Advancing candle magick

[Anubis RainHawk]

I've been reading up about candle magick and even took the class offfered here, but I still feel a little confused on the subject. So far, my candle spells include 1 candle relating to intention along with symbols carved into the candle, with herb/s attached by olive oil. I guess this has been ok, but how can I advance this act? IOW, how can I make it more eleborate?

In Ray Buckland's books, he describes candle magick as a form of sympathic magick. Is that how it's usually used, bringing the candle that represents the desire closer to the candle that represents the person?

Also, what are astral candles? Are they important? Do you use them?

Can pins and needles be used in candle magick? If so, how and why?

When stones are used in candle magick, should they be placed are around the candle? If not, how are they used?

What are some books you'd recommend on the subject?

Thanks!
Anubis RainHawk

[Aidron]

I've been reading up about candle magick and even took the class offfered here, but I still feel a little confused on the subject. So far, my candle spells include 1 candle relating to intention along with symbols carved into the candle, with herb/s attached by olive oil. I guess this has been ok, but how can I advance this act? IOW, how can I make it more eleborate?

You can incomperate numerology, for one. The number of candles you used. You can also arrange the candles into the shape of various sigils, such as a circle of orange and red candles (every other one) with a gold one in the center for solar work, as that creates the astrological glyph for the sun corresponding with its colors.

In Ray Buckland's books, he describes candle magick as a form of sympathic magick. Is that how it's usually used, bringing the candle that represents the desire closer to the candle that represents the person?

I'm not quite sure I understand this. Candle magic is a form of sympathy, but so are many types of magic. Sympathy is extremely common and can be found in most magical applications, the idea that like attracts like or two objects which are similar have sympathy with one another (i.e. are each other). So, a red candle used to represent elemental fire is elemental fire.

As for bringing a candle that represents a desire closer to a candle that represents a person, that is merely physical work to reflect the magical work, or in some cases to initiate and direct it. As you move the red candle representing strength closer to the gray candle that represents me for example, I become stronger.

Also, what are astral candles? Are they important? Do you use them?

Depends, I've discovered several different types of astral candles. Some describe a person, coordinating color by astrological influences, elemental influences. At other times astral candle are just that, candles upon the astral plane used in magic or worship there. Are they important? Entirely subjective. They're not a necessity so that creates a subjective importance in this case. Do I use them? I have over the years, though it's not a routine procedure with me.

Can pins and needles be used in candle magick? If so, how and why?

Yes. A simple method of this would be to stick a needle or pin through a candle and once it burns down to the needle the magic is fully manifested. Most people in my experience do not bother to charge the needle or pin, but I do and have. However, I find it to be very rarely of use except in specific circumstances where the metal of the needle or pin becomes significant to the working, otherwise I see no point in wasting any part of the candle or a needle and/or pin; that is let the candle burn down completely to achieve the same effect.

When stones are used in candle magick, should they be placed are around the candle? If not, how are they used?

The importance of placement can be subjective. Are you burning a red candle to increase your passion, motivation and ambition? Create an upright triangle of tiger's eye (one of the many possibilities) around the candle, which forms the alchemical glyph (and the tattwa) for fire. A circle around a candle is most common. In a water spell you might place a candle in a cauldron or bowl after fixing it to the bottom with wax, or using a very short candle holder. Fill the bowl with water and arrange the stones (you'll need a decent size bowl for this) in the shape of a lunar phase, or again the alchemical glyph. Planetary sigils also can be used. So forth, so on, you get the idea.

What are some books you'd recommend on the subject?

Thanks!
Anubis RainHawk

At this hour with no sleep... I honestly can't think of any. Something by Yasmine, perhaps, as from what I've read of her's she has a pretty good grasp on candle magic and she has told me before she practices it a great deal.

[Moonlight's Daughter]

Try going to http://www.llewellyn.com/bookstore/search.php

That might help.

Brandiwyn

[DebLipp]

In Ray Buckland's books, he describes candle magick as a form of sympathic magick. Is that how it's usually used, bringing the candle that represents the desire closer to the candle that represents the person?
That's one way of using it. But actually, what you're describing is imitative magic.

Sympathetic magic: Based on the principal that anything that has sympathy with a thing IS the thing. A photo of a person IS the person; give healing to the photo, you give healing to the person. When you use a candle to represent a person, thing, situation, etc. you are using a sympathetic connection. You can deepen the sympathy using color, symbols, etc.

Imitative magic: Magic that imitates a desired behavior in order to encourage that behavior. F**king in plowed fields in order to encourage fertility is imitative magic. Bringing two things closer to each other in order to make two other things come close to each other is imitative magic.

Candles can also be used as a concentration aid or an elemental object. You have the photo but use the candle to induce trance. Or you use the candle to bring Fire into a spell.

Also, what are astral candles? Are they important? Do you use them?Never heard of this.

Can pins and needles be used in candle magick? If so, how and why?Yes. I'd be curious to hear your ideas before giving you an answer.

When stones are used in candle magick, should they be placed are around the candle? If not, how are they used?You can place the stone in the wax so that the candle burns around it. This is obviously easiest if you make your own candles.

What are some books you'd recommend on the subject?Well, the Way of Four Spellbook will have a fairly good section on candle magic, but it won't be out until '06. There's an excerpt on my website. I also recommend a couple of candle magic books in the bibliography of The Way of Four. If you own it, you can look there. I don't have it with me right now.

[~Elise~]

The Master Book of Candle Burning is the best book for candle magick, IMO. You can find it and more info about candle magic on www.luckymojo.com/candlemagic.html . Cat is the undisputed master at this, again, IMO.

JMO and YMMV

Elise

[~Elise~]

That's one way of using it. But actually, what you're describing is imitative magic.

Sympathetic magic: Based on the principal that anything that has sympathy with a thing IS the thing. A photo of a person IS the person; give healing to the photo, you give healing to the person. When you use a candle to represent a person, thing, situation, etc. you are using a sympathetic connection. You can deepen the sympathy using color, symbols, etc.

Imitative magic: Magic that imitates a desired behavior in order to encourage that behavior. F**king in plowed fields in order to encourage fertility is imitative magic. Bringing two things closer to each other in order to make two other things come close to each other is imitative magic.



This is the most down-to-earth, easy-to-understand descriptions I've heard in a long time! Bravo!

JMO and YMMV,

Elise

[Seren_]

In Ray Buckland's books, he describes candle magick as a form of sympathic magick. Is that how it's usually used, bringing the candle that represents the desire closer to the candle that represents the person?

It depends on how you view the symbolism of the candle itself, I think. One of the most obvious ones would be that the candle represents the element of fire, for example. You can add more symbolism by using colours to represent signs of the zodiac or planets to incorporate those energies into your workings, etc, or as simple colour correspondences.

But, as I was taught, a candle primarily represents a gateway - to other realms, dimensions or simply ways of thinking and perceiving. So for me the candle itself doesn't necessarily (or just) represent the desire or the person; to me, the candle is the means through which my desire is enacted - the candle opens the way for it to come about.

The sympathetic magic part - of moving a candle closer to or away from another candle - acts as a psychological reinforcement for me that the spell is doing/going to achieve what I desire. So in effect, it's secondary to what the primary symbolism of the candle is - a gateway to allow such opportunities as I desire to come about, or even to shut the gateway to prevent something happen (say, for protective purposes). A candle can light the way, or the light it produces can help to scare something off (like lighting a fire to scare away wild animals).

Another method of using candles in a form of sympathetic magic would be to drip the candle wax and use it to mould/sculpt the shape of something you want. You don't have to be arty, you can do something abstract like mould the wax into a rune or sigil that you can keep and charge to attract/repel something, or mould it into the shape of a sun using a yellow candle to attract a little more of a sunny attitude to life...that kind of thing.

Also, what are astral candles? Are they important? Do you use them?

I think there are different meanings depending on who you talk to as Aidron said. To me, the symbolic lighting of a candle can act as an opener of the ways to the astral. That's one way of looking at it, anyway. By doing this, you symbolically attune yourself to the astral, which facilitates your working (since I believe the magic has to happen on all levels before it comes into being in the physical world - essentially filtering from the astral to the physical, similar to Qabalistic principles).

When stones are used in candle magick, should they be placed are around the candle? If not, how are they used?

That's one way. Alternatively, you can use crystal points - of quartz, amethyst or citrine, for example, to inscribe runes or sigils onto the candle in the same way you might do with an athame or bolline. The crystal can be used to direct and focus your own energy into the candle, and it can also be used to lend its own energies to the working. In this sense, you can choose crystals that have appropriate correspondences to your intended aim.

[Anubis RainHawk]

You can incomperate numerology, for one. The number of candles you used. You can also arrange the candles into the shape of various sigils, such as a circle of orange and red candles (every other one) with a gold one in the center for solar work, as that creates the astrological glyph for the sun corresponding with its colors.

What a great idea! I'll definately try that in my next candle spell :)


At other times astral candle are just that, candles upon the astral plane used in magic or worship there.

So this would be something mentally done, possibly within a circle? Is this something done during astral projection? I've never heard of such a thing.



Yes. A simple method of this would be to stick a needle or pin through a candle and once it burns down to the needle the magic is fully manifested. Most people in my experience do not bother to charge the needle or pin, but I do and have. However, I find it to be very rarely of use except in specific circumstances where the metal of the needle or pin becomes significant to the working, otherwise I see no point in wasting any part of the candle or a needle and/or pin; that is let the candle burn down completely to achieve the same effect.

That's what I was thinking. I guess you could incorperate the time of metal if you use astrological correspondence. Then again, wouldn't it be hard to find the various metals associated with the planets/signs, right? I guess you could use the different colors on the pins except the metals themselves.

Doesn't placing the needle in a candle brake it, or at least, break part of it? You mentioned that it does, so do you have any tips to provent that?


The importance of placement can be subjective. Are you burning a red candle to increase your passion, motivation and ambition? Create an upright triangle of tiger's eye (one of the many possibilities) around the candle, which forms the alchemical glyph (and the tattwa) for fire. A circle around a candle is most common. In a water spell you might place a candle in a cauldron or bowl after fixing it to the bottom with wax, or using a very short candle holder. Fill the bowl with water and arrange the stones (you'll need a decent size bowl for this) in the shape of a lunar phase, or again the alchemical glyph. Planetary sigils also can be used. So forth, so on, you get the idea.

Brillant!


At this hour with no sleep... I honestly can't think of any. Something by Yasmine, perhaps, as from what I've read of her's she has a pretty good grasp on candle magic and she has told me before she practices it a great deal.

Thanks! I'll look into that.

Anubis RainHawk

[Anubis RainHawk]

That's one way of using it. But actually, what you're describing is imitative magic.

Sympathetic magic: Based on the principal that anything that has sympathy with a thing IS the thing. A photo of a person IS the person; give healing to the photo, you give healing to the person. When you use a candle to represent a person, thing, situation, etc. you are using a sympathetic connection. You can deepen the sympathy using color, symbols, etc.

Imitative magic: Magic that imitates a desired behavior in order to encourage that behavior. F**king in plowed fields in order to encourage fertility is imitative magic. Bringing two things closer to each other in order to make two other things come close to each other is imitative magic.

Candles can also be used as a concentration aid or an elemental object. You have the photo but use the candle to induce trance. Or you use the candle to bring Fire into a spell.

Interesting! I've always thought they were the same thing. The example of "F**king in plowed fields" has been described in some books as sympathic magick, as far as I can remember. The only example a lot of authors have used is hunters using some form of symapathic magick to attract game. I think Buckland mentions it in his big blue.

Yes. I'd be curious to hear your ideas before giving you an answer.

Aidron pretty much covered it.

You can place the stone in the wax so that the candle burns around it. This is obviously easiest if you make your own candles.

Interesting idea! I've made most of the candles for my candle spells, so this would be something that I could use. How has this worked for you? You charge the stone and then drop in the wax mold, right? Don't the stones crack if they can too hot?


Well, the Way of Four Spellbook will have a fairly good section on candle magic, but it won't be out until '06. There's an excerpt on my website. I also recommend a couple of candle magic books in the bibliography of The Way of Four. If you own it, you can look there. I don't have it with me right now.

I haven't read Way of Four yet, but it is on my list. I can look through the book the next time I got the bookstore.

Anubis RainHawk

[Anubis RainHawk]

The Master Book of Candle Burning is the best book for candle magick, IMO. You can find it and more info about candle magic on www.luckymojo.com/candlemagic.html . Cat is the undisputed master at this, again, IMO.

JMO and YMMV

Elise

I'll look into the book. Thanks for the link.




But, as I was taught, a candle primarily represents a gateway - to other realms, dimensions or simply ways of thinking and perceiving. So for me the candle itself doesn't necessarily (or just) represent the desire or the person; to me, the candle is the means through which my desire is enacted - the candle opens the way for it to come about.

Excellent concept! I really like the idea. It makes the act of lighting a candle a profound spritual ritual.

The sympathetic magic part - of moving a candle closer to or away from another candle - acts as a psychological reinforcement for me that the spell is doing/going to achieve what I desire. So in effect, it's secondary to what the primary symbolism of the candle is - a gateway to allow such opportunities as I desire to come about, or even to shut the gateway to prevent something happen (say, for protective purposes). A candle can light the way, or the light it produces can help to scare something off (like lighting a fire to scare away wild animals).

I agree!

Another method of using candles in a form of sympathetic magic would be to drip the candle wax and use it to mould/sculpt the shape of something you want. You don't have to be arty, you can do something abstract like mould the wax into a rune or sigil that you can keep and charge to attract/repel something, or mould it into the shape of a sun using a yellow candle to attract a little more of a sunny attitude to life...that kind of thing.

Hmmm. But how would an amulet be sympathetic magick?


That's one way. Alternatively, you can use crystal points - of quartz, amethyst or citrine, for example, to inscribe runes or sigils onto the candle in the same way you might do with an athame or bolline. The crystal can be used to direct and focus your own energy into the candle, and it can also be used to lend its own energies to the working. In this sense, you can choose crystals that have appropriate correspondences to your intended aim.

That's an interesting idea.

[DebLipp]

Interesting! I've always thought they were the same thing. The example of "F**king in plowed fields" has been described in some books as sympathic magick, as far as I can remember. The only example a lot of authors have used is hunters using some form of symapathic magick to attract game. I think Buckland mentions it in his big blue.

Well, instead of looking at a Wiccan book, look at the folklore sources, like Frazier. I think you'll find I'm right and Buckland is wrong, with all due respect. Sympathy is connection, imitation is doing-like.

Aidron pretty much covered it.
Yes, the needle normally marks a spot on the candle. Use a thin needle and heat it in the candle flame so that it melts in rather than cracking the wax.

Interesting idea! I've made most of the candles for my candle spells, so this would be something that I could use. How has this worked for you? You charge the stone and then drop in the wax mold, right? Don't the stones crack if they can too hot?
Haven't done it myself, but it depends on the stone. Many stones are heated to change color; tiger eye for instance. Different molecular structures withstand temperature differently. Also, use very small chips.

[Anubis RainHawk]

Well, instead of looking at a Wiccan book, look at the folklore sources, like Frazier. I think you'll find I'm right and Buckland is wrong, with all due respect. Sympathy is connection, imitation is doing-like.

I'll look into that.

Yes, the needle normally marks a spot on the candle. Use a thin needle and heat it in the candle flame so that it melts in rather than cracking the wax.

That's a great idea. I'll try that!


Haven't done it myself, but it depends on the stone. Many stones are heated to change color; tiger eye for instance. Different molecular structures withstand temperature differently. Also, use very small chips.

I'll try that too

[KaliGiri5]

I only use 7 day candles..
it depends on what effect you want.
you can anoint the candle with your blood..your semen your whatever
I don't work with too many herbs or any gems any more.
but when I did I'd dress my candle with oil then roll it in the herbs and surround the candle with whatever gems I was using.
I then started using seals..numbers and planetary symbols on my candles and got better results.

[Dawa Lhamo]

Interesting idea! I've made most of the candles for my candle spells, so this would be something that I could use. How has this worked for you? You charge the stone and then drop in the wax mold, right? Don't the stones crack if they can too hot? A note on this, they shouldn't crack as long as they're dry. You throw creek rocks or river rocks in there, and you may end up with exploding rocks and shrapnel in your skin (My brother, the genius, built a bonfire once on a dike out on the Mississippi... of course, when the limestone began exploding, he and his friends had to run like the dickens!). But as long as they've sufficiently dried out, it shouldn't be a problem. Most stones I know can take the temperature... if you really are worried, you can look up the melting points of the minerals in the stone to see if your candle will cause it to lose 'structural integrity'. ^_^

Tashi delek!
Dawa Lhamo