Candle Magick - Its History and Uses

History of Candles

Initially, candles were made from Tallow. Tallow is the solid fat extracted from animals. Remains of candles have been found in excavations in Greece and Egypt. These remains were closely dated at around 3000 B.C. But it was not until the emergence of the Roman Empire that we begin to see evidence of the development of candles as we know them today.

The Roman method consisted of heating the tallow until it liquefied. Next the tallow was poured over a wick material, usually made from the pith of rushes, suspended from a horizontal rod. As it was poured, the candle makers would use their hands to smooth the cooling tallow. The candles were suspended over a trough which would catch the excess tallow and allow it to be returned to the melting pot.
The Romans used candles to light their homes and to facilitate traveling at night, they also integrated them into their religious practices.

During the middle ages, candles became directly associated with religious practice. Priests manufactured beeswax candles for their rituals and also for the secular population. Using primarily the Roman method, they simply poured molten beeswax over a wick material. The secular demand for candles began to grow and Candle Guilds were formed.
King Edward the IV had a servant whose only job was to keep a stock of grease and fat taken from animals after they were slaughtered for use in making candles.

At some point, Candles began being made by suspending several wicks from a long rod called a Broach. Liquefied tallow was then poured into a container and the wicks were dipped three times and then hung on a rack to cool. After this initial dipping, the candles were then repeatedly dipped until the desired thickness was achieved.

The practice of using molds to make candles began in 15th century France. The wax would be poured into hollow open-ended cylinders. These cylinders had a cap on one end, with a small hole in the center for the wick. The wick was then threaded through the hole in the cap of the mold and held in place by small wires. Once the mold was filled the wicks were pulled taunt and the wax left to cool. The wires were then removed.

From about the sixteenth century forward, living standards improved. This is evidenced by the increasing availability of candlesticks and candleholders in everyday households. At this time, candles were usually sold by the pound and in bundles of eight, ten, or twelve candles. Everyday candles were made of tallow, usually rendered from sheep (mutton) or cows. These candles, typically were a dark yellowish color and gave off a nasty smell.

In England, the wax chandlers and the tallow chandlers formed their own guilds. Wax chandlers were considered more upper class than tallow chandlers. Their business was also more profitable because people were prepared to pay more for a wax candle. The English Tallow Chandlers were incorporated in 1462 and they regulated trade in candles made from animal fats.

The quality of candlelight depended upon the type of material used. Beeswax, for example, gave off a much brighter light than tallow. In addition to tallow and beeswax, another material known as spermaceti became popular for candle making. Spermaceti was derived from the oil present in the head cavities of sperm whales. These candles burned with a very bright light- so bright that a spermaceti candle flame was used as a standard light measure for photometry (the science of light measurement). Spermaceti candles were slightly cheaper than beeswax candles but are no longer made because of environmental concerns.

The nineteenth century brought the development of patented candle making machinery. Candles became available to the poorest homes. In an attempt to protect the industry, England passed a law forbidding the making of candles at home without the purchase of a special license. At this time, a chemist named Michel Eugene Chevreul made an important discovery. He found that tallow was not one substance but a composition of two fatty acids, stearic acid and oleic acid, combined with glycerin to form a neutral non-flammable material.

By removing the glycerin from the tallow mixture, Chevreul invented a new substance called “stearine.” Stearine was harder than tallow and burned brighter and longer. It is this substance, known today as stearin or stearic acid, that led to the improvement of candle quality. Stearin also made improvements in the manufacture of wicks possible. Also, about this same time, changes took place in the design of the wicks used in candles. Instead of being made by simply twisting strands of cotton, wicks were now plaited tightly. As a result, the burned portion curled over and was consumed, rather than falling messily into the melting wax. Even more improvements such as the addition of lime, palmatine, and paraffin developed in the commercial manufacture of candles.

By the mid 19th century the Industrial Revolution had transformed the way candles were made. Paraffin had begun to replace the venerable Tallow. However, handmade candles were still in demand. Especially candles made for religious activities. Many of these had to be custom made.

With the introduction of the light bulb in 1879, candle making declined until the turn of the century when a renewed popularity for candles emerged.
Candle manufacturing was further enhanced during the first half of the 20th century through the growth of U.S. oil and meatpacking industries. With the increase of crude oil and meat production, came an increase in the by-products that are the basic ingredients of contemporary candles, namely paraffin and stearic acid.

Although no longer man’s major source of light, candles continue to grow in popularity and use. Today, candles symbolize celebration, mark romance, define ceremony, and accent décor. As an art form, candle making still survives in our modern world. The symbolism associated with candles is entrenched forever in our minds. It represents religion, joy, sadness, Love and sacrifice.
Different Types of Wax

Gel Wax- Gel wax is a clear dense wax that can be colored and fragranced.  You will often see this type of wax with items embedded inside of the wax.  If you do embed pieces into the gel wax you need to make sure that the item you embedding cannot catch fire when exposed to a flame.  There are 3 types of gel wax.  They are:  Low density, Medium density and High density gel wax.  The higher the density, the thicker the wax will be when cooled…meaning the easier it is to suspend items.  Also, the higher the density, the more fragrance the gel can hold.  It is particularly important to only use fragrances

  • Container Wax - Container wax is a softer wax that is designed to not shrink when poured into a container.  The candle is left in the container for burning.  Container wax is often called “one pour” wax.  Not all container waxes are “one pour” so look for this guarantee.
  • Pillar Wax - Pillar wax is a harder wax and is intended to be poured into a pillar mold.  It shrinks as it cools thus providing easy release from the mold.  You will find that pillar wax will develop a “sink hole” around the wick and will require repeated pouring to fill this hole.
  • Votive Wax - Votive wax is similar to pillar wax but has been designed for smaller candles such as a votive candle.
  • Taper Candle Wax -Taper candle wax is used when hand dipping candles.  Depending on the particular brand of wax used, your end candle can be dripless, high gloss, or satin finish. There are also waxes designed to have a resistance to bending.
  • Parrafin-Parrafin - is a pure hard wax that is primarily used for pillar candles.  It is the least expensive of the waxes.  You may need to blend additives to this wax to cause it to perform properly.
  • Beeswax - Beeswax is an all-natural product that has a very high melting point.  In it’s natural state, it is golden yellow in color and has a slightly sweet smell- reminiscent of honey.  Beeswax is least expensive when purchased in the fall locally from beekeepers. 

Magickal Application
When performing successful, candle magick workings, it is important to remember three things:  Intent, emotion and the will. Without these three items, your magick will have little chance of working.
 
Why are these important? You most likely have the intent, or you wouldn’t be doing the work.  If the emotion isn’t there, such as “I really, in my heart need this job”, then you are not putting all that much into the magick, other than just going through the motions.  If you don’t have the will, then you won’t put as much effort or work into it, which will weaken the magick. Mumbling the words a few times, lighting a candle and staring at it for a minute is merely going through the motions.
 
Magic with a “K”
Why do I spell magick with a “K”?  Magick separates entertainment magic from true magick. The word “spell” is also used as another term for magick. Spell or magick is merely a term for active prayer, or, prayer that effects changes through your work and the work of Spirit.
Ethics – Be Careful What You Wish For….
 
When doing any type of magick, it is always important to remember how it will effect not only yourself, but others. If you do magick to bring in $10,000.00, you may very well get it – however, a close relative may have just died and left you that amount.  Sure, you got the money, but someone in your family had to pass on for you to receive it.
 
Want to do a love spell? Go ahead!  But not on another person. This would be considered “bending another’s will”. It is equal to a form of “rape”, meaning you are forcing someone to do something that they would not normally do!
 

Colors and Their Meanings

Various colors of candles have specific meanings and functions as do size and combinations of colors. Below is a list of candle colors and corresponding meanings:

  • White – God, masculine, purity, healing, spirit, cleansing, meditation
  • Black – Goddess, female, banishing, clearing negativity, protection
  • Purple – Spirit, akasha, psychic, spiritual, enhances magick, meditation
  • Red – Fire, love, heart, lust, fast action, career goals
  • Pink – Fire, romance, self-love, female energy, caring, nurturing
  • Orange – Air, success, legal matters, property, sales
  • Yellow – Air, intuition, creativity, mental powers, Sun
  • Green – Earth, money, healing, abundance, fertility, growth
  • Brown – Earth, grounding, financial matters, friendship
  • Gray – Neutral, safe, slows energy
  • Blue – Water, peace, healing, emotions, communication, wisdom
  • Silver – Goddess, astral, female, dreams, psychic energy
  • Gold – God, male, happiness, divine influence

Combo colors

  • White/Black – Balance, male/female, yin-yang
  • Red/White – Pure love, love of self, enhances spiritual gain
  • Green/Orange – Success, money, wealth, abundance

You can carve symbols, words or even pictures into the candle itself with either a knife or pen.  (See FIG1) Don’t worry about it being perfect, it’s the intent that matters.  You already know what it is you are trying to do.
 FIG 1


“Dressing” a Candle

Using various oils, you can enhance magickal workings by “dressing” the candle with the appropriate oils.  If you do not have essential or pure oils for your specific work, using olive or cooking oils works just as well.
 
To invoke, or bring something to you, take some oil between your index and thumb and place them on the top of the candle.  Moving clockwise, rub the candle with the oil down.
 
To banish, or get rid of energy, take the oil, and, starting from the bottom of the candle, rub counter-clockwise, up to the top.
 
For general healing, prayer or over-all health, love, well-being, etc.  Rub the oil on the candle from top to middle, and bottom to middle, both moving clockwise. (see FIG 2)
FIG 2

Doing the Work

Now its time to perform the magick!  Keep in mind, you will need the will, intent and emotion, focused into your magick.
 
Have the candle in a holder on your altar or any other convenient, flat surface. You will want to be comfortable so you can completely focus, and be able to leave the candle burning safely.
 
Breathe and relax, ground and center. Visualize what it is you wish to do with this magick. If it is career related, picture yourself working in the ideal job, with the coolest boss and great pay!  If it is love, visualize loving yourself above all and then seeing all the wonderful people coming into your life.  These visualizations should be viewed as if your magickal results has already happened, as if you are seeing into the future and watching yourself experience the success of your magick. If you wish, you can also place a picture, money, or other visual relating to the magickal work next to the candle.
 
When you are ready, light the candle, put your hands around it (but not touching it), and say, “As I light this candle, let it be known, I wish to bring (love, money, a job, etc.) into my life. For the good of all, and it harm none, so shall it be!” The reverse can be said for banishing things from your life.
 
Say this affirmation as many times as you feel necessary. When you are done, walk away. Leave the candle to burn down, if it’s safe to do so.
 
Forget about the magick work you just did, and don’t discuss it with anyone else.  The energy will need time to rise to Spirit and be changed into manifestation back here in the physical plane.
 
On occasion, especially when it isn’t possible to let a candle burn for hours, it can be put out and relit again for two more days. When relighting, say an affirmation regarding the magickal work, and let it burn down. Sometimes magickal work will need more than one day to be more effective. In this case, this it should be done in multiples of three – three, six, nine, twelve, etc.
 

Additional Information for Effective Magick

The best time to raise energy or invoke something into your life is during the waxing of the moon (new to full moon).  Banishing, or getting rid of something negative like bad habits or bad energy, is done during the waning of the moon (full to new moon).  No work should be done during the new or dark moon (no moon showing at all).
  
Once again, I cannot emphasize enough about being very careful what you are asking for in your magick.  Keep in mind whether or not this is truly good for you and how many people this could effect other than yourself.  Karma has a way of bringing things back into balance, sometimes not always in the way that we like.
 
If it is love you want, don’t force another to love you. If it is a job you want, don’t push someone else out of the way to get it. And finally, don’t do magick and expect to sit around waiting for the results to knock on your door.  If you truly have the intent, will and emotion, you need to meet Spirit half way. As an example, if you need a job, do the magick….and go look for a job!
 
Also, bear in mind, safety first! Do not leave a candle or any burning substance, such as incense, unattended! Also, an important warning regarding wicks. Make sure you are not using wired wicked candles. The wires are made of lead and give off a poisonous lead gas when burned!
 
Resources

Candle Teacher
http://www.candleteacher.com/

Oregon Candles
http://www.oregoncandles.com/
Various resources on the web for magick, colors, types of candles, etc.
 
Wicca Candle Magick
by Gerina Dunwich
 
Exploring Candle Magick : Candle Spells, Charms, Rituals, and Divinations
by Patricia Telesco
 
Wiccan Magick
Raven Grimassi