is hard enough :)

[Sister of the Wind]

If it's a candle, like the ones that represent fire, then don't blow them out. Snuff or pinch. Same with energy candles.

-Bright Blessings, Sis

[wooleybob]

I snuff them out.Never pinch them out..

[SacredWithin]

I've learned that it is customary in many religious traditions to snuff, although I've been blowing mine out.

[GalenaFaolan]

I'm a proud snuffer!! :bigblue: I do blow out some candles but not many!

[RavensWolf]

i havent tried cancle magic yet but i think i would be a snuffer.

[Silver Water]

I'll snuff them out if I feel the need to, but most of the time I either just let them burn completely out or I blow them out.

[skyler]

Snuff.

[SammieAnn]

I do both depending on what feels right at the time, so I did not vote

[TarotCanada]

Snuff, if you blow them out it is an insult to the element of fire. You are using an equal element, air, to subdue and equal element, fire. If you blow them out, apologize to the element of fire.

Cheryl

[Cyzarine]

It depends on what I am doing. If it is something that requires the use of the same candle for the same spell (like a seven day spell), then I snuff it. If it is a banishing or energy working then I blow...

...blow, that doesn't sound right.?.

[WhyAngelsFall]

According to SilverRavenWolf (I’m so sorry…) blowing them out wasn’t about Air vs Fire, but about the breath of life extinguishing another kind of life – the fire.

Ok, that’s one thought, then there’s another author who says that you snuff so that you don’t use one element over another… Blah blah blah, that has been stated already.

Myself I use whatever is handy… Light with a match because I find it to be more respectful than using up oil (although if it's handy I /will use/ a lighter), and extinguish with my atheme, or with the remains of a metal tea light, or by waving something to extinguish it… Or that one memorable time that I tried to extinguish a blessed candle with water…

Yeah… we won’t do that anymore as the oil that had been used to bless the candle went into the hot wax, which when water was added it aerosolized the oil as water is denser then oil….

And then we learned why you never put out an oil fire with water. Not because it spreads, but because it creates a fireball, in the case of said anointed six-hour-votive, four feet into the air.

Man, someone needs to come up with a book of common ritual problems and solutions: The "Worse Case Senario Ritual Handbook:" Wax on ritual items, fireballs, getting essential oils in your eyes…. You know, the things we /need/ to know as Pagans….

[The High Queen of Faerie]

I only ever snuff. Blowing has become a bit of a no-no for me. ;)

I snuff with my fingers. :D

[aluokaloo]

I've heard you shouldn't blow them be cause it puts one element (air) dominant over another (fire). I do both, though. Non-magical candles I always blow out (and I burn a LOT of candles!) I generally blow out ritual candles, too, unless at the moment I go to do it it "feels" wrong, then I pinch them out with my fingers or use my athame to douse the wick in its own wax. I don't own a snuffer but have contemplated buying one many a time.


You know I have been wondering this though, it says by blowing it out, it puts air over fire. But what about this, if we pinched it with our finger, wouldn't we be putting earth over fire? If we doused it in wax wouldn't we be putting water over fire?

[aluokaloo]

It depends on what I am doing. If it is something that requires the use of the same candle for the same spell (like a seven day spell), then I snuff it. If it is a banishing or energy working then I blow...

...blow, that doesn't sound right.?.


No, not really. :crazyman:

[Vitkyng]

I use a snuffer or my fingers in most cases.. unless doing a banishing/undoing spell, then it just seems right to blow em out.

[omar]

I pinch it out, pinch it out.

[Misteria]

I let magikal candles burn until they burn out. I feel if i put it out it is like hitting the pause button on my spell.

[Sage WindMoon]

If I was a candle, I'd rather be blown than pinched or snuffed.

[Lady Aeris]

I snuff my candles, it seems wrong to blow them out (balance of the elements)

[Meadhbh]

I'm a snuffer. My mother always told me it was rude to the fire spirits to blow out the candle, but they didn't as much to be snuffed. Its not the quick action of blown air so it gives them time to leave, instead of being push out of the way.

[phoenixblayze]

agreed..i was always taught that blowing them out was disrespectful

[Amythyst]

I snuff out special candles-- the mother candle, God/Goddess candles, Elemental candles, spell candles that are not to be burned all the way, etc.

Other candles I blow out.

[GemmaPhoenix]

I pinch. (No, that's a joke. You know, that commercial with the SUV and the crab? Oh, never mind.)

Back in the day, all the newbie/101 books said "snuff, snuff, or the fire spirits will be angry!" So that's what I did for a long time, without ever really questioning it. But it never felt right. So after a while I decided that was just a superstition. Now I blow or sometimes, to avoid smoke, use a metal knitting needle or athame tip to smother the wick in the melted wax.

As for lighting, I almost always use one of those butane stick lighters - the ones you use to light up the BBQ. Again, the goal for me it to reduce the smoke that alerts the irritable owners of the house of the open flame burning on their top floor.

[maphdet]

I snuff 'em out.
I feel it is disrespectfull to the Elements, especially Wind and Fire.

My whole family growing up snuffed them out too, But they are not Pagan.
Thier reasoning behind it, was that when you blew them
out the smoke that emitts from them is not good.
Hey you know what I just realized, that's kind of funny,
they are all smokers though. *laughs*

[zede]

i blow out candles that i just light because i like candles but any i light for the alter i let burn til they go out on their own, so i didn't vote.

[CelticMoon11]

Im a snuffer I don't like the idea of someone coming up and blowing on my face so I don't do it to them :lol:

[moonbride]

I blow.
I like to think that when you blow out a candle for a spell or a ritual that you are sending the energies out into the universe as an ending to the spell/ritual. I do have a snuffer and used it a few times but it doesn't feel as comfortable to me.

[MankyCat]

I agree, I don't really think much of it. I was explaining to a person newer to the path about snuffing vs blowing out a candle. But honestly, how is suffocating the flame any better than a quick end? I could question pinching and drowning in wax.

I think too much. :yayah:

Anyways, I didn't vote, cause I do both. I never bought a snuffer, but instead made one with a willow branch, wire, and a small scallop shell (half dollar sized). It works well. Don't know where I packed it when I moved, but honestly, I just go with whatever feels right. Most times, it also depends on the candle. (Votives and tea lights I'll let burn out except if they are just for lighting or the quarters. Taller or thicker candles typically get extinguished in some fashion.)

[Phoenix Element]

I've never had any problem blowing candles out. Even if you snuff, I'd argue that you're introducing a different element to the Fire. Just do what feels right. For me, that's usually blowing them out.

[cheddarsox]

:blowcandl :blowcandl

[mooneyes]

Once I read somewhere you should not blow out during or ending a ritual, so I snuff. Candles I light just because they are beautiful and smell nice, I sometimes blow out.

[stella01904]

This thread is not pornographic, as the title may suggest.
The title suggested to me "things people put up their nose".

It is my understanding that it is bad metaphysical manners to blow candles out. I snuff or pinch (though some people also frown on pinching).
BB, Stella

[Garm]

I don't use candles

a tibetan butterlamp holding isopryl type alcohol will provide a small but bright flame for five to ten minutes and go out on its own accord

[WulfcwenStar]

I do both it all depends on what I am doing and if it dfeels right to blow or snuff the candle out.

[Windsmith]

If my snuffer is handy, I'll snuff. If I don't know where it is, or I do know that it's on another floor or the other end of the house, I have no problem blowing.

[~Belladonna~]

I use a proper candle snuffer. I've never blown my candles out as it was something I learnt not to do when I first started on my path... and it's something that has stuck with me.
If I don't have my candle snuffer at hand (which is very rare) then I use my fingers to pinch the flame out.

[Chaos Hawk]

I blow.
I like to think that when you blow out a candle for a spell or a ritual that you are sending the energies out into the universe as an ending to the spell/ritual. I do have a snuffer and used it a few times but it doesn't feel as comfortable to me.

This is my thinking too.

[Carri]

This is actually the first time I've ever seen this thread and from the title I thought we were talking about head colds or sinus infections. Guess you can tell it is cold season in my neck of the woods.

And about the candle Q, I'm allergic to most candles and I can't burn them indoors anyway. I would love to hear Garm's alcohol method though.

[Rosetta Morrigan]

I blow. :hahugh:

[memnoch]

this thread title is misleading, I was expecting a debate over tobacco vs. cocaine being inhaled.

[Scott Hill]

I've heard various reasons for snuffing as opposed to blowing. Some say blowing is disrespectful to the element of fire - or the element of air (as if snuffing weren't putting out the candle by means of water and earth through the media of fingers and spit). I've even heard that you are losing sacred breath or the breath of life when you blow out a candle. I think it's all pretty ridiculous.

At the same time, it's a matter of etiquette. People think it's rude to blow out candles, and I want people to feel comfortable when they're in ritual with me. Therefore, so I don't forget to do it in a sacred setting, I always snuff candles. It's just become one of those social things I do - like calling people with Ph.D.s "Dr" or mowing the lawn when it's barely had time to grow or wearing pants.

[occultish]

More people blow them out as opposed to snuff.

Is not blowing the flame out a (new) wiccan concept? Where did this rule come from??

[MysticElement]

this thread title is misleading, I was expecting a debate over tobacco vs. cocaine being inhaled.

I thought the same thing :hehehehe:

[MysticElement]

I have always blown like I'm sending my request outwards. Very rarely do I not blow....in that case I leave the candle to burn out completely.

[~Runa~]

I blow candles out.

[perceval23]

Well, the very first candle magic ritual we were all taught as kids, one that dates back to the ancient Greeks, tells us to make a wish and blow out the candles. Though we don't take the cake to the Temple of Artemis, any more.

[Azrael Eve]

I blow them out, if the who sending it out for banishment and keeping it there for wishes thing is how it is it doesn't make sense to me. With a wish you want to send it out to the world. For a banishment, you want to get rid of what you are banishing... Blowing out the candle makes the most sense to me.

[rabbitinthemoon]

My snuffer has gone missing so I've been using my fingertips. Must buy a new snuffer....

The title of this thread had me thinking it was about drugs. :)

[Kallisto]

I like to say a little prayer or wish when I blow them out. I feel it gives the magic a little lift and is sort of a 2 for 1.

[Louisvillian]

I've always blown them out. Never really thought about it, and never read about the subject before. The "blowing them out = sending the energy back into the universe" justification makes sense to me, though. I don't think it makes air symbolically "over" fire.

[Incendia]

I blow them out simply to avoid getting hot wax on my fingers! Yep, I obviously don't subscribe to the 'blowing out energy' belief.