Two very dumb questions....

[Tigerlily]

I have two questions that have been begging me since I started praciticing Wicca. Kinda silly but they were never really explained anywhere...

1. What do I do with my candles? I know you aren't suppose to use the same one over again, but what do you do with the old ones? I usually keep them. But are you suppose to do?

2. This isn't a Wiccan question...mostly a dumb one. I never really used incense before because I was afraid. So I just used a feather to represent it. But lately I got into incense. But how I put them out? I tried squishing them in the incense holder but that doesn't work. How are you suppose to put them out?

[MoonDust]

Questions are never dumb they're how we learn. If we never ask we never learn. I'll answere them the way I was taught and the way I practice. Now I'm a solitary wiccan.
1) depends. It's best to use the candle for one specific purpouse. For example: let's say you bought a nice big green candle to use as a Goddess candle for your Full Moon rites. Well Light it up, do your ritual, snuff it out and put it away for the next month. This canle can now be designated for this one rite. This will help strengthen your focfus and energy since the candle now carries the energy of the pervious rite. Now if you're burning a candle that requires burning all the way through when your done you can bury the melted wax.

2. Are you using stick incence? if so then you can just snuff it like you would a ciggarette (gross I know) or soak the tip in a bit of water and snip off that end. Usually though I let them burn out.

May you find what you seek on your new path. Brightest Blessings!

[Kadynas]

For candles, I have 3 that I use over and over til they're burned all the way down... one for the God, one for the Goddess, and a Source candle. I think the idea of not using the same candle twice is if you're doing a spell for a particular purpose... you wouldn't want to use a candle you used for banishing depression too weeks later for a love spell, for instance. :)

Incense... mine always burn all the way down by the time I'm done with a ritual, but go with MoonDust's suggestion... run the still-smoldering part under water and snip off the wet part. :)

[DarkSidhe]

First, the tired old cliche: There are no stupid questions...

Usually when using candles in a spell or ritual, you are supposed to let them completely burn out, to make sure that all of the energy created gets used. Sometimes, however, you get a particularily stubborn candle, and don't want it burning for 16 hours while you sleep, etc. If this happens, then you have several options; bury the wax, re-use the wax in a new candle, create a 'ritual part 2' and meditate on the same spell/ritual you did the night before while letting the rest of the candle burn, it all depends on how you personally feel about it, what type of spell/ritual, etc. Taper candles can also be cut in half, to reduce burn time.

If you are using incense sticks, you can put them out with a drop of water or two, incense cones can be put out using water or a candle snuffer (or fire-resistant overturned cup). Most of the time, incense burns up quickly enough that I just let it burn out. If you're using a charcoal starter and granulated/powdered incense, then don't use as much, only what you need (you can always add more).

Preventing a fire in your home is more important than "must allow incense/candle to burn all the way out".

[Rhea Selene]

Hello-

When i am burning candles for a spell, how I dispose of the candle differs.
If I am doing a spell to bring somthing towards me, I bury the candle on my porperty.
If I am doing a spell to push somthing away I bury the candle off my property.


As far as the incense goes, when I use stick incense , and do not burn it all the way, I put it out in a jar of sand upon my alter (this is what I use to burn the stick incense in also)
When I use charcoal incense, and want the disk to stop smoldering, I run water on it.


Hope that helps!

-Rhea

[dr_zeus440]

a good rule of thumb is that the word "supposed" doesnt exist when it comes to magic.

[Tigerlily]

Okay thanks guys for the tips. ^_^ I'll keep them in mind.

[fay]

i too have been told by some of my wiccan friends not to use candles more than once. for example for our imbolc ritual we used two candles but our ritual was not long so we used hardly any of it so i have decided that as long as i use all my candles for magickal purposes then it doesnt matter if i use them more than once (oh the greatness of being an eclectic wiccan lol)
however i do agree with kadynas that using the same candle for spells with completely different purposes might confuse the energy you are trying to raise
blessed be

[Tigerlily]

Yeah, I was thinking that too. ^_^

[Kalika]

I have two questions that have been begging me since I started praciticing Wicca. Kinda silly but they were never really explained anywhere...

1. What do I do with my candles? I know you aren't suppose to use the same one over again, but what do you do with the old ones? I usually keep them. But are you suppose to do?

2. This isn't a Wiccan question...mostly a dumb one. I never really used incense before because I was afraid. So I just used a feather to represent it. But lately I got into incense. But how I put them out? I tried squishing them in the incense holder but that doesn't work. How are you suppose to put them out?

There are no dumb questions, cept those not asked. :)

1.) You don't have to throw out the candles after one use. For those of us who can't afford to buy new candles all the time... they can be re-used, as long as you feel comfortable doing so. :) Just do a cleansing ritual after use, and you should be OK. However, in answer to your question... some people bury them after a ritual, so that all of the energy is absorbed into the earth.

2.) What kind of incense are you using? Cones, stick, coils.... there are many kinds. :) I use stick mostly, and you can put those out like you do a cigarette. Cones, I usually let burn until they are burnt completely. And coils... I have never used.

:hugz:

I'm glad you weren't afraid to ask questions! Keep em coming.

Blessings,

Kalika

[luna rising]

a good rule of thumb is that the word "supposed" doesnt exist when it comes to magic.

Ditto. The only "rules" that exist in magick are the ones that you believe exist. That's what makes them magickal :)

[Tigerlily]

There are no dumb questions, cept those not asked. :)

1.) You don't have to throw out the candles after one use. For those of us who can't afford to buy new candles all the time... they can be re-used, as long as you feel comfortable doing so. :) Just do a cleansing ritual after use, and you should be OK. However, in answer to your question... some people bury them after a ritual, so that all of the energy is absorbed into the earth.

2.) What kind of incense are you using? Cones, stick, coils.... there are many kinds. :) I use stick mostly, and you can put those out like you do a cigarette. Cones, I usually let burn until they are burnt completely. And coils... I have never used.

:hugz:

I'm glad you weren't afraid to ask questions! Keep em coming.

Blessings,

Kalika


:floating:

Thanks. I use incense sticks.

[Koyote Song]

I have met a person that reuses the candles by making new candles from the left over wax. Of coarse, she does do a clensing ritual on anything she uses for spells.

[Tigerlily]

Okay thanks. I'm too scared to make new waxes. I have a slight fear of fire....eeep.

[Michie]

I'm just bumping this up because the candle question is one that I've had for awhile now...some candles might burn for hours and hours before they burn completely out, so I never understood the need to let them burn like that. Does a spell "go bad" if you snuff the candle out?

Also, I don't know that I could afford to keep buying new candles, so that makes me lean toward reusing them. I do understand the idea of using ones for specific purposes and not constantly changing what they represent, though.

This is interesting, thanks!

[savannahrose44]

I am not wiccan but I do use candles in my workings, I simply place them in a bag of sea salt when I am done. This neutralizes any residual energies and allows the candle to be reused. Some people don't like to do that however. It depends on you. I can't afford to buy new candles every time. :floating:

[Kalika]

I'm just bumping this up because the candle question is one that I've had for awhile now...some candles might burn for hours and hours before they burn completely out, so I never understood the need to let them burn like that. Does a spell "go bad" if you snuff the candle out?

Also, I don't know that I could afford to keep buying new candles, so that makes me lean toward reusing them. I do understand the idea of using ones for specific purposes and not constantly changing what they represent, though.

This is interesting, thanks!

You don't have to let candles burn until they go out. Candle manufacturers recommend that if you are lighting a candle (pillar style) you let it burn at least 3 hours - this way the candle lasts longer.

The spell won't "go bad" as you put it, unless you have ill intentions. Keep in mind, that what is in your heart and mind has the most effect on the spell. :) Candles, incense, etc, are additives to the spell, but not necessities. Your will is what controls the flow.

You can reuse your candles - just "cleanse" or purify them after each use. I know it isn't cost effective to be constantly buying new candles. :)

:hugz:

Good questions!

[Ghreyd]

1. The candle question, I use my candles repeatedly if it for the same intent. If you cast a love spell, and there is some of the candle left over, it is already programed, and has much of the energy of your intent in it already. I also always use the same alter candles for EVERY spell. They will retain your personal energies and elemental/deity energies. I light the new alter candles off of the still burning stub of the one before it, and let the original burn out by itself.

2. the insentce question. It depends on the type you are using. If it's a stick, you can just put the lit end down to the ash catcher, and kinda spin it while pushing down and it will breack the lit tip off and smother the smoldering part.

[Koyote Song]

I've been told that seeing the burning candle of a spell at a later time allows you to subconsciously repower the spell...or by seeing the candle lit while walking by...say after a few hours of the ritual...it reminds you of why you did the spell, keeping the intent in your thoughts and in essence your Will...kinda like keeping the energy flowing from you to the intent. I was told this a while back, I don't work with candles very much so i may be remembering it wrong...I’ll have to check my notes. Anyone have further input? :hmmmmm:

[Shanti]

When it comes to inscence, when burning candles at the same, time I dip the inscence in the candle wax to put it out!

[frigga]

Yeah, I've never thrown away a perfectly good candle! A simple cleansing should do the trick to get rid of excess energy, and I like the sea salt idea too! You may think about buring them if you need something more "concrete" to cleanse it. But I'd dig them up after a few days, again, why throw away a perfectly good candle! Or you could just burn it around the house for some soft lighting, but you'r spell may continue working every time you light it again depending on your view of magic.